The 4WheelUnderground 3 link thread

[SNLC]

That's a big part of it IMO. I think many are still feeling the "Land Cruiser prestige" even though that nonsense was amortized decades ago. These days the 80 is just a cheap truck with a few factory goodies that makes it a great platform for a budget wheeler. May not be in the same rust bucket category as an old mini truck but we sure aren't living in '96 anymore.

I agree and disagree. Cruisers hold a certain level of value, moreso that any other Toyota 4wd. Nice 80's often change hands for $10-20k. I got a buddy who sold one for $16k and it was stock besides the lift and his overland build. Good drivetrain and good body plus well put together upgrades is why he got $16k. The guy who bought it came all the way from the east coast to Idaho to pick it up. He also had a few things done to it right when he bought it, before he drove it home. So he likely had an easy $20k in his purchase if you count the trip too. There was that $60k 80 on here awhile back. I heard he sold it, hard to believe but that is what I heard. So at least for me there is a certain level of value in these trucks not found in other Toyotas. When they are all smashed up or rusty that value is definitely much less. Toyota parts are drying up too. I spent $1800 last summer on all new rubber in the body of my truck. I did it because before long it may not be available, the stock stuff also lasted 24yrs. And it adds to the value of my truck if and when I sell it.

I sold a 60 for $12k, very nice well dialed in drivetrain and no rust but really shoddy body work and lot's of bondo. Guy who bought it was happy anyways. A buddy sold an FJ60 for $10k. 100% stock besides the OME lift and 33" BFGs. He bought it for $900, fixed the trans which was just shifter pins, fixed a few small probs and bam, $10k. It was 100% rust free though but smashed up pretty good from teenagers driving it for many years. I just do not think you are going to see that with minitrucks or 4Runners.

The only truck you can still buy like an 80 today is a Jeep and I am sure many of us will never own a Jeep. In other words, they just don't make them like the 80 anymore and I think to some extent that also helps value.

Cheers

 

[Booger weldz]

I agree and disagree. Cruisers hold a certain level of value, moreso that any other Toyota 4wd. Nice 80's often change hands for $10-20k. I got a buddy who sold one for $16k and it was stock besides the lift and his overland build. Good drivetrain and good body plus well put together upgrades is why he got $16k. The guy who bought it came all the way from the east coast to Idaho to pick it up. He also had a few things done to it right when he bought it, before he drove it home. So he likely had an easy $20k in his purchase if you count the trip too. There was that $60k 80 on here awhile back. I heard he sold it, hard to believe but that is what I heard. So at least for me there is a certain level of value in these trucks not found in other Toyotas. When they are all smashed up or rusty that value is definitely much less. Toyota parts are drying up too. I spent $1800 last summer on all new rubber in the body of my truck. I did it because before long it may not be available, the stock stuff also lasted 24yrs. And it adds to the value of my truck if and when I sell it.

I sold a 60 for $12k, very nice well dialed in drivetrain and no rust but really shoddy body work and lot's of bondo. Guy who bought it was happy anyways. A buddy sold an FJ60 for $10k. 100% stock besides the OME lift and 33" BFGs. He bought it for $900, fixed the trans which was just shifter pins, fixed a few small probs and bam, $10k. It was 100% rust free though but smashed up pretty good from teenagers driving it for many years. I just do not think you are going to see that with minitrucks or 4Runners.

The only truck you can still buy like an 80 today is a Jeep and I am sure many of us will never own a Jeep. In other words, they just don't make them like the 80 anymore and I think to some extent that also helps value.

Cheers

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/4955694489.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/4963908538.html

http://modesto.craigslist.org/cto/4916535893.html

http://goldcountry.craigslist.org/cto/4956245132.html

Seriously???? 80s are generally cheaper than or equivalent to tacomas. I'm sorry you shop at spinoff auctions from Barrett-Jackson dealers(or wherever you get your pricing ideas from).

There is no coin in 20 year old pseudo luxury SUVs(thankfully). I've spent $6200 and $5500 on two fine examples and they easily rivaled anything in the mud classifieds that list(forever unsold) at ~$10k+ in maintenance records, paint condition, lack of any rust, etc.

You sure that was cilantro in those fish tacos you ate in Baja?

 

[jcardona1]

Cruisers hold a certain level of value, moreso that any other Toyota 4wd.

The used car market and valuation sources would disagree with that. Sure there's some inherent emotional value and brand name allure but that doesn't factor into a car's selling price. A few rare gems that sell for top dollar are not indicative of what the rest of the pool is worth. I bet there's also a guy out there that paid a premium for a 1989 Ford Escort GT in showroom condition. Doesn't mean that's the price they'll all command.

 

[SNLC]

Once again man, it seems you have trouble reading. I am basing my comments off personal experience. Seems like my post says that plain and clear. Even giving direct examples. Not saying you can't find them for less or "cheap" but I am saying they often sell for over $10k and upper teens for a nice truck is not uncommon. Hell, I think you would have a hard time finding a well sorted, clean lifted 80 with a v8 for under $20k. In fact I know you would because my buddy had cash in hand and was shopping. There was a real nice one he wanted but it was over $20k, think that was Rockjocks, shortly after he bought his v8 60 one turned up for around $15k. But he missed it, it is not like they come up often for sale. I don't search for v8 80s all the time but when I have seen them on the market, they are high teens to over $20k.

Total 100% stocker in decent to good condition. Sure you can find them for $5-10k. Then you got a long and expensive list if you want it to be like either of our trucks. And that is if it doesn't need $2+k in streamlining it. That $16k 80 I mention above, he bought it for around $8k and then dumped that much into it. He didn't make money on it but he didn't lose it either. Few years before that, he had a built to the hilt miniturck with supra motor. Sold it for like $8500.

It is cool though, you can sell yours for under $10k. If and when I ever sell mine, it will be much closer to $20k and from past experience, I am sure I will get that. I bet Jose could sell his next week for $15k no probs and maybe even closer to $18k. It is well sorted, it is built and it is ready to rock and roll, well nearly. Lot's of people prefer that over having to do it all themselves so they are willing to pay for it. The gold color may turn a few potential buyers off though.

Oh and Tacos are way way over priced, moreso than Cruisers. It is 1/2 the truck in every way shape and form, if that.

Going to be in a set of built 80 axles with RS housing, what $6-8k? Jose probably has at least $3k into his 3-link. This hobby costs money, anyone who gives stuff away is either on some mission from God or is just plain dumb.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

The used car market and valuation sources would disagree with that. Sure there's some inherent emotional value and brand name allure but that doesn't factor into a car's selling price. A few rare gems that sell for top dollar are not indicative of what the rest of the pool is worth. I bet there's also a guy out there that paid a premium for a 1989 Ford Escort GT in showroom condition. Doesn't mean that's the price they'll all command.

Once again I agree and disagree. Just because you wouldn't pay $20k and I wouldn't pay $20k doesn't mean lot's of people won't. I didn't create a value for Cruisers nor am I trying to. I am just saying what I see and what I have experienced. I do agree if one sold for $60k it hardly makes others worth more. The point remains, it sold for $60k so obviously there are people out there with way more money than you or me who feel it is worth that kind of coin.

Also, do your statements only apply to 80's? or Cruisers as a whole? Because 60's and 40's sure are worth some coin and sell for great prices everyday. Far and beyond what other Toyota 4wds sell for. That is a fact and I am not making it up. And on that same point, 100s seem to be valued less than a well built and sorted 80. Go figure!?

Spend some time in the classifieds dudes. It isn't craigslist or Ebay (or some meth head looking to unload for his next high) but I do feel it gives you some kind of idea on what Cruisers are changing hands for in the community.


Cheers

 

[NLXTACY]

Keep in mind, MANY people have paid SOR $7500 for a half cut. So many that they could never ever keep enough on hand to satisfy the market. I watched an exchange go down in SOR's parking lot where someone sold their fully expo'd 80 for a nicely built 60 PLUS $12k cash. It all depends on the vehicle and what people want. I've been offered $12k myself for my LX. I'm sure as hell not selling but I wasn't expecting the guy to hunt me down in the Huntington Library parking lot.

 

[DIGLERZ]

And here I thought I was going to get an update on your link project......................

Keep up the good work and the pic's Jose !

 

[scottryana]

Yeah, my fault. Sorry.

All this s*** about if people will buy or if they will cut up their truck DOES NOT belong in this thread. If it is something we need to talk about we can open up a thread in chit chat but I think it has played it's course.

Let's get this thread back to Jose's suspension the guys at 4WU and their tech details etc.

Ryan

And here I thought I was going to get an update on your link project......................

Keep up the good work and the pic's Jose !

 

[Booger weldz]

Once again man, it seems you have trouble reading. I am basing my comments off personal experience. Seems like my post says that plain and clear. Even giving direct examples. Not saying you can't find them for less or "cheap" but I am saying they often sell for over $10k and upper teens for a nice truck is not uncommon. Hell, I think you would have a hard time finding a well sorted, clean lifted 80 with a v8 for under $20k. In fact I know you would because my buddy had cash in hand and was shopping. There was a real nice one he wanted but it was over $20k, think that was Rockjocks, shortly after he bought his v8 60 one turned up for around $15k. But he missed it, it is not like they come up often for sale. I don't search for v8 80s all the time but when I have seen them on the market, they are high teens to over $20k.

Total 100% stocker in decent to good condition. Sure you can find them for $5-10k. Then you got a long and expensive list if you want it to be like either of our trucks. And that is if it doesn't need $2+k in streamlining it. That $16k 80 I mention above, he bought it for around $8k and then dumped that much into it. He didn't make money on it but he didn't lose it either. Few years before that, he had a built to the hilt miniturck with supra motor. Sold it for like $8500.

It is cool though, you can sell yours for under $10k. If and when I ever sell mine, it will be much closer to $20k and from past experience, I am sure I will get that. I bet Jose could sell his next week for $15k no probs and maybe even closer to $18k. It is well sorted, it is built and it is ready to rock and roll, well nearly. Lot's of people prefer that over having to do it all themselves so they are willing to pay for it. The gold color may turn a few potential buyers off though.

Oh and Tacos are way way over priced, moreso than Cruisers. It is 1/2 the truck in every way shape and form, if that.

Going to be in a set of built 80 axles with RS housing, what $6-8k? Jose probably has at least $3k into his 3-link. This hobby costs money, anyone who gives stuff away is either on some mission from God or is just plain dumb.

Cheers

You modify your vehicle for your own interests and expect no financial returns or sales aspirations. These are not restored 1950s corvettes...

Went for $26k with every possible off road bell and whistle. Probably had $30 into it and I don't pay $90/hr to have a shop build my trucks like you...

I'm not on a mission from god, but I guess I'm dumb... Or I simply live in the real world?

I've sat in your current 80 before Georg bought it. It was not nearly as cosmetically nice as the two 80s I paid $5.5 and $6.2 for(granted they have 1fzs verse a your arguably worse vortec350).

I can't see the light you keep trying to shine and I'm almost positive, at this point, you're blinded by it.

 

[Booger weldz]

Yeah, my fault. Sorry.

All this **** about if people will buy or if they will cut up their truck DOES NOT belong in this thread. If it is something we need to talk about we can open up a thread in chit chat but I think it has played it's course.

Let's get this thread back to Jose's suspension the guys at 4WU and their tech details etc.

Ryan

Also keep in mind both Jose and 4wu are participating in this tangent from time to time. If you don't wanna hear that an 80 is a cheap cool truck with potential than ignore those posts and stare at the suspension pix he posts.

No harm, no foul.

 

[jcardona1]

I bet Jose could sell his next week for $15k no probs and maybe even closer to $18k.

Not sure about that. I think even js93cruiser had trouble getting that much for his monster LX with a 9.5" front, 3 linked and coilovers. That thing was pristine too with very low miles. We definitely don't do this for ROI.

Jose probably has at least $3k into his 3-link.

Quite a bit more than that. That won't even cover the Stage 2 kit I have. Add the Hellfire knuckles, Aisin hubs, misc brackets and hardware, custom brake lines and an extended front driveshaft you're well past that amount.

Yeah, my fault. Sorry.

All this **** about if people will buy or if they will cut up their truck DOES NOT belong in this thread. If it is something we need to talk about we can open up a thread in chit chat but I think it has played it's course.

Let's get this thread back to Jose's suspension the guys at 4WU and their tech details etc.

Ryan

Also keep in mind both Jose and 4wu are participating in this tangent from time to time. If you don't wanna hear that an 80 is a cheap cool truck with potential than ignore those posts and stare at the suspension pix he posts.

No harm, no foul.

I don't mind, no need to apologize here. It's all tech. These 3 link threads always cause a buzz because we choose to defile Mr. T's perfect creation. I don't think the mods care either unless somebody gets butthurt and reports it. That's when they'll bring out the delete hammer.

Went for $26k with every possible off road bell and whistle. Probably had $30 into it and I don't pay $90/hr to have a shop build my trucks like you...View attachment 1060829View attachment 1060831

You have a thread or more pics of that thing? Always liked that truck. I the exo tubing on heims (or bushings?).

 

[jcardona1]

And here I thought I was going to get an update on your link project......................

Keep up the good work and the pic's Jose !

Last update probably got buried, go back to post #239~

 

[Krazytoy]

I would totally over pay for one that clean today.

Fact of the matter is something is only worth what someone is willing to pay. Yes I sold the Baja Bus for $$$ and my 100 $$$$, I knew what they were worth and waited until I found "that guy". I also think what everyone is overlooking is both of those Cruisers had very sensible upgrades, nothing was hacked on them and things that were done to them were things just about every red blooded American would want on their rig. When you start tearing one up it narrows the market on who is going to buy it. Booger, there is not way in hell I would have given you $26K for that Tacoma, very cool ride no doubt, but not what I would have wanted or want these days, you narrowed the market to potential buyers, now if you had a nice clean 80 that was built like that Tacoma I would pay $26K for it all day long, but I am one of the few (I think) that would pay that kind of money for a rig the modified. The Land Cruiser market is all over the board from <$1000 to well over $100K depending on what you want and what "that guy" wants to pay.
Keep up the good work, getting a little closer everyday.

 

[4WheelUnderground]

Here you go. Estimated ride height:

Full compression

Full droop

Enough of the nonsense. Back to tech. Jose. PERFECT! 6* at ride height. 10* at full compression and 4* and droop! Loving it.

 

[Krazytoy]

Enough of the nonsense. Back to tech. Jose. PERFECT! 6* at ride height. 10* at full compression and 4* and droop! Loving it.

6* of castor change through that range is impressive.

 

[RockJock82]

Love the taco Booger.. If only it were a double cab . I'm liking that there is now the option allowing to chose your own coilovers. Nothing wrong with Radflo though I prefer ADS. Thanks for the build thread JCardona look forward to seeing it flex on the trail.

 

[bigfj62]

MORE LINK TECH...........WE LIVE IN MERICA WHERE YOU CAN SPEND YOUR MONY HOWEVER YOU WANT. WE ALL HAVE OUR "THING" WE PROBABLY SPEND MORE ON THEN OUR NEIGHBOR.

 

[SNLC]

Hey if a mod wants to take all the chat stuff out of this thread and leave it to Jose's build, by all means and sounds good to me. Don't feel I have derailed the thread because I don't post an initial derailment but I am guilty since I do respond to them.

Booger that is one sweet Taco. Best built Taco for crawling I have seen. I know you have checked out the one I owned. We in the same boat dude, I had $40k in mine, best offer I had was $17.5k. I said nah and traded for a badass ramjet FJ60. I am dumb like that.

Seems we both moved into Cruisers after having a Taco. Go figure!?

As far as the whole value thing, whatever man, I still think you can get $15k tomorrow for your 80 Jose and perhaps closer to $18k. The gold is the only thing I see to kill that price. You have this thread and your main build thread, that showcases the truck man. Your super nice pictures and the right write up on the truck, give me $2k of it and I can have it sold in a a week for over $15k. Part of getting this number guys is knowing how to sell a truck. On top of that a truck speaks for it's self. And people recognize a guy and his truck who doesn't cut corners, who does it right and will do it over again to get it right. That is your truck Jose along with others around here too. I have not driven it or even seen in person so I certainly could be wrong but every truck I have sold and got good money for, when it got test drove by the buyer, it sold. Not once have I sold a truck when the buyer was not grinning ear to ear when he got behind the wheel. That is because I do what needs to be done and go beyond to make it right, same for my bro Krazy and obviously same for Booger. You guys want to undervalue your trucks, by all means that is your business. Boogers Taco is bad to the bone, I bet the guy who paid him $26k was stoked. I think it is way to much and I would never give ya $26k for it but that is only because I owned one and am familiar with the platform. Same reason I unloaded mine for less than I had in it. Tacos don't offer the same return as Cruiser unless they are your typical "overland" build with under 100,000 miles. Mine was over the top and I was surprised people didn't jump on it when I first listed it for $25k. It was just to customized though and with all my uses posted publicly for years (2x drives to Panama) to be worth the coin I had in it to 99.9% of the people out there.

Yup that is right, my 80 had a slightly ratter interior. Better than leather seats though by a ways. Headliner that was all ass looking and dirty, cleaned up real nice with a magic eraser. Dash pad is cracked but my buddy Krazytoy gave me a mint one from the M80 build. Along with all the interior bits from the M80. The cracked door handle backing plates, replaced them all. Worn drivers seat with 250,000 miles on it, replaced it with an Procar. As I said, I dropped $1800 last summer on OEM rubber. Then we got the half arse paint job it had on it fixed up right. That wasn't cheap either but cheaper than new paint. So it is hardly the truck you sat in however many years ago.

And guess what dude, I don't pay $80/hr for people to build my trucks. That 6x6 Pinz Georg has, I did all the work on it myself. Got deep into the axles and witches hat on that truck along with many other things. Matter of fact dude, when Georg broke it, he and his guys called me to help them get the repairs done. You ever tore into a 6x6 truck with 2 ring gear in the diff? Yup I paid Krazytoy to build the Patrol, guess what I had a huge wad of cash and while he was building it I was drinking beers, off-roading and skydiving in Australia, suba diving in Belize and living life to the fullest. Why would I have wanted to spend all winter building it when I had the coin to have it built and had the coin to go enjoy life while it was being built? On top of that, that build cost me $25k, minus cost of the axles. If you knew the hours he spent on it and did the simple 2nd grade math, you would know it was nowhere near $80/hr., in fact it was a flat rate price of $25k. Which includes, all the gear to build it including $5k in tires and wheels. So sling the mud all you want but this guy if paying for a build is doing it so he can be out there in the world enjoying life while it gets built. And when I got home from traveling the world, I tossed the Patrol on a trailer and took it to Arizona for a week of off-roading. Ya I suck, I don't build my own chit.

Cheers

 

[jcardona1]

MORE LINK TECH...........WE LIVE IN MERICA WHERE YOU CAN SPEND YOUR MONY HOWEVER YOU WANT. WE ALL HAVE OUR "THING" WE PROBABLY SPEND MORE ON THEN OUR NEIGHBOR.

TECH! Everything is taken apart right now for finish welding. I could probably have it all welded up by this weekend but I'll be gone for the Long Beach Grand Prix. This weekend will about adult beverages fast cars and hot women

Started with the diff armor and skid plate

 

[Bimrunner]

TECH! Everything is taken apart right now for finish welding. I could probably have it all welded up by this weekend but I'll be gone for the Long Beach Grand Prix. This weekend will about adult beverages fast cars and hot women

Nice! So we can just back my rig into the green boogers spot when you pull it out next weekend? lol. Can't wait to see it Jose!