I'm BACK!!!!

[bhicks]

I took about 10 years off from the toyota world and went on over to the Jeep world but I'm am done with Jeeps. Little bit about me and my past and then I will get to a couple questions. I started off in college with a 91 4runner. converted the front axle to a straight axle set up out of an 86 4runner (I think that was the there anyways) I ran 35's and wheeled it all over socal. I eventually sold it and picked up a 95 FJ80 with factory lockers and bone stock. Put a 3" OME lift, arb bumper with winch, and 35's on it and continued with wheelin as much as possible. That was the greatest car I have ever owned. My wife got pregnant with twins and was no longer interested in getting in and out of a lifted rig with babies. We sold it and picked up an Explorer. What a piece of crap. After a few years I decided I wanted to get back into wheeling so I piced up a 2000 TJ tossed on a 4.5" long arm kit, 35's, chromos, 4.56s, and lockers and went nuts. After a couple years of continued repairs and sold it and picked up a 2000 XJ. Ran a 6" full traction long arm kit, d44's with 33spline chromos, armour everywhere, lockers, etc., etc. I sold that a little while back and decided to stay in the Jeep world and picked up a 02 Overland WJ. It is now my current rig and it sitting on a 4.5" short arm lift with long arms ready to go in, TAG bumpers, JCR slliders, 242HD tcase, and so on. I'm all 3 of my jeeps I had to replace the motor with less then 100k. Not one of my Jeeps has been reliable and they have all broke down on me on a trail at some point or another. I'm SICK of constant repairs. My FJ80 has 82,000 miles on it when I bought it and I sold it right at 190,000 miles and never had any major issues. I regret selling it every day and I finally decided it's time to sale the WJ and get back into an FJ80. I'm looking for a 95-97 FJ80 or LX450 with the factory lockers and preferably well under 200k on the odometer. I know there are certain issues with those years like the head gaskets, leather rotting, poor front axle seals, and so on. Is there any other issues I should be looking for when I go look at these FJ80's? Any differences from 95-97? Any options that are REALLY desirable or should be avoided? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Also if anyone knows of one with my requirements that is for sale in the western us (Calif, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon) PLEASE let me know.

 

[bhicks]

How do I edit my original post. I have tons of typos and want to fix them. I sound like an idiot.

 

[EricG]

How do I edit my original post. I have tons of typos and want to fix them. I sound like an idiot.

Welcome back - edit button, bottom right corner of your post.

/wouldn't worry about the typos, but paragraphs would help!

 

[TeeDiggs]

Welcome back! Sounds like you've been around the block and then some with some rigs, glad you wound up back here.

 

[Flank]

Welcome back - 95-97 are all awesome. No major differences unless you get into the EWD. Tough to find low miles rigs these days, lockers are still most desired. Look for one that has been well maintained, there are a TON on the FS forum.

 

[bhicks]

Welcome back - edit button, bottom right corner of your post.

/wouldn't worry about the typos, but paragraphs would help!

That's what I was looking for. All the other forums I'm on have the edit button, but it's not showing up on mine. Do I need to be a paying member or something?

 

[bhicks]

Welcome back - 95-97 are all awesome. No major differences unless you get into the EWD. Tough to find low miles rigs these days, lockers are still most desired. Look for one that has been well maintained, there are a TON on the FS forum.

What is the "EWD"? Mine 95 didn't have that. Is that desired? I will look into the for sale section right now. Hopefully something will pop up west of the mississippi.

 

[NorCal Cruiser]

I think there's a limit on new members editing posts to prevent spamming. I think you can edit once you hit 10 posts or so- https://forum.ih8mud.com/ih8mud-help-corner/472163-post-editing-limit.html

And welcome to Mud!

 

[arndog123]

Welcome back and good luck on your search.

 

[bhicks]

Still would like to know what the "EWD" option is? I also got a call back tonight from a FJ80 I left a note on his windshield. Saw it in the parking lot at a hospital and asked if he wanted to sell. I would like to know what you guys think of his offer. It's a 97 FJ80 with 204,000 miles. It has a 4" lift wiith the caster adjusters on the front lower arms and some custom rear long arms. It has the factory diff locks and an added aftermarket tcase lock button on the center console. Stock bumpers, no sliders. 295/75/16 BFG ATs with about 500 miles on them. He added the exended range fuel tank and a roof rack. The interior is okay but the driver seat leather is shot as usual. He wants $8000. That seems a little high for a 15 year old SUV with over 200k, but maybe I have been gone too long and have lost touch on FJ80 pricing. I offered him $6500 and he said he would think about it. Did I low ball him or did I offer too much? From what I have seen out here in SoCal my offer seemed a little low, but the mileage sucked.

 

[antor]

Still would like to know what the "EWD" option is? I also got a call back tonight from a FJ80 I left a note on his windshield. Saw it in the parking lot at a hospital and asked if he wanted to sell. I would like to know what you guys think of his offer. It's a 97 FJ80 with 204,000 miles. It has a 4" lift wiith the caster adjusters on the front lower arms and some custom rear long arms. It has the factory diff locks and an added aftermarket tcase lock button on the center console. Stock bumpers, no sliders. 295/75/16 BFG ATs with about 500 miles on them. He added the exended range fuel tank and a roof rack. The interior is okay but the driver seat leather is shot as usual. He wants $8000. That seems a little high for a 15 year old SUV with over 200k, but maybe I have been gone too long and have lost touch on FJ80 pricing. I offered him $6500 and he said he would think about it. Did I low ball him or did I offer too much? From what I have seen out here in SoCal my offer seemed a little low, but the mileage sucked.

welcome back..
I believe the EWD is the electrical wiring diagram. $6500 seems fair depending on PM.

 

[bhicks]

I have been looking through this forum and the for sale section and it seems the problem areas with the FJ80 like the head gasket, bad front axle seals, and poor quality leather were all things I dealt with in my 95, but there is one issue that I keep seeing in my research that I don't know what it is. What is the "PHH" issue? I didn't hear back yet from the seller with his thoughts on my offer, but I would like to know what the PHH issue is so I can discuss it with him.

 

[devildogcruiser25]

The PHH is the pesky heater hose. I think it is unique to the 96-97 but I could be mistaken. I honestly don't know much about it other that is is a pain in the *** to change. If you google pics it will show you where it is located. I'm sure someone else with more knowledge will chime in.

 

[bhicks]

The PHH is the pesky heater hose. I think it is unique to the 96-97 but I could be mistaken. I honestly don't know much about it other that is is a pain in the *** to change. If you google pics it will show you where it is located. I'm sure someone else with more knowledge will chime in.

Thanks for the info. I'm very curiuos to know how in depth and costly that repair is. I guess I need to do some more research.

 

[sterling]

Slee - PHH (Toyota 80 Series Land Cruiser)

There's some good reading for you.

 

[bhicks]

Slee - PHH (Toyota 80 Series Land Cruiser)

There's some good reading for you.

thanks for the link. Looks to be a PITA. Definately will be asking is that repair has been done recently to any rigs I look at.

 

[gtfour43]

thanks for the link. Looks to be a PITA. Definately will be asking is that repair has been done recently to any rigs I look at.

Though its a pita it shouldnt be a deal breaker. As far as options to look for theres not much. I didnt need a third row and I lucked out on mine. It was ordered that way so it also has non sliding rear windows. Another good option you dont see too often is manual seats. Look for the K294 on the vin tag Good luck on your search.

 

[Funner]

Welcome back
I have to say that for the truck you described, $8000 is a little high, but not crazy. If you plan to lift it, then you are saving 1800 buying one that is already done (including the new tires). Plus factory lockers are a little harder to come by in the west than they seem to be out east and in the south.

If it's running well and isn't beat to crap, then I would say $7000-$7500 is fair.
Also, it's lifted and has the CDL mod, good chance the owner is a MUD member.

The PHH is not that big of a deal, it's not technical and the parts cost is nothing to worry about. It is just a little difficult to get to.

Go get that truck and post some pictures.

 

[EricG]

The PHH is the pesky heater hose. I think it is unique to the 96-97 but I could be mistaken.

All the 1FZFE (93 to 97) engines have the PHH.

 

[bhicks]

The Head gasket, leaking axles, rotting leather, or the PHH or not things I'm trying to avoid. After 10 years of owning Jeeps I have decent mechanic skills now. They constantly broke down on me. I just want to know what the issues are so I can look for them when I'm shopping. If they are already dealt with then fantastic, if not, I now have some leverage to get a better deal.
On my last Jeep, I intentionally looked for a WJ Overland that had all the factory defects (which is a long list). The one I found had the blower motor resistor fried, blend doors broken (dual climate control),the heated seats didn't work, the ac and heat wouldn't come on, TPMS system not working, and it had a check engine code. I brought my OBDII reader with me and was able to diagnos what the issue was ( a bad gas cap) The repairs for all the failed systems were almost all common electrical issues with very cheap and easy fixes, but the uneducated seller didn't know that. I was able to get him to come down 3k on his asking price and then put about $200 into repairs to get it perfect. The "ignorant seller" wont be the case in the FJ80 world. 80 owners seem to have a MUCH better understanding of their vehicles and what repairs actually cost. Hopefully I can find someone with some needed repairs and they simply don't have the time to do the work and can give me a good deal on their rig.