Rig of the Fort Night, are we still doing these? It's my intro anyways...
My handle is "hsiaoer" pronounced "shower".
I am really a MUD lurker, but try and contribute every now and again. I need to get out and meet some more cruiserheads so here is my official introduction.
Pre-ownership
I am a reformed racing enthusiast. The first car I bought was a 1985 Mazda RX7 for $500. It was in rough shape, but had the 13b, and was amazingly fun to drive. After several more RX7's and a couple Civic VTEC's I began to see the light. About 7 years ago I met my wife, who's father was an avid off roader. Shortly after getting married, I sold my lattest RX7 and bought a 1987 Toyota Pickup.
We had some great times with that 22r. After a year or so with the pickup, I was sick of constantly lending to other for moving junk so I switched to a 1991 4runner with the dreaded 3VZE. That served me well for many years, but eventually the head gasket blew, and after fixing it I was disenchanted with ever having to work in that tight engine space again, especially since the 4runner wasn't locked.
I had graduated from college, had a stable job, and we were expecting our second son. IT WAS TIME. My search began for a locked 80, the only vehicle I could never get sick of. I exhausted all the fzj80 ad's in UT, seriously I looked at all 13. On mud there was a vague posting of one in Durango, CO for $4500. I had emailed every owner of a Land cruiser ad in the western states asking for a pic of the magic dial. Email after email came back with a blank faceplate, until low and behold, the Durango 80 had the dial. It also looked like this:
So sweet, I talked him down a bit because it didn't have a front bumper, and told him to strap a 2x4 to that spot so I wouldn't get a ticket and I'd fly down to drive it back to SLC. I bought my ticket to Durango, made sure I had my AAA card and crossed my fingers that it would all work out. I got there without a hitch and got behind the wheel for a test drive. I was in HEAVEN. Seriously! No leaks, minimal rust, sounding good. I found a dirt parking lot, shifted into low, and flipped the dial... After about 10 minutes of figure 8's, I was triple locked! I talked him down some more because it was missing a spare and the ABS light was on and we made a deal. I took it in for the one and only time I'll have anyone else change the oil and drove 7 hours straight home without stopping. I was the happiest man alive to be driving a car with a 2x4 front bumper.
I pulled in the driveway at 2am and dragged the wife out to check it out and she said, "You paid how much for this Beast?" The name stuck, it was big, blue, and kinda ugly, "the beast" was initiated into the family.
Ownership
Less than 5000 miles since purchase, the A/C Compressor clutch fried(https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/304332-c-clutch-replacement.html), a tree deflared the back right, and I spun an rod bearing(https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/321093-engine-woes-rod-bearings.html).
Thanks to MUD, I didn't lose faith and took my time and did it right, here's the completed PM:
A/C
Engine
Head Gasket
PHH bypassed
Greased all suspension
Headlights, corner lights
Flushed Tranny
Diff Oil
Reset ABS
And for the fun stuff, here are Mod's to date:
Removed all flares and running boards and bed lined the sides
Front Bumper, custom with a lot of rectangle tubing and 2 in receiver
Rear bumper, copied Darwin1's hitch relocation welded to frame, bumper is more rectangle tubing and removable. This is how we without a bender make custom bumpers.
Weak basket on weak sauce factory rack, left over from the 4runner, it really just looks good, I never really load it up with anything.
2" winch basket with 10,000 cheapo winch wired for front or back
MAF spacers on all 4 corners
285/75 Cooper STT's per MUD reviews and recommendations
Raised stock Spare Mod
Radio upgrade w/bluetooth,SD or flash and aux input
CB installed in ashtray location w/big PA horn and amp
CDL switch, DPST switch, pin 7 mod
Future Mods and PM:
Rebuild front Birfs
Replace Windshield (air leak whistle and rock chips)
Skid plate
Sliders/Steps
Removable rear tire carrier, with the wife and kids, a swing out can't be there all the time. When in Moab I was thinking of just sticking my spare in back and strapping it down, but I have had surprisingly little clearance issues.
Redo front seats
Fix rear passenger window
Find a new vent grill for front passenger vent
Replace rear wiper arm because spring is too weak at the top of the glass
Remove factory rack and get a real rack with a RTT
oh, and glue my Land Cruiser badge back on...
Final Thoughts
The boys are small now, but I cannot wait until we can get out and go every weekend to enjoy the great outdoors. The Beast is so much more capable that heavily modified 4runners and Tacos I feel sorry for all my friends with them. I thought I would eventually need to do an OME lift, but my driving/wheeling has yet to justify it. The way it sits is perfect, the spacers offset the armor weight perfectly, the wife doesn't complain about it being too high, my 2 year old can do an acrobatic leap off the tire and get in all by himself, I have been extremely happy. My approach and departure angles have been great, even at near stock height, I just need some side armor. The windows are huge! Driving through Zion's or Arches, I get that open/free feeling like I do when I'm on my motorcycle. In the end, I am driving the exact vehicle I have always wanted to drive with all the exact Mod's I have wanted to have. Bring on more long weekends, more trails, and heck, with the 80… I'd even consider more kids.
My handle is "hsiaoer" pronounced "shower".
I am really a MUD lurker, but try and contribute every now and again. I need to get out and meet some more cruiserheads so here is my official introduction.
Pre-ownership
I am a reformed racing enthusiast. The first car I bought was a 1985 Mazda RX7 for $500. It was in rough shape, but had the 13b, and was amazingly fun to drive. After several more RX7's and a couple Civic VTEC's I began to see the light. About 7 years ago I met my wife, who's father was an avid off roader. Shortly after getting married, I sold my lattest RX7 and bought a 1987 Toyota Pickup.
We had some great times with that 22r. After a year or so with the pickup, I was sick of constantly lending to other for moving junk so I switched to a 1991 4runner with the dreaded 3VZE. That served me well for many years, but eventually the head gasket blew, and after fixing it I was disenchanted with ever having to work in that tight engine space again, especially since the 4runner wasn't locked.
I had graduated from college, had a stable job, and we were expecting our second son. IT WAS TIME. My search began for a locked 80, the only vehicle I could never get sick of. I exhausted all the fzj80 ad's in UT, seriously I looked at all 13. On mud there was a vague posting of one in Durango, CO for $4500. I had emailed every owner of a Land cruiser ad in the western states asking for a pic of the magic dial. Email after email came back with a blank faceplate, until low and behold, the Durango 80 had the dial. It also looked like this:
So sweet, I talked him down a bit because it didn't have a front bumper, and told him to strap a 2x4 to that spot so I wouldn't get a ticket and I'd fly down to drive it back to SLC. I bought my ticket to Durango, made sure I had my AAA card and crossed my fingers that it would all work out. I got there without a hitch and got behind the wheel for a test drive. I was in HEAVEN. Seriously! No leaks, minimal rust, sounding good. I found a dirt parking lot, shifted into low, and flipped the dial... After about 10 minutes of figure 8's, I was triple locked! I talked him down some more because it was missing a spare and the ABS light was on and we made a deal. I took it in for the one and only time I'll have anyone else change the oil and drove 7 hours straight home without stopping. I was the happiest man alive to be driving a car with a 2x4 front bumper.
I pulled in the driveway at 2am and dragged the wife out to check it out and she said, "You paid how much for this Beast?" The name stuck, it was big, blue, and kinda ugly, "the beast" was initiated into the family.
Ownership
Less than 5000 miles since purchase, the A/C Compressor clutch fried(https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/304332-c-clutch-replacement.html), a tree deflared the back right, and I spun an rod bearing(https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/321093-engine-woes-rod-bearings.html).
Thanks to MUD, I didn't lose faith and took my time and did it right, here's the completed PM:
A/C
Engine
Head Gasket
PHH bypassed
Greased all suspension
Headlights, corner lights
Flushed Tranny
Diff Oil
Reset ABS
And for the fun stuff, here are Mod's to date:
Removed all flares and running boards and bed lined the sides
Front Bumper, custom with a lot of rectangle tubing and 2 in receiver
Rear bumper, copied Darwin1's hitch relocation welded to frame, bumper is more rectangle tubing and removable. This is how we without a bender make custom bumpers.
Weak basket on weak sauce factory rack, left over from the 4runner, it really just looks good, I never really load it up with anything.
2" winch basket with 10,000 cheapo winch wired for front or back
MAF spacers on all 4 corners
285/75 Cooper STT's per MUD reviews and recommendations
Raised stock Spare Mod
Radio upgrade w/bluetooth,SD or flash and aux input
CB installed in ashtray location w/big PA horn and amp
CDL switch, DPST switch, pin 7 mod
Future Mods and PM:
Rebuild front Birfs
Replace Windshield (air leak whistle and rock chips)
Skid plate
Sliders/Steps
Removable rear tire carrier, with the wife and kids, a swing out can't be there all the time. When in Moab I was thinking of just sticking my spare in back and strapping it down, but I have had surprisingly little clearance issues.
Redo front seats
Fix rear passenger window
Find a new vent grill for front passenger vent
Replace rear wiper arm because spring is too weak at the top of the glass
Remove factory rack and get a real rack with a RTT
oh, and glue my Land Cruiser badge back on...
Final Thoughts
The boys are small now, but I cannot wait until we can get out and go every weekend to enjoy the great outdoors. The Beast is so much more capable that heavily modified 4runners and Tacos I feel sorry for all my friends with them. I thought I would eventually need to do an OME lift, but my driving/wheeling has yet to justify it. The way it sits is perfect, the spacers offset the armor weight perfectly, the wife doesn't complain about it being too high, my 2 year old can do an acrobatic leap off the tire and get in all by himself, I have been extremely happy. My approach and departure angles have been great, even at near stock height, I just need some side armor. The windows are huge! Driving through Zion's or Arches, I get that open/free feeling like I do when I'm on my motorcycle. In the end, I am driving the exact vehicle I have always wanted to drive with all the exact Mod's I have wanted to have. Bring on more long weekends, more trails, and heck, with the 80… I'd even consider more kids.
Last edited:
Thanks for sharing. Dig the blue, don't see many around here.
