Newbie Help - Pre Purchase Inspection Issues (1 Viewer)

[oldaggie2000]

Hello all-

I have been looking to purchase an 80 series for a while and I have found a nice '97 40th Anniversary Edition with 150k miles.

Since it is out of state, I had the dealer take it to the local Toyota dealer and they found the following items that need to be repaired.

1. Speedometer O Ring - $800
2. Replace Oil Crank Seal - $580
3. Replace upper & lower oil pan - $2,100

They said otherwise all systems looked good for the age of the car.

Should these items scare me away? Do you think $9,900 is too much for this car?

Thanks in advance for any wisdom.

 

[mct75]

Those numbers sound like a dealer is trying to take you to the cleaners! Lol I bet they were trying to get you to buy a 200.

 

[oldaggie2000]

Those numbers sound like a dealer is trying to take you to the cleaners! Lol I bet they were trying to get you to buy a 200.

Do you mean on the repair numbers or the purchase price? Or both? haha

 

[Malleus]

If it runs, and you like it, buy it. That's a good deal, if it's a good deal. Prices fluctuate so much for these trucks, and vary so much region to region, you'll get as many answers to those questions as you care to read. A trail rig might only be a good deal if it's $3.5k, whereas a garage queen could demand $10k or more.

The speedo o-ring is cheap and you can fix that yourself. Nearly every land cruiser has a leaking/weeping rear main. There's a lot of oil in the sump and you'll likely never run dry because of this. You can either a) park it over a litterbox, or b) pull the engine and replace the seal. Be aware that these seals are replaced often because the OEM failed and cut a groove on the crankshaft. The replacement (2nd or 3rd, etc.) is usually stuffed in a little further, in order to find a clean journal to seat on (the bore is deeper than necessary for the OEM seal). Sometimes this works. Sometimes two seals work. If your crank is grooved, there's not much you can do, other than replace it. Take note that this is the time for an engine rebuild.

You don't have to do this, and it's a common point of interest in these trucks, so not a deal breaker by any means. If the rest of the truck suits you, live with this.

The only reason to replace the oil pans is because they're cracked or otherwise beat to hell (if they really are, this is indicative of a really hard life and should show up elsewhere). You can do this with the engine installed, but if it's really necessary, and I'd demand photographic evidence that it is, if you can't go there and look yourself, and if it's out, you might as well try to fix the rear main problem as well.

Truck porn is always appreciated/envied. Send pictures. Good luck.

HTH

 

[mechanist]

Does it have lockers? The purchase price is not bad for an anniversary edition with those low miles. Seems fair to me. How does the underside look? Any rust?

The oil crank seal seems high. I though one of those oil pans was NLA, but I'm not sure which one. Was it the upper? If they're going to CNC a new one for you, maybe that's why that price is so high.

 

[oldaggie2000]

Does it have lockers? The purchase price is not bad for an anniversary edition with those low miles. Seems fair to me. How does the underside look? Any rust?

The oil crank seal seems high. I though one of those oil pans was NLA, but I'm not sure which one. Was it the upper? If they're going to CNC a new one for you, maybe that's why that price is so high.

Thanks all! It is a New Mexico truck so there is no rust on the car and it does not have lockers. The interior looks to be in very nice shape. It's hard to know the right choice buying it sight unseen.

One other thing - There is paint oxidation on the hood and front portion of roof due to high altitude/dry air. Does that mean a full repaint? Costs?

 

[Malleus]

No, you don't have to paint the whole truck; the OEM paint used blends well (best is white, worst is black). I need to do this on my '94s hood too, but it's road grit damage, not oxidation.

You are better off removing the hood to paint it, but obviously you don't have that option for the roof so, if you're doing both, maybe you can get by with masking the rest off. It really depends on how good your body shop is. I would budget $200. I just had my '95 repainted completely last year, all trim, glass, etc. removed and new seals put in all around (excluding windshield and liftgate glass). It was expensive, but I'm saving it for my 9 year old's 16th birthday, so it was worth it to me. (nobody tell her)

 

[lcgeek]

Soon to follow...
Posts from the guys that bought a locked 97 for $2K followed by guys that spent $15K and felt good about it.

40th's are special. If that is what you want and this one is clean, get it. Everything else will be worked out in time with money or skill

 

[Hornd]

Here is a comparison:
1996, 190K, No Lockers, About same condition, Paid $5K

 

[Marine7]

Like somebody said in a simular thread a couple weeks ago....." it's worth whatever your willing to pay for it". And that is the best answer I've seen. Don't worry about Joe s***head in Oregon that got one locked and built for $3000, or Larry Littledick in Indiana that bought an identical one for TWICE that amount!...... worry about what YOU want to pay! Good luck, and if you grab it, post some PICS!!

 

[LS1FJ40]

Like somebody said in a simular thread a couple weeks ago....." it's worth whatever your willing to pay for it". And that is the best answer I've seen. Don't worry about Joe s***head in Oregon that got one locked and built for $3000, or Larry Littledick in Indiana that bought an identical one for TWICE that amount!...... worry about what YOU want to pay! Good luck, and if you grab it, post some PICS!!

Hey, that's my line!

It's worth whatever you are willing to pay. There isn't a "blue book" on these. If you can afford it, buy it. If you can't, don't.


I've never regretted a single Land Cruiser that I've purchased (19 so far). I've only regretted the ones I didn't.

 

[ppc]

Hello all-

I have been looking to purchase an 80 series for a while and I have found a nice '97 40th Anniversary Edition with 150k miles.

Since it is out of state, I had the dealer take it to the local Toyota dealer and they found the following items that need to be repaired.

1. Speedometer O Ring - $800
2. Replace Oil Crank Seal - $580
3. Replace upper & lower oil pan - $2,100

They said otherwise all systems looked good for the age of the car.

Should these items scare me away? Do you think $9,900 is too much for this car?

Thanks in advance for any wisdom.

1) The Speedo O-ring is a 5 minute and $5 repair
2) Oil crank seal can be found searching for Front Main Seal and Front Oil Pump Cover O-ring - parts are cheap, the harmonic balancer needs to be removed which requires large tools, labor will be where the cost is but $580 seems high but it is typical for a dealer. Also there is a o-ring on the distributor that typically needs replacement because of leaks along with a new valve cover gasket. Parts are reasonably priced and not hard to do yourself.
3) Oil pans normally need to be resealed and not replaced. $2100 is outrageous but is labor intensive.

If you can find a independant repair shop that has Land Cruiser experince you will be much better off.

 

[Marine7]

Hey, that's my line!

It's worth whatever you are willing to pay. There isn't a "blue book" on these. If you can afford it, buy it. If you can't, don't.


I've never regretted a single Land Cruiser that I've purchased (19 so far). I've only regretted the ones I didn't.

Hey! I remember that line too! " I've never regretted a single Land Cruiserthat I've

 

[Marine7]

Hey! I remember that line too! " I've never regretted a single Land Cruiserthat I've

......... purchased". Damn fat fingers! Lol...... another great line LS1FJ40!!!

 

[mechanist]

Soon to follow...
Posts from the guys that bought a locked 97 for $2K followed by guys that spent $15K and felt good about it.

40th's are special. If that is what you want and this one is clean, get it. Everything else will be worked out in time with money or skill

It's true. 40ths are special. Oxidation is easy. Wet sand, paint correct color code, and clear coat. Your NM truck likely has little to no rust.

Like anything - it's worth what you're willing to pay for it. In real estate (appraisal background) we consider market, income, and cost. Only you can decide if those metrics apply here. If you want it, it's worth what you're willing to pay for it. There will be costs, and most likely no income. However, from experience I can assure you it will be a blast to own. The satisfaction of ownership last a lifetime for those of us who bleed land cruisers.

This brings up a dangerous point: they can be addictive. They're not on a federal schedule for controlled substances yet, but it's due any day now.

 

[Marine7]

I got it bad doc.... all I see is Land Cruisers!

 

[DSRTRDR]

$800 for a speedo O-ring ? - I agree, it's annoying, but it's neither difficult nor expensive to do it yourself: you need a light, a wrench, the O-ring, some silicone grease

the only tricky part is using the correct O-ring - the assortments found at the autoparts stores are the wrong size/thickness - you are better off taking the one you find in there (and by the way, there are two - either one could be the culprit, although more often it is the outer) to a hardware store to match for diameter and thickness

although I usually do not wrench "under the belt line", this is one of the items I am readily willing to take on myself

 

[ewillis]

I've never regretted a single Land Cruiser that I've purchased (19 so far).

19 LCs?!?! WTF...quit buyin them 3FEs!!

 

[LS1FJ40]

19 LCs?!?! WTF...quit buyin them 3FEs!!

That includes 40s, 55s, 60s, a 62, a 71, 80s, and a 100. Currently only 3 80s. Two of which are 3FEs...

 

[Rifleman]

These trucks are an addiction, but Remember, if you end up paying the dealerships $9,900 asking price, that only gets you in the door. Once you've done all the repairs you listed in your thread, you'll need to do a base line maintenance on it. That can cost you anywhere between 500, to a 1000 dollars, depending on if you do your own work, or if you have it done by a shop.