My Damn Wife

[PHBeerman]

This morning, my wife called me to tell me she just saw a 1991 fj80 for sale for a good price. I currently have a 60 that I love, but the 80 seems like a safer family vehicle for carrying around my 2 boys. WHat should I look for when I go drive it tonight? Anything that is usually in need of repair besides the basics that apply to all vehicles?

 

[wob]

This morning, my wife called me to tell me she just saw a 1991 fj80 for sale for a good price. I currently have a 60 that I love, but the 80 seems like a safer family vehicle for carrying around my 2 boys. WHat should I look for when I go drive it tonight? Anything that is usually in need of repair besides the basics that apply to all vehicles?

I'd look to see if it still had the 3FE engine. If it did, I would keep the 60.

 

[In2cruisers]

go newer 1993+

You actually should look for a 1993 or newer. They will have the bigger motor, what you are basicly looking at with the 1991 is a FJ62 with the 80 body.......pretty gutless!

 

[ginericLC]

I have a 91 and I formerly had a 60. I'm not sure you could say it is safer, might even be less safe (more weight same brakes, frame and bodies pretty much a toss up). 93 plus and 95 plus would be safer. 93-94 gains 4 wheel disc brakes and ABS on most of them. 95-97s gain airbags. If it were me, and I was looking I'd pass on a 91/92 and try to move to at least a 93. Cost is not that much more and you get the safety features plus the locker option availability.

 

[erics_bruisers]

check out the exhaust, valve clearance, etc -- that's the serviceable stuff --

-- it's all a matter of preference -- i prefer the 91 over the 94 -- it's more a truck -- and there's no glass tint --

e

 

[erics_bruisers]

what price?

e

 

[PHBeerman]

Right now the dude has the price at like $5700 which is a pretty good price out here. Of course that is always just a starting price.

 

[erics_bruisers]

miles, etc? where are you?

e

 

[PHBeerman]

I have not yet talked to the guy, but this is what my wife told me it had.

184,000 miles
All leather
third row seating
new radiator
all new hoses and belts
small dent in the rear hatch
seat covers on front seats (may mean they are quite worn)
Cd

 

[PHBeerman]

Oops sorry I am in Idaho

 

[Junk]

I just took a buddy over to pick up a new to him pos white 91 with 178k miles on it. Was in solid shape and pansied by the chick that had it. He picked it up for $1,700 here in NJ. He's driving it back TX as I write this. Good thing heading to DFW is mostly downhill since it's the puny girlie 3fe

 

[Landpimp]

yeah but I have yet to have to replace the 3fe(s).........unlike someones FJZ or whatever the headgasket blowing sludge filled 93-7 motor is called

got 340k on one, 245k on another, 200k on yet another........

I just took a buddy over to pick up a new to him pos white 91 with 178k miles on it. Was in solid shape and pansied by the chick that had it. He picked it up for $1,700 here in NJ. He's driving it back TX as I write this. Good thing heading to DFW is mostly downhill since it's the puny girlie 3fe

 

[semlin]

nothing wrong with a 91 porovided you look closely. You will hjave trouble getting a decent 93+ for that money. Price is not bad. Junk always claims to know someone who forced him at gunpoint to buy a truck at half the going rate but look at the pos he drives around.

 

[erics_bruisers]

the leather is aftermarket (doesn't really matter), ask why they rteplaced the radiator -- did they use OEM stuff?

check the front differential -- that can be a mea culpa in itself -- check the trans shifting, as well as the engine gasket leakage ---

-- it's got rear drums, so i'd check all the brakes, too --

-- hmm -- not sure what else -- the windows prob. suck, though doesn't make a diff --

-- i got mine converted to 134a -- still holds a charge fine --

-- see if you can get the 93 and up wheels on it -- they're just plain more attractive --

-- take pics -- !! -- check for undercarriage rust --

eric

 

[erics_bruisers]

check for toyota red coolant, check to see the coolant overflow is full, check the alternator -- still charging above 12v?

how about the water pump -- did they replace that with the radiator? did they replace the PS coolant lines, too? they were right there --

-- on the 91/92s, sometimes the trans is odd on grades -- try going up a relatively steep grade and check for slippage -- no biggie if it is there though, seems common --

-- check for third row seats, hope there is no luggage rack, and check for door sill/rear hatch rust --

e

 

[PHBeerman]

Thanks for the info. I will let y'all know

 

[Tooth Fairy]

Hold out for a '93-7 especially if you can get your wife to drive the '91 and then go drive a '93-7. Let it be her idea.

 

[ginericLC]

Tan/Beige in color on State Street in Boise in front of a coffee shop/George's Cycles?

You don't want it! I drove it and there is something wrong with the motor. Valves are definitely loose. Not sure what, but it wasn't making good noises. I couldn't put my finger on it but my 91 with 35s on it has more power. Also, the clunk is pretty severe in that one and there is a gear howl which I couldn't locate where it was coming from. Rear mail seal leak, transfer case is leaking and I think even the tranny is leaking. Front knuckles haven't been maintained and one side is leaking pretty good. PS front window switch doesn't work. Radio doesn't work. Dent in the rear hatch, it doesn't close exactly right. Front bumper is dented as is the lower cowl below the turn signals. DS rear window switch holder broke out. Needs shocks. The heater/AC fan doesn't work on all the speeds. It does have good tires and the new radiator is nice. Sunroof cover was pealing back. Interior wasn't too bad. They spent a ton of money having it detailed. The price was $5900 when I looked at it the weekend before last. A month ago it was $6500. Even if you could get it for 5k it isn't a real good deal in my opinion. Consider you are going to have $350 in parts just to rebuild the front end, and this would need to be done ASAP. The gear howl is most noticeable on coasting. I think with the transfer case leak it is possible that is where it is coming from (read expensive). Cheap shocks would be $100. A cheap radio $100. All of these little things add up. A really nice maintained Fj80 91/92 is only worth the tops of about $6500 (Idaho prices). All these parts would bring you back to that point and you still would have some maintainence issues. I think this rig wasn't maintained all of its life. They've taken care of some expensive issues but they were more of things that needed to be done immediately than things that were done as preventive. It still has the stock plug wires. Non Toyota distributor cap. That is about all I can remember off hand.

If you go against my advice and buy it anyway, I'll give you a front bumper.

 

[PHBeerman]

Tan/Beige in color on State Street in Boise in front of a coffee shop/George's Cycles?

You don't want it! I drove it and there is something wrong with the motor. Valves are definitely loose. Not sure what, but it wasn't making good noises. I couldn't put my finger on it but my 91 with 35s on it has more power. Also, the clunk is pretty severe in that one and there is a gear howl which I couldn't locate where it was coming from. Rear mail seal leak, transfer case is leaking and I think even the tranny is leaking. Front knuckles haven't been maintained and one side is leaking pretty good. PS front window switch doesn't work. Radio doesn't work. Dent in the rear hatch, it doesn't close exactly right. Front bumper is dented as is the lower cowl below the turn signals. DS rear window switch holder broke out. Needs shocks. The heater/AC fan doesn't work on all the speeds. It does have good tires and the new radiator is nice. Sunroof cover was pealing back. Interior wasn't too bad. They spent a ton of money having it detailed. The price was $5900 when I looked at it the weekend before last. A month ago it was $6500. Even if you could get it for 5k it isn't a real good deal in my opinion. Consider you are going to have $350 in parts just to rebuild the front end, and this would need to be done ASAP. The gear howl is most noticeable on coasting. I think with the transfer case leak it is possible that is where it is coming from (read expensive). Cheap shocks would be $100. A cheap radio $100. All of these little things add up. A really nice maintained Fj80 91/92 is only worth the tops of about $6500 (Idaho prices). All these parts would bring you back to that point and you still would have some maintainence issues. I think this rig wasn't maintained all of its life. They've taken care of some expensive issues but they were more of things that needed to be done immediately than things that were done as preventive. It still has the stock plug wires. Non Toyota distributor cap. That is about all I can remember off hand.

Cool thanks you saved me a trip down State Street.


I hate State Street.

 

[Tooth Fairy]

Maybe you could pick up JB80's if he's selling.