Here is my build thread for a 1991 3FE FJ80 Land Cruiser. I'll be using this thread mainly as a build and maintenance log (at least for the halfway informative and interesting stuff), re-documenting my questions I have along the way and information I found helpful to address those questions. Fingers crossed there I can generate some interesting or helpful content for everyone. I've certainly learned a lot just reading mud for the last couple of months. It's definitely not going to be the most impressive build. Please bear with me and let me know if I step out of line!
Quick back story:
My wife and I were living and working in Humboldt County after moving from Portland OR and we purchased my first car from a friend for $1000. Meet 2005 Chevy Aveo.
Kinda a s***ty car, but it was my first car ever and it was a lot of fun trying to keep the CEL off and generally learning about car ownership. Thanks Adam! It came at the right time and I had a lot of fun with it.
Fast forward to 2019, we decide to move to Copenhagen Denmark for work, and end up selling everything. Move went well, work went well, but then we ended up conceiving our first kid 👼 and decided to move back to the US to be in a more stable family/work situation. We had family living in southern Utah, so we ended up landing there! And needing a new car.
I knew we wanted something cheap and old, but also wanted something that would be fun for the area. Old 4Runner, Land Cruiser? XJ? 💪 Time to scour craigslist. After days of crappy email alerts from craigslist, I came across this:
archive.ph
(p.s. always archive CL ads you are interested in! avoid posters changing prices, or deleting on you. pps. the seller in this case did none of that, still good to have it for reference!)
Was nervous about the year (jeez almost as old as me), but contacted the seller and they were super nice, non-sketchy people who had a decent understanding of the car and its history.
It had a good looking history, mostly a single owner up until the last couple of years, but the last couple owners were in the same family, which was also a good sign.
(See carfax and TIS attached for deets)
PO was even headed through town from Las Vegas and could bring it by on the way over to their destination (I happened to be along the way). Good sign! Car can drive at least 4 hours! Took it for a test drive, noted some busted trim, talked the price down to $6k and it was a done deal!
Ok breaking into a second reply. Out of attachments.
Quick back story:
My wife and I were living and working in Humboldt County after moving from Portland OR and we purchased my first car from a friend for $1000. Meet 2005 Chevy Aveo.
Kinda a s***ty car, but it was my first car ever and it was a lot of fun trying to keep the CEL off and generally learning about car ownership. Thanks Adam! It came at the right time and I had a lot of fun with it.
Fast forward to 2019, we decide to move to Copenhagen Denmark for work, and end up selling everything. Move went well, work went well, but then we ended up conceiving our first kid 👼 and decided to move back to the US to be in a more stable family/work situation. We had family living in southern Utah, so we ended up landing there! And needing a new car.
I knew we wanted something cheap and old, but also wanted something that would be fun for the area. Old 4Runner, Land Cruiser? XJ? 💪 Time to scour craigslist. After days of crappy email alerts from craigslist, I came across this:
1991 FJ80 Toyota Landcruiser - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle aut…
archived 13 Oct 2019 22:28:14 UTC
(p.s. always archive CL ads you are interested in! avoid posters changing prices, or deleting on you. pps. the seller in this case did none of that, still good to have it for reference!)
Was nervous about the year (jeez almost as old as me), but contacted the seller and they were super nice, non-sketchy people who had a decent understanding of the car and its history.
It had a good looking history, mostly a single owner up until the last couple of years, but the last couple owners were in the same family, which was also a good sign.
(See carfax and TIS attached for deets)
PO was even headed through town from Las Vegas and could bring it by on the way over to their destination (I happened to be along the way). Good sign! Car can drive at least 4 hours! Took it for a test drive, noted some busted trim, talked the price down to $6k and it was a done deal!
Ok breaking into a second reply. Out of attachments.
Last edited:
