Keeping your 80 up.

[cruiserdan]

How bad do you want to keep your 80 "pretty" and "correct"?

I ask this because the 80 is aging and is beginning to "sunset" from the standpoint that you are no longer able to get "whatever" you may need from the manufacturer, provided you are willing to pay for it.

The fact is that replacement parts are being discontinued (as is to be expected as difficult as it is for us to accept). The 80 has been out of production now for 16 years so brace yourselves when you can't get a matching-color seat belt or a fender, or an engine ECU.

Oak interior trim stuff is getting scarce, fenders are discontinued, 3FE engine stuff is going away and so-on.

I guess what I'm trying to convey is that you need to be prepared if you want to keep your 80 fresh. I am in no way trying to create a rush, only warning you that we all cherrish vehicles that are aging faster than we want them to and it will only get progressively more challenging to support them.

 

[greentruck]

After hanging some in the FJ55 Forums recently, I'm actually not feeling too bad about hanging onto the 80 for awhile. I think Dan has an important point. That special something may be getting more special -- and collectible even -- sooner rather than later.

 

[etarasoff]

Whoa whoa whoa. Whoa. Hold on.

So you're saying that in addition to budgeting for a knuckle rebuild kit, headgasket 'preventative maintenance' kit, etc. etc...I now need to budget for a CDAN "going-to-be-discontinued-in-your-color" kit?!?!

JK. I've tried to source some things recently that while still available, are only so in grey. Bummer...

 

[Mixelplix]

This is exactly why I scan craigslist for '91-'93 parts car 80's. I intend to buy two, and store them to keep mine running.

I'm fortunate enough to have quite a bit of storage space, and a car trailer.

I should start a FJ80 parts co-op. $500 a year per member, and we store the cars on my property and buy a parts car whenever we find one.

 

[sleeoffroad]

I guess what I'm trying to convey is that you need to be prepared if you want to keep your 80 fresh. I am in no way trying to create a rush, only warning you that we all cherrish vehicles that are aging faster than we want them to and it will only get progressively more challenging to support them.

So what you are saying is that this warehouse of used crap that I have might be worth money sometime?

 

[HogFan]

How bad do you want to keep your 80 "pretty" and "correct"?

More concerned with reliable and functional.

 

[Bomar]

So what you are saying is that this warehouse of used crap that I have might be worth money sometime?

Bingo...

 

[harrydunn]

As much as I like my 80, I'll be going Hundo when the ole' girl starts fussing too much. It's my DD.

 

[bhmmapping]

I have just started to copy the 40 and 60 series folks and say that the truck has "Patina"

as in:

"it would be a shame to repaint that faded clearcoat on the hood, you would ruin the patina!"

 

[harrydunn]

Patina is very popular right now with classic cars and trucks so you'll be in good company.

 

[DARKNESS]

There was a guy posting a while ago about printing hard to find plastic parts with a 3D printer. I wonder if someday 3D printing will advance to the point that hard to find plastic parts are printed on demand. Seems like it could be a good business if you could amass enough CAD drawings of classic car parts.

 

[bruja blanca]

We bought ours several weeks ago and intend on keeping her for decades. In searching for parts, we compiled a list of vendors and found a LC junkyard not too far away to source parts directly

LC Junkyard by 08TTbrujablanca, on Flickr​

 

[ygthb]

where is that yard?

 

[KS-Ryan]

Must be a slow month in the parts dept.

 

[OGBeno]

Must be a slow month in the parts dept.

Actually no.

I think Dan is making a philosophical statement about the nature of owning a Toyota Land Cruiser that--in the case of the first 1FZ-FE powered 80's--is now 21 years old.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

Unlike any past Land Cruiser generations, we also have a new technology coming into its own that may help save the day. 3D Printers. Start scanning those OEM parts and creating a digital 80 Series database.

 

[cruiserdan]

Actually no.

I think Dan is making a philosophical statement about the nature of owning a Toyota Land Cruiser that--in the case of the first 1FZ-FE powered 80's--is now 21 years old.

Mine just turned 21. It was built in September 1992.

 

[Funner]

where is that yard?

I guarantee it's not stateside.

 

[timer00]

There is a simple soluton to this

move to Venezuela

plenty of "newer" 80's down there and I am sure lots of parts

o yea cheap gas too!

 

[bruja blanca]

I guarantee it's not stateside.

...or your money back That is correct. There are several such yards in the Dominican Republic. This one is @ 18°29'10.08"N, 69°52'26.20"W.

LCjunkyardGEview by 08TTbrujablanca, on Flickr​