Project "Home Built" '96 80

[DiscoveredLC]

Great build, how did the gearing affected overall performance?

It was a pretty noticable change. THe truck isnt my daily driver, so its fine for now. I have a set of 4.88's, just waiting to save up for the ARB's. Might look into just selling the gears and install kits for some pre assembled 3rds with arbs in them. THe big thing i noticed was offroad. THe truck went down a steep descent pretty quickly compared to before. I'd like to get that crawl speed back....

Subscribed...I want to get a Plasma after reading this build n s

yup. Plasma cutter is one nice tool to have. It's made life so much easier considering I use to use nothing but cut off wheels.

 

[Brian Macgyver]

You made the right call, trading a Land Rover for a Land Cruiser. Your build is terrific.
Amoung real mechanics, there is a realization. It has something to do with history.
What nation had the most widely spread and longest lasting empire in human history? Britain.
What nation kept its imperial power over much of the world for over 400 years? Britain.
What nation lost its entire empire just as soon as its soldiers traded horseflesh for horsepower?
The British cannot build a car to save the empire! They lost an empire as soon as the motorcar was invented. And you really want to buy a car from them? These people are auto-illiterate.
I wouldn't give a plugged nickle for any British car.
But they do have a way with a pastry-wrapped file-minon steak. That is good stuff!

 

[DiscoveredLC]

Haha! Yeah i think I made the right choice.

The Rover was a very capable truck, just not a well built truck.

 

[CMY4XGO]

Beautiful 80. I wont bore you and tell you that you have excellent fabrication skills, because i need to ask you something else. ;p

Our rigs are similar in respect to the lift and tire size, and that we both have retained the factory fender flares.

Like you, i have removed the black plastic mud flaps at the bottom/rear of each flare, but yours have a finsihed look to it. Can you post a few pics to show just what you've done to clean it up?

Cheers! And thanks!

 

[DiscoveredLC]

Beautiful 80. I wont bore you and tell you that you have excellent fabrication skills, because i need to ask you something else. ;p

Our rigs are similar in respect to the lift and tire size, and that we both have retained the factory fender flares.

Like you, i have removed the black plastic mud flaps at the bottom/rear of each flare, but yours have a finsihed look to it. Can you post a few pics to show just what you've done to clean it up?

Cheers! And thanks!

I cut the bottom of the flare where the flaps attach. The portion of the flare that attaches to the truck is still there. Makes it look a lot cleaner.

I'll take a few pics and post them up.

 

[CMY4XGO]

Sweet. I'll get my DeWalt batteries charged

 

[DiscoveredLC]

Front end rebuild in the works. What a messy job...

 

[huntsonora]

After taking care of the usual PM stuff, I started by removing the factory running boards and other catch all items. Threw on the 285/75/16 BFG AT's from the Rover and went out on my summer archery hunting trips. Had a BLAST in my new toy! The truck did great and made me happy that I made the switch, even if it ment going back to square one.

The back of the cruiser had more space than the Rover, and the seat brackets made great tie down points which I thought I was going to have to make.

How was your archery season? I was out in NV last month and we saw some great bucks!

Love the build, I would love to find a white 80!

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Nice build any action pictures or threads?

 

[DiscoveredLC]

How was your archery season? I was out in NV last month and we saw some great bucks!

Love the build, I would love to find a white 80!

That hunt was a heart breaker for sure... We packed in to the south end of the Ruby mountains. LOOOONGGG story short, my brother and I both had close encounters with some really nice bucks, but no shot opportunities. I crawled on my stomach and side for 100yds to finally get on top of two bedded down 25-27" tall 4x4's. Was 30yds away and the brush they were bedded down in kept me from getting a clear shot. I wont shoot a deer in the head... Similar story for the next day. It just seemed like luck wasnt on our side. Got so close, but no ethical shots to take.

Nice build any action pictures or threads?

I dont really have that many pictures of the truck right now. Just a lot of desert hunting trips. I got a promotion at work and ive been working long hours so its put the 80 on the side for a while. I just got another job offer which will have me working 3 days a week, so hopefully Ill get back to building parts again.

Here's a few pics from this last week after I got the rebuild done. Local trail near town with a lot of V cracks.

 

[DiscoveredLC]

There's some local trails that I want to run once i build my rear bumper, but ive put them off until thats finished cause theyhave some larger obstacles that could damage the quarter panels.

I have pics of my last truck on those trails, but i dont think you want to see Land Rover photos.

 

[kbahus]

I would enjoy seeing some Land Rover shots

Those Bilsteins look like they flex really well, I don't think I can get nearly that much articulation on OME shocks and 2" springs.

 

[DiscoveredLC]

I would enjoy seeing some Land Rover shots

Those Bilsteins look like they flex really well, I don't think I can get nearly that much articulation on OME shocks and 2" springs.

I had a bunch of pictures on my parents old computer before they got rid of it, so i had to dig up old threads from other websites.... here's a few local trails that are pretty fun.

page 4 and 5 for steves loop.

Trail Run Steve's loop May 2nd - Page 4

Deer valley

Deer Valley is still open... (pics) - Page 2

 

[rvariverguy]

How's that bumper holding up? That's exactly the type I want for my 96 LX. Totally outside my scope of abilities but if I connect with someone that does fabrication work would you say it was difficult to build?

 

[ToddD]

That's exactly the type I want for my 96 LX. Totally outside my scope of abilities...

x2 on that. Awesome fab skills. Very soon I will have a welder. What kind of welder did you use on that bumper? I remember you mentioned the plasma but don't think you mentioned what kind of welder you use.
Can you tell I don't know anything about welders! All I know is I want one!

 

[DiscoveredLC]

How's that bumper holding up? That's exactly the type I want for my 96 LX. Totally outside my scope of abilities but if I connect with someone that does fabrication work would you say it was difficult to build?

Any plate bumper is going to take some time to build. Just make sure they gusset the wings and built the center section right. Ive landed on it once and it didnt budge at all. I built the bottom portion of the wing out of 1/4." Ive also winched with it twice and had no problems either...

x2 on that. Awesome fab skills. Very soon I will have a welder. What kind of welder did you use on that bumper? I remember you mentioned the plasma but don't think you mentioned what kind of welder you use.
Can you tell I don't know anything about welders! All I know is I want one!

haha, I have a Milermatic 180 with autoset. its a great unit. Miller and Lincolns have served me well, and all my friends love theirs too. I dont tthink you can go wrong with either brand.

 

[ToddD]

Any plate bumper is going to take some time to build. Just make sure they gusset the wings and built the center section right. Ive landed on it once and it didnt budge at all. I built the bottom portion of the wing out of 1/4." Ive also winched with it twice and had no problems either...



haha, I have a Milermatic 180 with autoset. its a great unit. Miller and Lincolns have served me well, and all my friends love theirs too. I dont tthink you can go wrong with either brand.

In your experience is there a lower cost welder you could recommend to someone that is new to welding? Or do you get what you pay for. It looks like Miller makes some great machines but I was hoping to find something for less $$. Do you think a cheaper unit would even be worth it? Keeping in mind I'm going to weld everything I can find until my beads are super sexy then learn how to build bumpers, sliders, etc,..

 

[pdxeod]

You do "get what you pay for." if you plan on doing a lot of welding get a miller 211, 180, or similar. My brother just got a miller 211 with autoset and it works very well. The new 211 is also much smaller than the older one, making it even better for storing in our over crowded garages. I have a miller dvi2 mig, and a miller syncrowave 200 tig, and love them both. But if you want something a lot cheaper, I have been pleasantly surprised with the Lincoln 100 using flux core. They don't have the amps to use solid wire but if you take your time, you can do very well with the 110v lincolns. I found the Lincoln 100 for $100.00 on craigslist. If you chose to buy a used welder, insist on trying it out before you buy it.

 

[pdxeod]

One thing I forgot to mention; if you want to do bumpers/ sliders and that kind of thing, you can get away without a cutting torch or plasma. A good angle grinder can be your best friend. Thin cutting discs and good wire wheels can help a lot! Use a regular grinding disc or flapper disc for removing the mill scale. The wire wheels are invaluable for cleaning the slag off the welds when using flux core. For safety don't use a grinder with an on/off switch, get one with a "dead man" paddle switch. I've seen a lot of damage caused by cheap hf angle grinders with the sliding stay on switch.

 

[ToddD]

Thanks for the tips! I know this isn't a welding forum and I hate to 'jack this thread but I had to ask!
Cheers!