Yippie! I FINALLY found my 80, after almost 2 years of searching. I went through two Land Rovers (yikes), and even a CR-V for the wife in the meantime. But I finally found it. I got a nice white 1996 with 133k and loaded with everything except lockers. It would have been pointless for me to wait even longer to find one of the 7% produced with OEM lockers, particularly in a white LC (the ones I've seen with lockers always seem to be green). I've attached a couple of pictures per newbie tradition. I don't officially pick it up until next saturday, so these are the best I have.
I've owned Toyotas since my first '85 x-tra cab 4x4 pickup in 1991, mainly pickups and 4Runners. This is my first 80 and am very excited to venture different territory. I've done about 30 or so posts here in the last 6 months before finally getting my '80. What the hey, I'll salute myself with
myself anyway!
I've got some great newbie questions:
1) what are those 4 holes on the rear bumper
2) what's the "2nd" button by the transmission shifter
3) what's a CDL
4) where can I get a brushguard damage multiplier
5) I'm kidding! Ignore 1-4. Thanks to the knowledge available on this board, some questions on my part, and lots of research, I think I picked a nice one.
I looked at many things that are Land Cruiser specific (and beyond toyota specific) such as rust/water leaks around the rear windows, checking all body panels for factory stickers (=minimal or no body work), checking around the head for coolant stains, etc... I checked the knuckles, though I luckily knew to look for those on account of my previous solid axle Toyota experiences. It looks like someone already took care of the PHH too, as the hose looks new and not original. I've painted some cars before and even took an autobody class and know what to look for in terms of bad paint work. I highly doubt this one has ever had any paintwork. Every switch and light works, the a/c blows nice and cold, and the antenna goes up/down nicely (which is good because truck/4runner antennas like to break). Heck, the driver seat leather is an 8.5 on a scale of 1-10. I'm not keen on leather though, and will either buy slee's heated seat kit or put some covers on. Leather does not feel good when it's minus 40F in the middle of winter here.
About the only problems I could find on this are that the tires are down to about 25% remaining, the passenger headlight upper mounts are busted off, the rear tailgate black plastic twist handle is broken off, and the passenger side fender flares have some busted mounts and aren't sitting tight against the body. Someone removed the white rubber flare edging and replaced it with black edging (which kinda looks like a bigger gap than it really is). About the only other flaw is that the gold topcoat on the front grill is worn off the headlights and turn signals. Well, there's a tad bit of gold, but most of it is down to the chrome. Kinda strange. When I first saw the pictures of it online before I actually saw it up close, I thought someone must have rattle-canned some gold around the center grill, but no it looks factory (and the rear emblems are gold).
I'm very impressed with the ride quality and overall feel of it. It's got a very solid and stable stance, yet not harsh like my '85 pickup (with a NWOR
3 1/2" suspension lift).
Now to start the mods! 20" wheels and a suspension lowering kit here I come (kidding). I think my first mod will be an ARB front bumper, unless the useless storage pocket above the radio erks me too much that I need to get the cup holder. I've got a TJM on my '90 4Runner and a Prozap for my '85. There are too many deer on the roads here!
I've owned Toyotas since my first '85 x-tra cab 4x4 pickup in 1991, mainly pickups and 4Runners. This is my first 80 and am very excited to venture different territory. I've done about 30 or so posts here in the last 6 months before finally getting my '80. What the hey, I'll salute myself with
myself anyway! I've got some great newbie questions:
1) what are those 4 holes on the rear bumper
2) what's the "2nd" button by the transmission shifter
3) what's a CDL
4) where can I get a brushguard damage multiplier
5) I'm kidding! Ignore 1-4. Thanks to the knowledge available on this board, some questions on my part, and lots of research, I think I picked a nice one.
I looked at many things that are Land Cruiser specific (and beyond toyota specific) such as rust/water leaks around the rear windows, checking all body panels for factory stickers (=minimal or no body work), checking around the head for coolant stains, etc... I checked the knuckles, though I luckily knew to look for those on account of my previous solid axle Toyota experiences. It looks like someone already took care of the PHH too, as the hose looks new and not original. I've painted some cars before and even took an autobody class and know what to look for in terms of bad paint work. I highly doubt this one has ever had any paintwork. Every switch and light works, the a/c blows nice and cold, and the antenna goes up/down nicely (which is good because truck/4runner antennas like to break). Heck, the driver seat leather is an 8.5 on a scale of 1-10. I'm not keen on leather though, and will either buy slee's heated seat kit or put some covers on. Leather does not feel good when it's minus 40F in the middle of winter here.
About the only problems I could find on this are that the tires are down to about 25% remaining, the passenger headlight upper mounts are busted off, the rear tailgate black plastic twist handle is broken off, and the passenger side fender flares have some busted mounts and aren't sitting tight against the body. Someone removed the white rubber flare edging and replaced it with black edging (which kinda looks like a bigger gap than it really is). About the only other flaw is that the gold topcoat on the front grill is worn off the headlights and turn signals. Well, there's a tad bit of gold, but most of it is down to the chrome. Kinda strange. When I first saw the pictures of it online before I actually saw it up close, I thought someone must have rattle-canned some gold around the center grill, but no it looks factory (and the rear emblems are gold).
I'm very impressed with the ride quality and overall feel of it. It's got a very solid and stable stance, yet not harsh like my '85 pickup (with a NWOR
3 1/2" suspension lift).Now to start the mods! 20" wheels and a suspension lowering kit here I come (kidding). I think my first mod will be an ARB front bumper, unless the useless storage pocket above the radio erks me too much that I need to get the cup holder. I've got a TJM on my '90 4Runner and a Prozap for my '85. There are too many deer on the roads here!
, but I figured heads would roll before anyone got to the end of my list to see I was kidding.
) 80, with 99k miles, 2.5"OME, and 33" BFGs. Curious what you paid for yours ... to compare what I got for mine? 
. Ride was so much better but still soft and to much body role. Springs looked good but when measured the LC is riding 1 inch lower than a stock LC. So springs are in the mail! So if I were doinging again I would go for a new suspension then mod up from there. Those ARB's are heavy and you may regret having that on with an old suspension.
. I'm not sure what my wife would think, but oh well. If I were really daring, I could go buy some "chrome" or "gold" paint, but I have yet to find anything that actually resembles the spray can's cap color. Any "chrome" spray paint I've ever tried at best looked like the dull side of aluminum foil....
