Builds College Kid's '96 FZJ80 Build (1 Viewer)

[Grantskys17]

Well looks like I'm finally getting around to this. To start, I'm 19 and have owned my cruiser around ~1 year now. My dad has owned and sold upwards of twenty 40s, 60s, and 80s series so that's where my passion comes from.

Anyway, last year I found this clean 1996 FZJ80 in Texas and hopped on the deal. The interior is immaculate with reupholstered leather, clean carpet, etc. (I'll add interior pics later) New radiator, vacuum hoses, and belts right before I bought it. Also, zero rust underneath. Here's what it looked like when I bought it.

Here's what it looks like now.

List of Current Upgrades:

• 2.5" OME Lift on OME851/OME860 Springs
• 285/70r17 Mud Tires
• White Knuckle Off-road Sliders
• Spartan Rear Autolocker
• ARB Bumper w/ Smittybuilt 10k Winch
• KC Lights and 40" Lightbar
• Prinsu Rack with ARB Awning
• Random off brand ebay snorkel that works great
• Window Tint (simply amazing for Oklahoma sun)
• CB Radio and Antenna
• Upgraded Bulbs (Phillips 9006 I think)
• Upgraded horn

Future Upgrades:

• Rear Swingout Tire Carrier
• 35s or 37s
• ARB Front Airlocker
• New paintjob (far future)

Recent Maintenance Items:

• New AC Compressor and Belt
• New Alternator (they really don't like being dunked in water.. oops)
• Diffs flushed
• Brakes

To-Do List:

• Fix slight Powersteering leak
• Balance these cheap and terrible tires
• Organize wires/battery area
• (A whole lot more stuff that I can't remember right now)

So yeah. Figured I might as well start a thread as I'm always dumping money into this stupid thing. I've probably forgotten so many things but it's late and I'll edit and add items eventually. Tomorrow I'll add undercarriage / interior pics.

 

[half k cruiser]

That thing looks like its ready to go wherever you point it. Nice rig

 

[landcruisertx]

Aye welcome to the party fellow college student!

 

[Road Apple]

Wish I had gotten a land cruiser at your age. Great to start the addiction early !! Nice truck

 

[Grantskys17]

Aye welcome to the party fellow college student!

Haha what's up. I'm at OSU and see maybe one other landcruiser per week lol. Definitely not many college kids with 80s. I see 100s much more often

 

[landcruisertx]

Haha what's up. I'm at OSU and see maybe one other landcruiser per week lol. Definitely not many college kids with 80s. I see 100s much more often

Same here, I go to UTA and not many show up here. Plenty of nice 4runners though

 

[Grantskys17]

Same here, I go to UTA and not many show up here. Plenty of nice 4runners though

Ain’t that the truth.. I swear I see so many 4runners and Tacoma’s but no cruisers.

 

[Grantskys17]

 

[Grantskys17]

Thought I'd post some interior and undercarriage pics. Leather was most likely reupholstered by the PO. Most of the undercarriage is dirt I haven't cleaned off. Sub in the back is 2 10" Subs.

 

[Grantskys17]

Put the nice 1FZ-FE sticker on. Somehow makes the engine bay look much better with a single sticker!

Also, here's a video of my LC80 muffler deleted and straight piped. (I can already sense the facepalms but it honestly sounds pretty sweet and I like loud things)

 

[Grantskys17]

@nuclearlemon I saw you are a mod and online and I have a question lol can you add the Build tag onto this thread since I'm dumb and don't know how / didn't do it at the start.

 

[nuclearlemon]

@nuclearlemon I saw you are a mod and online and I have a question lol can you add the Build tag onto this thread since I'm dumb and don't know how / didn't do it at the start.

done

 

[Grantskys17]

done

Awesome thanks!

 

[Grantskys17]

Before and after picture of my front grill with black plastidip. It's reversible if I ever want to go back but I think the black looks great.

 

[Grantskys17]

Need opinions. Do I black out my chrome mirrors and handles to black out the vehicle or leave it as is?

I feel like the chrome adds a nice aesthetic flare but blacked out would be clean too

 

[nuclearlemon]

i normally don't like chrome, but your's is the second black 80 i've seen with chrome handles and gotta admit, i like it

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

A close twin. Mine came chromed. 1996. I am in Dallas. Not a fan of chrome either, but it’s grown on me. Perhaps we can connect one of these days. I have two sons who are cruiserheads as well.

 

[Grantskys17]

A close twin. Mines came chromed. 1996. I am in Dallas. Not a fan of chrome either, but it’s grown on me. Perhaps we can connect one of these days. I have two sons who are cruiserheads as well.

View attachment 2358170

Awesome looking cruiser! Chrome has grown on me too and i know the black chrome package is pretty rare. I’ll probably leave it as is then. If I’m ever down in Dallas I’ll let you know!

 

[Grantskys17]

placehold

 

[Grantskys17]

I have been dealing with freon leak for like a year and finally found the solution but I had to send it to the mechanic.

I got my cruiser back from the mechanic and my AC just to find it missing the AC Tensioner Bolt

After buying one from Wits End, I can finally say that my AC (and cruiser) is finally problem free but we all know that won't last too long