What Did You Do with Your 80 This Weekend? (47 Viewers)

[ToyotaDon]

This weekend I few to Oregon and bought my very first Land Cruiser a 1993 FJZ80 and drove it six hours or so north to my home in Bellingham, WA. My wife and I bought the rig from a college kid who put a ton of nice accessories on it (really fun and expensive), but clearly neglected some important PM issues (somewhat expensive, but not nearly as fun). So I began the process of looking over my new rig and making a list of the maintenance work needing to be done.

The first thing I did after buying it was mistakenly rolling down the Drivers power window (one of the known issues of the vehicle was windows of slides and bad window motors) and having it promptly get stuck in the down position...with a six hour drive ahead of me...heading from Oregon to just shy of the Canadian border in Washington...in February. A quick trip to a local hardware store and a roll of gorilla tape later I had the window unmounted from the regulator and taped up (I was grateful for the factory tool kit). I spent quite a bit of time reading through the forum's many fine discussions on window issues and was unable to effect any other repair. Fortunately it had net started raining yet.

I made way home learning the sounds of the new rig (read factory stereo LCD is out, and antenna mast is stuck in the down position) and pondering the Check Engine Light and the future O2 sensor replacement that was in my near future (another known issue).

I made it home with out any mechanical issues and promptly took my kids and wife for a drive to get our '87 Toyota Pickup that I left at the airport shuttle lot. The kids were flipping out for our new to us Land Cruiser. It was a sweet moment.

The next day I left the rig parked in the driveway while we took our DD '10 Subaru Forester up to Mt. Baker for some extra wet skiing. Upon returning home I went over to the cruiser and found the passenger seat was really wet as was the carpet on the passenger side and driver side and next to the door in the second seat. First I freaked out and felt pretty foolish for doing a fly and drive for a vehicle that was less than perfect (not that we can afford a perfect rig), but then I came to my senses and logged on to MUD and took a few deep breaths. I cleared out my one car garage and backed in my soggy rig to try and dry it out and chase down the leak. I opened the sunroof and snaked out the front drains with some fencing wire and then cleaned the seals of the sun roof as best i could with out removing the whole thing (trying to avoid removing the frontrunner rack). I used my little cheap HF hot dog air compressor to blow out the pine needles and dust from the sun roof fittings (avoiding blowing the lines themselves after reading some posts about blowing them off their fittings under the headliner) and ran some water through the drains--Success!

I pulled up the carpet and removed the plastic trim by the door sills and drained a LOT of water out. The padding under the carpet was totally saturated and I discovered later that the small rubber fitting that drains the AC condenser (not sure but my best guess..waiting on a Haynes manual and searching for a deal on a FSM) was draining under the carpet for god knows how long. I got the rubber hose back in place but not the gasket it passes through. I'll make it right when I have time to remove the whole AC condenser thing, but this should at least route the water out. I saturated the area with Concrobium to combat the mold I discovered and hoped that the days of soggy carpet are behind me for awhile. I also ended up peeling back the headliner in the second row to clean the rear sunroof drains after discovering the passenger side second row seatbelt was soggy. I couldn't quite figure out why it was wet, i can only suspect it was because it was somehow leaking though the sunroof drain tube which has no hose clamp. Hopefully things will remain dry. The drain hose attachment had no hose clamps, so perhaps it was overwhelming the drain system and leaking through the connection. I'm not sure but I'm going to be monitoring it closely for the rest of the winter.

Finally, put some Kroil penetrating oil on the fasteners holding the O2 sensors and studs. Im pretty nervous to try and replace them, since I'm worried about breaking/ mangling the studs. I then ordered a pair of OEM O2 sensors, a new front hood seal, and a drivers side window motor.

It feel like a good start to give the LC some well deserved TLC. There are a number of issues remaining to be solved, but with the support of this fine community I'm sure we'll make some good progress. The MUD forum is such an incredible resource and I am deeply grateful for the collective wisdom here.

Also look at windshield seal leaking, as well as rear slider windows.

 

[chap79]

Gave her a bath and inspected for damage from my last trip. Carnage includes but is not limited to:

• Both front inner axle seals leaking
• Small dent on front differential housing
• Slight bow in the driver side rear LCA.

I’ll give her a better look tomorrow now that all the mud is off.

 

[perrobravo]

Like @LandCruiserPhil , I'm into hard core "winter" wheeling, so took my HDJ81 up a mountain just outside San Diego and, lockers engaged, made it to the top.

This section was particularly gnarly

Luckily, I found a sunny spot at the top to warm up and enjoy a frosty beverage

 

[bajaphile]

Gave her a bath and inspected for damage from my last trip. Carnage includes but is not limited to:

• Both front inner axle seals leaking
• Small dent on front differential housing
• Slight bow in the driver side rear LCA.

I’ll give her a better look tomorrow now that all the mud is off.
View attachment 1628695

Sounds like it was a good trip then!

 

[chap79]

Sounds like it was a good trip then!

It was just what I needed. I’ve been wanting to get out in the rocks for a long time. I don’t mind mild wheeling and exploring but it’s nice to do a trail that actually requires a spotter from time to time.

 

[GeoRoss]

I highly recommend hitting a junk yard. Find any Land Cruiser (or any Toyota for that matter) and take any bolts you can put you hands on. The first couple of times I did this I brought along a handful of different bolts from one of my 80s. Then grabbed anything I could find. My local yard let’s me just take whatever I grab.

While you are there you will find there are other things to grab. Switches, relays.

I do the same thing.

 

[Fj81]

I do the same thing.

5 finger discount! I always go aroung getting bolts and clips and such.

 

[mts2snd]

5 finger discount! I always go aroung getting bolts and clips and such.

Funny, when it was suggested I do the same, I asked if there are any known good spots for pickin between NYC and basically all points west, no reply yet.

Reminds me of surf fishin', nobody spot burns , always "fish were here yesterday..".

 

[Fj81]

On the west coast there are lots of places. I actually have one like 4 miles from where I live, so somedays I just go walk over there instead of the park even though I have to pay the 3 dollar admission lol. You get to see some interesting stuff! Like a Nash Metropolitan or a random boot!

 

[mts2snd]

Yep, back east last time there were good yards near me was in the 80's. RE prices plus rust put em out. Can't wait to go west this summer. Nash is cool, looks like a ...Pinto or Pacer behind it? and then a Bug? good stuff.

 

[baldilocks]

Gave her a bath and inspected for damage from my last trip. Carnage includes but is not limited to:

• Both front inner axle seals leaking
• Small dent on front differential housing
• Slight bow in the driver side rear LCA.

I’ll give her a better look tomorrow now that all the mud is off.
View attachment 1628695

My rear LCA’s were bent the first trip out. The MT replacements have remained straight.

 

[chap79]

My rear LCA’s were bent the first trip out. The MT replacements have remained straight.

I need to replace the bushings in them. So my plan is when I pull them to do so I'll straighten it in the press then reenforce them with some 1/4" angle iron. If that fails I'll look at making a new set out of DOM.

In other news I'm really torn looking at fridge options. Having a hard time choosing between the Indel B 51qt or the EdgeStar 63qt. The 63qt would make my trips to town for grocery shopping much easier .

 

[baldilocks]

I need to replace the bushings in them. So my plan is when I pull them to do so I'll straighten it in the press then reenforce them with some 1/4" angle iron. If that fails I'll look at making a new set out of DOM.

In other news I'm really torn looking at fridge options. Having a hard time choosing between the Indel B 51qt or the EdgeStar 63qt. The 63qt would make my trips to town for grocery shopping much easier .

I wouldn’t mess with angle iron because it won’t slide over rocks as well especially laterally. The angle shape is not as strong. It will look like an after thought.

Why not just go straight to the DOM or other thicker wall tube? Doing so would give you the opportunity to lengthen them to account for your lift. Yes, I know, you’d then need to lengthen the uppers. That's why I just went ahead and bought the MT adjustable set.

 

[LS1FJ40]

I need to replace the bushings in them. So my plan is when I pull them to do so I'll straighten it in the press then reenforce them with some 1/4" angle iron. If that fails I'll look at making a new set out of DOM.

In other news I'm really torn looking at fridge options. Having a hard time choosing between the Indel B 51qt or the EdgeStar 63qt. The 63qt would make my trips to town for grocery shopping much easier .

For the money the Edgestar is a solid fridge. My only complaint is that I got the 80qt and it’s too big for what I use it for. But I can fit at least 6 gallons of milk from the grocery store. Or two unopened cases of water and another open case. Or about 50 frozen pizzas.

 

[bryanb]

Some Death Valley and Panamint Valley

 

[baldilocks]

@bryanb What tire and size are you running. Awesome driving btw! Very few posts on Mud show anything more that an 80 running through mud puddle.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

I need to replace the bushings in them. So my plan is when I pull them to do so I'll straighten it in the press then reenforce them with some 1/4" angle iron. If that fails I'll look at making a new set out of DOM.

Snip

Sleeve what you have with DOM and you end up with 3/8" walls that you wont ever bend

 

[bryanb]

@bryanb What tire and size are you running. Awesome driving btw! Very few posts on Mud show anything more that an 80 running through mud puddle.

37x13.5r17 Toyo Open Country RT. I'm really impressed with them. Very quiet, yet seem to me to hook up as well as my KM2s. With the right wheel backspace and 2" bump stop spacers, I fully compress all four corners with out rubbing. The wheel/tire combo is 125lbs and I have no wheel weights on them and have experienced zero vibes all the way up to 80.

 

[chap79]

For the money the Edgestar is a solid fridge. My only complaint is that I got the 80qt and it’s too big for what I use it for. But I can fit at least 6 gallons of milk from the grocery store. Or two unopened cases of water and another open case. Or about 50 frozen pizzas.

I was leaning more towards the Indel B for this reason, measuring out how much space the 63 qt takes is quite intimidating. More room than my 70qt Coleman marine. Exterior is wider and taller, with the interior space being a little smaller. I’m lactose intolerant so I don’t think I even use 6 gallons of milk a year. I usually don’t cool my water bottles when I wheel and a bottle of wine uses less space then a 12-pack. Luckily Scotch doesn’t need to be cooled.

 

[baldilocks]

37x13.5r17 Toyo Open Country RT. I'm really impressed with them. Very quiet, yet seem to me to hook up as well as my KM2s. With the right wheel backspace and 2" bump stop spacers, I fully compress all four corners with out rubbing. The wheel/tire combo is 125lbs and I have no wheel weights on them and have experienced zero vibes all the way up to 80.

What is the wheel back spacing? Running wheel spacers? Fender trimming? I ask because those tires look very wide in your pics. I went with the SS TRXuS in 37x12.5 last summer. They were pretty easy to fit as they are narrower.