Finally getting a FJ80

[OffRoadScott]

The FJ80 I am getting has a bad transmission. The guy said the original owner put the wrong transmission fluid, the current owner said driving around town it was fine but he went to Vegas and apparently the fluid got too hot and the transmission took a dump on the current owner.

My friend said he will help me tow it back to my place, but my question is how long with all the proper tools will it take to replace the transmission? My buddy has a compressor and all the needed tools.

The current owner is tossing $250 towards me to pay for the transmission too, I am trading my 02 Xterra with over 230K on it for this FJ80.

 

[ZackR]

I haven't done this so no idea how difficult it would be....

I would be inclined to pull the engine and trans out, take care of all preventative maintenance with the engine out (including PHH, head gasket, oil pump cover gasket, wiring harness repairs, coolant lines, vacuum lines..... etc) and this drop the whole unit back in with either the repaired or rebuilt transmission.

Easier said than done but it would be nice way to knock out a ton of work at once with easy access.

 

[Tools R Us]

Does it start and run? If so, does it drive with the CDL locked?

 

[OffRoadScott]

Does it start and run? If so, does it drive with the CDL locked?

I know it runs, but do not know if the car drives with the CDL locked. If the CDL locks would that be okay to drive back to Phoenix (1.5 hours)? My buddy has already agreed to tow it either way.

I haven't done this so no idea how difficult it would be....

I would be inclined to pull the engine and trans out, take care of all preventative maintenance with the engine out (including PHH, head gasket, oil pump cover gasket, wiring harness repairs, coolant lines, vacuum lines..... etc) and this drop the whole unit back in with either the repaired or rebuilt transmission.

Easier said than done but it would be nice way to knock out a ton of work at once with easy access.

I see your reasoning behind pulling the motor/trans but this will be my daily. I am thinking of just keeping the bad transmission and having it rebuilt.

 

[Tools R Us]

I know it runs, but do not know if the car drives with the CDL locked. If the CDL locks would that be okay to drive back to Phoenix (1.5 hours)? My buddy has already agreed to tow it either way.

What year is it? The early rigs tend to wear the birf/drive plate splines, if one is stripped, it wont move, possibly grind, act like a bad trans. Several have been bought with a reported bad trans, that turned out to have drive line failure. Not knowing the condition and having a trailer ready, that is how I would go. Plus, buying a broken rig, jumping in, pushing a button and driving away tends to annoy the seller!

 

[OffRoadScott]

What year is it? The early rigs tend to wear the birf/drive plate splines, if one is stripped, it wont move, possibly grind, act like a bad trans. Several have been bought with a reported bad trans, that turned out to have drive line failure. Not knowing the condition and having a trailer ready, that is how I would go. Plus, buying a broken rig, jumping in, pushing a button and driving away tends to annoy the seller!

It is a 92. He said it will not engage and will not move under it's own power. I am not sure the history of the driveline, I am asking him all these questions as you all ask me.

What does everyone recommend as far as fluids for the differentials, transmission, rear/front differentials etc?

 

[mct75]

+1 on the stripped drive flanges.

 

[Tools R Us]

... I am asking him all these questions as you all ask me. ...

You may not want to educate him too much? If he is happy to sell it broken and you agree to buy in that condition.... Just do a proper diagnoses before starting a repair?

 

[OffRoadScott]

You may not want to educate him too much? If he is happy to sell it broken and you agree to buy in that condition.... Just do a proper diagnoses before starting a repair?

True, but he is an exchange student at University of Arizona and is leaving in two weeks. If he is willing to give me money to replace the transmission and take my Xterra in trade (236K) on the Xterra too.

 

[OffRoadScott]

This is a picture of the actual Fj80. He has 33x12.5 BFG on there now. It has been lifted, could I go 35's.

 

[ajax1]

Listen to what tools is saying. Go get it then once you leave and deal is done, trailer it away few blocks lock the cdl and see if it drives if so stripped drive flanges. I found one same way where lady said was broke locked cdl and drove away

 

[OffRoadScott]

Listen to what tools is saying. Go get it then once you leave and deal is done, trailer it away few blocks lock the cdl and see if it drives if so stripped drive flanges. I found one same way where lady said was broke locked cdl and drove away

So if the CDL does lock could I drive it home? How hard would it be to swap out those drive flanges?

 

[ajax1]

Yup or swap good flanges very easy to do bout 10 minutes, need 12 mm 6 point socket brass hammer or drift to smack out the cones, some c clip oilers to pop the c clip and new gasket if ya tear up old one, you would need a pair of the old style flanges or up grade to the new ones with new birfields if doing that service front axle

 

[OffRoadScott]

Yup or swap good flanges very easy to do bout 10 minutes, need 12 mm 6 point socket brass hammer or drift to smack out the cones, some c clip oilers to pop the c clip and new gasket if ya tear up old one, you would need a pair of the old style flanges or up grade to the new ones with new birfields if doing that service front axle

Thank you. I plan on doing some new axles in the front and eventually the rear axles too. Seen Nitro has drive flanges for aftermarket birfields.

 

[ajax1]

Go download the free fsm that will tell ya how to do it if not sure, google Landcruiser free fsm trollhole sound get ya there it's on this site

 

[ajax1]

You have semi float rear end since it is a 92, if I where you I'd snag a axle from 93 and up with disc brakes yours will be drums, this will get you full float rear with disc brakes pretty easy to swap into yours you'll need to just do something bout the parking brake

 

[OffRoadScott]

You have semi float rear end since it is a 92, if I where you I'd snag a axle from 93 and up with disc brakes yours will be drums, this will get you full float rear with disc brakes pretty easy to swap into yours you'll need to just do something bout the parking brake

Swapping out the rear axle is a planned modification. Will I need adjustable trailing arms/panhards to center the axle? Where can I find the drive flanges for sale? I can not locate them on either Autozone or Oreilly's site. I have seen the Nitro and other upgraded drive flanges but not sure if they will work with the stock birfields.

 

[Tools R Us]

Swapping out the rear axle is a planned modification. Will I need adjustable trailing arms/panhards to center the axle? Where can I find the drive flanges for sale? I can not locate them on either Autozone or Oreilly's site. I have seen the Nitro and other upgraded drive flanges but not sure if they will work with the stock birfields.

The first step, check it over and see what it needs. Most often upgrading the early rig to later birf and drive plate is most productive, but at this point, its all conjecture.

 

[OffRoadScott]

The first step, check it over and see what it needs. Most often upgrading the early rig to later birf and drive plate is most productive, but at this point, its all conjecture.

But if it CDL locks up and drives, where can I find some factory replacements or replacements to hold over till I can get the nitro birfields.

 

[Tools R Us]

I likely have some or all that you need. There are options, wouldn't lock in to anything until you know what is up?