Belated introduction and question

[OZCAL]

Hi everybody - I've participated in a few threads and am seeing more and more introductions; feel bad I didn't say hello earlier. This is a wonderful place and Toyota should etch a link in the windshields of new Landcruisers.

I've got a couple of 80's (details in my signature below) on different continents. Best trucks ever! I'm not mechanical engine-wise, but like tinkering and plan to learn how to work on the 80's. (I can repack an old Campagnolo bottom bracket in the dark, but all I know about engines is gas burns, wheels turn...)

So - after a very wet day on the beach, I popped the interior liner off of the tailgate of the cruiser to let the cardboard backing dry out. I found three access plates. I'm sure the big middle one is a service for the license plate light, but there are two approx. 4x4 inch removable panels on either side of center. I removed one (it is held on by two one inch screws in nylon nutserts; there are holes for four nutserts in each panel) and there is nothing back there but the void of the tailgate interior itself. It would be a good hiding place or storage, I suppose.

Does anybody know what those service panels are used for, maybe in other markets? I'm hoping there is some neat gadget from Japan, like a partially recessed electric beer can cooler for one side, and coffee warmer for the other side, activated when the tailgate is down...

It's 11:30 pm Wednesday, Queensland time - I don't expect to hear from anyone this time of night so I'll sign off.

David

 

[seabeecruiser]

Looks like I get to be the first to give you the official IH8MUD greeting!

Ok, now thats over, I'm not really sure about the purpose of the recesses in the tailgate. But if you find a beer can cooler that works for there, let me know so I can be next in line to get one.

 

[John E Davies]

Hi and welcome;

I have no idea what those threaded inserts are for, but it would be simple enough to fabricate a couple of little flanged boxes to fit in the openings. You could keep spares there (soft stuff you don't need immediate access to, like spare belts or hoses). I don't think I would keep anything very heavy there since it will get hammered every time you close the tailgate.

John Davies
96 LX450
Spokane WA USA

 

[Beowulf]

David,

I don't have a definitive answer but I can tell you that C-Dan and I removed the panel on the left side of the tailgate when we installed the JDM factory license bracket. The license bracket came on VX models that were equipped with an OEM rear tyre carrier. We needed access to install nutserts through the tailgate. ( Fyi, the wiring for the license bracket is already in place on US 80s.)

We didn't remove the right hand panel on mine.

(Later...)
I found some pics.

And a gratuitous shot of the final result.

-B-

 

[mot]

Could they be for accessing the red, Euro rear fogs?

That would be my guess, but I've been known to be completely wrong in the past.

Welcome (if I haven't said so already)!

Mot

 

[cruiserdan]

They also assist in getting in to fit the latches in place. I think at one time Jim Brantley was going to make a sink to fiT in his tail gate. I explored building a box to fit in the space but abandoned it when I figured out the ammount of storage space gained was not worth the effort to me.

 

[OZCAL]

Thanks for the welcome and the good ideas. I think the license plate mounts in those photos is the best explanation for the service panels, but I like the storage idea as well. I wonder if a bladder water bag could be secured in there?

Mot, could you tell me more about the fog lights you mentioned? I could use some better back up lights in my poorly lit garage.

David

 

[IdahoDoug]

For back up light, I recommend slapping a Hella FF work lamp on the roof. They're weatherproof, have dual 55w bulbs so even a burnout doesn't leave you in the dark, rotate up and down as well as side to side and come with a mount for sheetmetal. I've got one on my 93 for 140,000 miles and have one on the workbench for the new 97 as well.

Also, you can put high powered bulbs in your factory backup lights from Daniel Stern Lighting.

Mot refers to the red rear fog lamps required in Europe. The German 80s have a pair in the tailgate approximately where those panels are. I had a picture around from '93 that I cannot find.

DougM

 

[OZCAL]

Thanks Doug, I'll look into that. 110 watts should do it.

By the way I did find some (very minor) rust under the tailgate panel. Looks like the panel slides around a bit when used as a seat, rubbing through the clearcoat and paint at the high points. Worthy of inspection by anyone who gets the tailgate wet on a regular basis. I live at the beach and change my son's diapers on the tailgate...

David

 

[mot]

For back up light, I recommend slapping a Hella FF work lamp on the roof. They're weatherproof, have dual 55w bulbs so even a burnout doesn't leave you in the dark, rotate up and down as well as side to side and come with a mount for sheetmetal. I've got one on my 93 for 140,000 miles and have one on the workbench for the new 97 as well.

Also, you can put high powered bulbs in your factory backup lights from Daniel Stern Lighting.

Mot refers to the red rear fog lamps required in Europe. The German 80s have a pair in the tailgate approximately where those panels are. I had a picture around from '93 that I cannot find.

DougM

David,

Doug beat me to it.

He is kind of nuts about lighting (OK, about many other things as well ) and does seem really fond of his Hella set-up.

If I were to install back-up lights that is probably the way I would go, although I've seen someone post a pic of his rig while back with some sort of mounting bracket which held a couple of back-up lights by the rear hitch. But for overall flexibility, Doug's set-up would be hard to beat. ;p

And the rear fogs I mentioned are red in color and would be cool to have, especially in foul weather.

Mot

 

[azaussie]

G'Day Ozcal,

Totally off topic and probably more appropriate in the Chit Chat section but how is it that you keep vehicles on two continents? I get back to Queensland every 18months or so but no way could I afford to keep a vehicle there. Matter of fact I'm still looking for a cruiser hear to replace my reliable but small 4runner.

Anyway, welcome.

 

[chacoetaco]

... I can repack an old Campagnolo bottom bracket in the dark, but all I know about engines is gas burns, wheels turn...)

Welcome aboard OZCAL.

Since you have a Toyo 80, the next step is to lose that Italiano Campo stuff for more Japanese technology: Shimano, Dura Ace. Ohhhh Yeahhhh.

 

[OZCAL]

G'Day Ozcal,

Totally off topic and probably more appropriate in the Chit Chat section but how is it that you keep vehicles on two continents? I get back to Queensland every 18months or so but no way could I afford to keep a vehicle there. Matter of fact I'm still looking for a cruiser hear to replace my reliable but small 4runner.

Anyway, welcome.

Thank you. My family is a transplant from California to Queensland, but family and business take us back to Los Angeles for as much as eight weeks at a time a few times a year. We used to pay as much as $50/day for the tinniest Kia Rio rental (pretty cramped for a family of three including a car seat); finally did the math and realized that the rental expense could easily support maintenance and depreciation on a BIG car -- which was an excuse to buy the LX 450 and leave it at a buddy's house to drive while we are in Australia (he's happy too!). Hard part is getting it from Los Osos to LA when we come in to town.

Our plan included eventually shipping the car to Brisbane, complying it to local laws and driving it down here, but recent law changes here make importing post '89 cars difficult. But it would be nice - noone ever sees factory tint, sunroofs or power seats around here!

Where are you in Queensland? I'm at Kings Beach.

 

[OZCAL]

Welcome aboard OZCAL.

Since you have a Toyo 80, the next step is to lose that Italiano Campo stuff for more Japanese technology: Shimano, Dura Ace. Ohhhh Yeahhhh.

Actually my current bike is DuraAce throughout, but the bike shop I worked at in the eighties was DeRosa/Merckx/Campy oriented. Never had the chance to wrench the Japanese stuff, only race it!

 

[azaussie]

OZCAl,

Well at $50/day for a Kia and the kind of time you spend in SOCal the cruiser seems like a good idea. I'm in Arizona. When I visit OZ I stay with my parents in Capalaba or Peregian. I grew up next to "Superformance" in Capalaba and they were always converting American cars to right hand drive but I do remember a couple of years ago the owner telling me that with the new government regs it was cost prohibitive for them to do that anymore.

I will be in QLD this December for my granddads 100 birthday. Maybe we can take your cruiser out for a bit of beach work

 

[LX_TREME]

David,

And the rear fogs I mentioned are red in color and would be cool to have, especially in foul weather.

Mot

Hey i got the 80 JDM part call RAYBRIG rear fog lamp - super bright 60watts.
Yeah i agree with you its good to have one in the bad weather - fog , rainy..etc

 

[OZCAL]

OZCAl,

I will be in QLD this December for my granddads 100 birthday. Maybe we can take your cruiser out for a bit of beach work

That would be fun. I don't know where Capalaba is, but I believe Peregian is just north of us , on the way to Noosa where we catch the ferry to Rainbow Beach.

Good on your Granddad!

By the way, were Superformance converting Landcruisers?

 

[OZCAL]

Hey i got the 80 JDM part call RAYBRIG rear fog lamp - super bright 60watts.
Yeah i agree with you its good to have one in the bad weather - fog , rainy..etc

I looked those up - pretty nice. But I'd like to have something flat on the back of the tailgate. Thanks.

Are you still coming down to Australia?

David

 

[azaussie]

I don't recall superformance converting a LC (http://www.superformance.com.au/) they mostly did Ford and Chevy trucks and Corvettes. I do remember them putting a V8 in a Mini, that thing was a beast. Check 'em out if you get a chance they are a nice bunch and could probably put a big Chevy or Holden engine in our current LC.