My New 1999 Venezuelan 80

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redstang410

redstang410

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Jun 19, 2006
Threads
8
Messages
170
Location
Panama City, Panama
Just Bought this FZJ80 localy in Panama.
1999 Autana 4500EFI
Its a EFI 1FZ motor
5 Speed
Part Time all Manual Transfercase, ( No 4wd button, Just The lever):)
Old style Safari Snorkel
Dual Batteries
Water proofed Distributor
Rear ARB Diff.
Warn 10000lb winch
Custom rear Bumper
285 firestones
OME J's with 1 inch spacer up front.
OME shocks, Don't know which ones though.
Sliders

I like the fact that its gasoline and 5 speed since its not a Daily driver for me. And I'd rather have the power and RPM the 1FZ motor has over diesel engines especially on muddy trails. Screw Fuel Economy:D

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I sold my diesel 80 to a good friend and paid for this one and had Plenty of change left over. At least i got it a good home, I really liked that truck. :frown:
But this one doesn't have flares to rip off, fancy options to ruin on a trail And i wouldn't mind cutting fenders for bigger tires.
I'll post a few more pics later .

:cheers:
 
Nice truck - even the sealed beam headlamps!

Still can't believe you guys sell diesels - most of us in the states would kill (or at least mame) for a diesel 80 :mad:
 
:eek: Damn thats nice, i like it... Bad case of 80's envy :crybaby:

Its a '99 but it has the -T O Y O T A- badged grille instead of the 'Sombrero' style, has it had a grille swap, or is that how the later model Venezuelan 80's came??
 
Snailtrail said:
:eek: Damn thats nice, i like it... Bad case of 80's envy :crybaby:

Its a '99 but it has the -T O Y O T A- badged grille instead of the 'Sombrero' style, has it had a grille swap, or is that how the later model Venezuelan 80's came??
Click to expand...

x2. Snailtrail beat me on this question.
 
Thanks,
I like the sealbeam type headlamp look better than the aero style lamps.
The reason I sold the diesel 80 is that I have a New Daily Driver.
Toyota Fortuner. Its a common Rail Turbo Diesel .
Even with the Auto trans, it plain Hauls Butt.
Gets about 20 MPG and is way more practical and nicer for DD duty.
Did I already say it was NEW??;) It sure beats a 13 year old truck any day.

Although its a nice truck, I still don't consider it a Long term Vehicle that i would keep 10 years like 80 series cruisers.
Down here people usually change their DD every 5 or 6 years, cause the roads are so bad and newer engines just don't last as long. Newer IFS diesel trucks usually have issues with steering and suspension by the 3rd year, and mayor engine maintenance issues by the time the have 200,000KM on them. Like I usually say, Disposable trucks.

I Like to keep a 80 series as a "spare"ride (You Know, When the wife wants to use the New truck)
that can go on muddy trails and wheel as good or better that smaller rigs. Solid axle suspension, stout construction , Easy to Mod, All reasons to keep an 80 for long term use.

I figured, Why not get an 80 with More power than the 160HP that the 1hdt's have. And have the option of running a supercharger in the future for a good 250 to 300HP.
At the same time Couldn't bring myself to take my diesel 80 to the point of no return and turn it into a trail only rig. It was just too nice. Stuff like Dual AC, Cool box, Sunroof, Flares would usually get ruined in a trail only rig. I chose to sell it to a friend that will use it as a DD. And enjoy all those features.

I chose a clean slate with no frills work truck with less stuff to break or ruin.
It was way cheaper than a diesel truck cause Normal People down here don't buy Gas powered cruisers with gas prices constantly above$3 a galon.
The day gas prices down here reach 6 bucks a galon, I'll consider swapping in a diesel engine .:doh:

:cheers:
 
Snailtrail said:
:eek: Damn thats nice, i like it... Bad case of 80's envy :crybaby:

Its a '99 but it has the -T O Y O T A- badged grille instead of the 'Sombrero' style, has it had a grille swap, or is that how the later model Venezuelan 80's came??
Click to expand...

It had a Sombrero style grill, But it was a faded ugly grey color.
I really like Chrome, so i bolted on an older style grille i had lying around, cause they ran out of the chrome newer style grille at the store.

The rear windows are factory stock one piece glass.
Since this truck didn't have a 3rd row seat, it came with a fixed rear window.
You can swap out the sliding window for the fixed one.
I did it on my previous 80. You need the Glass and the rubber moulding. It just pops in.

I'm sure they sell it in Venezuela. But the one i used on my previous rig came from a Jap spec GX 80.

:cheers:
 
Very cool :cool:
 
very nice!


what's the general consensus about the quality of the Venezuelan-made 80s vs the japanese?
 
Price, $8000.00 US
Needed to fix, A/C $220
Rear Pinion Yoke replaced. Had one lying around
Rear lower control arms needed Bushings. I also had a pair lying around.
Swapped in Chrome grill. Also had parts lying around.
Chrome headlamp bezels, $60.00 for the pair.
ALuminum wheels, had them lying around.
Funny how when you part out a truck all the stuff you have left over really becomes usefull at some time or another.

I parted out this truck earlier this year. Bought it with no engine or trans.
08-03-07_1833.jpg


I plan to swap in the axle from the truck above. It's full floating. The one in my new truck is semi floating. I think the ARB should bolt in, but am not sure though. I guess you just don't use the c-clips. Am I wrong?

The Black mirrors are manual. But it does have power locks and power windows.

I'll shoot some pics inside and post them later tonight.

:cheers:
 
Cool, let's see some interior and engine pics.

Is there any obvious differences with the Venzualian 80s then the Japanese versions? Such as any home brewed parts? I know that when South African was building Toyota mini-trucks and Brazil was building their version of the FJ40 they used a lot of non-Toyota parts, including axles, transmissions and even engines.

One thing I've always been curious about is whether or not they souce any of the parts, such as the body or anything else from Japan and just assemble them there or if they make all the parts local.
 
Nice truck and thanks for sharing. Looks like you have a few cruisers.

BTW - I wheel my truck and the flares are still on. Course I had to re-attach one once after it was ripped off :D
 
Do they make them w/o flares over "there"?
 
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