Builds My 1997 FZJ80 Build

[bowtiestang]

Well I have had want adds here and on CL for months but today it paid off
Just got home with my 97 Cruiser. Here is how it all went down....

The owner contacted my by email a week or so ago stating he was in Afghanistan and had a Cruiser in AZ for sale! Well with the over seas thing and all I figured SCAM...but after a few emails and then got to talk to his wife on the phone haggled price a little we set today as the meet up day and I drove to Scottsdale to pick it up. The Cruiser was in a little bit of a crash by the son but it had everything I wanted and the owners were realistic on price and great people to deal with.

The stats are...

Locked Front and Rear MAJOR BONUS saves the cost of ARBs
New tires ( I will be upgrading soon so the Tundra can have them)
No running boards or roof rack from the factory...sweet!
All stock! Non hacked....even factory radio and wheels (just like I wanted).
Color I can live with...wanted it to be white,green or gray...got gray

It drove great back to Tucson and got 17.45 MPG....BETTER than the Tundra did on the trip, Tundra got 16.59....WTF?? Thought these things got bad mileage!!

Only issue I found so far is the thing turns much tighter to the right than the left.
After the crash the previous owner took it for an alignment so there son could still drive it....I see they replaced a tie rod but something isnt right Will check that out in the morning. and the low beam is out on the RH side

Here are some pics to start things off...........


ouch!!

 

[Kchan156]

Nice congrats. So is your Supra for sale now?

 

[driver5155]

Nice year. I have a OEM front bumper sitting on top of my Jeep roll bar. It would be a pain to wrap in cardboard and ship but if you are interested pm me and we can try and work a deal.

 

[bowtiestang]

Opps... guess I should post the plans...

Fix damage and do general maintenance
Nice front and rear bumpers like ARB or Slee ect..
Sliders
Under armor
Winch
Small lift with 33" mud tires
Lighting

 

[alpendubber]

Nice find!!! How many miles? Can I ask what you paid for it?

I wish mine didn't come with running boards, roof rack, or the stupid spoiler on the hatch.

 

[bowtiestang]

Nice find!!! How many miles? Can I ask what you paid for it?

I wish mine didn't come with running boards, roof rack, or the stupid spoiler on the hatch.

Sure

189500 miles
paid $2100.00 Funny thing is this is the lowest mile 80 I found...also the first one everything work.

 

[retrofive]

Sure

189500 miles
paid $2100.00 Funny thing is this is the lowest mile 80 I found...also the first one everything work.

Great deal!

 

[masterfab23]

Nice 80 man welcome to the moonglow club

Sent from my EVO4G using IH8MUD

 

[bowtiestang]

Had a little time today so I cleaned her up a little and pulled the bumper off to have a look at the damage. Much better than i feared
Just need to find a few parts and we will be good as new.

 

[excessive]

lookin good!

 

[kirkm76]

With regard to the turning, I had this happen on an old Mercury and it was because when I put the front end back together I didn't orient the Pittman Arm correctly.

 

[bowtiestang]

My front and rear diffs were having issues staying lock and the center diff light wasnt coming on all the time. I figured the center diff switch was the problem.

First I took it out and checked it with the DVOM. I was stuck open but once I smaked it, it started working.

Didnt really trust it so I ordered up a NAPA back up lamp switch for $18.59. As you can see its the same swith

When I put her in 4 low it still take a little bit for it to lock the center diff. I think this truck wasnt in 4 low much. Seems the more I use it the faster its getting at locking the center diff

 

[bowtiestang]

Guess I should update....
The CDL is working much better now....no more delay engaging.

Done the CDL switch mod. used a hazard switch from a 91 Toyota PU.

Thanks to all the Mud members the body work is coming along nice. Got the head lamps and markers replace and the bumper installed. The valance should be here soon. Just need to get a fender or fix this one.
Spent all day today cleaning up surface rust under the vehicle.Also removed the 3rd row seats. Rest of this week I need to service the beast. Doing boring stuff like Diff,TC,tran and engine oil.

Cant wait to lift this thing...

 

[SerpentHunter]

Looks like the bug has bit ya. Have fun with it.

 

[bowtiestang]

I have been mainly working under the Cruiser cleaning and neutralizing rust.
The redneck dual exhaust was getting in my way and driving me nuts banging on the frame.....so I took the saw to it

Made some turn downs for the Flowmaster to get me by until I do up a REAL exhaust. Now it sounds like a UPS truck

Finally looked into the steering issue....and its not good! So do you think something looks twisted??

So is that the dreaded twisted sector shaft I have read so much about??
And let me tell you...that "F"ing pitman arms was a bitch to get off


Anyone have a steering gear box or shaft for sale cheap??

Off to the wanted adds to find steering parts now

 

[94SRUNNER]

I would say you have some twisted metal to deal with!

Check out AJIK Overland Exchange, Josh sells used 80 Series parts. He advertises here on Mud, look him up in the vendors section. He is great to deal with.

Enjoying your build (I mean rebuild)!

 

[RockJock82]

Sweet ride and priced right! Let me know if you need any help wrenching on it. Im located in Tucson as well.

 

[85badger]

Question on the exhaust, I've been thinking of doing something similar. How loud is it and could you take a few more pics? Which flowmaster did you use? Thanks!

 

[MaK92 4RnR]

lmao how loud is that exhaust? and is it legal?

 

[bowtiestang]

Question on the exhaust, I've been thinking of doing something similar. How loud is it and could you take a few more pics? Which flowmaster did you use? Thanks!

It drones very bad with the turn downs.....dont go with Flow-Disasters they suck. The Flow-Disaster was already on the Cruiser. I ran Flow-Disasters on two race cars over the years and they slowed both down. That tells me the dont flow. Lots of good mufflers out there like Ultraflows, Borla, Magnaflow, Edelbrock ect... Hell I would use a $20 glass pack over a Flow-Disaster.

I will give you mine when I take it off