Newest 80 in our family and some observations. (1 Viewer)

[Cruisin'Carolina]

Doug, good topic......I am interested in all of this because I dream to be as lucky as you someday, and have two 80s side by side.....and I, even after a few test drives, noticed some difference in 93-94s and 95-97s......Nothing huge, but what transpires here may help influence the second purchase....Now that you have driven them more, do you have any additional observations?

You lucky, lucky, dog!

 

[IdahoDoug]

Overall, the 93 has more of a "rough-n-ready" tough feel. Like it's trundling along looking for a fight. Its suspension (stock with fresh factory shocks a couple years ago) has a slight amount of the jouncing and roughness I recall from the FJ62's 4 wheel leaf springs. The drivetrain's been absolutely coddled since new with synthetics, but it is still a quiet symphony of mechanical whirrings and such. Has the feeling of being very directly connected to the road.

By contrast the 97 feels like a more civilized version. Smoother suspension (orig shocks w/ 131k) with less abrupt movements. Down the same roads it glides along more sedately, yet feels just as connected to the road with no extraneous suspension movements. It's about an inch taller then the 93 for some reason. The drivetrain is notably quieter in all respects and an exhaust growl at low RPMs the 93 has always had is absent on the 97. I took about 4 gallons of diff, engine,trannny and brake oils to the dump today and it weighs about 100lbs more than the 93. Odd, since the 97 tranny is almost certainly lighter. Same options, so must be more soundproofing. The 97 will get new shocks as soon as Cdan gets them to me and I'll be curious if the ride changes notably. When I replaced the 93's shocks at around 100k there was not a lot of daily driving difference but it did handle towing better.

Otherwise they are incredibly similar. With both of them having grey interiors there is a strange effect I've noted several times. Driving along now that the new one has become familiar, I've looked in the center console for things that are in mine or vice versa and gotten a wierd "what the...?" feeling a few times. Where's my pressure guage? Where's my "Doug's Greatest Hits CD?", etc.

DougM

 

[dclee]

Found another difference - the fender flare clips. I have a loose one on the 97 and in looking at it the clips are not the same and apparently they're made of a different material. Hmm, what else am I gonna find?

DougM

Flares themselves are different material. Fiberglass for the older truck, plastic (more bendy) for the newer. Also, bolt holes and clips are in different locations.

 

[FirstToy]

Those badges are perfect. They're discreet, but anyone eyeballing your 80 will run across them and get a funny smile. They say "CruiserHead Forever", "Toyota LandCruiser" and have the red "TEQ" graphic on the pig's rump. It's a great conversation piece and already a 40 guy spotted the pig and had a good laugh about them. Kinda crosses the gap from heritage of the early Cruisers to the 80 Series in a respectful way that those of us "in the know" can appreciate.

DougM

Doug, I missed this thread earlier. That is what I was hoping for, a cool conversation piece or a cue into the rich heritage of the LC. Cruiserhead, TEQ and the Pig are so meshed in LC culture so I thought put them all together!

I'm biased but it looks cool on the side! What did you end up using for the adhesive?
If you have a wider shot w/ more of the 80 showing, can email it to me?
Thanks!

 

[PHAEDRUS]

Thanks for the emblems doug,
only issue im havign is how the hell do you order such a thing???? no linkies were working for me.
Dave

 

[NorCalDoug]

You can order them from here
Click on the link, paypal and yer done.

I have some 3M heavy duty moulding and emblem tape that I found at a local auto shop.

Personally, I'm putting mine on the US DS, so the piggie faces forward.

 

[IdahoDoug]

I got some 3M emblem adhesive from a local auto paint supply shop. It comes in a roll about 1/4" wide and you simply cut a few strips and lay them tight together. Before removing the liner to apply, you then lay them face up on some wood and use a razor knife to trim the tape around the badge edge. Then pull the liner off the tape pieces and slap 'em on. They come with a thin adhesive already, but I chose to remove this with 3M Adhesive Remover Spray (they make everything, don't they?) and start fresh with bare metal for max adhesion and weather resistance since I'll be keeping both trucks, well - forever. Mine are on both fenders of both trucks. James was great to talk to and mine arrived quickly and with excellent advice. If you know you're going to put the 3M adhesive on them, perhaps he'll ship them without the other adhesive discs??

They are really, really cool and make a great conversation piece as they're eye catching and discreet at the same time.

DougM