My "new" FZJ80, or, I scratched the 80 itch
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FMC80
SILVER Star
Hey Mike, cool build man. Lots of work done, very impressive. Have you ordered the acceleration cable bracket using the link I shared? I’m wondering if it worked for you.
- Thread starter
- #83
Thanks Pell. I feel like you've done way more. The "parts I have in boxes still" list is getting quite stupid. I sourced my bracket from @slow95z if I remember correctly. I think there was a brief time where they were nla or I just didn't research thoroughly enough.
Brief product review:
I stumbled upon one of the 26 quart sized units on black Saturday in 2019. It was $29.99, and there were no others to be found so I grabbed it.
This past weekend during our "heat wave," I loaded it up with drinks (a mix of pre chilled and warm), threw it in the cruiser, added ice 1.5 hours later, hit trails for about 7 hours, then headed home and had it sitting on our kitchen floor for the weekend. our house got up to about 86 inside on Saturday, and 88 inside on Sunday. (94 on Monday). There were still some ice cubes floating in the water on Monday morning, and the water was cool when I dumped it on Tuesday morning. I realize this might not sound too impressive, but 8 warm bottles of water, 1 cold gatorade, 2 cold beers, 2 bags of cubes from Safeway thrown in at about 10:30 am on Saturday. For 30 bucks, I'm pretty happy with this Yeti copy.
Brief product review:
I stumbled upon one of the 26 quart sized units on black Saturday in 2019. It was $29.99, and there were no others to be found so I grabbed it.
This past weekend during our "heat wave," I loaded it up with drinks (a mix of pre chilled and warm), threw it in the cruiser, added ice 1.5 hours later, hit trails for about 7 hours, then headed home and had it sitting on our kitchen floor for the weekend. our house got up to about 86 inside on Saturday, and 88 inside on Sunday. (94 on Monday). There were still some ice cubes floating in the water on Monday morning, and the water was cool when I dumped it on Tuesday morning. I realize this might not sound too impressive, but 8 warm bottles of water, 1 cold gatorade, 2 cold beers, 2 bags of cubes from Safeway thrown in at about 10:30 am on Saturday. For 30 bucks, I'm pretty happy with this Yeti copy.
FMC80
SILVER Star
I saw a comparison of these coolers a while back and they tested the ever so venerable yeti against the ozark trail and one other brand and in the end the test concluded with the Ozark brand keeping pace with the more expensive brands. My only issue is the ones made in China. I refuse to buy things made there and it makes my search for merchandise quite difficult sometimes.
- Thread starter
- #85
Ok, here are a couple of updates;
people have told me that my truck looks more lifted than what I thought it was supposed to be. Today, I actually went out and took some center hub to bottom of flare measurements.
Passenger rear 23"
Passenger front 21-12"
Driver's rear 22-12"
Driver's front 21-1/2"
These were taken in slightly less than favorable positions (truck on back yard patio with rears on pavers, and fronts on the grass). Still though it got me thinking. Back when I ordered my springs, I could have sworn I ordered the Dobinsons C59-221v and C59-210v That pair is the stock height progressive rate spring. Since I was doing some combo work this weekend trying to get some crap organized I took a look at my spring boxes, and sure enough I am actually riding on C59-222v and C59-223v Which are 2" lift springs.
So that mystery is solved, and it means that instead of a full lift kit, I will likely just upgrade my shocks to the next step.
I installed Metaltech sliders. They seem to be built well. They are certainly heavy. The worst part by far was getting the hard brake lines loose from the drivers side frame rail.
I also received a box of bushings and bolts. I finally have the pieces for a front panhard refresh, and front radius arm refresh I just need to beg/borrow/steal a press or time on a press.
Sometimes it's the little things.
For whatever reason, I didn't think I could get the slider mounted with the front mudflap on. I completely forgot about the mudflap on the drivers side though, and squished it a bit.
A view hoping to show fitment for anyone curious about the Metaltech sliders.
A pile of bushings.
people have told me that my truck looks more lifted than what I thought it was supposed to be. Today, I actually went out and took some center hub to bottom of flare measurements.
Passenger rear 23"
Passenger front 21-12"
Driver's rear 22-12"
Driver's front 21-1/2"
These were taken in slightly less than favorable positions (truck on back yard patio with rears on pavers, and fronts on the grass). Still though it got me thinking. Back when I ordered my springs, I could have sworn I ordered the Dobinsons C59-221v and C59-210v That pair is the stock height progressive rate spring. Since I was doing some combo work this weekend trying to get some crap organized I took a look at my spring boxes, and sure enough I am actually riding on C59-222v and C59-223v Which are 2" lift springs.
So that mystery is solved, and it means that instead of a full lift kit, I will likely just upgrade my shocks to the next step.
I installed Metaltech sliders. They seem to be built well. They are certainly heavy. The worst part by far was getting the hard brake lines loose from the drivers side frame rail.
I also received a box of bushings and bolts. I finally have the pieces for a front panhard refresh, and front radius arm refresh I just need to beg/borrow/steal a press or time on a press.
Sometimes it's the little things.
For whatever reason, I didn't think I could get the slider mounted with the front mudflap on. I completely forgot about the mudflap on the drivers side though, and squished it a bit.
A view hoping to show fitment for anyone curious about the Metaltech sliders.
A pile of bushings.
FMC80
SILVER Star
Very nice!
- Thread starter
- #87
I copied this picture from @scrapdaddy . It's just a really nice and clean example of a 55. My question to anyone watching; has anyone painted an 80 in the 55 style? I kind of like it, and we have a decent spot for the "cut line" on the side of our bodies. The grill is the only area where I waver a bit since we don't have that nice vertical line on the side of our 80 headlights. Hmmm.?
FMC80
SILVER Star
I like it too. Haven’t seen an 80 with that scheme but I think it’ll look good.
What color(s) are you considering?
A used car dealer in Japan seems to specialize in Land Cruisers. They have done some really great looking two tone 80's. Google: Flex Japan and hit images. Thier web site is in Japaness but I think Google will translate it for you.
- Thread starter
- #91
Pell, It depends upon whether I keep the green wheels or not. If I keep them, then a green lower with white or just a tad off-white upper. Green powder coated wheels will be a bit harder to sell than black, or non-coated I think.
@GeoEng That looks good. I think on mine I would force the cut line about 1-2 inches lower along the body (right where the curve happens). the way the front end came out, I'm not sure I would change that. It looks good to me. thank you for the photo.
@RKTINC I will check them out again, I've looked at their stuff before, I think it was in relation to a 62 front end conversion on an 80 series? Or the reverse of that. anyway, I do know about them.
Where has everyone learned wheeling technique? I know there's no substitute for being out there and doing it, but I feel like there's not really a K.I.S.S type thread on here unless my searching fu is complete crap. One thing I wonder about is using the 80 driveline as descent control i,e; tranmission in "L" and transfer in "L" and let the driveline etc help brake you. I'm guessing that this is perfectly ok as long as you don't do it for hours at a time right? Think loose, gravelly, small-ish rocks downhill. In a "fancy" car with a hill descent button, is that what it is telling the car to do, or is there also a fuel delivery component? I digress.
Also, does anyone have the hard copy of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" hanging around? I need a quote out of it, I think they goofed it in the movie. It's for a good cause (my signature line).
@GeoEng That looks good. I think on mine I would force the cut line about 1-2 inches lower along the body (right where the curve happens). the way the front end came out, I'm not sure I would change that. It looks good to me. thank you for the photo.
@RKTINC I will check them out again, I've looked at their stuff before, I think it was in relation to a 62 front end conversion on an 80 series? Or the reverse of that. anyway, I do know about them.
Where has everyone learned wheeling technique? I know there's no substitute for being out there and doing it, but I feel like there's not really a K.I.S.S type thread on here unless my searching fu is complete crap. One thing I wonder about is using the 80 driveline as descent control i,e; tranmission in "L" and transfer in "L" and let the driveline etc help brake you. I'm guessing that this is perfectly ok as long as you don't do it for hours at a time right? Think loose, gravelly, small-ish rocks downhill. In a "fancy" car with a hill descent button, is that what it is telling the car to do, or is there also a fuel delivery component? I digress.
Also, does anyone have the hard copy of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" hanging around? I need a quote out of it, I think they goofed it in the movie. It's for a good cause (my signature line).
FMC80
SILVER Star
How about just redoing your wheels? A quick job with some media blast and new powder coat wouldn’t be too bad. Or just media blast and paint them yourself?
- Thread starter
- #93
Not a horrible idea. I do have another full set hiding in my garage though. I did find a local German import shop that does their own powder. I don't know how they do it, but they have a sample ring of about 6 or 7 that look like Anodized Aluminum. Shiny orange wheels on the green cruiser? hmmm?
FMC80
SILVER Star
Shiny isn’t bad. Shiny orange or green sounds
but I lack imagination.
- Thread starter
- #95
Although, I could go orange and green and call it the "pumpkin spice" build. Ha!
FMC80
SILVER Star
either way, don’t let wheel color dictate the color of your cruiser
and don’t forget your Ugg boots and flannel
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- Thread starter
- #97
Here's another question along with another stolen image of a fellow mudder's rig: Image credit to @SafariStomper96
The part I have circled, I first thought it was integral to the OEM running boards, but I have seen a couple of rigs without running boards but with the circled part. Are they the 61645-60020 Gusset Quarter wheelhouse? Or something else? I may have found them on partsouq, but I don't get a "normal" part number, and the number doesn't hyperlink to the part list 51789A and 51799B respectfully. Anyone know anything?
The part I have circled, I first thought it was integral to the OEM running boards, but I have seen a couple of rigs without running boards but with the circled part. Are they the 61645-60020 Gusset Quarter wheelhouse? Or something else? I may have found them on partsouq, but I don't get a "normal" part number, and the number doesn't hyperlink to the part list 51789A and 51799B respectfully. Anyone know anything?
Someone on here does 3D parts for the front and rear lower flare extension that tie to the OEM mounts with a few options on sizes. The OEM is pretty floppy and likely not worth the higher expense IMO.
- Thread starter
- #99
I have seen the ones meant to fill the rear gap in relation to 4x labs bumper, but had not seen any on the front of the flare. Thank you for that.
- Thread starter
- #100
Do I buy a shop press or let @ Torfab do all of my bushings in the new year? These are the questions that plague me.
I pulled the trigger on a very expensive upgrade. I'll post pics when my truck doesn't look like the dumpster out behind goodwill. I'm also trying to run some errands in the Cruiser at least once per week. The poor thing has sat long enough to flat the battery more than I care to admit. I'm also glad I'm only killing an $80 battery and not a fancy agm.
I pulled the trigger on a very expensive upgrade. I'll post pics when my truck doesn't look like the dumpster out behind goodwill. I'm also trying to run some errands in the Cruiser at least once per week. The poor thing has sat long enough to flat the battery more than I care to admit. I'm also glad I'm only killing an $80 battery and not a fancy agm.
