FJ80 refurbishments

[upcruiser]

Well, finally getting around to getting to some much needed upkeep on my '92 FJ80. I figured since I never did a build thread I would at least do a rebuild thread if you will. In a way I will be demodding this truck a bit and simplifying things and just getting around to addressing issues that have accumulated over 200k miles of hard use.

Background, I purchased the truck in 2001 completely stock and in cherry condition. It now sits on ane OME 850/863 kit with 33x10.50 BFG Mud Terrain KM's. ARB winchbar with a Warn 8000, Conferr basket, some additional lighting by Hella, and some other small doodads.

I have a pretty long list of items to address and will document them in this thread. Overall, this truck has been exceptional and despite some severely hard use (practically 60,000 miles of offroad use) it is still sharp looking and tight. I love the 3FE and still find this platform to be a great mix of old school Cruiser simplicity with modern ride and amenities. Hoping to get it back into top notch condition mechanically to enjoy another 200,000 miles out of it!

As it sits....

 

[upcruiser]

First up was a bit of getting back to stock. Back in 2004 I removed the 2nd and 3rd rows of seats in order to build a sleeping bunk in the back using less than half if the rear space for an elevated, one person berth with storage below. This allowed for sleeping in the truck nice and stealthy with zero setup time. I also made some screens for the rear sliding windows to aid ventilation and prevent bug ingress. I removed the screens and installed the seating again, it is in new-looking condition.

 

[Pskhaat]

Seats back in? That can generally mean one of two things???

 

[Schattenjager]

Seats back in? That can generally mean one of two things???

Car seats or Car for sale!?!

 

[upcruiser]

Haha, neither. Just choosing to be able to haul people around if needed. I am giving some tours this summer for various photographers and writers and need the ability to carry them comfortably. I don't think they would appreciate siting cross-legged on the floor in the back. I might pull the 3rd row out again, but it had been so long since I had seating options for 8 I felt I wanted to see what that looked like again. Haha I will either use my RTT for sleeping or aground tent if I want to haul a canoe or something. That means removing the basket and installing my Thule rack for those reasons. This leads me to my next concerns/needs....... Rear bumper with tire carrier....

I have not been following the latest offerings in the Cruiser world lately but what is the current consenus on rear bumpers in regards to quality and value? Anyone getting rid of a rear 80 series bumper?? Let me know if you hear of any second hand coming up for sale.

 

[taco2go]

Looking good Kristian, your truck will be the only bonafide overland certified ************ photog transport in the UP.

I have been long looking at a Kaymar unit for the rear myself, but never have enough dollars to afford one. someday.

My tribe loves the 'ol bus, and that 3rd row gets used some. Took them up through Seney last weekend, but did not make it to Marquette.

 

[ChuckB]

Is it time for the H55F??

 

[Schattenjager]

Love the red and black theme! If Spielberg had seen your truck first, he would have used it in all the Jurassic Park films.

 

[upcruiser]

Is it time for the H55F??

That would be the dream right there! I am waiting to see a good writeup of someone here in the states doing it. I am not much of a pioneer, haha. Someone probably has done it by now right?

Joash, that is a good looking fam, including the LX. I need to see that thin sometime in person. What size rubber are you running on it? Do you have your spare in the stock location? I had to remove my spare tire assembly as it was all siezed upland unusable. I forget, but will a 33 fit down there? I am planning on getting a set of 33x10.50's for the factory alloys. Might be able to forego the bumper for awhile if I could source another assembly.

Don, I agree, it is the perfect T Rex escape vehicle..... No wait, the 3FE might not be fast enough! Haha

 

[upcruiser]

I watched this last week and it really drives home the point of how much Land Cruisers have evolved since the FJ80 in terms of amenities, power and performance. The FJ80 to me represents a modern interpretation of the old school Land Cruisers. That's a huge part of the charm about them to me.

 

[ChuckB]

That would be the dream right there! I am waiting to see a good writeup of someone here in the states doing it. I am not much of a pioneer, haha. Someone probably has done it by now right?

Here is one I found on 'Mud for an H42, which would be essentially the same. I haven't read through the entire thread

H42 into an FJ80

 

[bluedog]

This leads me to my next concerns/needs....... Rear bumper with tire carrier....

I have not been following the latest offerings in the Cruiser world lately but what is the current consenus on rear bumpers in regards to quality and value? Anyone getting rid of a rear 80 series bumper?? Let me know if you hear of any second hand coming up for sale.

Please don't tempt me to get Slee's new one with Dual swing outs.


B.

 

[Pskhaat]

I ain't hatin' or nothin', but they don't exactly say WHY they think the Range Rover is better off-road...

 

[upcruiser]

Please don't tempt me to get Slee's new one with Dual swing outs.


B.

Brendan, what bumper do you have n there right now? And yes, I think you need a new Slee dual pivot and sell me your current one ;-)

 

[upcruiser]

Here is one I found on 'Mud for an H42, which would be essentially the same. I haven't read through the entire thread

H42 into an FJ80

I started reading that, seems like good info with some other useful links too in there. My issue is I am away from home so much that I have a hard time doing any sort of project on my junk. Wish there was just a kit. I tell you, the Slee conversion with the Tundra V8 is mighty tempting someday. I wonder what kind of mileage it would return, it would have to be better than the stock 3FE.