FZJ 80 Help

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seal13il

seal13il

Joined
Sep 4, 2008
Threads
15
Messages
112
Location
Reno, NV
Website
www.maccabeearms.com
Greetings All:)

I need some help in ideas & directions on how to improve my FJ80...... I know some of the members are super experts on the subject, so come show your colors and ring my bell!!! lets have a cruiser bear at my place:):beer:
 
Gonna need some specs on the rig to be of more help. Year/mileage/condition, etc. Also what kind of buildup/improvements did you have in mind? What kind of wheeling do you see yourself doing?

Now worries on the help. Our unofficial club motto is, "We are here to help you spend your money." :flipoff2:

Jack
 
Step 1 drive to Golden Co.
Step 2 Find Slee offroad
Step 3 sign blank check
Step 4 get on plane back to Reno and wait for Christo to call.


Simple!:grinpimp:



Well, you didn't mention a budget.:lol:
 
rusty_tlc said:
Step 1 drive to Golden Co.
Step 2 Find Slee offroad
Step 3 sign blank check
Step 4 get on plane back to Reno and wait for Christo to call.


Simple!:grinpimp:



Well, you didn't mention a budget.:lol:
Click to expand...

Sorry but I'm not wealthy enough to spent my money at Slee:bang:
 
rusty_tlc said:
Step 1 drive to Golden Co.
Step 2 Find Slee offroad
Step 3 sign blank check
Step 4 get on plane back to Reno and wait for Christo to call.


Simple!:grinpimp:



Well, you didn't mention a budget.:lol:
Click to expand...

locrwln1 said:
Gonna need some specs on the rig to be of more help. Year/mileage/condition, etc. Also what kind of buildup/improvements did you have in mind? What kind of wheeling do you see yourself doing?

Now worries on the help. Our unofficial club motto is, "We are here to help you spend your money." :flipoff2:

Jack
Click to expand...

Its a 1994 FZJ with Factory f&R lockers, has 3.5" OME & 33" A/T tires, 150K miles, I still have the crawling bug:( but an aggressive expedition daily driver & weekend warrior with the ability to run most trails will do......I would realy like to run the Rubicon in this thing....:whoops::whoops:
 
seal13il said:
Its a 1994 FZJ with Factory f&R lockers, has 3.5" OME & 33" A/T tires, 150K miles, I still have the crawling bug:( but an aggressive expedition daily driver & weekend warrior with the ability to run most trails will do......I would realy like to run the Rubicon in this thing....:whoops::whoops:
Click to expand...
I've seen less built 80's than that do Rubicon with no body damage.

I think I'd take care of the PHH and head gasket first, if those things haven't already been done. In other words base line the maintenance because if you are planning on using it for Expo driving the last thing you need is a breakdown in BFE.


Longfields, 35's and re-gear the diffs. Not much else you need to do from what I've read and seen of the 80 series. Unless you want a dorkel, Aux tank, and roof rack, etc.
 
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If you want a decent daily driver plus a awesome expedition rig that is still capable of running the 'Con. 3.5-4" lift. 35" tires. Gearing: at least 4.88's (DD/expedition primary uses) possibly 5.29's if rocks are more your thing.

Armor (Rocker guard/sliders, bumpers, skid plate). For the skid plate either Slee's or I have Iron Pig Offroad skid plate/crossmember (more protection). Build your own sliders, using Georges design (search the 80 section on 'Mud) if you are trying to stay cheap or you can buy Slee's or Metaltech. With a '94, I would remove the fiberglass fender flares or the Rubicon will.

Unless you are going to do the part-time conversion, don't do the Longfields on an 80. They will only last about 25k miles on a full-time rig. Stock birfields are much bigger on 80's than the mini trucks, so breakage is rare.

As Rusty said, do all of your PM. Unfortunately, you are at the mileage where some of the stuff is due, as I tell other people, you didn't get that "free" 100k miles of ownership, so now it is time to pay the piper.

Now having said all of that, I will tell you that while you can take it over the 'Con and it will do it, a built 80 is really the wrong tool for the job for rockcrawling, they are just too big and heavy, plus the undercarriage is really "dirty."

If you need anything else, let me know, I can bore you to tears with my worthless trivia, just ask any of these guys.:grinpimp:

Jack
 
It is a lot of work to get an 80 through the Rubicon.

Of course if a guy wanted an nice expo rig and still be able to to trails like Rubicon he could get an 80 and a mini truck.:flipoff2:
 
For Rubicon:

4 inch Slee lift

4.88 gears

315/75/16 tires

Sliders/rear bumper/winch

Be careful and have fun.


That's also a great set up for travelling the Western USA. You'll be GTG on evey trail in Moab, and everywhere between Reno and there.
 
Yes Jack is our resident Guru so to speak he Deff has the knowledge and i myself ask him lots of questions as i have a 91 fj80 i already have regeared and looking to lift it next proly be a 4 inch lift also will be adding sliders and bumbers and a winch and so on take a good look at Jacks rig his is very nicely set up and would be a good example of what your looking to do to your rig for what you wanna do



Dan
 
Jack definitely knows yota tech, and being the perfectionist he is, he does things over and over, and over and over till they are perfect.

I think I drive him nuts with my projects since I'm the "Good enough for Gov't work" type... Of course, my rig doesn't go all the places he goes either..
 
well, started working with a local guy on fabricating my front winch bumper, rear tire carrier bumper , side rock rails, under armor & link protection and prob also an expedition roof rack....should take about a month to finish, than I guess tires...than re gear.....and somewhere along the way...robbing a bank;-)
 
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