yota864x4

I currently own a 2000 Toyota Land Cruiser and absolutely love it, but am looking for an older body style that I can rig up and take off roading. Today I came across a 1996 Land Cruiser for sale, and since I am the owner of a newer LC I don't know too much about the older ones which is why I need some helpful advice on this rig.
It's a 1996 Landcruiser with a 5 inch lift from Man a Fre includes; springs, lower control arm caster correction bushings, front and rear adjustable pan hard bars with spherical ball ends, adjustable upper control arms, lower control arms, stainless brake line extensions, shocks, steering stabilizer, front double cardon driveline, rock sliders from Rocky Road Outfitters, 315/75/16 BFG KM2 tires like new. Vehicle also equipped with Kenwood stereo with front usb and aux out, Kenwood and Alpine Speakers, interior Dyno Matted. Parrot LS 3200 hands free blue tooth with display integrated into sound system, Optima Blue Top AGM Battery, window tint, interior mounted outside temp gauge and luggage rack. He recently replaced the exhaust manifold. It has 227K miles on it and everything work and all fluids have been serviced. The interior is in perfect condition, and so is the body besides some very minor trail pin stripes (which should buff out). After reading about all of these additions I e-mailed the guy, and asked him a few questions as well as for a few more pictures. The only red flag that has popped up is that there are minor oil seaps (which he says the 4.5 is known for), but it doesn't form a drip on the driveway...
He is trying to sell it for $9,900, which seemed a little expensive to me, but then again I don't know too much about this year.
I attached a few pictures to show you guys what it looks like. Any kind of advice, input, etc would be helpful.
Thanks!

DeathCougar

iTrader: (23)

Does it have the dual lockers?

If not, that price is wayyyyyy high especially with those miles. He bolted on a few parts and jacked the price.

yota864x4

If it does have the dual lockers, then do you think it would be worth it?

DeathCougar

iTrader: (23)

It would be closer to a more realistic asking price, thats for sure.

Still, that price is pretty high even with dual lockers. Do some shopping, educate yourself a little on LC prices in your area, and go from there.

MaK92-4RnR

They're pigs... gas-ga-huzzler. but they're bulletproof and extremely reliable.

yota864x4

There's no way it can be worse than the cruiser I already drive...or atleast I'm hoping its not! I get like 12 mpg....and I figure my LC has the v8, and requires supreme gas...and this 80 only has the v6...so you would think it would get better gas mileage...right?

DeathCougar

iTrader: (23)

No US Market Landcruiser in history has ever used a V6 engine.

The 96 Landcruiser uses a 4.5L inline 6. Iron block, aluminum head. Check the MPG ratings on these things, they aren't impressive.

MaK92-4RnR

Lol i promise you that 4.5L inline six probably gets about the same mileage as your v8 crusier. They're slow, guzzlers, but extremely reliable. They're built to last, not to be efficient. You have to remember. It also has a way heavier front suspension vs the IFS on the newer landcruisers.

yota864x4

Just got this from the owner...
"I'll start out by informing you that I am the Service Manager of a dealership and I am also a Master Technician, meaning I believe and practice servicing vehicles. In fact as a Service Manager there are perks to the job. I purchased the vehicle about 3 years ago, it had about 160k on it. It took me months to find this rig. I looked at a ton of them and so many were beat or had been wrecked significantly. I found it at a small dealership in Marysville WA for 8000.00. I immediately serviced all of the fluids; brake fluid, transmission fluid, tranfer case, front and rear differential, power steering and coolant. I have a lot of friends in the industry who are chemical vendors (BG fluids and Justice Brothers) they always give me the hook up. I replaced the valve cover gasket, front crank seal, belts, coolant hoses including the heater hoses, water pump, front and rear brake pads (ceramic), front brake rotors, battery (Optima Blue Top), head light bulbs (PIAA extreme white), Alternator (factory Toyota, not aftermarket), I had a water leak from around the left rear window when I first purchased it, I had the window frame replaced and resealed. As for the lift...I purchased everything from Man-a-fre. They specialize in Landcruisers. The lift is a 5 inch lift, includes 4 competition coil springs that are reated to for heavy bumpers and winches without sagging, the front and rear panhard bars (kind of like a tie rod end/track bar) are adjustable and equipped with spherical ball end/heim joints for strength and articulation, caster correction bushings in front control arms, tubular rear upper and lower control arms, the uppers are adjustable and both are also equipped with hiem joints, front driveline is a double cardone, brake line extension (brake lines are all stainless and accomodate the lift). I'm sure I'm missing something. I removed the interior to install dynomat to deaden road noise and vibrations as well as provide better sound from the stereo. It also gave me the opportunity to clean it very well. I installed a parrot LS 3200 hands free cellular device that is integrated into the stereo (really cool), it automatically pairs to your phone everytime you start the vehicle. I also installed an outside ambient temperature sensor, it can be removed but I spend a lot of time in the mountains fishing and hunting it's important to know if the temperature is freezing and the road may be slick. The speakers have been replaced with very high quality Infinity speakers. The Kenwood deck will accomodate USB or AUX for an Ipod.

Back to the fluids. I service all of the fluids anually. Again...it's because I can. I also service the differentials any time the vehicle has been exposed to deep water. It is equipped with the center locking diff. It does not have the front or rear lockers. The gears are factory.

The tires are BFG KM2 315/75/16 and have about 80% tread remaining. I also have 2 full size spares (one on a wheel). I installed the roof rack primarily to house a spare when I'm on a trip, but it works out pretty nice when you run out of room inside.

I did quite a bit of research on the rig before I purchased one, but I have learned so much more since I have owned it. People are very passionate about their Landcruisers. I was particularly interested in the 96 and 97 because they are OBDII equipped and have the 24 valve 4.5 liter engine that is more efficient and Lexus designed.

I have been all over and through out this vehicle. It appears that the previous owners took very good care of it. In fact...the first time I exchanged all of the fluids, they had fairly recently been done.

Everything on this vehicle works except the trip odometer. It quit a couple of months ago. Kind of a bummer because I'm the kind of guy that resets it every time I fuel up.

I have put the last 70k on this rig. At one point I commuted 60 miles each way to work for about a year, it has taken me and my wife fishing and hunting in some great places including the Olympic Penninsula, Missoula Montanna, Oregon and Idaho. I truely love this thing. Our last trip to Montanna from Olympia we decided to just sleep in the Landcruiser. We picked up a self inflatable mattress and it fit perfectly. Anyway...I'm getting off the subject.

I'm not sure about the fan clutch or why it would need to be upgraded. 0 degrees - 115, I have never had a cooling problem including being stuck in Seattle traffic for hours with the AC on.

The last oil leak that needs to be repaired is the oil pan. It doesn't leak badly, in fact. I am usually only down about a quart between oil changes. Thats not much considering it holds 9 quarts.

The windshield is cracked and I am replacing it tomorrow. The windows are tinted.

Now the question of the hour...."why are you selling it!?"
My wife and I relocated to Lewiston from Olympia in March. We are living in and renting the house that we are in the process of buying. After jumping ship the lenders told us they could not count our rental income from our house in Olympia and because of that, our debt to income is too high by about 3%. How rediculous! So...to make this happen I am sacrificing my Landcruiser which I said "I'm never going to sell this thing" a thousand times including about a month ago. So there it is...my story. "

this rig sounds pretty solid to me

yota864x4

Just got home from test driving this rig, looking it over, and crawling up underneath of it to check everything out. i'm in love. he originally said 9900$ firm, but after negotiating with him for about an hour he agreed to 8500$...i'm still hoping (fingers crossed) he will go a little bit lower...but even then, for this rig i think 8500$ is pretty good. dont you?

highonpottery

iTrader: (1)

As a Hundy owner myself, I also get tempted at buying an 80 series and find myself looking quite often because it just makes sense to get an 80 based on the platform it provides. I would say although this 80 looks well taken care of and maintained, it is on the high end of price vs what you normally see. Usually the $10k rigs have much more aftermarket goodies included and obviously the buyer would come out ahead. With that said this rig isn't outrageously priced, especially since he's willing to negotiate.

Personally, I'd look for a built rig and pay more or for a cheap one that's compromised in some way - because I'd most likely trash it since itd be a trail rig. I'd also most likely engine swap at some point and definitely chop the top off and do a caged ragtop - especially if I found a cheap 80 with minor body damage.

Is your 100 built yet? Built 100 is fairly capable, but not for super hardcore stuff - but also...do you want to trash that nice looking 80?

IanB

"It is equipped with the center locking diff. It does not have the front or rear lockers."

Doesn't have the front or rear lockers, it's a real nice looking unit, but the price is high IMO.

Raynyc

I think it looks like a good deal. In his description he does say he has lockers. I think he either does the oil pan seal or you get at least 700 off for,it because I think that's what it would cost from a dealer to fix.
1400 off is good.
You can post your same question on ih8mud and get much better replies th at I am seeing here.

Good luck

Timpanogos Slim

Oil seepage from the rear hump of the main oil pan is, sadly, epidemic in 80 series cruisers with 1FZ-FE engines. It looks exactly like rear main seal seepage unless you are extremely fastidious in your diagnosis.

I've read about the repair procedure in detail because my '94 has that leak. It sounds really annoying and time consuming. If you can somehow convince this guy to do it for you, I'd recommend it.

On the other hand, mine seeps so slow that it never gets around to dripping onto the driveway. It just coats the transmission, transfer case, etc.

Jack2smith1988

I personally think you can do a lot better with that kind of money. New here as well, but somehow can not find the POST button/icon to do my initial post. Please someone help. Long time FJ owner from 40's to 90 series and want to be part of the Mud family!! There are a few 80s for sale here on mud you should have a look at before pulling the trigger.

blueyoda

Better check that, the 3.4 5vefe was used in the smaller land cruisers.

Sturmich

Toyota designed engine-for forklifts.

DeathCougar

iTrader: (23)

I should have clarified, no US market landcruiser

And the Prado (Europe, Japan) did in fact use a 5VZ, but to my knowledge fullsize cruisers (60, 80, 100) never used the 5VZ

DeathCougar

iTrader: (23)

Ya don't say