Big Sky 80(BS80)

[Crush 4]

Mud nation!

I have been waiting to post details of my 80 refresh. Not so much a build, as with other cruisers I have, I tend to thrive on some of the detail aspects and look of the vehicle then a rebuild. While I like the mechanical side of refurbishing a vehicle and will do some, I prefer to buy vehicles that have mechanicals buttoned up and this 80 was one of them.

No doubt, I received tons of great information from Mud forums and in fact this site has reignited my love for Toyota’s which now make up most of my vehicles.

With that background in mind, I began my search for an 80 about 18 months ago. Timing is everything as the saying goes, so I was glad to be searching and finding before the recent inflation on 80’s!
I was getting ready to sell a 97 LX when I came across BS80, and knew I had to have it. Previous to it being a vacation home 80 in Big Sky it was owned by its original owner in California.

Here are pics of it in CA w 39k mileage

 

[Road Apple]

What a great find with such low mileage!! Unheard of these days. How’s the under carriage look? From the paint it looks like it has been garaged. Nice !!

 

[Crush 4]

So the cool part of the story is my wife and I flew to Bozeman to pick up the vehicle and then drove it to big sky and then ultimately to Yellowstone. Here’s a couple shots

 

[Crush 4]

The entire truck is dry as a bone and doesn’t drip anything!
Before we made the trip back I had it put on a hoist and throughly checked over.
Drove it home zero issues

 

[ATXnative]

Sweet baby Jesus that thing is brand new wow

 

[Crush 4]

So the second owner who bought it off the Lil ole lady from Cali put a lift and a short bus bumper on it. Other then that it was pretty stock.
After driving it a bit I felt it was time for some changes. By the way, since this is in such nice shape I decided it would not be turned into an off road warrior, but a very cool stealth grocery getter!
Now , before you start calling me unprintable names I have other vehicles that can be used for destructive purposes.
Anyhoo, let the fun begin.
I like tunes but I also like to look stock so just a speaker upgrade with iPhone cable to OEM HU
I used the pioneer speakers keeping stock covers

 

[baldilocks]

A+ for enthusiasm.

 

[Crush 4]

A+ for enthusiasm.

Thx

So I wanted to change the look of the vehicle. With many of the older vehicles I have owned I try to think about what I would do to it if I was walking into the dealership and buying the vehicle brand new, what would I do to it.

I’m sure many of you are familiar with the “ Day 2” concept that applies to old muscle cars. This term was derived from the first modifications done to a vehicle in the first 2 days of its ownership life. It could be wheels/tires, exhaust/headers, engine detail/ upgrades etc.
Soo, I wanted this LC to look tough and clean, modified stock if you will.
So off comes the running boards and roof rack.

 

[Crush 4]

Here are a few undercarriage shots. Just dirty and dry

 

[Crush 4]

Here are pics of speakers I used, many have used the same and the stock result

 

[Crush 4]

With running boards off I thought the tires look to small. Sounds like a problem most 80’s owners have!
At the same time I installed the delta panhard bracket!

 

[on the rocks]

Here are a few undercarriage shots. Just dirty and dry

Looks alot like mine when I bought it at 40K. Spent this weekend starting to clean this weird tar like coating off the frame and suspension. Not sure if this was a bad attempt at a undercoating but yours looks to have the exact same coating mixed with years of dirt when I bought it back in 2001. You can see it on the tank and inside frame Always thought the motor was leaking slowly but it extends way up front as well. Whatever it is after taking it off it sure preserved the metal where it is coated, unfortunately not on everything or the face of axles and other items.

Nice find.

 

[Crush 4]

Looks alot like mine when I bought it at 40K. Spent this weekend starting to clean this weird tar like coating off the frame and suspension. Not sure if this was a bad attempt at a undercoating but yours looks to have the exact same coating mixed with years of dirt when I bought it back in 2001. You can see it on the tank and inside frame Always thought the motor was leaking slowly but it extends way up front as well. Whatever it is after taking it off it sure preserved the metal where it is coated, unfortunately not on everything or the face of axles and other items.

Nice find.
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I have had my fair share of cleaning the underneath of vehicles. I am going to take the power washer to some of the heavy grime in the next couple of weeks and see what I have. I did throw some wool wax on before winter set in even tho I only drove it once in the snow!
Ill post pics after it its done!

 

[desmocruiser]

Congrats! Awesome rig!

You might ask @SNLC what he uses. He did an amazing job on the red 80 diesel build to clean the frame paint, looks better than a new 200 underneath!

Preserve and enjoy every chance! I love having my 80 out West....well until a big hill. I see the 80 mph speed limit areas and say to myself, no danger in that one!

 

[Crush 4]

Congrats! Awesome rig!

You might ask @SNLC what he uses. He did an amazing job on the red 80 diesel build to clean the frame paint, looks better than a new 200 underneath!

Preserve and enjoy every chance! I love having my 80 out West....well until a big hill. I see the 80 mph speed limit areas and say to myself, no danger in that one!

Funny you say that. When my wife and I started driving the bear tooth hwy it became very apparent the value of more horsepower and great brakes. Every time I do one of these drives, I think about people in the 40,s, 50’s etc., driving their cars through those areas. Had to be a harrowing experience !

 

[Crush 4]

I decided to remove the rear hitch and install a bumper hitch and install a spare tire kit to stow the spare 34” nice and tight. I decided I would use a narrow ss tsl. It fit beautifully

 

[rdcnj]

Here are pics of speakers I used, many have used the same and the stock result

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Have any info on the install? Been trying to get my head around what to actually do with regards to speakers while keeping the stock look.

Used the 1072's in the front and the 1620's in the rear?
Stock head unit?

Afraid to order a set that won't fit the front and will hit the window regulator guide.

Did you replace the tweeters in the dash as well?

Great find otherwise, good luck with her.

 

[Crush 4]

Have any info on the install?

The install is very straightforward. Search and you’ll see how to takeoff door panels etc. once those are off the front speakers go in pretty much R&R. The rears you have to modify the speaker cup in order to reuse the stock speaker covers.

Been trying to get my head around what to actually do with regards to speakers while keeping the stock look.

Used the 1072's in the front and the 1620's in the rear? If I recall the 1072s go in the back which are the four-inch and the fronts are 6 1/2 inch.
Stock head unit? Yes with iPhone cable wired in

Afraid to order a set that won't fit the front and will hit the window regulator guide.

The speakers have the shallow backs so they do not hit

Did you replace the tweeters in the dash as well?I did not replace these yet but I’m looking into it would like to do those in the ones in the rear. Maybe other folks have some ideas

Great find otherwise, good luck with her.

See above I made my comments to your questions. Happy to help anyway I can

 

[Crush 4]

By the way they sound pretty good. If I wanted to go next level I would change HU and add sub

 

[rdcnj]

By the way they sound pretty good. If I wanted to go next level I would change HU and add sub

I guess my contention was actual speakers and sound. I found a ton of threads obviously, but no one ever made it dumb enough for me I guess.

By dumb enough I mean - Front (this model number fits, no mods, small mods, etc), Rear, (this model number fits, no mods, small mods, etc)

So I see a few things that look like they might work, but no real concrete answers.

I even went on a binge search again to check to make sure I wasn't just being lazy the days I looked into it.

I will likely change the headunit eventually for bluetooth and other traveling comforts, just don't want to yet.

Appreciate the response and the follow up with the sound. That was my next concern, sound quality, after finally finding items that fit without serious modification to door panels and with stock grills.