WARNING An 80 Is Hazardous To Your Wallet

[landtoy80]

This site need a WARNING LABEL
To all that want/looking/thinking/dreaming of buying an or upgrading to an 80 need to read this disclaimer!

This is where we add out input:

1. very $$$ to maintain and repair
a. even more $$$ if you don't do the work yourself

2. gas hog, 13mpg

3. some-B-oby will repetitively tell you to use the "search" to find your answer

If they can get past all the disclaimers, then and only then may they buy an 80.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

There is always a price for happiness

 

[Rookie2]

It only cost if you maintain them.

 

[MoJ]

This site need a WARNING LABEL

a. even more $$$ if you don't do the work yourself

.

That one had my name all over it.

 

[Junk]

1. BS. Cheap unless it's been abused and neglected.
a. uh, yeah, but what isn't?

2. I'm now getting 17 mpg

3. If you lived closer I'd stamp it on your head.



Quit your cryin and go replace your VSV.

 

[montelawrence]

Man I wish somone would of gave me this disclaimers before i bought my 1993 LC. 1 valve cover gasket , 1 rear main seal, 1 front main seal, 1 oil pump seal, a new rebuild front end, 1 new radiator, 4 new brake calibers, 1 new master cylinder, 4 new break rotors, 1 new disputer & 1 disputer cap, 1 new ignition coil, 1 new ac compressor, 1 new dryer, all new belts, plugs, wires & many other things. But I still would not trade her for the world.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

2. I'm now getting 17 mpg

 

[Gumby]

Man I wish somone would of gave me this disclaimers before i bought my 1993 LC. 1 valve cover gasket , 1 rear main seal, 1 front main seal, 1 oil pump seal, a new rebuild front end, 1 new radiator, 4 new brake calibers, 1 new master cylinder, 4 new break rotors, 1 new disputer & 1 disputer cap, 1 new ignition coil, 1 new ac compressor, 1 new dryer, all new belts, plugs, wires & many other things. But I still would not trade her for the world.

That's either bad luck or your mechanic needs to make big boat payments. I have had my 95 for the last 75K miles and have done VERY little repairs. A little more than your average Toyota, but much less than any domestic. Much more money spent in upgrades I really didn't need.

 

[montelawrence]

Who every had the rig before me did not take care of it @ all. But she coming together.

 

[landtoy80]

4. Too many $$$ toys that you "need to" buy for the 80, then you have to try to explain to the wife that they are part of regular maintnence
a. Slee running boards sliders, they help you get in the vehicle
b. ARB bumper, it will pay for its self after only hitting one deere

 

[ginericLC]

Maintainence is expensive compared to what? A Chevy that you put an alternator in every 60k and a fuel pump every 75k. A Ford that spends 22 days of its first year of life in the shop. A BMW with a computer issue that burns up cats. These are just some of the other vehicles I've owned that had much higher maintainence costs than my 80s. Front axle seals are cheap compared to these other repairs. The gas mileage does stink, but what other vehicle that size and vintage will give you better mpgs. My best in my 94 is 18.3mpg, the best my Tahoe ever got was 16mpg. Or the guy who was searching for a 80 series after owning two Land Rovers and spending 12k in 18 months or so on repairs?

 

[cruiserdan]

Stop whining


Buy one NEW for 40 G's, own it for 11 years, and then add all the fun stuff AND the maintainence AND the repairs to it

 

[alaskacruiser]

Yes, 80s *are* expensive to own (cost of parts, maintanence, repairs) compared to a Toyota Corolla or Camry, but then I have yet to see a Corolla or Camry on the trail. For a trail-ready SUV, it's definitely one of the more reliable ones out there, but don't kid yourself- it ain't cheap to own one.

 

[thorvald]

need the warning label for chevy avatars maybe just say wilma warning or something.

you get what you pay for. I have no complaints about any money I spend on landcruisers.
I would prefer to spend it on things I want to buy instead of maintenance, but that time will come once things are taken care of.

Its the only vehicle ive worked on other than changing oil (besides the 60 and 40). Ive wanted to fix things on it so I can learn how it works. I have no interest in working on most other vehicles.

 

[Tooth Fairy]

Gineric makes some really good points.

Mileage does suck though.

I'm driving a friend to SLC to get his *new* 80 on fryday.

 

[blupaddler]

1. Yes mileage does suck, but not that bad


2. 17 mpg...Junk adding the tow trucks mpg to yours doesn't count


3. Probably the best vehicle I have owned




btw, welcome back dan

 

[vanilla_gorilla]

I'll jump in on this one. What are the common problems with the 80's? Other than the Birf's(see, I DID search!). Is there something with the tranny I should look for? Are the head gaskets a big problem on all 80's or ealier ones or later ones or what? I'm not looking for something to wrench on every week, I have a motorcycle for that. I want good reliable transportation that I can take care of(I am religious for maintenance) and that will last forever. Am I looking in the right place?

 

[Doc]

This has already been discussed. SEARCH!









please don't hurt me!

 

[Beowulf]

VG,

>> What are the common problems with the 80's? <<

Depending on your definition of problems....

Antenna masts tend to get caught in garage doors.
Engine, 3 diffs, & tranny need fluids periodically.
Cooling system needs coolant avery year.
Starter contacts fail every ~90k miles.
Batteries fail every ~5 years ( ~2yrs if you use Optimas )
Tyres need to be replaced every 6 months. (They tend to shrink and you need bigger ones)
Front and Rear axles need to be serviced every 60k miles (some push to 90k)
Front pads need to be replaced ~30k miles; ~60k for rears
Rotors need to be replaced ~100k miles.
PHH. (Lotsa discussion on this little jewel)
Filters need replacing. Air, oil, and sometimes fuel.
The 80's use copious quantities of petrol.
The paint wears off the hub caps.
The POS roof rack causes rust if not attended to.
Springs & shocks need to be replaced every ~1yr to "improve ride quality"
(yeah, right! - We really just want taller)
Belts need to be replaced ~100k
Spark plugs and other tune up items ~100k (though 60k would be better)
Alternator brushes should be replaced ~150k (give or take 50k)
Tyres need to be rotated ~5k miles
....


>> Is there something with the tranny I should look for? <<

No. The tranny is bullet proof and we've had very few reports of requiring rebuild/replacement. Occassionally they will need solenoids but you'll know it when they fail.

>> Are the head gaskets a big problem on all 80's or ealier ones or later ones or what? <<

Most cast iron block & alumin head I6 engines are susceptible to HG failure and our 1FZ-FE's are no exception. Cooling system maintenance may improve the life.

>> I want good reliable transportation that I can take care of <<
>> (I am religious for maintenance) and that will last forever. <<
>> Am I looking in the right place? <<

Yes.

Most on this list are fanatical about maintenance because most of us plan to keep these vehicles a very long time. Others are fanatical about maintenance because we carry our most prized possessions (wife, kids, & dogs) in our trucks.

This forum tends to address "best practice" on maintenance. As an example many of the regular posters use synthetic lubricants. It's not required but we do it anyway. We lean toward "best practice" on projects and will replace all gaskets, bearings, bolts, nuts, etc. when the average mechanic and the average DIY guy would re-use those pieces. We tend to recommend only OEM parts; they're sometimes more expensive than the NAPA equivalents but we know these OEM parts are quality and will fit. We had a recent discussion on using distilled water vs tap water in the cooling system. The FSM suggests distilled water but as we all know, there are millions of vehicles running around with tap water and they're cooling just fine but as far as I'm concerned, tap water is not good enough for *my* Cruiser.

-B-