New member - New (to me) truck! - 40th Anniversary Desert Dune

[SFSig]

New member - New (to me) truck! - Collectors Edition Desert Dune

Hey guys! Great forum and information. Been lurking here trying to get my thoughts organized on which Cruiser to buy. Started out looking at 40's - decided against them as I need this truck to be my daily driver... Then considered 60's - I loved the classic look and rugged appeal, but the lack of modern features, typicial high miles and lack of airbags swayed me from them. Also looked at 100's, and while I think they're a more "logical" used Cruiser to buy, I couldn't help but feel that they lacked some of the soul of the previous series... Which left me with the 80!

Many things appealed to me about the 80. In no particular order:

• great styling
• solid axles - done with torsion bars
• airbags - got to have at least two
• lots of amenities/accessories - rear hand warmers?!
• love the heritage - 3rd world, UN, proven etc.
• AWD
• lockers from the factory
• seating capacity
• manual transfer case
• reliable inline 6
• jump seats in the back

What am I missing?

Anyway, it didn't take me too long to find MY truck... Found it on Craigslist not to far away from my home. It fit nearly all my criteria:

• one owner
• low mileage - less than 130k
• '96 / '97
• color - not champagne
• good interior
• all working electronics
• loved and not abused
• no wrecks

What it's missing - Front and Rear Diffs... Oh well, the unique color made up for that. I also realize I will never truly NEED 3 locking diffs although I badly WANTED them. In all likelyhood, I'll probably be adding them later anyway...

The previous owner's history:

This car was loved by a family from the Bay Area. Bought as a family car it served as daily driver, to family hauler, to son's college vehicle, to sports circuit road tripper... I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the seller and his family and hearing the stories this car has been a part of. It's got great karma for sure...

So about the truck:

• 1997 40th Anniversary
• 111k miles
• Desert Dune exterior color
• Tan leather in great shape
• Amp and sub
• some dings and dents but really only on the bumper

What's wrong with it:

• needs to be detailed
• pulls to the right
• needs new tires
• needs to be baselined fluidswise
• needs a once over by a mechanic
• needs to be customized and accessoried!

My plans are to get it in great stock shape with some new tires and an alignment. Hopefully all it needs to cure the pull to the right is to be aligned - my thinking is that there's not much to break or replace on the suspension of these things, right? As for tires, I'm putting on some BFG AT's 285/75 R16 10 plys. I've had BFG AT's on my trucks before and love them except for the gas mileage... I didn't want to go too big because I don't think it's needed and I didn't want to loose that much on mileage. My only qualms is that I will want to put on a lift before these wear out, but I figure even with a lift 285's should still look good (plus they'll tuck easier). Am I off base? Do you think I should go with a bigger tire for looks and future lift plans?

Anyway, looking forward to learning more from you guys and trail run one of these days...

I'll post pics shortly...

 

[SFSig]

Pics from the seller

 

[FJ809496TLC]

Welcome! It's actually a CE. Nice rig regardless.

 

[packetstormin]

That is a clean rig. I do like the color its unique but don't hate on champagne colored cruisers. Yeah base line your fluids and do the PHH hose and also maybe look in to servicing the front axle. As for lockers I am in the same boat. I really want them but could not find a truck with them so in the end I will be buying the axles with lockers and swapping them in.

 

[CycloSteve]

Congrats on a very clean looking rig...Let the modifications start.

If you are looking for someone to do the baselining, PowderPig should be in the Bay Area / Sacramento in September. Without a doubt the best in the business, and knows more about 80's than 99.9% of mechanics on the planet. cme4lyt is coordinating his visit, so shoot him a PM. Gives you some time to figure out what you want to do with the rig in the near-term.

The original thread is here:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/396415-interest-having-robbie-powderpig-sacramento.html

A number of us had Robbie (PowderPig) out here in the Bay Area back in May/June, and he did five+ Head Gaskets, a number of baselines, suspension installs, axle services, you name it. He is the best, a good guy, and easy to work with on these projects. Highly recommended.



Steve

 

[Windering]

Nice choice of vehicle! Good luck on your baseline and build projects. MUD is definately the best site for information and ideas for your 80.

 

[Jrob80]

Welcome that is a very nice rig, I didn't get lockers either but found a great truck. Good luck and have fun!

 

[SFSig]

Welcome! ************ It's actually a CE. Nice rig regardless.

What's a "CE"?

Sorry I'm new at this!

 

[SFSig]

Congrats on a very clean looking rig...Let the modifications start.

If you are looking for someone to do the baselining, PowderPig should be in the Bay Area / Sacramento in September. Without a doubt the best in the business, and knows more about 80's than 99.9% of mechanics on the planet. cme4lyt is coordinating his visit, so shoot him a PM. Gives you some time to figure out what you want to do with the rig in the near-term.

The original thread is here:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/396415-interest-having-robbie-powderpig-sacramento.html

A number of us had Robbie (PowderPig) out here in the Bay Area back in May/June, and he did five+ Head Gaskets, a number of baselines, suspension installs, axle services, you name it. He is the best, a good guy, and easy to work with on these projects. Highly recommended.



Steve

Thanks for the tip! Would definitely be interested... Any idea if he'll be in San Francisco? If not, maybe there's enough interest from city and penninsula folks to warrant a detour? I'll check the link out! -Thanks.

 

[timer00]

What's a "CE"?

Sorry I'm new at this!

A Collectors Edition.. I think thats why the unique type color and I think they put Collectors Edition badges on them. Maybe special floor mats too I don't know haha

 

[SFSig]

A Collectors Edition.. I think thats why the unique type color and I think they put Collectors Edition badges on them. Maybe special floor mats too I don't know haha

Gotcha... Now that you mention it it does say Collectors Edition all over it. Yes even the floor mats! hahaha

I didn't even realize that the 40th and the CE were different...

Thanks for pointing that out!

 

[fjc8871]

Congrats! I am looking for an 80 as well. I am down in So Cal.

 

[The Moe]

Great find !! I just bought a 97 FZJ80 40th anniversary antique sage pearl. I envy your interior. looks fantastic... mine needs to be redone which was actually not a bad thing cause I wanted to do it myself. I have ordered the supplies ( sound deadeners 2 different types, unmolded custom auto carpet and I'll heat mold it myself) also, I will dye all the interior plastic trims ( including the dash ) with special plastic dye in two tones... I will post the work / result this weekend ... Good luck with your customization !

 

[ScottReb]

I saw that truck as well. Looked very nice! Congrats. Mine will be Champagne though... with lockers. Gotta go to NE to get it. Hope to meet some of you NorCal guys at some point. Call C Dan if you need anything. I spoke with him yesterday. Not only are his prices great he is a wealth of knowledge and easy to talk to.

 

[cme4lyt]

Thanks for the tip! Would definitely be interested... Any idea if he'll be in San Francisco? If not, maybe there's enough interest from city and penninsula folks to warrant a detour? I'll check the link out! -Thanks.

Right now, if this all happens since we still don't have enough people to support his next visit, Robbie will be wrenching in Walnut Creek and Sac. PM me/call me and I'll add you to the email chain that I've set up.

BTW, WELCOME !

Jonathan (415) 720-5194 c

 

[flycast]

no torsions. just coils

[*]solid axles - done with torsion bars

..

 

[arndog123]

Congrats. Looks like a nice clean CE Cruiser.

 

[Cj80cruiser]

no torsions. just coils

I believe he was saying that he is done with torsion bars which is what the 100 has so he went with the 80.

BTW welcome SFSig!

 

[SFSig]

I believe he was saying that he is done with torsion bars which is what the 100 has so he went with the 80.

BTW welcome SFSig!

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome! I am indeed done with torsion bars as I've currently got in my Chevy Silverado - They don't ride right, seem to be more prone to uneven wear (left to right), and hang off the bottom...

Today i took the truck to my tire shop and had a new set of shoes put on! BFG AT 285/75 R16's... They definitely look better, but the power loss is noticable and I can't imagine that being good for mileage. Nonetheless I love these tires and think the trade off is worth it. Something to note - BFG AT 285/75 R16's will fit in the spare tire location! It looked tight and the shop didn't think it'd fit, but it does - barely... It does hang down quite a bit more than the OEM spare, but it's definitely not affecting the departure angle - the tow hitch is the limiting factor there.

The truck also needed a front end servicing as there was too much slop to even align the truck properly. With the truck on the lift there was play in the vertical direction, but not side to side... I forgot the name of the part they said was worn - ball joint, tire rod, endlink, or something? Anyway, the solution was to repack the bearings with grease, which I had a feeling had never been done by the previous owner.

Additionally, my steering wheel is cocked to the left while tracking straight and apparently the "adjustment rod thingy" is siezed up and needs to be worked on - typical for this year and truck I'm told. I'll probably have them work on this when I bring it back in to have all the fluids replaced.

This shop's asking for $300 to change all fluids - do you guys think that's fair?

I'll post some pics with the new shoes soon...

 

[97 40th]

Great looking truck. Welcome.