Can I test drive your 80??

[1973Guppie]

Hi There Everyone,

I have been around the 40/55 series for awhile now, have an fj40 that I take offroad and am restoring a 1970 fj55. I am looking into eventually building up an fj80 but wanted to drive one to see how they feel on the road/freeway. I will probably go with a 4 or 6 inch lift, 35 inch mud tires, regeared to 4.88 or 5.29's, so anyone with this setup I would appreciate the chance to drive your car for a moment just so I can get a feel for these models. I promise to not have a lead foot and will offer to buy you some lunch and shoot the s*** on landcruisers.

please pm me if you have a similar truck to the one above, thanks!

Noah
73guppie@gmail.com

 

[Giulitto]

You could just find one at a dealer ship and do it that way. Unless you are trying to drive one that is modified? Either way mine is not tip top and probably would not give a good impression. PM me

 

[calfj60]

Noah,

If you ever get up the LA area hit me up...mine is mostly what you are looking for...plus the ever popular S/C....yeah!!!

 

[1973Guppie]

thanks guilitto, don't want to deal with dealers, plus I want to talk to real 80 owners if possible

Tim, what's S/C?? will pm you if I am up that way.....

 

[NLXTACY]

Hey Noah, I've got the LX without the cheater SuperCharger

Again, if you are in the LA/SF Valley area.

 

[1973Guppie]

duh, Supercharger, of course, anyone in San Diego, maybe near Temecula??

 

[619TOY]

I'm in East County, SD. Not near Temecula (1 hr.) but you can drive my rig anytime. PM'd you too.

 

[Brentbba]

I'm in South OC.

 

[Giulitto]

Next to Qualcomm if still interested

 

[DirtyRice Joe]

"Try before you buy" is a great idea, especially considering the "Law of Unintended Consequences". After you've driven one with the mod's you're interested in, you're welcome to drive my FZJ80 (stock drivetrain with 285's) to baseline against the modded one. Good luck, and welcome the 80's world!

 

[Slomo]

Sounds like you aready have quite a few choices but you now have one more. You can drive mine as well if you want to come to south OC.

 

[1973Guppie]

cool guys, thanks much, really appreciate it, I have built a 40 and now a 55, so somewhat mechanically inclined, although no master technician, but if I can help out at all let me know....

with gas prices what they are, I will keep this in mind next time I am heading down to SD or up to OC/LA and give you guys a call.....

Noah

 

[Giulitto]

What is your location, maybe one of us is right next to you?

 

[Slomo]

Noah, I forgot to mention today. I really love the way the 80 series wheels. It is a very balanced rig and despite the difference in flex in the front vs rear suspension it crawls like a champ. I would even say it crawls better than my built 4Runner. Thus far I haven't found the extra size to be a detriment, but I haven't run it on the hammers.

 

[1973Guppie]

Hey Mo,

thanks for the point, FWIW I will be staying away from the hammers, I don't like to beat up and break my junk, my 40 is overbuilt and underdriven, that's my style. I just want something that I can drive to and from the trails and run the rubicon (bypasses are fine with me), dusy and other trails around socal. For the most part, from my research and talking with others, I have decided on 35's, 4.88's, and the slee 6 inch lift, hanna rear bumper, metaltech sliders, front slee bumper, then will build a killer rear cargo system myself. Staying with the overbuilt theme, I will probably gut the axles and rebuild them myself using front upgraded longfields and some chromoly rears, hopefully I can find a truck with stock lockers, but if not will go with arb's, whole side of truck will be sprayed herculiner, pulling stock fenders.

I am located in Fallbrook, north county SD.

thanks everyone for the help.

Noah

 

[1973Guppie]

hey mo,

do you think wheel spacers would be a good addition on the 80's? I have a set of 1.5 spacers on the 40 and would think the extra width might help? would you rub your tires with the slee 6 inch kit if you spaced your tires 1.5 inches out?

Noah

 

[Newps]

Noah I run them on my rig with stock wheels. They only rub a little on the rear fender flair, very easy to clearance if you want to keep them on. I like the extra stability the wheel spacers give you. If you plan on removing these anyway then you will have no rubbing what so ever.

 

[Slomo]

Sorry Noah, have been away from the computer. Basically what Tare said. I have 1 1/2" spaced out wheels too and the only rubbing I have is on the top inside of the rear fender when the rear axle is super stuffed while x'ed up. No rubbing at all on more level axle compression. You can get away without them if you pull the fenders as the only rubbing will be very mild and with no flares to rip off would cause no damage to the fenders or tires besides some scuffing of paint. The 80 is a top heavy rig, especially with 6" of lift, so I too like the extra width to regain some stability.

Also if you go the ARB route they are a little stronger than the factory lockers and you would not have to cut the axle housing if you did break a rear axle as you might with an OEM locker. With chromoly rears and your driving style that would almost certainly not be an issue but FWIW. Also IIRC you are not going to be using it as a daily driver but noteworthy is that the chormoly birfields wear faster with normal driving than the oem birfs.

 

[1973Guppie]

cool, thanks guys, I agree with the stability advantage, I saw a nice increase in stability when slapping on the 1.5 spacers on my fj40, I will hold onto these when I sell the 40, not sure if the lug pattern / count is that same as on the 80's?

 

[Slomo]

cool, thanks guys, I agree with the stability advantage, I saw a nice increase in stability when slapping on the 1.5 spacers on my fj40, I will hold onto these when I sell the 40, not sure if the lug pattern / count is that same as on the 80's?

Lug pattern is the same but if they are hubcentric as well as lug centric they may need to be machined a little to fit. Not positive though.