Baselining my 1997 fzj80 3xlocked Rust Bucket of Hope! 🙏🙏🙏

[Tachycardic]

I see a lot of guys talking about buying only clean examples of 80's.... as if they are out there by the boatloads at good prices.

I think anyone buying a +/- 25 year old vehicle at this stage... should be extremely lucky if there is no "rust". At this age, you worry about rot more than rust.

If you're also buying a vehicle this old, planning on using it and don't have plans to protect it... that's a bad investment regardless of what you're doing to it.

Just some thoughts. This truck might be more than I would have gotten into... but it does run and drive. Great driver to have fun and save as a parts box when you find a cleaner example to move to. If that's the case.

I just offered a suggestion to buy a cleaner 80. I'm a fellow Long Islander and searched--initially in the Tri-State area, then down south, then west of the Mississippi. I finally found a nice truck in Vegas, which ironically started out as a NY truck. Of course they are not abundant, but they are out there.

 

[Tachycardic]

Alright this is the story
.....
Just met with Steve at St James automotive centre, he had his 2 cruisers at the shop 80&40 amazing. He had a 70 troopy in the bay and another 80 in the lot basically he knows his cruisers, bought his 40 as a kid anyway.
He looked over the whole truck, rocker, engine bay, front end back, nothing out of the ordinary he said, rust wise. And in general he liked the condition of the truck enough to say the rocker repair would be justified.

He actually had a rocker in the shop but sadly it was claimed.
STILL LOOKING for a rocker

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Ha! I'm from Smithtown and I know that place! Happy to know that it check out! I wish you the best and look forward to your build posts!

 

[80 Series Al]

Since you are looking for reliability:

Do the MECHANICAL things first, unless the rust or other makes something unsafe. Rocker panels are low on that list.

* Make sure the brakes work very well. Replace brake hoses, rotors, calipers, pads.
* Make sure your engine is reliable. It may leak a little, but that's rust protection. If you can get 5000 miles on an oil change and only be down one quart of oil at the 5000 miles mark, you're golden.
* Make sure your cooling system is up to the task. If the radiator is yellowed, replace it. Replace ANY hoses that have dry rot marks on them, especially the PHH and around the heater valve. Do the rear heater bypass at this time. Keep the heater, but bypass the hard steel lines with Gates green stripe hoses and tuck them up, away from the catalytic converters.
* Make sure your axles and wheel bearings are good. Do one axle at a time, prepare ahead of time with all parts necessary. Do rebuilds in "groups" so you only expend your labor once.
* RESEARCH your projects. Everything you are planning on doing here has been done before by SOMEONE. Search it out, look up videos, ask on here on the hard stuff. Rusty stuff is hard, but there are techniques that can make it easier, but you will have to own specialty tools.
* PB Blaster is you friend. Buy a LOT of it, by the case. Seriously.

Make it run
Make it stop
Make it safe
Make it reliable
Make it pretty.

Always in that order.

BILT4ME this is great reference for me as an update to my initial idea, mechanical before body for sure.
Brakes are strong- will check the lines
Engine looks good, lost the cel righter after I changed the oil.
I need to start studying for that phh
I cant wait to get my hands greasy on the diffs

I kinda halted things in that department before I spent another dollar I wanted to make sure it wasnt on a sinking ship

Soooooo
Ya theres some rust on some crap...its not that bad, this boat floats! I lost my honda pilot after 15 years (engine died 300k) and this serves as a replacement for that, duties include commute, school runs shopping etc, so reliability is paramount.

Ahhh the baselining years

Case of PB on order

 

[80 Series Al]

Ha! I'm from Smithtown and I know that place! Happy to know that it check out! I wish you the best and look forward to your build posts!

Seems theres at least a couple of us out here!
Steve seems knowledgable for sure
I'm just happy that the posts will continue!
Thought for a second there that this story was over,.,.back on the road baby!

 

[80 Series Al]

Unless you have the optimism and passion of a teenager unrestrained by years of life experience .

I am thinking back to my first truck that had floors so rusted out that driving through puddles would spray the occupants with muddy water coming up through the floor. The cab mounts were blocks of 2x4s jammed between the cab and frame. Unsafe, illogical, impractical, money pit? Absolutely. It was my pride and joy however, and I have tons of great memories from that truck.

@80 Series Al , take the words of wisdom given here as “guidance” (there absolutely is a lot of truth to them), but don’t let it kill the enthusiasm of having an 80 to play with. You already have the makings of a good story (roadtrip from Detroit to LI, finishing a deceased body man's work, etc.). Life is too short to have boring vehicles.

One man’s cream puff is another man’s beater .

Amazing quote!
I HAVE THE TRUCK!!!
I HAVE TO FOLLOW THROUGH!!!!
DAMNNITTT
lol but seriously I do feel like these trucks should be preserved... (as I read this one day in the future after having thrashed it on a trail) I'm a fan of older more reliable vehicles,.,.i was hot on the trail of the elusive 911 before that bubble grew...if i didnt get this truck i was looking at wagons, lots lol something sporty,.,.lol
Now I can buy the sporty thing I want down the road and tow it w this beast

All is well mingles u rock

Al out

 

[Offroader93]

Nice. I'm gonna have to check that shop out if I need any work done. Sounds like he knows his stuff.

 

[80 Series Al]

Nice. I'm gonna have to check that shop out if I need any work done. Sounds like he knows his stuff.

Ya looks like a few other cruisers on the island already use him, soon as I find my rocker hes gonna get er done

 

[Offroader93]

Ya looks like a few other cruisers on the island already use him, soon as I find my rocker hes gonna get er done

Let me know how that goes, mine has a little cancer in some spots that I would like to address in the next year or so.

 

[Tachycardic]

Amazing quote!
I HAVE THE TRUCK!!!
I HAVE TO FOLLOW THROUGH!!!!
DAMNNITTT
lol but seriously I do feel like these trucks should be preserved... (as I read this one day in the future after having thrashed it on a trail) I'm a fan of older more reliable vehicles,.,.i was hot on the trail of the elusive 911 before that bubble grew...if i didnt get this truck i was looking at wagons, lots lol something sporty,.,.lol
Now I can buy the sporty thing I want down the road and tow it w this beast

All is well mingles u rock

Al out

I can't argue with your logic. She's your baby and another running 80 is a good thing!

 

[Jungle80farmer]

Alright this is the story
.....
Just met with Steve at St James automotive centre, he had his 2 cruisers at the shop 80&40 amazing. He had a 70 troopy in the bay and another 80 in the lot basically he knows his cruisers, bought his 40 as a kid anyway.
He looked over the whole truck, rocker, engine bay, front end back, nothing out of the ordinary he said, rust wise. And in general he liked the condition of the truck enough to say the rocker repair would be justified.

He actually had a rocker in the shop but sadly it was claimed.
STILL LOOKING for a rocker

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That's gotta make you feel a lil better about your new baby. I have found in my travels as a drummer and land cruiser owner. (I've had my 1971 FJ40 since 2002 and my 97 40th for 5 years) that sometimes the rough looking, kinda fugly and maybe a wee bit bigger mmmm landcruisers need some loving too. And when they get a little tlc like baselining they really appreciate it. Then they will do things the other prettier pampered landcruisers wont and you can drive them harder and take them to more challenging places because your not really worried about scratches or dents. So I say give that girl some love. then flogging her.

 

[80 Series Al]

These trucks got a great history, I love ur story Dalton (post up those badass trucks yo!)

Ya shes already moving a lot better since I got her just from regular use too! New oils etc.

I just got in touch w the Original owner!
Have to share our exchange!

 

[80 Series Al]

Let me know how that goes, mine has a little cancer in some spots that I would like to address in the next year or so.

Will do @offroader9
This thread will be updated too
Still looking for that rocker! Bump lol

 

[mingles]

These trucks got a great history, I love ur story Dalton (post up those badass trucks yo!)

Ya shes already moving a lot better since I got her just from regular use too! New oils etc.

I just got in touch w the Original owner!
Have to share our exchange!

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You are off to a great start @80 Series Al
. You’re gonna’ do just fine .

 

[80 Series Al]

You are off to a great start @80 Series Al
. You’re gonna’ do just fine .

Thanks mingles, I'm feelin so good about the clean bill of health I might even give the ol girl a wash n wax

 

[80 Series Al]

Not bad,.,.

 

[tacocat]

I’d jump that thing, like those dudes in the Ford Raptor video. If the rusty parts hold. You’re good to go.

 

[80 Series Al]

I’d jump that thing, like those dudes in the Ford Raptor video. If the rusty parts hold. You’re good to go.

Maybe after I replace the suspension...maybe

 

[80 Series Al]

Not bad,.,.

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Only did the front end and front doors. Hood is shot, didn't want to waste my clay bar on it
I'll do the rear end tomorrow if boss permits, lots of little employees to manage as well so ya time is fleeing. Here's a side by side.

These are almost ready to go back on as well just waiting for paint to prime then a *little* 1500grit and some sweet clear coat, all duplicolor wheel paint used ro match when I do wheels

Used to look like this when I bought

 

[80 Series Al]

I LOVE detailing, so after the main baselining is done, this body is going back to black baby! Gotta protect that paint and thereby the metal yo!

 

[80 Series Al]

Just found a really great app called Toyota Owners, plug in a vin and get full service records from any toyota dlr svc
Check it!

Getting more reassured everyday...lots of nice genuine Torota parts went into her after all (Michael Scott anyone?)

Gotta get back to studying for my PHH