- Thread starter
- #41
Well I mean as long as more than 1 person would want one it could go on the idea shelf.
What's missing from the market?
- Thread starter Grandlooser
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
I definitely would be interested in the cabin air filter
Most of the items made for our 80s are made to slam in to rocks and are very very heavy. Some people want things lighter.
Cabin Filter options!
adaptors to allow discontinued parts be replaced by newer toyota parts etc. More specifically swap kits for newer toyota drivetrains for those who want to keep it toyota. easier said than done.
people seem to often ask for bolt on exhaust kits.
Cabin Filter options!
adaptors to allow discontinued parts be replaced by newer toyota parts etc. More specifically swap kits for newer toyota drivetrains for those who want to keep it toyota. easier said than done.
people seem to often ask for bolt on exhaust kits.
Bolt in 6speed tranny setup would be nice. Or mild welding involved would be nice.
Pocket Fender flares that aren't fiberglass. LED headlight kits that aren't just bulb replacements in the factory housing. Grill inserts.
New 80 series trucks are definitely missing from the market. 
Shrug. Was only half trying to be a dick.
Having lived on several dirt roads while owning and DDing the cruiser I just open the windows or (if it's hot or cold enough) just set it to recirc as another poster mentioned.
Affordable High Steer setup
Actually, this message is addressed to the entire community of vendors, but I'd like to thank @Grandlooser for the opportunity.
I'm rather convinced there's a business case for a well resourced, documented and smog legal V8 swap kit (LS and/or UZ)that could capture:
a) the interest of the vast majority of the community
b) enough volume of prospective cruiser heads to justify the product
Let's imagine this product as a sort of “mud standard” or “the standard”many shops/vendors of the community around the country could resort to. Doesn't have to be the most powerful or efficient. Just the preferred mud solution
No doubt, there're currently a myriad of shops, competent and legit, offering their particular approach for a swap. What about a mud-approvedswap version that could be executed by different mud vendors around the country?.
Assuming there are still around 15,000 units of our beloved 80' on the road (the number is likely higher), do you think is reasonable to assume 20 to 30% of them are prospective customers for an engine swap?. Indeed, these numbers are statistical noise for Mr. T, but I'm not so sure for the vendors in this community.
Perhaps I'm pursuing an unicorn. Perhaps this is like herding cats. However, in the not-so distant future, whether we like it or not, we'll have to seriously consider an engine-even a tranny swap if we want to keep wheeling our 80 series for years to come.
Don't have to take my word on this, just take a look at The (Sad) Discontinued Parts Thread. IIRC @cruiserdan mentioned some critical parts could soon become cosmic unobtanium.
This is the end of the cycle folks!
Cheers!
I'm rather convinced there's a business case for a well resourced, documented and smog legal V8 swap kit (LS and/or UZ)that could capture:
a) the interest of the vast majority of the community
b) enough volume of prospective cruiser heads to justify the product
Let's imagine this product as a sort of “mud standard” or “the standard”many shops/vendors of the community around the country could resort to. Doesn't have to be the most powerful or efficient. Just the preferred mud solution
No doubt, there're currently a myriad of shops, competent and legit, offering their particular approach for a swap. What about a mud-approvedswap version that could be executed by different mud vendors around the country?.
Assuming there are still around 15,000 units of our beloved 80' on the road (the number is likely higher), do you think is reasonable to assume 20 to 30% of them are prospective customers for an engine swap?. Indeed, these numbers are statistical noise for Mr. T, but I'm not so sure for the vendors in this community.
Perhaps I'm pursuing an unicorn. Perhaps this is like herding cats. However, in the not-so distant future, whether we like it or not, we'll have to seriously consider an engine-even a tranny swap if we want to keep wheeling our 80 series for years to come.
Don't have to take my word on this, just take a look at The (Sad) Discontinued Parts Thread. IIRC @cruiserdan mentioned some critical parts could soon become cosmic unobtanium.
This is the end of the cycle folks!
Cheers!
- Thread starter
- #51
I'm fully on board with this. My only road block is the fact that in order for this to happen, I need to not only source all that's required but undertake the r&d and perform the swap myself as a prototype. Luckily it seems that it's been done enough already, as you said, that it's really just a matter of fine tuning.
I guess at this point my best bet is to start researching now to get a head start, and perhaps what I'll do is send any funds I can make off other goods into a swap fund
I know this kind of thing has endless variables which is no doubt why there is no comprehensive kit available yet. Some want this tranny, some want that tranny, this or that transfer, some want ac, some couldn't give 2 s***s ect.
I mean if a majority of you can come to a concensus as to what the best combo is considering cost, part availability and ease of install, I would be all ears.
Keep in mind guys I'm an army, but still a one man army.
I guess at this point my best bet is to start researching now to get a head start, and perhaps what I'll do is send any funds I can make off other goods into a swap fund
I know this kind of thing has endless variables which is no doubt why there is no comprehensive kit available yet. Some want this tranny, some want that tranny, this or that transfer, some want ac, some couldn't give 2 s***s ect.
I mean if a majority of you can come to a concensus as to what the best combo is considering cost, part availability and ease of install, I would be all ears.
Keep in mind guys I'm an army, but still a one man army.
bwesty
SILVER Star
Aluminum tcase skid plate
Good luck with these for the 80 series. much harder than for the flat 60 series cards with the wavy ass 80 series one
Chilkats designs cable lockers are cheap and are well thought out. Probably would just go air though if I was switching from electronic though.
Thanks for your answer mate!.I'm fully on board with this. My only road block is the fact that in order for this to happen, I need to not only source all that's required but undertake the r&d and perform the swap myself as a prototype. Luckily it seems that it's been done enough already, as you said, that it's really just a matter of fine tuning.
I guess at this point my best bet is to start researching now to get a head start, and perhaps what I'll do is send any funds I can make off other goods into a swap fund
I know this kind of thing has endless variables which is no doubt why there is no comprehensive kit available yet. Some want this tranny, some want that tranny, this or that transfer, some want ac, some couldn't give 2 s***s ect.
I mean if a majority of you can come to a concensus as to what the best combo is considering cost, part availability and ease of install, I would be all ears.
Keep in mind guys I'm an army, but still a one man army.
We're in the same page. I totally understand being an Army of one.
Personally, I took as my aspirational reference the beautiful, fantastic, work done by Slee on @overlandtaylor (or @boltripper, could not remember at this time) truck. It was an all Toyota swap with the 2UZ engine and mating tranny. Probably the best I have ever seen.
Not the same truck, but here's another example of Slee's swap
However, I understand the appeal of the LS and Allison combo. Parts readily available, years of proven reliability, and far outnumbering Mr. T. For all its mismanagement and faults as a corporation, GM engines (LS in particular) and trannies are among the best in the business.
Hope we can build momentum to make a good business case that, in the end, will benefit us all.
Cheers!
Hands down, we want a V8 swap kit which will allow us to mate a modern GM V8 with a 5 or 6 speed GM tranny to our trucks. That would sell really well, as it would increase power, decrease weight, and reduce emissions. (Not that anyone cares about the emissions part.) Many of us who love our 80s woe the motor. Yes, it's bulletproof, and that's fine. But many of us have motors/trans approaching 300K miles and we're pondering options when we get a knock or the head gasket fails. Blah blah blah.
My point is made by the fact that one of the top stickies in FAQ is the V8 swap forum. People want new motors in these rigs, and I'm one of them. I don't have $25K, and I don't have the skill/patience/time to do it myself. So, I want a kit like the guys who have VW Westfalias have to put a Subaru motor in their vans. I'll do the work, or have a shop do it, but I need it spelled out well, with quality parts and the wiring gremlins all sorted out.
That's my vote. It's also a big enough project/offering that there's room for profit margin, and there is no one else doing it right now.
Good luck, and thanks for beinging interested in our rigs. We love them, but we are biased.
My point is made by the fact that one of the top stickies in FAQ is the V8 swap forum. People want new motors in these rigs, and I'm one of them. I don't have $25K, and I don't have the skill/patience/time to do it myself. So, I want a kit like the guys who have VW Westfalias have to put a Subaru motor in their vans. I'll do the work, or have a shop do it, but I need it spelled out well, with quality parts and the wiring gremlins all sorted out.
That's my vote. It's also a big enough project/offering that there's room for profit margin, and there is no one else doing it right now.
Good luck, and thanks for beinging interested in our rigs. We love them, but we are biased.
A new rear transfer case housing that can hold bigger gears for a better low range. 4:1 or 4.7:1. (Custom gears as well)
Hello, I'm new here. For many years I've been in love with the 80 for a long time and I was finally able to purchase one a few years ago. After, much maintenance with a suspension lift and 35"tires the truck look amazing but I cannot say it drives amazing. I know there are turbo kit and supercharger available to boost the performance. The fact is, the more I research about the 80 and the more I'm disappointed. With parts being discontinued as we speak even with the vendor we currently have, it cannot sustain us and the cost of these parts will skyrocket or we try to band aid fix from other brand car parts. Like many of you, I like to keep it all Toyota but it is not possible for long run. I would love to see a kit for LS Swap or even a diesel full swap too but we don't have enough interest and commitment for it. If someone do make a kit for the LS I will be buying it. The cost for new SUV or a capable 4x4 goes north of 50k now. I would rather buy a new LS engine and put it into my 80, I'm willing to learn and do most of the work myself. I really do think this is the most important thing it is missing from this market. Thanks guys, I've learned so much from this forum.
NLXTACY
Wits' End
As THE ONLY person here who is going thru or has gone thru the CARB process, the CARB legal LS swap ship has sailed. CARB, as a process itself is not cheap, it’s not easy and it’s not quick.
There is no business case to doing swaps large scale. The demand will never be there.
There is no business case to doing swaps large scale. The demand will never be there.
Last edited:
