My name is Brandon... (1 Viewer)

[empty80]

...and I have a Land Cruiser problem. Hello everyone! I'm looking to meet up with the local support group for Toyota habits. I have recently liberated a 1991 FJ80 from a friend who, thankfully, procrastinated on chopping her up. She ain't pretty, but I won't kick her out of the driveway for marking her territory. There is a lot of work to be done, and I hope I'll be able to leverage the TON of information I have already found here.

My fancy car is a 5th Gen 4Runner, so it would appear I conform to the group norms. I look forward to meeting you all!

 

[89BIGBLUE]

Hello Brandon!
I too, have a Landcruiser problem.
Maybe one of these days I’ll make the club breakfast and we can drown our sorrows in green chile together!
Pictures?
Welcome!

 

[pappy]

Ahem, don't make me say it!!!

Pics of the FJ80 please. The 4Runner, well, ya seen one Gen5 you have seen them all. OK, just kidding. Pics of that too.

Long live the mighty 3FE.

 

[empty80]

Long live the 3FE! This one was supposed to be the recipient of a 4BT.

 

[evanz80]

Nice looking 80!

Tell us a little more about the build. What kind of lift? Does it still have still stock gears? How many miles?

I had almost forgotten what stock bumpers look like...

Welcome to the club!

 

[empty80]

Almost 180k miles. Originally bought in Kansas. My friend bought it off of the original owner in 2016 or early 2017. I’m told it was totaled around 2007 due to hail damage, but I haven’t verified. It still has the stock gears. The only thing I know that has been updated is the alternator and radio. It’s on OME J springs with absolutely no geometry correction at all. It is a real adventure to drive at the moment. I HAVE NOT decided on how I want to tackle that just yet.

 

[pappy]

It is a real adventure to drive at the moment. I decided on how I want to tackle that just yet.

You have come to the right place to get those questions answered. Between the 80 owners on HDC, and MUD in general, they will be able to get the truck driving right.

My only suggestion would be to get rid of the damage multipliers over the tail lights, and off the grill.

 

[marcfj60]

And try to make it to one of our monthly support group meetings. It's something like the second or third Saturday of the month at the Daily Grind. We occasionally go off road as a group but I wouldn't hang your hat on that. There is a high probability of a run in the mountains for Christmas trees soon after Thanksgiving, since that's kind of a tradition. And you don't have to need or want a tree to participate.

 

[alia176]

Welcome Brandon, looking forward to meeting you and the gal. She's cute and comes with her own bed pan Ignore Marc, some of us go wheeling frequently.....w/o him

 

[evanz80]

It's on OME J springs with absolutely no geometry correction at all. It is a real adventure to drive at the moment. I HAVE NOT decided on how I want to tackle that just yet.

Lots of lifted 80's in the group and we can talk about suspension stuff as much as you'd like. Marc mentioned our monthly breakfast "meeting" - we mostly eat, then gather around the trucks to talk about them. Wear some dirty clothes and some of us could give you a tour of the suspension mods under the trucks.

I started off with J springs as well (good for 3 inches of lift, if I recall correctly), then I added spacers front and rear. I have about five to six inches of lift now, so likely you may not need as much geometry correction as I have done.

The list includes adjustable Panhard rods for correct side to side alignment, adjustable rear control arms, caster correction plates for the front axle, double cardan driveshafts front and rear (you may not need these unless you plan on lifting more). That's most of the big stuff that comes to mind. Little stuff like extended brake lines, lift blocks for anti-sway bars, etc.

You can check out the website at Slee Off Road in Golden, CO for more info - I think all my suspension mods came from them. But probably a good idea to crawl under a few trucks to see the real thing.

 

[pappy]

… our monthly support group meetings.

She's cute and comes with her own bed pan

OK, both of these are too

 

[empty80]

And try to make it to one of our monthly support group meetings. It's something like the second or third Saturday of the month at the Daily Grind. We occasionally go off road as a group but I wouldn't hang your hat on that. There is a high probability of a run in the mountains for Christmas trees soon after Thanksgiving, since that's kind of a tradition. And you don't have to need or want a tree to participate.

I plan it!

My only suggestion would be to get rid of the damage multipliers over the tail lights, and off the grill.

I've never heard them called damage multiplier, but that sums up their effectiveness. They are as good as gone.

The list includes adjustable Panhard rods for correct side to side alignment, adjustable rear control arms, caster correction plates...

You can check out the website at Slee Off Road in Golden, CO for more info

I'm looking at their variable geometry caster bushings, and Delta's rear panhard bracket. Seems like a cost effective start to correcting the geometry.

 

[alia176]

I'd start with the basics: replace ALL suspension bushings with OEM bushings then get the front caster corrected with whatever suits your fancy. I vote for either the Landtank or Slee caster correction plates up front. Caster correcting bushings have a short life span and severely limit the front axle from articulating because those bushings are made of poly-eurethane, not supple rubber. Consequently, these bushings can distort the front axle mounting points or even rip open the factory welds.

Panhard rods that are too short/long/whatever won't affect your ride quality but the rear Delta bracket helps center the rear axle quite a bit. IMHO, the Delta rear panhard re-lo bracket is better than an adj rear panhard. I have both and the Delta bracket negates the need for adj rear panhard rod.

You're at a classic juncture, choose wisely young Padawan

 

[empty80]

I'd start with the basics

Yeah, my priority list is:
1) Geometry (Delta bracket, Slee plates are in the mail)
2) Bushings (Does anyone have a redneck way of pulling and pressing bushings?)
3) Rebuild/Regear axles

My monitor closely list is:
1) Rear main leak
2) Possible oil pan gasket leak

 

[BionicCruiser]

Welcome! I see you likely work in the medical field of some sort. those emesis basins are sometimes found at my place as well...
nice 80! I have no helpful hints, but can offer moral support. it's funny how the 5th gen 4runner seems to be the latest catching thing.

 

[pappy]

it's funny how the 5th gen 4runner seems to be the latest catching thing.

I feel ... so ... inferior. [sniff]

 

[empty80]

Welcome! I see you likely work in the medical field of some sort. those emesis basins are sometimes found at my place as well...
nice 80! I have no helpful hints, but can offer moral support. it's funny how the 5th gen 4runner seems to be the latest catching thing.

The CFO of the house is a paramedic/FF with Rio Rancho. I was an Army EOD tech for twelve years. I’m a contractor now.

I briefly owned an FZJ a couple years ago and fell in love with them. I think the 4Runner has a lot of the same feel that I liked about the 80s, just more modern.

 

[alia176]

Yeah, my priority list is:
1) Geometry (Delta bracket, Slee plates are in the mail)
2) Bushings (Does anyone have a redneck way of pulling and pressing bushings?)
3) Rebuild/Regear axles

My monitor closely list is:
1) Rear main leak
2) Possible oil pan gasket leak

2) yup, i have a press and can help you out.

I did a writeup on the upper pan arch oil seal leak that's in the FAQ. This leak closely mimics a rear main seal so it's hard to distinguish. The trick is to get a telescopic mirror, remove the plastic inspection cover from the tranny bellhousing, then look REAL hard at the oil trace. The rear main seal is above the upper pan arch so it'll hit both items on its way down.

 

[empty80]

2) yup, i have a press and can help you out.

I did a writeup on the upper pan arch oil seal leak that's in the FAQ. This leak closely mimics a rear main seal so it's hard to distinguish. The trick is to get a telescopic mirror, remove the plastic inspection cover from the tranny bellhousing, then look REAL hard at the oil trace. The rear main seal is above the upper pan arch so it'll hit both items on its way down.

It would be real convenient if were just an oil pan gasket leak. My thought is if it just an oil pan, fix it. If it an oil pan and a rear main, that is inching towards rebuild territory. Also, I'm fairly positive my inspection cover is metallic from what little bit of poking around I have done under there.

 

[alia176]

Interesting, so the A442 has a metal inspection cover. My inspection hole looks like this one but this guy is missing his plastic cover.