I grew up in a family of Land Cruisers. In 1981, I was four and my parents bought a 1977 FJ40; they had sold the old Ford F150 because they wanted something larger since we were a family of four, plus a dog. Dad apparently looked at a CJ but didn't like the limited back seat set up. As the story goes, he looked at the FJ40 and immediately fell in love with it. Thus began my education into Land Cruisers; we helped cut some of the hardest trails in Washington with that rig being one of two in a Jeep 4X4 Club with another six Jeeps, and I can tell you, I remember time and time again that we pulled Jeeps out of trouble. Over the years, dad picked up another FJ40 and we did the 350 conversion...he sold it for a 1983 FJ60, whcih is still sitting at my parents place, and his daily driver was a 1994 FzJ80. My brother also has a '97 Anniversary model (324K miles) and six years ago, I finally picked up a 1997 80 series for a paltry $2000 (220K miles) with no modifications. It was my daily driver for a while until my work commute changed from working from home to 60 miles round trip. And then, I ended up unemployed and she sat for a while. This past sixteen months I've been in a new position with a great company with really good pay and although I'm saving to buy a house, I'm now in a position to finally baseline my rig and begin building her. And I've been ordering and stashing parts along the way.
I've been keeping notes and adding to my spreadsheet from copious threads I've read over the past year...all of you are amazing, and the amount of information I've been able to glean is unparalleled. All of you are like Scotty on the Enterprise!
I'm starting her with new tires...I'm going the stock route until I get the 2" lift, so she'll get wrapped in COOPER DISCOVERER A/T ALL SEASON's (265/75R16)
Then, additionally following the baseline thread I've found, I'll start checking replacing in order of need...OEM belts have been ordered, plugs, cap & rotor along with the gasket; spark plugs, wires, fan clutch, fan blade, radiator hoses...etc., etc., etc.
I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who's commented in any / all threads for people looking for help. It's a little overwhelming sometimes, especially with the thought of, "Ok, where should *I* begin?" and that singular question was the hardest...but I'm starting with new tires since mine are admittedly FK'ing HORRIBLE and then doing the small tune-up and then into the heavier baselining.
Anyway, thanks.
Pic of my stock rig for flavor...
I've been keeping notes and adding to my spreadsheet from copious threads I've read over the past year...all of you are amazing, and the amount of information I've been able to glean is unparalleled. All of you are like Scotty on the Enterprise!
I'm starting her with new tires...I'm going the stock route until I get the 2" lift, so she'll get wrapped in COOPER DISCOVERER A/T ALL SEASON's (265/75R16)
Then, additionally following the baseline thread I've found, I'll start checking replacing in order of need...OEM belts have been ordered, plugs, cap & rotor along with the gasket; spark plugs, wires, fan clutch, fan blade, radiator hoses...etc., etc., etc.
I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who's commented in any / all threads for people looking for help. It's a little overwhelming sometimes, especially with the thought of, "Ok, where should *I* begin?" and that singular question was the hardest...but I'm starting with new tires since mine are admittedly FK'ing HORRIBLE and then doing the small tune-up and then into the heavier baselining.
Anyway, thanks.
Pic of my stock rig for flavor...