land cruiser 80 series... deal or no deal?

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OK truck, but where are the pics?? It has no factory lockers...so, to make it capable, you need to buy aftermarket locker(s). Remember, this truck has true open differentials...no traction control back then. In addition, this is an "old" truck with plenty of miles. It is nice that it has a new engine 120k miles ago, but the rest of the truck is 218k miles old. And Toyota or not, an old truck requires maintenance...lots of it. In other words, this has a potential to be a big money pit. If you like to do stuff yourself and are handy with maintenance, then this may be a good buy. However, if you refer your maintenance or mechanical fixes to your local dealer or garage, then this is may be an investment you regret later on.

IMO, i would save your money for a good looking (& well-aged) TLC80 with lockers, but that is exceedingly rare to find......or get a 3rd gen 4runner in good shape with either rear locker or TRAC and multi-mode 4wd (1999 and up). If you're looking for an off-road monster to build up, then get a used TJ Wrangler +/- Rubicon. I would bet that the maintenance of a TJ Wrangler is less than that TLC80 with 218k miles. (I think that you're a pretty young guy still in school, right? If so, then i would definitely save up my money for something else.)

My opinion.
 
thanks for the help... i jsut joined IH8MUD.com and realized the open diff thing... ill have to really search or add my own lockers. by the way how do y9ou know it doesnt have the lockers?? also yes 3rd gen 4runner is what i have been looking at for a long while now and im building a daily driver weekender so absolutely no jeep for me.... maybe in a few years ill buy a jeep cherokee for trail rig only. but i really am interested in the LC 80 cause i can lift em 6 inches and i like the front and rear solid axles
 
4Runner8 said:
i jsut joined IH8MUD.com and realized the open diff thing... ill have to really search or add my own lockers. by the way how do y9ou know it doesnt have the lockers?? but i really am interested in the LC 80 cause i can lift em 6 inches and i like the front and rear solid axles
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I assumed that it did not have lockers...otherwise, he/she would have said it. Trust me, most people in the know who owns one of these monsters will KNOW to list it when selling it.

4Runner8 said:
heres another one to look at.... it has 211k miles and no new engine like the othere one does.

1996 Toyota Land Cruiser
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Screw all of that!! For $3000 more, you can get this one: Cars for Sale: 1996 Lexus LX 450 4x4 in BEAVERTON, OR 97007: Sport Utility Details - 275867834 - AutoTrader.com

BTW, a full set of lockers may set you back $2000-3000 anyways...so, the Lexus LX450 above is an awesome buy! And it is already modded for off-road. The guy "claims" that he never took it off-road...IF it is true, then GET OFF YOUR ARSE AND BUY IT NOW!! :D And if the truck is truly as good as he claims, then this might be a good time to fly over there and drive cross-country back...a nice vacation!!

And why oh why do you want to lift a perfectly good truck 6 inches??!! :smashputer: A properly designed truck will be plenty capable off-road...you don't need 6in of lift unless you enter into major rockcrawling competition or you're a pavement princess. Trust me, i have seen stock FJ beating the crap out of a lifted poser off-road simply due to propulsion systems (ATRAC and locker) and proper vehicle balance.

Note: remember, even though i like the LX450 above, i still think that these things are potentially money pits, as are all old cars.
 
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thats so perfect but its a little far away for me.... also gotta sell the 4runner first. and a 6 inch lift looks so bad ass on a LC 80 series haha. but yea ill look into the lx450's too
 
Damn, you got me interested in searching the TLC80! :D

Here is a nice one, closer to you: Toyota : Land Cruiser : eBay Motors (item 380218043520 end time Apr-13-10 08:23:53 PDT)

I don't know if it has lockers...the price is kinda high, but i am sure you can negotiate it down. Either way, this looks like a pristine TLC80 and may be worth the few extra bucks over your previous examples. The leather seats seem to be in excellent shape compared to the ones i have been seeing! And one of the big plus about this vehicle: ONE OWNER.
 
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4Runner8 said:
those are nice but too far away... i really am just looking for a nice 3rd gen 4wd and if i find a rear locker one that would be nice but i would most likely add one if not. what do you think of this nice one... i think its a steal but i gotta sell the 4th gnereartion first

Cars for Sale: 1997 Toyota 4Runner 4x4 Limited in CHARLOTTE , NC 28217: Sport Utility Details - 276754480 - AutoTrader.com
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The problem is that before 1999, the 4wd system is PART-TIME. That is, you can't run 4wd on dry pavement (or even wet pavement). I like the 1999 and up 4runners because you have the option of running 2wd (save a bit of gas) and 4wd (for bad weather)...and of course, you have the 4LO for off-roading.

Is money tight? IMO, you made a mistake on getting a 2wd 4th gen. You need to save up, do plenty of research, AND make the right decision this time. Don't jump the gun too fast. Don't take the cheap ones out there, esp. if you're looking for a "keeper"...remember, you get what you pay for!
 
well the 4th gen is a hand me down from my dad which is nice but its just not me... so were going to sell it and buy an older truck for me so we can use the money we save to buy furniture for out new mountain house we bought which is so sick.... its in north carolina. but anyways we also need 4wd to get there in the harsh winters. so your saying th pre 99 part time 4wd means i can only go like 35mph tops in it? what about a 2nd gen? is it part time too?
 
4Runner8 said:
well the 4th gen is a hand me down from my dad which is nice but its just not me... so were going to sell it and buy an older truck for me so we can use the money we save to buy furniture for out new mountain house we bought which is so sick.... its in north carolina. but anyways we also need 4wd to get there in the harsh winters. so your saying th pre 99 part time 4wd means i can only go like 35mph tops in it? what about a 2nd gen? is it part time too?
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Part-time 4wd: you are either in 2wd or 4wd. When you're in 4wd, the front and rear axles are rotating at the same speed (locked together). So, with 4wd, the part-time system does NOT allow you to turn a corner if there is not enough slippage b/w the front and rear axle. For example, if you turn a corner on dry land, you will bind up the drivetrain...there must be slippage (mud, lots of dirt, snow) to avoid binding.

With a full-time 4wd mode, you can turn on dry land while in 4wd mode because you have a center differential to allow for differential in speed b/w the front and rear axles. So, in the 1999 4runner Limited 4wd, you can be in 2wd mode. Or, if you want, then you can switch it over to 4wd mode and leave it all day long...no damage to drivetrain. If it snows in your area, then you just leave it in 4wd mode all winter and you will be OK. You can't do the same with a part-time system.
 
so in fact part time is more ideal for off road driving and lockers are not needed? and i think i would like the part time better as sc doesnt recieve much snow but it does ice a good bit. and sorry for all the noobish questions but it doesnt matter how fast you go in 4wd in pre 99 models as long as off road and i dont bind the drivetrain? correct? thanks for all the new knowledge i now have!!! really appreciate it and do all 2nd gen 4runner have locking hubs or just early 2nd gen models? thanks!!!
 
4Runner8 said:
so in fact part time is more ideal for off road driving and lockers are not needed? and i think i would like the part time better as sc doesnt recieve much snow but it does ice a good bit.
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No, not exactly. When you are in 4wd in a part-time system, the front and rear axles are locked together. HOWEVER, the axles themselves are still open...thus, you still need lockers in the axles. In other words, when you are in 4wd, the power going to the front and rear axles are equal. BUT, this has nothing to do with power going to the left and right tires (on each axle). This is where you need lockers because lockers lock the right and left tire together (on each axle).

With the multi-mode 4wd system in 1999-up 4runners, you can lock the center differential and you are essentially the same as the part-time system in 4wd. The difference is that, in the multi-mode 4wd system, you can UNLOCK the center differential and still be in 4wd...and still be able to drive all day long on any surface in 4wd. The center differential (in the multi-mode 4wd system) allows for you be in 4wd (power going to front and rear axles) yet allow for speed differential b/w the axles (for example, front axle turning faster than rear axle around a corner).

In other words, the multimode 4wd system is way more flexible with the same off-road capability as a part-time system. Both systems would benefit from axle lockers off-road. And the multi-mode 4wd system just does not benefit only in snow or ice, but also if there is a lot of rain, it is nice to be in 4wd for safety reasons. In other words, GET A 4RUNNER WITH MULTI-MODE 4WD SYSTEM. Trust me.

BTW, talk to you dad...that TLC80 on ebay above is seemingly a very good conditioned TLC!! If you think of adding aftermarket lockers, then i would jump at that one!
 
okay so multi mode = lots of safety although it is just as capable as part time off road. i understand now... thanks! and yes i have been talking to him back and forth whenever i get the chance b/c he is in germany but he will be back in a few days. i have talked to him about either a 4runner, tundra, and have recently brought up the LC80. the tundra probably wont happen unless i find a steal of a deal as they are hard to come by with the v8 and 4wd for under 7k.... really hard to find.... but yea for some reason after reading on yota tech.com on there 2nd gen lift guide i have just recently (since yesterday ha) become obssesed with how they look lifted.... idk why i just really like them. i know they are part time but dont they have locking hubs? so u can unlock them and run full time 4wd? and yes a land cruiser would be possible but probably if i got one it would be cheaper as in 7k tops probably. will have to see.... thanks again!!
 
oh okay well i think that a 97 or 98 with the part time will just fine for me. and even if i got a 99+ t4r i dont think i would use the full time 4wd as weather is pretty much not harsh at all here where i live for 8 or 9 months of the year.
 
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