Hello everyone! I’ve wanted an 80 series LC since they were new, and been in love with them since riding in one all through the southern Bolivia a few years ago while I was backpacking, but I live in San Diego, where prices are pretty high compared to the rest of the country, so I’ve never really been able to get one. Well, I was looking on FB marketplace for some parts for my 3rd Gen 4Runner and randomly came across a newly posted ad for a ’91 LC in pretty much all original condition. The price was really low for a 3x locked 80 in SoCal, so along with half the city, I jumped on and it. I didn’t realize there were two models or 80’s and that the early ones had different motors and no lockers, and had to have a lengthy discussion with the seller on how his center diff lock did NOT lock all 4 wheels… it took a little bit of effort, but I’m sure by this point he was getting it from many prospective buyers.
I found out that he needed to unload it quick but it won’t pass smog because it has a check engine light on. In California buying a car “as is” that doesn’t pass smog is crazy risky. So, after talking that through and his realization that he didn’t have “lockers”, we settled on a few thousand below his listed price and figure I came away ok. Problem is… I have a daily driver, two other project vehicles (’02 4Runner & ’75 Honda CB750), and I don’t have anywhere else to store this 4th vehicle except the street. Plus, the reality of all the work I need to do for this new vehicle has set in and now I’m kind of regretting it. Hopefully I can just get it Smoged ASAP and then put the rest of it on the back burner.
Anyway, without further ado, here is my new 1991 3FE with 187k miles in pretty much all original shape with faded paint, not even a speck of surface rust, and the following issues.... that I would LOVE some guidance on.
Bummed he got rid of the original wheels!! = ( I should have took off more money for that, haha.
EDIT: I guess I should list the good stuff the PO did as well
New items done by PO
Rear brakes
Front brakes
Radiator
belts
Rear axle seals
Spark plugs
Cap & Rotor
Catalytic converters
Known issues…..
Body:
Pretty solid, but has a small dent on the drivers side rear quarter panel next to the rear light, but it's missing a gas door and the paint sucks... and is ugly. If I find a new door, is it screwed in or riveted in?
Check Engine Light Codes: 25, 26, 28
Did some searching and I’ve purchased new Denso plugs via Rock Auto (thanks for all the posts on this killer deal!!), so hopefully those clear the codes! Do I need a special tool to clear the light myself?
Front Axle seals are bad:
I can definitely do this myself, but do I wait for the Marlin crawler kit to come back in stock, or is the one from Cruiser Outfitters just as good?
Brakes
They are super squishy! They stop, but just barely. The PO said the master cylinder needs to be replaced, but how do you know if it's that or the brake booster? Also, rebuild or just replace it? ....need to search more about this topic.
Water pump is leaking:
Or so I think it’s the water pump…. IDK what the PO did, but it was not leaking when I checked out the vehicle. I had to leave it, because I didn’t have anyone go with me to get it (because it was on a whim), but when I went to get it the next day, the PO txted me right after I left to keep an eye on the temps because there was a big wet spot under the truck that morning that “he’d never seen before” …..even though probably half the cooling system drained onto the street in a matter of hours while the truck was OFF, the fluid was 100% water, and he forgot to take out the 2.5 gallon water jug behind the driver’s seat that he was clearly using to continuously refill the radiator with. Now I’m worried he was just using tap water and all the internals are rusted. I need to trace it back a little better, but I’m 90% positive it was coming from the pump and not hoses….. we’ll see I guess. I ordered a new one from Rock Auto just to be sure, but where’s the best place to get new hoses? Autozone/Napa ok??
Alarm System:
The truck has a ridiculous alarm system that has only one remote that is literally in 3 different pieces. If I disconnect the battery, I have to deal with disarming it all over again. I searched at it looks like the 1991’s didn’t have factory alarms….. so am I ok to remove it, provided I figure out how it disables the vehicle, and remove that as well??
WTF is this!
It's under the drivers seat. Is this part of the alarm? It’s wired to so many different things and then goes up behind the stereo to this plug, and then also up overhead to this thing….. if this isn’t factory, I’ll just remove all of it. I have a feeling it’s part of the alarm system, but because of the way it’s imbedded, it looks like it could be factory. I have no idea!
It's connected to all of this mess.... that has spliced in wires, running to ghost exterior lighting all over the truck. Such a mess!
This is all wired separately.... Alarm???
What is this thing??
It’s not connected to anything….
Is it SMOG related? I’m confused.
Tint
Is there a good way to remove the tint? Heat gun on low setting? Razor and windex? ....that's how i've done it before, just looking fo new ideas.
Smell
The interior is in really good survivor condition and I don’t want to change a thing, except it SMELLS!! Not like rancid or anything, just dirt/grime, old AF smell. And the rear seats have a few stains. I’m thinking a good shampoo?? Anyone have any luck with any certain products to do this???
My 3rd Gen T4R is my fully decked out off-road/overland rig that’s locked, with full King suspension, bumpers, sliders, rack and a badass sleeping platform that’s about to go on 35’s. So really, my plan for this truck is to just cruise around town/beach/hiking days, for as cheap as possible! I really hate the color, so if I get the 80 bug, I think I’d probably have to sell it and get a black or grey 3x locked later model with the stronger motor to upgrade, or maybe respray this one in a newer Desert Dune color.
All in all, I'm actually really stoked, and it's not that much work, but I'm also in my last year of Nursing school, and probably should have thought about it more before jumping on this one lol. Can't wait to get this thing operational. Thanks everyone!!
I found out that he needed to unload it quick but it won’t pass smog because it has a check engine light on. In California buying a car “as is” that doesn’t pass smog is crazy risky. So, after talking that through and his realization that he didn’t have “lockers”, we settled on a few thousand below his listed price and figure I came away ok. Problem is… I have a daily driver, two other project vehicles (’02 4Runner & ’75 Honda CB750), and I don’t have anywhere else to store this 4th vehicle except the street. Plus, the reality of all the work I need to do for this new vehicle has set in and now I’m kind of regretting it. Hopefully I can just get it Smoged ASAP and then put the rest of it on the back burner.
Anyway, without further ado, here is my new 1991 3FE with 187k miles in pretty much all original shape with faded paint, not even a speck of surface rust, and the following issues.... that I would LOVE some guidance on.
Bummed he got rid of the original wheels!! = ( I should have took off more money for that, haha.
EDIT: I guess I should list the good stuff the PO did as well
New items done by PO
Rear brakes
Front brakes
Radiator
belts
Rear axle seals
Spark plugs
Cap & Rotor
Catalytic converters
Known issues…..
Body:
Pretty solid, but has a small dent on the drivers side rear quarter panel next to the rear light, but it's missing a gas door and the paint sucks... and is ugly. If I find a new door, is it screwed in or riveted in?
Check Engine Light Codes: 25, 26, 28
Did some searching and I’ve purchased new Denso plugs via Rock Auto (thanks for all the posts on this killer deal!!), so hopefully those clear the codes! Do I need a special tool to clear the light myself?
Front Axle seals are bad:
I can definitely do this myself, but do I wait for the Marlin crawler kit to come back in stock, or is the one from Cruiser Outfitters just as good?
Brakes
They are super squishy! They stop, but just barely. The PO said the master cylinder needs to be replaced, but how do you know if it's that or the brake booster? Also, rebuild or just replace it? ....need to search more about this topic.
Water pump is leaking:
Or so I think it’s the water pump…. IDK what the PO did, but it was not leaking when I checked out the vehicle. I had to leave it, because I didn’t have anyone go with me to get it (because it was on a whim), but when I went to get it the next day, the PO txted me right after I left to keep an eye on the temps because there was a big wet spot under the truck that morning that “he’d never seen before” …..even though probably half the cooling system drained onto the street in a matter of hours while the truck was OFF, the fluid was 100% water, and he forgot to take out the 2.5 gallon water jug behind the driver’s seat that he was clearly using to continuously refill the radiator with. Now I’m worried he was just using tap water and all the internals are rusted. I need to trace it back a little better, but I’m 90% positive it was coming from the pump and not hoses….. we’ll see I guess. I ordered a new one from Rock Auto just to be sure, but where’s the best place to get new hoses? Autozone/Napa ok??
Alarm System:
The truck has a ridiculous alarm system that has only one remote that is literally in 3 different pieces. If I disconnect the battery, I have to deal with disarming it all over again. I searched at it looks like the 1991’s didn’t have factory alarms….. so am I ok to remove it, provided I figure out how it disables the vehicle, and remove that as well??
WTF is this!
It's under the drivers seat. Is this part of the alarm? It’s wired to so many different things and then goes up behind the stereo to this plug, and then also up overhead to this thing….. if this isn’t factory, I’ll just remove all of it. I have a feeling it’s part of the alarm system, but because of the way it’s imbedded, it looks like it could be factory. I have no idea!
It's connected to all of this mess.... that has spliced in wires, running to ghost exterior lighting all over the truck. Such a mess!
This is all wired separately.... Alarm???
What is this thing??
It’s not connected to anything….
Is it SMOG related? I’m confused.
Tint
Is there a good way to remove the tint? Heat gun on low setting? Razor and windex? ....that's how i've done it before, just looking fo new ideas.
Smell
The interior is in really good survivor condition and I don’t want to change a thing, except it SMELLS!! Not like rancid or anything, just dirt/grime, old AF smell. And the rear seats have a few stains. I’m thinking a good shampoo?? Anyone have any luck with any certain products to do this???
My 3rd Gen T4R is my fully decked out off-road/overland rig that’s locked, with full King suspension, bumpers, sliders, rack and a badass sleeping platform that’s about to go on 35’s. So really, my plan for this truck is to just cruise around town/beach/hiking days, for as cheap as possible! I really hate the color, so if I get the 80 bug, I think I’d probably have to sell it and get a black or grey 3x locked later model with the stronger motor to upgrade, or maybe respray this one in a newer Desert Dune color.
All in all, I'm actually really stoked, and it's not that much work, but I'm also in my last year of Nursing school, and probably should have thought about it more before jumping on this one lol. Can't wait to get this thing operational. Thanks everyone!!
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