Sempertoy
Explorer
(oot-ee-skoog-in) Translation; Out in the woods. Where I want to be with my new Landcruiser
Well, I finally own one of the legendary Toyota Landcruisers.
I have always wanted a 40 series, but Seeing as it is a daily driver, and something I want the wife to be able to drive too, a 40 just doesn't work right now (I WILL have one someday). So I bought the second best landcruiser out there, the mighty FZJ80.
This ''build'' will be done much differently than my last. I will take my time, pinch my pennies and put on what I actually need. The lift and tires are done, that is a big expense that I don't have to worry about. I will camp in it and wheel it until something breaks and then I will replace the broken or obsolete part with something beefier and stronger. The first thing that I have on the list as far as an actual upgrade is a set of sliders. I will probably purchase them around August or so. This going to be a very slow build and most will probably lose interest, however I plan on having this vehicle for a long time so I have no deadline. One other thing I want to add, I think that I may claim the title as the youngest 80 owner on here! If anyone was born after 87 then you've got me beat. ( I point this out because it gives me an excuse for slow mods, Young+military+married=poor)
Here are a few pictures for your enjoyment, as well as mine.
This is where it all started. I was in 10th grade and had been given a 87 grand marquis by my uncle. Not too long after, I saw this for sale by my house. It was a 91 Toyota pickup, single cab, 4 cyl, just the basics. I got a paper route so that I could buy it and I drove this for a couple years until the transmission went out at almost 300k.
After high school I went to Sweden for two years. I was there as a missionary for my church,The Church of ************************ of Latter Day Saints. It was an awesome experience and I hope to go back one day. Hopefully in some sort of 4x4 vehicle (my 80 would be perfect). So after I got home I bought a Tacoma in San Antonio. Thats where I got the sickness.
This how it started life with me
And this is how it was when we parted ways.
After owning the Tacoma for three years, I started feeling that it was a good time to look for something bigger, something with an automatic tranny, something with a solid front axle from the factory and something that had a few creature comforts (i.e. a MASSIVE moonroof). So to summarize the story of how I found my 80 and all my wildest dreams came true we have to start with craigslist. I had been checking ih8mud and craigslist every single day, multiple times a day. I would use the multiple location checker on CL and search ALL of California, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada. I would search for toyota landcruiser, toyota land cruiser, toyota fj80, toyota fzj80, lexus lx450.. Just about everything I could think of.
And then one day I came upon one that was listed in Sacramento. Description was simple, claimed to have CARFAX and maintenance history. Old man Emu lift on 35" BFG's. Mileage was acceptable, no lockers
and a price that I could imagine paying and thinking I may be able to talk down. I was in constant contact with the seller, I sold my truck to a kid on craigslist, I had a mud member take a look at it for me and give it the green light. So without ever seeing it in person and taking the sellers word and the expertise of the mud member, I bought a plane ticket to Sacramento from San Diego. As soon as I saw Jeff(the seller) pull in to pick me up at the airport I knew that I was in love. I knew that I had found my vehicle that would be the ultimate overland adventure vehicle. So I jumped in, drove him back to his house, gave him some cash money and I was on my way!! The trip was about 500 miles and took just over 10 hours. I loved every minute of it and had no complaints for the 80. So on to the LC, here are some visuals.
This is the day I got it home. She looks good in the driveway
Took out the rear seats.
Then I took the running boards off. I'm not sure that I like it. Sure it looks better, but really leaves the CAT's exposed.. And seeing as I will not be in the market for sliders for 8 or 9 months, I may put them back on.... Any thoughts?
Today I wanted to treat her to something special. So I got out the vacuum, took out the carpets, took out the seats and gave her a nice scrub-a-dub-dub
So thats it for now. My immediate list goes something like this,
Ulrtaguage
LED interior and CREE backup lights.
Knuckle service from Marlin.
Dizzy "O" ring
Valve cover gasket
Change ALL fluids DONE DEC 14 2011
I need to do something with the hood. I am thinking a blackout kit from Crawlorado
I may also just paint the entire middle section flat black, or have a body shop paint it. but that is $$$
Oh yeah, I should probably register it too:sombrero:
So thats it for now. I'll post again when I have done some work to it. I will be taking her to joshua tree this weekend with the scouts, I hope to get some good pictures.
Well, I finally own one of the legendary Toyota Landcruisers.
I have always wanted a 40 series, but Seeing as it is a daily driver, and something I want the wife to be able to drive too, a 40 just doesn't work right now (I WILL have one someday). So I bought the second best landcruiser out there, the mighty FZJ80.
This ''build'' will be done much differently than my last. I will take my time, pinch my pennies and put on what I actually need. The lift and tires are done, that is a big expense that I don't have to worry about. I will camp in it and wheel it until something breaks and then I will replace the broken or obsolete part with something beefier and stronger. The first thing that I have on the list as far as an actual upgrade is a set of sliders. I will probably purchase them around August or so. This going to be a very slow build and most will probably lose interest, however I plan on having this vehicle for a long time so I have no deadline. One other thing I want to add, I think that I may claim the title as the youngest 80 owner on here! If anyone was born after 87 then you've got me beat. ( I point this out because it gives me an excuse for slow mods, Young+military+married=poor)
Here are a few pictures for your enjoyment, as well as mine.
This is where it all started. I was in 10th grade and had been given a 87 grand marquis by my uncle. Not too long after, I saw this for sale by my house. It was a 91 Toyota pickup, single cab, 4 cyl, just the basics. I got a paper route so that I could buy it and I drove this for a couple years until the transmission went out at almost 300k.
After high school I went to Sweden for two years. I was there as a missionary for my church,The Church of ************************ of Latter Day Saints. It was an awesome experience and I hope to go back one day. Hopefully in some sort of 4x4 vehicle (my 80 would be perfect). So after I got home I bought a Tacoma in San Antonio. Thats where I got the sickness.
This how it started life with me
And this is how it was when we parted ways.
After owning the Tacoma for three years, I started feeling that it was a good time to look for something bigger, something with an automatic tranny, something with a solid front axle from the factory and something that had a few creature comforts (i.e. a MASSIVE moonroof). So to summarize the story of how I found my 80 and all my wildest dreams came true we have to start with craigslist. I had been checking ih8mud and craigslist every single day, multiple times a day. I would use the multiple location checker on CL and search ALL of California, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada. I would search for toyota landcruiser, toyota land cruiser, toyota fj80, toyota fzj80, lexus lx450.. Just about everything I could think of.
And then one day I came upon one that was listed in Sacramento. Description was simple, claimed to have CARFAX and maintenance history. Old man Emu lift on 35" BFG's. Mileage was acceptable, no lockers
and a price that I could imagine paying and thinking I may be able to talk down. I was in constant contact with the seller, I sold my truck to a kid on craigslist, I had a mud member take a look at it for me and give it the green light. So without ever seeing it in person and taking the sellers word and the expertise of the mud member, I bought a plane ticket to Sacramento from San Diego. As soon as I saw Jeff(the seller) pull in to pick me up at the airport I knew that I was in love. I knew that I had found my vehicle that would be the ultimate overland adventure vehicle. So I jumped in, drove him back to his house, gave him some cash money and I was on my way!! The trip was about 500 miles and took just over 10 hours. I loved every minute of it and had no complaints for the 80. So on to the LC, here are some visuals. This is the day I got it home. She looks good in the driveway
Took out the rear seats.
Then I took the running boards off. I'm not sure that I like it. Sure it looks better, but really leaves the CAT's exposed.. And seeing as I will not be in the market for sliders for 8 or 9 months, I may put them back on.... Any thoughts?
Today I wanted to treat her to something special. So I got out the vacuum, took out the carpets, took out the seats and gave her a nice scrub-a-dub-dub
So thats it for now. My immediate list goes something like this,
Ulrtaguage
LED interior and CREE backup lights.
Knuckle service from Marlin.
Dizzy "O" ring
Valve cover gasket
Change ALL fluids DONE DEC 14 2011
I need to do something with the hood. I am thinking a blackout kit from Crawlorado
I may also just paint the entire middle section flat black, or have a body shop paint it. but that is $$$
Oh yeah, I should probably register it too:sombrero:
So thats it for now. I'll post again when I have done some work to it. I will be taking her to joshua tree this weekend with the scouts, I hope to get some good pictures.
Last edited:
