Hey everyone - I just picked up a 1996 FJ80 cruiser and I’m excited and terrier all in the same. I’ve been following along with so many builds on the forum - looking to get my hands dirty. Before I get to the fun stuff (bumpers, lift, wheels… etc.), I wanna tackle all the maintenance stuff to have a decent baseline. Shoot me recommendations on maintenance hacks, dos and don’ts.
Newby to the 80: excited and terrified! 😬
- Thread starter magavilla
- Start date
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Do: Get the factory service manual and follow that.
Don't: worry about "hacks." Do it right the first time.
Don't: worry about "hacks." Do it right the first time.
Its FZJ80.....
Not knowing it's hisyory, baseline as mentioned above:
-Replace all fluids and flush ( tranny, brakes, PS steering, diff, coolant, oil)
-Radiator if no history and it's hoses
-Brakes
-maybe fan clutch and belts
-Tune up
-bushings (not really baseline but if originals, rubbers are hard and showing age)
Drive it around as is (assuming stock) for a bit and determine what is your goal.....37s and big lift for wheeling ($$) or camping and light trails (new stock height kit and 285s is ideal)
-
Not knowing it's hisyory, baseline as mentioned above:
-Replace all fluids and flush ( tranny, brakes, PS steering, diff, coolant, oil)
-Radiator if no history and it's hoses
-Brakes
-maybe fan clutch and belts
-Tune up
-bushings (not really baseline but if originals, rubbers are hard and showing age)
Drive it around as is (assuming stock) for a bit and determine what is your goal.....37s and big lift for wheeling ($$) or camping and light trails (new stock height kit and 285s is ideal)
-
- Thread starter
- #5
Appreciate the vote of confidence!
- Thread starter
- #6
I will post initial photos - currently removing surface rust to figure out what needs immediate address. Right rear swaybar link is missing"I’m excited and terrier all in the same" ??
Welcome to MUD. Woof Woof
Start reading, a lot, use Search terms like: Baseline Base-lining Baselining
Post up some photos including a wide shot of the engine bay, front axle housing/steering knuckles, undercarriage,---
- Thread starter
- #7
I picked it up two days ago, drove it from the guys house with fingers and toes crossed! I’ve never driven one before so I wasn’t sure what to expect. It made it home thankfully.
Gonna attempt a fluid flush this week, see how that goes.
My goal is a family overlander - 35s the most with 2-3in lift for aesthetics. I’m sure it’ll evolve once I start diving in.
If the book says to remove something that doesn't seem to make sense, do what the book says, it will make sense later...
- Thread starter
- #10
The passenger side rocker panel will need replacement - the previous owner did a coverup job that couldn’t been an issue if I didn’t inspect it properly. That helped with the final price agreed. Interior is ok but will need a full carpet removal and shampoo - they smoked in it… all the expected leaks are present - distributor cap, valve cover, transmission seal, birf. All in due time tho.
- Thread starter
- #11
Most of the rear end will need replacement - suspension components along with their mounting point. Rust removal, hard brake line replacement, all rubber bushings, panhard, uppers and lowers, shocks, springs, diff surface rust, drain plug, sway bar end links etc.
The body looks like in a great shape!
- Thread starter
- #13
Yea, body is in really good shape. Paint job is a year old
Replace every heater and coolant hose under the hood, dont be like me, throwing 2k worth of tires and wheels, and then skip the heater hoses, only to have the PHH split and start to spew coolant 6 hours from home.
do a little exhaust sniffing on startup, it will tell you things about the engine
if its a bit smoky then goes away your valve seals will need doing at some point,
Any sweet smell or whitish clouds can be the forerunner of doing your headgasket
if its a bit smoky then goes away your valve seals will need doing at some point,
Any sweet smell or whitish clouds can be the forerunner of doing your headgasket
- Thread starter
- #16
Wheels and tires came with the rig - kinda bummed he didn’t have the stock wheels which I like. It’s been a couple days and I’ve been busy with work, but I’ve already begun ordering OE hoses
- Thread starter
- #17
Will do. It had an exhaust leak at one of the welds of the heater and in front the cat. Runs a bit rough so I think spark plug wires and distributor cap:rotor is due
- Thread starter
- #18
I’ve been busy trying to get ahead on the rust. It’s been a couple months since I started - haven’t had much time to post much at all.
I cut out both out rocker panels, rewelded new plates that were formed from scratch. The previous owner did a bang up job with filler, sponge and god knows what else. The rust was extensive. The usual holes in the wheel wells, the rear quarter panels, shock perches in front and over fender mounting points on the rear doors (both driver and passenger side).
The under body, axle/diff housing, suspension mounting points, frame braking components all got needle scaled, painted and coated. Looks a world different! My buddy Chris came in clutch with the coating - since I’ve never done this before. He was my guide on getting the body panels bent and rolled/blended properly to make it look decent. Though not as great as OEM, it should satisfy my palate.
I had stripped the interior prior to getting the welding done -duh- so I’m saving up to get some sound deadening. My initial plan was to attempt salvaging the factory carpet. The previous owner used the car as a hot box in the winter time with his friends - so it smells like ass and blunts. If I hit the overtime hard I might splurge on a fresh aftermarket carpet - we’ll see.
As far as baselining is concerned, I still haven’t gotten to that as yet. I have not been driving the car so it was to wait until all the body work was completed.
Now sitting pretty on the Ironman 4x4 IMU 2.5 lift kit, got the Goliath off-road front bumper, 4x4labs rear bumper. To the point feels like a huge milestone - but as you guys already know - which I am learning, the list of things you wanna get done and purchase is quite overwhelming! Taking my time tho - slow and steady I say.
I will be referencing back to all the great baselining advice I had received prior - already got the knuckle rebuild kit along with all new OEM coolant hoses. I gotta give the engine bay a proper clean to pinpoint all my leak points. Will flush all fluids to give me a sense of a fresh start.
It appears the previous owner had spacers/adapters installed to run the wheels I got her with. I tracked down a decent of W&Ts for $400 from a lady who was pawning off her husbands unused gear, they should correct that concern. The studs looks chewed up to hell and are SUPER sketch…
I cut out both out rocker panels, rewelded new plates that were formed from scratch. The previous owner did a bang up job with filler, sponge and god knows what else. The rust was extensive. The usual holes in the wheel wells, the rear quarter panels, shock perches in front and over fender mounting points on the rear doors (both driver and passenger side).
The under body, axle/diff housing, suspension mounting points, frame braking components all got needle scaled, painted and coated. Looks a world different! My buddy Chris came in clutch with the coating - since I’ve never done this before. He was my guide on getting the body panels bent and rolled/blended properly to make it look decent. Though not as great as OEM, it should satisfy my palate.
I had stripped the interior prior to getting the welding done -duh- so I’m saving up to get some sound deadening. My initial plan was to attempt salvaging the factory carpet. The previous owner used the car as a hot box in the winter time with his friends - so it smells like ass and blunts. If I hit the overtime hard I might splurge on a fresh aftermarket carpet - we’ll see.
As far as baselining is concerned, I still haven’t gotten to that as yet. I have not been driving the car so it was to wait until all the body work was completed.
Now sitting pretty on the Ironman 4x4 IMU 2.5 lift kit, got the Goliath off-road front bumper, 4x4labs rear bumper. To the point feels like a huge milestone - but as you guys already know - which I am learning, the list of things you wanna get done and purchase is quite overwhelming! Taking my time tho - slow and steady I say.
I will be referencing back to all the great baselining advice I had received prior - already got the knuckle rebuild kit along with all new OEM coolant hoses. I gotta give the engine bay a proper clean to pinpoint all my leak points. Will flush all fluids to give me a sense of a fresh start.
It appears the previous owner had spacers/adapters installed to run the wheels I got her with. I tracked down a decent of W&Ts for $400 from a lady who was pawning off her husbands unused gear, they should correct that concern. The studs looks chewed up to hell and are SUPER sketch…