How It Started: 1991 Toyota 80 Series

When you’re just casually scrolling the marketplace for an 80 Series while out of town and show one to your wife and her reply is, “You should go look at it,” you go.  And that’s how our new build came to be. 

We got this Landcruiser for a sweet deal, in the grand scheme of things. Would it drive the 6 hours back home? We didn’t know. 

Pre-Build Specs:

• 1991 Toyota Landcruiser / FJ80
• 3FE 4.0L Inline 6
• Stock Suspension
• 15” OE Aluminum Wheels
• 31” LingLong Crosswind ATs
• Alpine head unit circa 1995 with 41 electrical connectors
• Car phone wiring (“I’m calling you on my mobile!”)
• Questionable aftermarket alarm and keyless entry. Sketchy AF.

Top of the List

Thankfully, the 80 Series did make it home without a hitch and the build prep started.  First on the to-do list was to do a more in-depth inspection, take stock, and give it a much-needed tune up. And to immediately remove all that sketchy wiring.

Once we had an idea of everything that needed repair, we prioritized it by driveability and safety. With the first good rain, a sunroof leak had been discovered, the electric windows didn’t function, the seatbelts were very worn, and some interior broken bits were replaced or repaired. This would be, after all, a daily driver.

A Plan Was Born

So, how did we want to build our new adventure rig? What would we need to do to it to suit our lifestyle and meet our travel goals?

Obviously the suspension, or what was left of it, needed some help. It would need to handle the added weight of planned modifications, and we’d need it to perform on- and off-road through various terrains.

The wheels and tires needed to go. Like, get outta of here already. Those 31” LingLongs (what?) weren’t going to give us the ground clearance and traction we require, or support the new suspension.

The Landcruiser’s front bumper was literally falling apart and had random screws slightly holding it together.  This wouldn’t do for any type of protection, in our neighborhood or on the trail.

We’d need to maximize the space of the FJ80, especially since we’d usually need all rows of seating, being a family of 6. Roof rack? Yes. Storage boxes? Yes. But this has always been a personal struggle for our large family: fitting all the people, their belongings, and everything we’d need to be self-sufficient in the middle of nowhere. We’ve had a couple of adventure trailers, ground tents, and RTTs. It usually comes down to being a two-adventure-vehicles family for trips longer than a day. We’re a brood who needs a fleet.

And speaking of self-sufficiency, we’d plan on adding solar and extra power capabilities to do ALL the things. After all, Joe loves him some wiring. Give him some 16 gauge wire, connectors, and power braid and you won’t see him all weekend. It’s a thing of beauty, really.

Let’s Go to SEMA

Should we go ahead and put a rush on this? Sure, why not? Take it to SEMA? Duh. We have nothing but extra time!

This is actually being written on the road to SEMA. We had the opportunity to use our 80 Series to showcase for BOLT Lock. We’ve used BOLT for many years now because of its  ingenuity and convenience, and have great relationships with the fine folks of BOLT. So, yes, of course, let’s get this done to show off the functionality of their many types of one-key technology locks and at the same time, show how far you can take a thrifty Marketplace buy that just needed some love (and major upgrades) in such little time.

Is the build 100% where we want it? Absolutely not! We have dreams, people.

-RB

 

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