Hey guys. Just getting started on the forum. Brought home my first 80 last night. Not new to Toyota 4x4s by any means. With this 80 I'm pretty close to having had one of every type. I started with a very mildly built 89 Toyota pickup. Then my first balls to the walls build was my 85 4Runner. Like a fool I sold that truck that worked so well and got into a SAS 1st gen Tacoma. I had linked front and rear by a shop that did a piss poor job of it.
I just got out from under that Tacoma in December and after taking a break and re-assessing my priorities I went on the hunt for a clean triple locked 80. After wading through the typical 10k+ options I came across a very clean low mileage 97 on craigslist. I reached out to the guy and he told me he had been building it with the aim of taking it with him down to Ecuador when he retires. Unfortunately he found out about some changes in the laws pertaining to export of vehicles that now doesn't make it worth his while.
The truck is a creampuff. Spending the majority of its life as a California rig and then being garage kept and never offroaded once he purchased it up here in the PNW. There isn't a spot of rust that I can find and the diffs don't have a scratch on them.
- 208k miles
- Headgasket done at 170k
- Triple locked from factory
- OEM 13 gallon Aux fuel tank
- Metal tech front bumper
- Kaymar swing out rear bumper
- Corbeau Seats
- Rear seats removed and cargo area modded with tie down points
- Old school OME 2" lift
- Dynamatted entire interior
I had torfab go through the truck and find what needed addressing and to give me a professional opinion on the truck. They came back with a clean bill of health with the exception of the typical FJ80 oil leaks, a radiator that had the wrong coolant used in it at one time, and a power steering pump leak. Otherwise they said it was a great truck and a definite yes in the buy column. So I worked a deal and took it home for a great price.
So as you can tell by my prior builds I'm not going to be your standard FJ80 owner. I like to play in the rocks and doing some of the most challenging trails in the country. That being said I am getting older and getting a little more tame with my rockcrawling. My Taco was on 40s linked front and rear and was pretty much terrible as a DD and impossible to use for out of state trips unless I trailered. I don't have a daddy who is funding my hobbies and vehicles so no tow rig and brand new trailer for me. I'm a 30 year old guy who has had to make my own way in the world. I make decent money however I am saving up to buy a house in the near future and have more going on than just wheeling. My vehicles have to be multi purpose as a DD and my toy.
With that being said I have the following plans so far:
37" tire - I was very happy with my pro-comp tires and I am leaning that direction again. I really would like to give the new Cooper STT Pros a shot but their running small has lead me away from them.
Method 105 Beadlock wheel - this lightweight beadlock wheel with a -38 offset is going to be my wheel choice. I had ATX slabs on the taco and don't think I can go back from a quality beadlock wheel after having experienced them.
3" Progressive Springs and 2.5" smothies - This is where I am most up in the air right now. I have gone through the entire slinky thread and this is where I am leaning right now however the $4200 price tag is killing me. I'm well aware that 2.5 shocks are not cheap and especially ones that have been specially valved and built to specification. I am open to suggestions. I am considering possibly pairing the slinky coils up with kings, slee (ADS), or radflos instead and saving a grand that way. However the appeal of a completely ironed out kit that all the components are tuned to work perfectly together is really appealing to me after the fiasco my suspension was on my last truck
Metal tech adjustable rear arms - I've seen great results out of these on my buddies rig and really like the quality that MT puts out.
RCV for the front - I had RCVs in my 4runner and loved them. Will definitely be going with them again now that I am back into a Toyota 8"
Nitro chromoly rear axle shafts - Look to be the only game in town for chromoly rear and I have loved all nitro products I've used in the past.
COME UP Seal 9.5rs - I've always been a warn guy but I'm really liking what I'm seeing with these guys and thinking I'm going to go with them this time around. Would love to hear from those of you who have had experience with these winches.
Ironman adjustable pan hard bars - I'm hearing these are the best bang for the buck on adjustable pan hards.
I'm new to the world of 80s with the exception of being an audience member for my buddy Pounder's build these last 4 years. Very open to suggestions and opinions with this build. I built my last two trucks with the advice and guidance from the marlin forum of which I am an avid member so I'll definitely be keeping everyone up to date with info and pictures as I go forward. I look forward to the journey.
Cheers
- Andrew
I just got out from under that Tacoma in December and after taking a break and re-assessing my priorities I went on the hunt for a clean triple locked 80. After wading through the typical 10k+ options I came across a very clean low mileage 97 on craigslist. I reached out to the guy and he told me he had been building it with the aim of taking it with him down to Ecuador when he retires. Unfortunately he found out about some changes in the laws pertaining to export of vehicles that now doesn't make it worth his while.
The truck is a creampuff. Spending the majority of its life as a California rig and then being garage kept and never offroaded once he purchased it up here in the PNW. There isn't a spot of rust that I can find and the diffs don't have a scratch on them.
- 208k miles
- Headgasket done at 170k
- Triple locked from factory
- OEM 13 gallon Aux fuel tank
- Metal tech front bumper
- Kaymar swing out rear bumper
- Corbeau Seats
- Rear seats removed and cargo area modded with tie down points
- Old school OME 2" lift
- Dynamatted entire interior
I had torfab go through the truck and find what needed addressing and to give me a professional opinion on the truck. They came back with a clean bill of health with the exception of the typical FJ80 oil leaks, a radiator that had the wrong coolant used in it at one time, and a power steering pump leak. Otherwise they said it was a great truck and a definite yes in the buy column. So I worked a deal and took it home for a great price.
So as you can tell by my prior builds I'm not going to be your standard FJ80 owner. I like to play in the rocks and doing some of the most challenging trails in the country. That being said I am getting older and getting a little more tame with my rockcrawling. My Taco was on 40s linked front and rear and was pretty much terrible as a DD and impossible to use for out of state trips unless I trailered. I don't have a daddy who is funding my hobbies and vehicles so no tow rig and brand new trailer for me. I'm a 30 year old guy who has had to make my own way in the world. I make decent money however I am saving up to buy a house in the near future and have more going on than just wheeling. My vehicles have to be multi purpose as a DD and my toy.
With that being said I have the following plans so far:
37" tire - I was very happy with my pro-comp tires and I am leaning that direction again. I really would like to give the new Cooper STT Pros a shot but their running small has lead me away from them.
Method 105 Beadlock wheel - this lightweight beadlock wheel with a -38 offset is going to be my wheel choice. I had ATX slabs on the taco and don't think I can go back from a quality beadlock wheel after having experienced them.
3" Progressive Springs and 2.5" smothies - This is where I am most up in the air right now. I have gone through the entire slinky thread and this is where I am leaning right now however the $4200 price tag is killing me. I'm well aware that 2.5 shocks are not cheap and especially ones that have been specially valved and built to specification. I am open to suggestions. I am considering possibly pairing the slinky coils up with kings, slee (ADS), or radflos instead and saving a grand that way. However the appeal of a completely ironed out kit that all the components are tuned to work perfectly together is really appealing to me after the fiasco my suspension was on my last truck
Metal tech adjustable rear arms - I've seen great results out of these on my buddies rig and really like the quality that MT puts out.
RCV for the front - I had RCVs in my 4runner and loved them. Will definitely be going with them again now that I am back into a Toyota 8"
Nitro chromoly rear axle shafts - Look to be the only game in town for chromoly rear and I have loved all nitro products I've used in the past.
COME UP Seal 9.5rs - I've always been a warn guy but I'm really liking what I'm seeing with these guys and thinking I'm going to go with them this time around. Would love to hear from those of you who have had experience with these winches.
Ironman adjustable pan hard bars - I'm hearing these are the best bang for the buck on adjustable pan hards.
I'm new to the world of 80s with the exception of being an audience member for my buddy Pounder's build these last 4 years. Very open to suggestions and opinions with this build. I built my last two trucks with the advice and guidance from the marlin forum of which I am an avid member so I'll definitely be keeping everyone up to date with info and pictures as I go forward. I look forward to the journey.
Cheers
- Andrew