What Did You Do with Your 80 This Weekend? (111 Viewers)

[HighDesert Dawg]

Were you able to take one of their turbo builds for a test run? I would love to see how much (if any) difference it makes.

No, none were available for a test drive.

I was all stoked though to get mine going. I even cleaned up the engine really good so that they would have a fairly clean engine to work with.



Unfortunately, it was all for naught! Cruisers and Company performed a compression test and leak down test to make sure the engine would work well with the turbo. However, they found out the #6 cylinder was a mess and failed the test by a lot. Also found moisture in the distributor cap. Not good.

I had driven over 3000 miles since I picked up my rig in Colorado and even took it out to Moab which was a long trip as well as stressing it off-road without an issue. But going back up to CO to drop it off at Cruisers and Company’s shop, I kind of knew something was up as my oil light went on and had to put a couple quarts in. When they started the engine after leaving it at the shop, they saw blue smoke coming out of the exhaust. Little did I know I was driving on borrowed time.

So bad news is that I need a complete engine rebuild. Good news is that it in good hands for the rebuild. I will now have a an engine in great condition with the turbo. I can’t wait to drive it after that is all done!

 

[simple]

Engine rebuild plus a turbo kit and install sounds crazy expensive. Like remodel your house expensive. "Gonna be nice when it's done", the same terms when you decide to do that remodel project.

 

[JCollin]

Bought an old nasty 78 fj40! Guess I’m going to be in the 40 section a lot!!!

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Someone is a glutton for punishment!!

 

[Samuel642000]

Sure looks good. I don't know about a U.S. version, but my HDJ80 seats are not very comfortable.

Mine were awful, leather was cracked and torn (like they all are) but also had foam missing and no arm rest. I think this ended up being a little more than recovering the stock seats, but a mich better result.

 

[HighDesert Dawg]

Engine rebuild plus a turbo kit and install sounds crazy expensive. Like remodel your house expensive. "Gonna be nice when it's done", the same terms when you decide to do that remodel project.

For sure. I knew that I was going to sink a lot of money into this vehicle but didn’t expect to do this so suddenly. Already tossed on a bunch for new suspension, interior, lighting, and aftermarket as well as replacing rear main seals and other stuff.

All in now!

 

[nigelsiam]

For sure. I knew that I was going to sink a lot of money into this vehicle but didn’t expect to do this so suddenly. Already tossed on a bunch for new suspension, interior, lighting, and aftermarket as well as replacing rear main seals and other stuff.

All in now!

That's when the conversation about an LS swap sounds way more reasonable. I know I know...keep it stock Toyota but there are a ton of things we do to our rigs that are not stock...like the turbo! Did you price out an LS swap or something like that? I wonder what the difference in price would be. I wonder what I will do when it's my time.

 

[bonestock]

Oops

 

[JCollin]

That's when the conversation about an LS swap sounds way more reasonable. I know I know...keep it stock Toyota but there are a ton of things we do to our rigs that are not stock...like the turbo! Did you price out an LS swap or something like that? I wonder what the difference in price would be. I wonder what I will do when it's my time.

1000% agree. I often think about this and it goes in a giant circle in my head....have stock engine rebuilt....or LS swap....or better yet a diesel swap....meh, better to keep it Toyota.....so just find a HDJ81....but I love the one I have, RHD sucks blah blah. Does it ever stop??

 

[HighDesert Dawg]

That's when the conversation about an LS swap sounds way more reasonable. I know I know...keep it stock Toyota but there are a ton of things we do to our rigs that are not stock...like the turbo! Did you price out an LS swap or something like that? I wonder what the difference in price would be. I wonder what I will do when it's my time.

1000% agree. I often think about this and it goes in a giant circle in my head....have stock engine rebuilt....or LS swap....or better yet a diesel swap....meh, better to keep it Toyota.....so just find a HDJ81....but I love the one I have, RHD sucks blah blah. Does it ever stop??

Totally agree with you as I went through those gyrations myself. I have rebuilt engines myself except for the machining and having some sweat equity would pay off nicely for expensive projects as this. But time is money too and I have very little time for too extensive a project like an engine rebuild especially since I have some near-term plans with the rig.

When I looked at this, swapping in a small rebuilt V8 or new crate engine, tranny, driveshaft, wiring harness, exhaust, etc. plus ancillary accessories would cost me between $17K to $20K (or a lot more if I went with a nice turnkey package). I know there are plenty of garage guys on this forum that have the tools and skill sets to complete a swap like that for much less. The factory engine rebuild is going to cost me $10K - $14K depending on how far I want to take it (including upgraded hardware, new harness/plugs, new exhaust system including new manifolds, timing chain and cover, injectors and ignition system, etc.). The “new” rebuilt engine with larger pistons, resurfaced heads, and a ton of new components should be pushing +315 hp which is plenty for what I want (and a huge improvement over the factory 212 HP) plus associated increases in torque.

Also consider that this happened while I was on the road and probably just barely made it to the shop. Considering that this is what Johnny and his team at Cruisers and Company can do with their extensive 80 Series experience and connections, I feel lucky that this sort of happened while getting to their shop as I can’t think of an equal shop in Albuquerque (where I live) that would pull this together for me as effectively. Looking forward to the final result!

Edit: throw in the cost of the turbo itself and then you’re getting close to the V8 swap range of costs. But keeping the stouter 4.5L block is a plus.

 

[efjayatee]

Totally agree with you as I went through those gyrations myself. I have rebuilt engines myself except for the machining and having some sweat equity would pay off nicely for expensive projects as this. But time is money too and I have very little time for too extensive a project like an engine rebuild especially since I have some near-term plans with the rig.

When I looked at this, swapping in a small rebuilt V8 or new crate engine, tranny, driveshaft, wiring harness, exhaust, etc. plus ancillary accessories would cost me between $17K to $20K (or a lot more if I went with a nice turnkey package). I know there are plenty of garage guys on this forum that have the tools and skill sets to complete a swap like that for much less. The factory engine rebuild is going to cost me $10K - $14K depending on how far I want to take it (including upgraded hardware, new harness/plugs, new exhaust system including new manifolds, timing chain and cover, injectors and ignition system, etc.). The “new” rebuilt engine with larger pistons, resurfaced heads, and a ton of new components should be pushing +315 hp which is plenty for what I want (and a huge improvement over the factory 212 HP) plus associated increases in torque.

Also consider that this happened while I was on the road and probably just barely made it to the shop. Considering that this is what Johnny and his team at Cruisers and Company can do with their extensive 80 Series experience and connections, I feel lucky that this sort of happened while getting to their shop as I can’t think of an equal shop in Albuquerque (where I live) that would pull this together for me as effectively. Looking forward to the final result!

Edit: throw in the cost of the turbo itself and then you’re getting close to the V8 swap range of costs. But keeping the stouter 4.5L block is a plus.

So with your new rebuild 1FZFE making in the 315hp, is that with the Turbo installed?

 

[HighDesert Dawg]

So with your new rebuild 1FZFE making in the 315hp, is that with the Turbo installed?

Yes, that includes the turbo which is running at about 7.5 psi boost. Adding an intercooler would help keep the air cooler (denser) and add the potential of incorporating a slightly larger turbo and/or programming for increasing the power some more. Cruisers & Company is still in development for an intercooler so have no idea yet on how much more they can dial in.

For an engine with 75K miles, they tested for an increase of 64 hp net (or approx. 93 hp before driveline losses). Results will vary per vehicle. I might actually net a tad more with a fresh rebuild and upgraded parts.

 

[SNLC]

I told my powder coated to get creative on this one and do something cool.

I don’t really like it!

What’s your opinion? He said he can redo it no probs for free.

Cheers

 

[Dusten]

1000% agree. I often think about this and it goes in a giant circle in my head....have stock engine rebuilt....or LS swap....or better yet a diesel swap....meh, better to keep it Toyota.....so just find a HDJ81....but I love the one I have, RHD sucks blah blah. Does it ever stop??

Been driving rhd almost 3 years. It doesn't suck

 

[whiskeytooth]

I told my powder coated to get creative on this one and do something cool.

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I don’t really like it!

What’s your opinion? He said he can redo it no probs for free.

Cheers

Why not just go red for the horsepower gain?

 

[bj70_guy]

I told my powder coated to get creative on this one and do something cool.

View attachment 3657459

I don’t really like it!

What’s your opinion? He said he can redo it no probs for free.

Cheers

I want to grab a rag and clean up all the oil that's spattered all over it
Wouldn't be my choice either.

 

[shellb]

I told my powder coated to get creative on this one and do something cool.

View attachment 3657459

I don’t really like it!

What’s your opinion? He said he can redo it no probs for free.

Cheers

That’s awful man! Have him redo it!

Looks like a melted Tesla…

 

[Mark W]

Due to the heavy snows this winter, the season has been slow to arrive for off road 4x4 activity and hiking too. It has finally arrivedand this weekend gave us four days (so far) of robin blue skies and blazing sun. The GF and I headed out to Permenente Road for a bit of trail crawling and a bit of hiking. It has too long since I was back there. The last time was about 9 years ago, but one of the guys (Kevin) broke a leaf or 4 climbing out of what is now named "Kevin's Creek" Just past the old bolder wash. By the time that was fixed it was time to head home, since we knew we would have to winch a couple of the rigs through a sharp turn on the Sand Hill to keep them on the trail and not down in Sand Hill Creek on their lid.

Prior to that I had managed to overlook this valley since we took the Alaska Cruiser Trek(ers) up there in 2001.

Since we were running just a single rig and I did not have a crew in the back seat to help me shovel, we only took the '80 in the 9 miles to the bottom of the Sand Hill. We made it through Baby Moose Bog, over The Root, and across Sand Hill Creek before lunch. I did have to break out the winch for a moment at one spot where a muddy root kept guiding the rig into a tree no matter what I tried. But pretty uneventful ride in other than that. We had to clear one downed tree from the trail, but in spite of apparently very very little use over the years, someone had brushed out some of the tight spots in the last five years or so. We did not encounter anyone else on the trail/in the valley except for a family out for a day trip. Mom and dad and three daughters on motorcycles. They passed us as we were clearing the tree, and while we were having lunch before shouldering the packs they were coming back by us on the way out. Early it seemed. Turned out Dad had managed to drop his bike hard in the old bolder wash and "broke his hand". It looked pretty painful and I offered to drive him out to the trailhead in the '80 but he was toughing it out. I helped him and the girls muscle the bikes over the rocks in the creek and they headed out. Guess they made it okay.

Once we got the packs on we quickly moved past Sand Hill and to the old International pickup that was abandoned in the '60s when it got trapped on the wrong side of the then "New Bolder Wash"

After about 3 miles of easy walking and not "too much" fresh bear scat we reach out planned camp spot at the lake. Pitched the tent, dropped most of the gear and continued on to the fork of the King River (confluence of the south and north forks).


Back to camp after a bit eat, chill and laugh at the very tired dog some (he had run/trotted the 9 miles to where we left the Cruiser and of course hiked the same 8 additional miles that we had and he was pretty much done for).


Got up late in the morning and remembered the one downside of this "perfect" camp spot. The sun did not climb above the peak that was shadowing camp until about 11 am. On the bright side, at least Yogi and Booboo left my picnic basket alone overnight. We wandered into the big boulder field for a little while as the day warmed up. Found the remains of a winter killed moose that had broken a leg when it wandered into the snow covered boulders. The bears and smaller scavengers had appreciated the gift at least.

After that it was time to head back to the pavement. Hottest day of the year. Found myself running the AC off and on, even on the trail!


I did not get any pictures of the Cruiser. This trip was more about where the Cruiser could take us than it was about what the Cruiser could do. Got some pics of the trail and destination though...


"campsite"

Looking up valley from the edge of the boulder field where the forest is making inroads.

This one is for Bruce @lowenbrau. I expect he may remember this spot. Rob Mullen snapped the next pic of his '70 here in summer of 2001 during the first Alaska Crusier Trek. Made the cover of the 2002 Land Cruiser Calendar. The beetle killed spruce tree right ahead of his rig is gone now and it looks like there may have been some small slide activity on the rock glacier in the mid background, but little else has changed.

Anyway... that's what I did with my '80 this weekend.

 

[Fj80oregon]

Yes, that includes the turbo which is running at about 7.5 psi boost. Adding an intercooler would help keep the air cooler (denser) and add the potential of incorporating a slightly larger turbo and/or programming for increasing the power some more. Cruisers & Company is still in development for an intercooler so have no idea yet on how much more they can dial in.

For an engine with 75K miles, they tested for an increase of 64 hp net (or approx. 93 hp before driveline losses). Results will vary per vehicle. I might actually net a tad more with a fresh rebuild and upgraded parts.

Terrible news! Sounds like you are in good spirits. That’s a great attitude to have. You are in good hands though, I like that your keeping it Toyota. You Will have a good piece of mind knowing it was all done right.

 

[Bludozer]

I told my powder coated to get creative on this one and do something cool.

View attachment 3657459

I don’t really like it!

What’s your opinion? He said he can redo it no probs for free.

Cheers

"I have completed your request, Ian."

 

[Broski]

Helped a friend move his shed