I paid a lot for mine but most everything was done.
do fj80's ever sell for bluebook?
- Thread starter mechanicallydeclined
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
in 2008 I paid $6,000 for a 1995.5 fzj80 with 117,000 miles.
+ air lockers and gears + bearings + seals for the axles. so propbably $3,000.
150,000 miles head gasket done myself + arp studs and gasket kit + $600
Plus a set of tires $900
Plus springs and shocks ?$800?
now we are at 169,000 miles and the body is a bit dinged up and the side miror got ripped off by a tree while sliding down hill in reverse and is now held on with rtv and duct tape( for the last 20,000miles) and I could give a sh>t less how much its worth cause its mine for good.
+ air lockers and gears + bearings + seals for the axles. so propbably $3,000.
150,000 miles head gasket done myself + arp studs and gasket kit + $600
Plus a set of tires $900
Plus springs and shocks ?$800?
now we are at 169,000 miles and the body is a bit dinged up and the side miror got ripped off by a tree while sliding down hill in reverse and is now held on with rtv and duct tape( for the last 20,000miles) and I could give a sh>t less how much its worth cause its mine for good.
I too see lots of rigs that are out there with a range of asking prices. It seems to me that the guys who ask little are one's who took little care of their rigs. Conversely, the higher asking prices may look the same, but have had all the recent PM and haven't been driven by folks who think they have a Honda CRX.
Either pay less now and waaaaaaaaaaaaay more later to keep it stock, or pay more now and pay waay more later.
Depending on what you want to do with it, a cheap rig may be the perfect choice.
Either pay less now and waaaaaaaaaaaaay more later to keep it stock, or pay more now and pay waay more later.
Depending on what you want to do with it, a cheap rig may be the perfect choice.
NCFJ
Supporting Vendor
Like anything else that is not somehow regulated price points are determined by supply and demand. As time goes on supply goes down due to wrecks and people just plain wearing them out and scrapping them (sad but true). Basic economics.
The fact that the 80 series is considered by many to be the last true LC props up the value as well. I see the 80 series becoming more popular every day. A great many people who got into 4X4 via Tacomas, FJ Cruisers and even newer Jeeps see built 80s on the trail and realize that their current rig will never be able to perform like an 80 and start their search for their own 80. All this too will drive up the price.
Your best bet to get a good deal is to be diligent in your search, out of your own area. Stay away from dealers and hope for someone that has been using it to take kids to school and soccer and really has no clue what they have.
I hae purchased 3 80 series in the last 8 months and have a whopping $2,500.00 into all three. I search for rigs with either a blown motor or blown trans. The 95 we bought with a "blown" motor has a wrist pin knock and serves as my wifes back up vehicle. It drives well and we have a whopping $700.00 invested in it. It is next in line for a 5.3L Vortec/4L60E/split case and manual hubs.
Take your time and good luck with your search.
The fact that the 80 series is considered by many to be the last true LC props up the value as well. I see the 80 series becoming more popular every day. A great many people who got into 4X4 via Tacomas, FJ Cruisers and even newer Jeeps see built 80s on the trail and realize that their current rig will never be able to perform like an 80 and start their search for their own 80. All this too will drive up the price.
Your best bet to get a good deal is to be diligent in your search, out of your own area. Stay away from dealers and hope for someone that has been using it to take kids to school and soccer and really has no clue what they have.
I hae purchased 3 80 series in the last 8 months and have a whopping $2,500.00 into all three. I search for rigs with either a blown motor or blown trans. The 95 we bought with a "blown" motor has a wrist pin knock and serves as my wifes back up vehicle. It drives well and we have a whopping $700.00 invested in it. It is next in line for a 5.3L Vortec/4L60E/split case and manual hubs.
Take your time and good luck with your search.
swamp-thing
SILVER Star
overpaying is all relative, if it's something you want badly, and the prices just aren't where you want them to be, you might just have to keep looking & looking & looking - it may take a very long time. Spending a little more now ( if you can ) will get you on the road and enjoying the cruiser much faster! Good luck!!
maxamillion2345
Franken-80
For whatever reason people are willing to over pay on these junkers, it's not that KBB or NADA is out of touch with values of any or all vehicles -- it's really just that the 80 series are a extremely niche market and for some reason people (the male counterpart to the suburban soccer mom?) are willing to spend insane amounts of money on an old extremely high mileage wore out truck -- then sink a lot more money into them (check out the 2nd and 3rd posts down) and come on here and justify their purchases. You're better off with a 4runner anyway.
Good luck.
FWIW I got mine for 1k because rod knock and 3FE but the 3fe went to the scrap yard anyway.
Good luck.
FWIW I got mine for 1k because rod knock and 3FE but the 3fe went to the scrap yard anyway.
Last edited:
$13K in 2002 for my 1997 80 with 120K on the ticker.
Fast forward almost 12 years and I easily have $50K more into it.
Pay to play with the 80.
Fast forward almost 12 years and I easily have $50K more into it.
Pay to play with the 80.
