Prices on mid- late 90's FJ80 FZJ80 land cruisers?

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DiscoveryXD said:
nice looking truck....

https://forum.ih8mud.com/vehicles-trailers-sale-wanted/383406-1996-lexus-lx450-va.html

Is the lexus LX450 the same body/size as an 80? im a little confused at to the differences/similarities to the lexus and toyota
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This is one of the one's I referred to above. The guy says he can't figure out why no one is interested in a clean CA 80/LX450...but getting info from him over a week now that I (or anyone for that matter) need to make a decision all the way across the country is like pulling teeth. Goofball.

I've had several like that. They're not exactly in our back yard so I want photos of the interior, under carriage (LC's are rust susceptible so, based on prior experience, you want to know for sure the rig isn't rusty underneath), etc, but they just don't want to do it. Which tells me they're not forthcoming at all about the real condition. Been burned once so now I'm "twice shy"...

There's another one with 110K on it in the Dublin CA area. Talked to the guy but after checking CarFax, which I told him I was going to do, there's been 5-owners, counting a dealer who auctioned it off...over its life since 1997. There are a few gems out there but like anything you have to dig! I just missed what looked like a real nice one in Colorado...just got to it too late...like the one up in Yakima.

Other than a few little non-essential differences the 80 and the LX450 are identical. Things like body cladding, radio, sound insulation, seat padding are the biggest differences. Chassis, drivetrain, engine and all the stuff that really matters are identical AFAIK.
 
There's what looks like a real cream puff of an LX450 in Illinois with 61xxx miles...but they want $17k though! And I can't get them to send additional photos either :rolleyes:
 
Have you thought about posting a wanted ad, Dan? I was thinking of doing that on the mud classifieds once I have the funds. I was planning on setting some money aside to do the head gasket and other PM items. I need to be very careful since this will be my one and only shot to get a truck in good shape.
 
I am coming out tomorrow to visit the house in Fernley. I will be driving the Lexus if you want to see the difference between that and a normal cruiser. Not planning on doing much Saturday if you have time.

A bit of my history when i was in the market for an 80.

When I bought mine, a brother of a friend of the family owns a used car dealership. I told him what I wanted, at the time was a 97 40th with lockers. Took awhile to explain what lockers were. Being that he had access to dealers/auctions throughout the state, he had a bigger market to look through than I did. I ended up seeing a LX450 drive by and took a look inside of a parked one and started some research. Told the car guy he could add a Lexus to the search and a few weeks later he found a 1 owner 97 with lockers and it had lived its life at a local Lexus dealer. Had 101k or so and I paid 17k. Now has 142k and you know a bunch of the rest. I wasn't in a hurry to get a vehicle, but I knew what I wanted. If you have a alternate vehicle to use after your disco sells, be patient for the right one. It is out there waiting for you to find it :D

Sorry for my rambling.

Maybe see you guys this weekend.

Oh differnces between LX and LC. Quality of leather in LX is better. Cushions are softer. Shocks (stock) are softer. Body cladding ties into flares, can be a hassle if you want to remove them. Climate control is better/different than normal LC, i think LX is the same as the 40th/SE perhaps. No CD in headunit, has cassette and 6 disc changer in center console (bottom of back of console is access point for magazine). I think oak/tan is the only interior color regardless of exterior color. Drivers side rear window only 1 of them slide, this was due to having the option of cellular antenna. Center grill/headlights are different than LC, so if you change the headlights to something else, you may have to modify the grill. Spark plug cover plates have a L emblem on them. Different wheels than LC/40th/SE versions, only LX have these in the US. Other markets have the LX on various versions of LC. Windows have a bronze tint. Oh, owners manual comes in a cool portfolio type thing with a pen (mine doesn't work). Center console has some differences beyond the cd changer. There is a 'subwoofer' in the front instead of a pocket for soda/bottle whatever. Not very good, but works ok. There are also no change slots/holes for options like seat heaters or whatever. I am sure there are more, but thats about all I can think of right now.



Jon
 
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DiscoveryXD said:
Have you thought about posting a wanted ad, Dan? I was thinking of doing that on the mud classifieds once I have the funds. I was planning on setting some money aside to do the head gasket and other PM items. I need to be very careful since this will be my one and only shot to get a truck in good shape.
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Yes. I think the best candidate might be found outside of the wheeling community. Like most things it will just take some time and perseverance...having said that buying vehicles is not my favorite way to pass time :rolleyes:
 
Oh congratulations on the potential sale :)

Jon
 
Thanks for the advice guys.

That was my plan, to wait until I found what I was looking for. I have a little commuter car, but I need one berore mid july since I have to go scouting for my archery antelope and mule deer tags.

I'm hoping for a 96-97 with lockers and not to much over 150k. Is that asking for a lot? I don't know....
 
DiscoveryXD said:
Thanks for the advice guys.

That was my plan, to wait until I found what I was looking for. I have a little commuter car, but I need one berore mid july since I have to go scouting for my archery antelope and mule deer tags.

I'm hoping for a 96-97 with lockers and not to much over 150k. Is that asking for a lot? I don't know....
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Denied on tags again this year. Sucks. My buddy's 91-year old father drew an elk tag! Last year he drew and shot the Desert Big Horn that I've been eating on...at least I've been getting hand-me-downs :D And some Chukar to eat ;)
 
That would be nice to check out the rig Jon, but my weekend just ended and I have to go to work tomorrow and the rest of the weekend.

I should be at the meeting though.

Dan, what about an enthusiast on here who has taken care of the truck and performed all PM? I bought my Rover from an old lady who kept it spotless, but she had no clue about maintaining a vehicle so it got the walmart treatment. I had to replace the engine shortly after I bought it. I'm just worried that a grocery getter isn't going to be properly maintained do to ignorance.

I guess you need to find the best of both worlds!
 
spressomon said:
Denied on tags again this year. Sucks. My buddy's 91-year old father drew an elk tag! Last year he drew and shot the Desert Big Horn that I've been eating on...at least I've been getting hand-me-downs :D And some Chukar to eat ;)
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I don't know what the deal is, but a LOT of my friends have been denied. It wierd how they draw...

I've been shooting and practicing weird angle shots for months. I can't wait to get out there... You shoot archery?
 
DiscoveryXD said:
I don't know what the deal is, but a LOT of my friends have been denied. It wierd how they draw...

I've been shooting and practicing weird angle shots for months. I can't wait to get out there... You shoot archery?
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No but I've been thinking about taking it up to increase my odds of actually getting a freaking tag in this state! Call me a conspiracist but I don't believe all the draws are by chance ;).

I wouldn't pass up a modded rig...but the one's I've seen to date have left me cold.
 
I hear yah. I've been shooting since I was a little kid, and haven't touched my rifle since I was 16. I love it (maybe too much!) Cause of how much more involved it is. Up close and personal with a bow.

I feel the same way about my old lady grocery getter! Haha hopefully we can get lucky on some of those diamonds in the rough!

You think 10k to buy a rig (locked hopefully) and do a little PM upgrades is possible? I've seen a few cheap ones and a few $$$ ones, so its a little confusing.
 
Those both look pretty nice. So it seems you can find some at fair prices with a little patience/ looking.

I would like to find one with lockers (I think the e-locker on my disco works great) that way its just a regear and that's it. Mostly I'm just concerned about a strong running truck, and I won't mind putting a little $$ into the engine just for piece Of mind and knowing the HG and other things are good to go.

I want to send emails to a few I've seen but I need to wait until the Rover is gone! Like a kid on christmas over here....:D
 
From what Ive seen, you have a TON more skills and are way more ambitious on learning and doing this stuff than most. That in itself puts you WAAAAAY ahead in terms of WHAT you can buy and what you wanna build.
Makes a big difference in how you approach the sale too. My 40 (the basket case it was) the guy wanted 3800.00 for it. He was SMOKIN CRACK! I walked with it for 1700.00. However, as stated, it was a MESS and I was gonna re do pretty much everything on it, so if it wasnt cheap, it wasnt worth it to me. I told him this and he understood where I was coming from.

Use your skills to your advantage.
Just like what youre doing...discover ALL the potential problems that CAN be an issue that you can ask the seller...If the seller KNOWS these problems, and has addressed them its a pretty good indication that attention was paid to the rig...Conversely, if they DONT KNOW, you could probably scare em down to a lower price cuz your knowledge base is so much greater and they might think YOU know something THEY do not about their asking price.

Just a thought. Its how I would approach it with what Ive learned thus far.
 
Thanks keith!

I talked to jack about several items to look for. I think with those in my head I can check out some trucks in person and know what's good and bad.

I think I'm going to set some money aside to do a head gasket job and replace the radiator (unless they have been done) since that will give me piece of mind. As far as axles go, I have no problem pulling things apart and replacing seals and what not. I can't tell you how many times I have pulled the disco axles apart!

I just want to have cash in the bank so I can start looking!

I've also been getting grief from the Rover guys..... Saying a disco will out preform a slow pig-ish 80 any day. I figured it would happen...
 
DiscoveryXD said:
I've also been getting grief from the Rover guys..... Saying a disco will out preform a slow pig-ish 80 any day. I figured it would happen...
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Have they actually driven an 80? I mean you should drive one before you insult their pigish-ness (even though it may be true) :flipoff2:

Hopefully everything works out with the sale, then you have the time and money to find the right one.

Just as a note, I had no maintenence history on mine, never talked to the PO, even bought it from a small car lot in Phoenix, just ran a Carfax and gambled. Like I talked to you about, from what I can gather, after owning it, is that it was just a vehicle that they fixed when it broke and didn't appear to PM anything. So don't expect to find too many that have had any PM on them. The PO's seem to just drive them, now you get to do all of the PM. :D

These things are very robust and as long as they put oil in them, it doesn't seem to matter, several people have determined that 80's are very easy on oil, there is 8 qts for crying out loud and it was designed as an industrial motor, so not much you can do to hurt it as long as there is oil and you don't overheat it. JMHO.

Jack
 
locrwln1 said:
Have they actually driven an 80? I mean you should drive one before you insult their pigish-ness (even though it may be true) :flipoff2:

Hopefully everything works out with the sale, then you have the time and money to find the right one.

Just as a note, I had no maintenence history on mine, never talked to the PO, even bought it from a small car lot in Phoenix, just ran a Carfax and gambled. Like I talked to you about, from what I can gather, after owning it, is that it was just a vehicle that they fixed when it broke and didn't appear to PM anything. So don't expect to find too many that have had any PM on them. The PO's seem to just drive them, now you get to do all of the PM. :D

These things are very robust and as long as they put oil in them, it doesn't seem to matter, several people have determined that 80's are very easy on oil, there is 8 qts for crying out loud and it was designed as an industrial motor, so not much you can do to hurt it as long as there is oil and you don't overheat it. JMHO.

Jack
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Its funny he said pigish too, cause that's the teapot calling the kettle black right there! My truck is a turd, and I know it. I drove yours and it climbed the freeway just fine IMO.

I'm excited to start something new though. It will be fun to build my own bumpers and other parts all over again!
 
DiscoveryXD said:
I've also been getting grief from the Rover guys..... Saying a disco will out preform a slow pig-ish 80 any day. I figured it would happen...
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Insecurity breeds jealousy :D. Or is it something about ignorance and bliss :grinpimp: that gets 'em going?

At least you won't have to be an electrical engineer to keep a LC running ;)
 
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