Looking for a camping/fishing vehicle and one to get me around town through the winter months.

I've always liked the FJ80 LCs from the '90s - looking at some FJ models from 1991 though 1997. If anyone has experience with these please give your thoughts - I know they are pretty tough vehicles but they aren't gas sippers either...

James

__________________
1987 Mercedes 300SDL; SOLD
1985 Mercedes 300D; SOLD
2006 Honda Pilot - wife's ride; 122K;
1995 Toyota Land Cruiser - 3X locked; 182K

Got a 1994 80 Series. Used to own a couple of FJ 55's.
12mpg. Known to have headgasket problems. Great vehicles.

Everything you'd ever want to know is here:

http://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/

Slee Off Road has a good guide for buying used 80 Series.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

early FJ 80s had the old cruiser type engine, slower but bone reliable. later FJ80s have the Supra type OHC engine, more powerful but do have head gasket issues. easy fix though.


poor gas mileage. wonderful hard core trucks.....

My '83 FJ60 is as tough as them come, but it gets 12-15mpg and is plenty slow doing it....

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On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

I wouldn't call mine slow, but I know others think that. There are superchargers available for them if you think they are slow.

Ideal version would have front and rear lockers. Center diff lock can be retrofitted with an easy electrical mod. If you can find an unlocked version that is a good price, an Aussie locker can be fitted pretty ineexpensively to the rear axle.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I seem to recall my father having transfer case issues with his FJ80, and it also broke the exhaust pipe at the inlet to the cat. Not my first choice of vehicle, but it's on the list. One of my uncles had an FJ60 and that thing was pretty sweet. A guy down the road from me has one with a mild lift and 5speed manual, if you're into a semi-civilized truck that is still ready for real action, that's it. Drop an OM617 into it, and get a good bit closer to 20mpg as well-

Checkout this link for an FJ80 with a super clean 617.952 - looks hot but I have to wonder if the robust 617 would be a bit underpowered for such a heavy beast?!

__________________
1987 Mercedes 300SDL; SOLD
1985 Mercedes 300D; SOLD
2006 Honda Pilot - wife's ride; 122K;
1995 Toyota Land Cruiser - 3X locked; 182K

What link?
It's common to put a Cummins 4BT in the 80. How does that engine compare to a 617? I agree that intuitively the 617 seems underpowered but it partly depends on the gearing and top speed. If it was geared to top out around 70-75mph, I think it would work.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

4bt is HEAVY, but can be built to embarrassingly high power levels- It's a 6bt missing two cylinders after all. The 617 is comparable to the stock pushrod engine, that's just a copy of the old GM 250. Do some work to the 617, and have some decent power to play with. A 603 would fit as well, as long as you could find one without head issues. That might be a better fit powerwise, but I'm not aware of any adapters for that engine, yet. If there's a market for them they can be built though.

For the premium they sell for I don't think they're really worth it, IMO.

There was one at my dealer auction a few weeks ago, a '92 with 108k. Single owner, rust free but had alot of road rash, front diff and transfer case were leaking, wouldn't go into 4 low out of 4-wheel drive. It still brought 5,000 and I imagine they would ask 7-8k and get that out of it.

You can go by a jeep XJ with under 100,000 miles for half that and have just as capable and reliable of a SUV.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

What is your $s budget?

They're probably dollar for dollar the best overall vehicle money can buy in any given year model category.

Ooops - sorry about that - here is the link, check out how clean that engine looks:

http://www.yotatech.com/f162/1994-landcruiser-mercedes-benz-turbo-diesel-running-191258/

__________________
1987 Mercedes 300SDL; SOLD
1985 Mercedes 300D; SOLD
2006 Honda Pilot - wife's ride; 122K;
1995 Toyota Land Cruiser - 3X locked; 182K

Does the Jeep come with factory lockers?

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Odd that the converter of the 80 never replied to the thread with any responses to questions or conclusions. Makes me wonder if it did not work out in the end. No air filter in any of the pictures so no final completion pictures. Nice remote oil filter location.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Just so.