Well I have had this 80 for about 3 months now. I have not had it on the road yet other than the trip home and to and from the body shop.
I will start with a brief run down of what I got. I had been looking for a 80 for a bout a month after selling my 93 SAS 4runner. I had started looking for a Diesel 60 (HJ or BJ) but all of them were to far gone in the frame and body areas.
I looked at 5-6 80's in my area all were US imports (80 series LC were not sold in Canada). Of that a few were LX450's (us imposts as well). The LX450 was sold in Canada for 96-97 and all were equipped with the lockers.
After looking at a few all in the 9-10K range from 91-97 40th's I was resigned to the fact that I was going to be looking for some time. All were not locked and a locked truck was something I wanted for sure.
I looked on the local craigs list one morning and saw a 97 LX 450 listed for $3000 OBO. I called right away (5min after it was posted) and asked a few questions....how much millage (thinking it was a US import) he said its got 254kms.......ok is there a dial beside he steering wheel that says "diff lock"?.....he goes to garage and yes it does.
I head out the door 5min later with $500 in hand a down payment and pick up my dad on the way. 15min later I am there looking at the truck. He did say it was in rough shape, missing rear flairs and rear bumper damage. He was right it was in tough shape but over all was all there. It started after sitting for 6 months with nothing other than a jump. No smoke or dramas, no misses or funny noises. I checked the coolant over flow for bubbles and there was none, coolant looked good but a bit low 1/2 in down from cap. Oil was clean and no milk, oil cap after running for a few min had a bit of white but it was 3C out and the truck had not been run in 6 months.
Take it for a drive and all is well. Good power, better than some I had driven. Put it in 4lo and got no CDL or ABS light......told him that was a problem but moved on. its got a bit of rust at first look mainly the rear gates and drivers lower quarter and a small spot by windshield.
I got back and found out it was his GF truck that she got 8 years ago and had driven from 90km to 254kms. No service history other than "she changed the oil every 5000kms". SO a bit of a gamble there.
I offered $2k and got it for $2500, over all I knew it was a good starting point and I like projects. Looking at the other LX450's I looked at unlocked with zero service history and asking $9k with more millage I think I did ok.
In the last 3 months I have got all the body work and paint done (did the body work myself with the help of my dad) I also got rust free upper and lower gates of Bowser (thanks again man). The paint was done by a local shop, we prepped and masked and he laid the paint. I'm not looking to make this truck a show stopper or mall cruiser. I use my trucks and this one will be no different, I just wanted to eliminate the rust and make it look decent.
I have also got 3 boxes of OEM Toyota, maintenance and PM stuff waiting to go on. I have a SGII, GT seat covers and Husky lines as well waiting, CDL switch, Slee battery kit, Castor bushings and OME 2.5" lift.
I did a NAPA head gasket test about a month ago and it was clear. apron getting the truck home and starting on the maintenance this weekend I found that the HG is gone on it and leaking externally towards the back of the head on the exhaust side.
So stage two of this rebirth is a head gasket job. Unexpected but at least now I know its going to be solid for years to come. I have the head part way off now, just working on the intake manifold. I'm trying to keep as much of it together as possible and just push it out of the way to lift the head. I hope tonight to have most of that done and start on the cam removal/ head removal.
If the head is straight I am just going to clean it up and reinstall. It runs great and has no valve train noise as it is. I may change the valve seals at the same time but am not sure yet. If it is warped I will send it out for a full re and re. I also plan on sending the injectors out to get cleaned and tested at the same time.
Other things on the list are front axle rebuild, front main and oil pump O ring, Rear main.....some day, oil pan reseal and new used front cats and Y pipe.
That will get all the maintenance and PM out of the way I hope, then I can work on the 2.5" OME lift and 315's.
I will start with a brief run down of what I got. I had been looking for a 80 for a bout a month after selling my 93 SAS 4runner. I had started looking for a Diesel 60 (HJ or BJ) but all of them were to far gone in the frame and body areas.
I looked at 5-6 80's in my area all were US imports (80 series LC were not sold in Canada). Of that a few were LX450's (us imposts as well). The LX450 was sold in Canada for 96-97 and all were equipped with the lockers.
After looking at a few all in the 9-10K range from 91-97 40th's I was resigned to the fact that I was going to be looking for some time. All were not locked and a locked truck was something I wanted for sure.
I looked on the local craigs list one morning and saw a 97 LX 450 listed for $3000 OBO. I called right away (5min after it was posted) and asked a few questions....how much millage (thinking it was a US import) he said its got 254kms.......ok is there a dial beside he steering wheel that says "diff lock"?.....he goes to garage and yes it does.
I head out the door 5min later with $500 in hand a down payment and pick up my dad on the way. 15min later I am there looking at the truck. He did say it was in rough shape, missing rear flairs and rear bumper damage. He was right it was in tough shape but over all was all there. It started after sitting for 6 months with nothing other than a jump. No smoke or dramas, no misses or funny noises. I checked the coolant over flow for bubbles and there was none, coolant looked good but a bit low 1/2 in down from cap. Oil was clean and no milk, oil cap after running for a few min had a bit of white but it was 3C out and the truck had not been run in 6 months.
Take it for a drive and all is well. Good power, better than some I had driven. Put it in 4lo and got no CDL or ABS light......told him that was a problem but moved on. its got a bit of rust at first look mainly the rear gates and drivers lower quarter and a small spot by windshield.
I got back and found out it was his GF truck that she got 8 years ago and had driven from 90km to 254kms. No service history other than "she changed the oil every 5000kms". SO a bit of a gamble there.
I offered $2k and got it for $2500, over all I knew it was a good starting point and I like projects. Looking at the other LX450's I looked at unlocked with zero service history and asking $9k with more millage I think I did ok.
In the last 3 months I have got all the body work and paint done (did the body work myself with the help of my dad) I also got rust free upper and lower gates of Bowser (thanks again man). The paint was done by a local shop, we prepped and masked and he laid the paint. I'm not looking to make this truck a show stopper or mall cruiser. I use my trucks and this one will be no different, I just wanted to eliminate the rust and make it look decent.
I have also got 3 boxes of OEM Toyota, maintenance and PM stuff waiting to go on. I have a SGII, GT seat covers and Husky lines as well waiting, CDL switch, Slee battery kit, Castor bushings and OME 2.5" lift.
I did a NAPA head gasket test about a month ago and it was clear. apron getting the truck home and starting on the maintenance this weekend I found that the HG is gone on it and leaking externally towards the back of the head on the exhaust side.
So stage two of this rebirth is a head gasket job. Unexpected but at least now I know its going to be solid for years to come. I have the head part way off now, just working on the intake manifold. I'm trying to keep as much of it together as possible and just push it out of the way to lift the head. I hope tonight to have most of that done and start on the cam removal/ head removal.
If the head is straight I am just going to clean it up and reinstall. It runs great and has no valve train noise as it is. I may change the valve seals at the same time but am not sure yet. If it is warped I will send it out for a full re and re. I also plan on sending the injectors out to get cleaned and tested at the same time.
Other things on the list are front axle rebuild, front main and oil pump O ring, Rear main.....some day, oil pan reseal and new used front cats and Y pipe.
That will get all the maintenance and PM out of the way I hope, then I can work on the 2.5" OME lift and 315's.
Welding thin metal is PITA for me. I remember welding up all the rust holes in my '85 mini and somehow got more holes than when I started.
