Wanted - 96-97 FJ80/LX450

[BRob2756]

Enjoyed talking with you guys and am ramping up my FJ/LX hunt. Was about to send a deposit to TX and had it sold right before I pulled trigger!

Anyhow, title says it all. Wanting one with lockers. Willing to travel, hope it's a rig with some maintainance history. Prefer one in fairly good shape.

Shoot me a message of you know of one.

Thanks!
Rob

 

[OGBeno]

What is your price range?

I recommend keeping your search below the Mason-Dixon Line and west of the Mississippi.

For best results, try to find one from AZ/NM/West Texas/Southern Utah/NV/SoCal. You will pay a premium for one from these locations, but you will thank yourself when you aren't having to have to use a blowtorch and PB Blaster on every single piece of hardware on removal....ask me how I know....

Also, keep your search ideally to a 1995-1997 iteration. FZJ80/LX450.

HTH.

 

[BRob2756]

Beno, thanks! Looking in the 5-7k range. That includes my travel costs if I have to go out west. I agree with you though, I'm through fighting rust after my jeeps. South east/west trucks all the way.

Have talked to the kind folks at ACC as well and have asked for some help in locating. I've got time, I'll find one soon!

Btw, thanks for the tip on FZJ!

Rob

 

[OGBeno]

ACC are a phenomenal group of people. They will assist you as well.

For a $5-7K budget, be prepared for a very high mileage 1FZ-FE engine: 200K+ is normal. That means you are going to have to put a significant amount of work into it to get it base-lined and reliable.

Owning a Land Cruiser is in absolute contradistinction to owning a Jeep.

Spend time reading this thread--it will be very helpful for guiding you and allowing you to set your expectations:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/should-i-buy-an-80-costs-of-ownership.124556/

Dan's words are pretty much gospel since he is one of the original people in the US market modifying 80 series trucks back in the early 1990's.

Good luck.
-onur

 

[BRob2756]

Beno,
Thanks! I'm handy enough to somewhat baseline but will have to call in the big guns for anything above that. Also have limited work space. I know exactly what you mean on upfront costs vs overall - the cheapest part of a truck like this is buying it!

-Rob