Need help with potential 80 purchase

[troy]

I've only been lurking on this site for a couple weeks, and you guys seem to have the same feeling about sport utilities as me.

I'm currently driving a '98 Jeep Cherokee with OME suspension and rubicon wheels with 255/70/16 tires, roofrack etc. It has 202K on it, but has many new parts and I'm confident will go to 300K without too much issue.

The problem comes when I see an '96 FJ80 for sale with OME suspension, 80% tread 35" BFG mud terrains on stock wheels, a 38 gallon fuel tank (I don't think this is stock), and a non-wichn ARB bumper.

It has been repainted from burgandy to black and has a little surface rust underneath, but in MN it is expected. Also, he said the Head gasket is blown, but it still drives.

I can get it for $2,500.

How much does a head gasket job cost on these? I've done Jeeps and chevy V8s before, and it wasn't too much, just a lot of work.

I'm getting on average 15 mpgs with the Jeep, will I regret the Land cruiser with I'm assuming poor mpg. I drive about 150 miles a week.


The way I see it, I'd be gaining:

-Body on frame.
-4 wheel disk
-third row seats
-moonroof
-leather
-tinted windows
-additonal room (we routinely pack the Jeep on weekend trips and we are planning a second child)

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Troy

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

The head gasket job should run around 1500.00 for a shop to do it. The fact that he is continually driving it bugs me. There are DVD's out there that walk you through the process (See Ih8mud and search for headgasket dvd. Dave or Doug is his name. It escapes me at the moment even though I've seen it).

I assume it doesn't have lockers for that price, but it still seems like a good deal if you don't mind the HG.

 

[troy]

Actually he isn't driving it. He said he starts it and drives it a couple miles every couple weeks to keep things lubed. I went to look at it while he was at work and his house is a good 10-15 miles in the country, so I think it might be a gas mileage thing as well.

I'd do the HG myself and I was hoping it'd only be a few hundred to do it.


I'm still debating it I should make the switch. I just told me wife last week that we were keeping the Jeep until rust beccomes and issue.

I like the fact that it has the ARB and OME suspension, as this is what I would do.

 

[Bighead]

The head gasket and the fact that he is continuing to drive it would scare me away. If you really want an LC and are willing to spend more then look elsewhere.

Have you looked at the IH8Mud classifieds?

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

The headgasket issue is a weird one. Sometimes they just go, but if overheating caused the issue it can still run but have also warped the head and potentially done other damage. I have done easy headgaket jobs and some that were nightmares, took a lot of $$ in machining, and hardly stuck or even sometimes burned coolant (extreme situation). I'm pretty sure they have aluminum heads (??) -- that is what you run into with aluminum heads. That said since they are prone to the failure, it is probably OK. But again if you have the $$ I would buck up and buy one elsewhere, don't be lured by the lift already installed... Even then I would travel to a place with less rust if possible like central/southern midwest or Indy or something like that where they are likely to be in better shape... Hope it helps, Andre

 

[MaddBaggins]

Careful with the HG issue. Like Andre said, the head could be toast by now and then you looking at some bank. Yes they are aluminum heads.
There are actually a number of good 80's out there for sale in the 5-8k range. Check craigslist, autotrader, ebay and the classifieds on ih8mud.com.

I would pass on one with a blown HG that has been driven around.

 

[olympiccop2002]

I would look elsewhere for a 80. MN/WI winters are not kind to vehicles as you probably already know. Surface rust is only the beginning. A repaint? Did they do it right or just slap paint over rusted areas. The motor/HG is going to be a pricey fix. You are looking at a vehicle with 170,000+ miles. You might want to add lockers at some point in time. Why not look for a vehicle with lockers in the first place? A non winch ARB bumper? Looks cool and fends off deer but what happens when you want to add a winch? I'll be the first to admit I love the look of the 80s with a ARB, OME, Roof rack, etc... But I think I'd look elsewhere.

Bjorn

 

[troy]

Thanks for the responses. I've decided to pass. While it does look like a great starting point, there are too many "what ifs" to make a good deal.

If I had cash in my pocket when I went to look at it, it would be in my driveway right now. I must be maturing. I'll put a few more thousand on the Jeep and keep an eye out for the right LC or LR.

 

[ginericLC]

My first thought is that it would make one hell of a vehicle to part out. That tank is big bucks, ARB bullbar, OME, tires and wheels, if it has diff locks you could get about 2k back just from the axles pawning them off to some poor Rover guy. The 80 parts market is still pretty good. Lots of folks need little odds and ends of interior bits and plastic pieces.

The headgasket isn't as scary as it sounds. If the head is warped then you are looking at big bucks. I imagine you could find a nice complete 1FZ for cheap from someone parting one out. They go really cheap as they seldom need replaced and they are a fairly complex motor to transplant into something else.

For the price I'd probably go for it. Worse case scenario you have to put some work into it but you could definitely get your money back out of it.

As for mileage, you'd probably be in the 12 range with 35s. Did he regear?

 

[MoGas]

Don't be afraid.....

Rusty with a bad HG, I'd be all over it for that money. Especially if it has lockers. The parts value alone is worth it.

You buy this one (or forward me the info)

Get out of the rust belt and find a stocker.

Swap the more desirable parts form the black one to the rust free Arizona truck.

Fix the HG on the black one. (should be ~ 700 bucks if you do it yourself and the head is usable) If the head is bad, I have seen good ones on Mud for 250-500 dollars.

Sell the black one or use t as your Winter Cruiser, keeping the salt off the other one.

You can find great deals on 93 and up Cruisers and do all this for under 10 grand easily.

Look around on IH8MUD and you will get a wealth of knowledge. Make sure you read through the FAQ's for the 80 section and search your questions prior to asking.

The head gasket DVD is from IdahoDoug


Good Luck,
Dave

 

[MoGas]

Here is a stock, supercharged 96 in Kali for 7K

 

[olympiccop2002]

If it's the one in Hudson, WI it doesn't have lockers. It has the OME suspension, 38 gal tank, and non winch ARB front bumper. I was thinking that parting it out would be a good thing too but not for that price. Maybe if it was $1000 less... Let's see how hungry he gets...

Bjorn

 

[ginericLC]

If it's the one in Hudson, WI it doesn't have lockers. It has the OME suspension, 38 gal tank, and non winch ARB front bumper. I was thinking that parting it out would be a good thing too but not for that price. Maybe if it was $1000 less... Let's see how hungry he gets...

Bjorn

You can easily part out a non-locked 80 series and make a ton of money at 2k. I bought an unlocked rolled 94 for $3400. I kept the axles for myself. I had to give the wheels back to the guy I bought it from and I still sold enough to make it worth my time. Those little $30 here and $100 here parts add up real quick. Just look at what those accessories go for used. The lift you could get 250-300 for. The ARB probably $450-500. The tank I'm guessing $450-500. Even really crappy 80 wheels will bring $250-300 for a set. And you have even touched the interior or engine bay yet. Headlights are in huge demand as are taillights. And those guys importing those diesels into Canada, they need the shoulder seat belts to make them legal. I still can't believe Japanese spec 80s didn't have rear shoulder belts.

 

[troy]

It is the one in Hudson, WI. It does not have lockers, and the big negative for me was the re-paint. He changed from burgandy to black and did not paint the door jambs, etc. What else did he skimp on? From 10 feet away this thing looks great.

If a person had the time and space to part it out, I think it would be a good deal int he $2-2,500 range.

 

[Bruce Behnfeldt]

ok, i'll give you $750 for the sub tank and the wheels. now go make the deal... :sombrero: