1994 Toyota Land Cruiser, FJ80

agne splash metallic, and set off by a custom graphics package, OEM rainguards, LED tail lamps, and a 2′′ lift. Save for a few spots of paint fade, rock chips, and a couple bumps and bruises from daily use, this Toyota is a snazzy unit that’s sure to break plenty of necks from the trails to the tarmac. Better yet, the 128k miles on the clock are verified and documented, and this chain-driven Cruiser is fresh off a boatload of good service from us here at the dealership. The Land Cruiser name exemplifies resilience, and this 80 is no exception. It’s a Japanese Classic through and through, and an extraordinary rig! For a truck that looks like a tank, the interior feels a bit more upmarket than you might expect. This five-seater is well equipped and has all the appointments to make daily use a breeze. The seats are upholstered in a soft gray Alcantara. They lack any major defects aside from some minor stains and pills, and are comfortable on long trips. Save for a crack underneath the fitted carpet dash mat, the remaining materials are in good shape with no excessive wear or distortion. Power windows, locks, and electric side mirrors aid accessibility, and this truck even features a CoolBox and integrated ice maker to keep your libations chilled in the center console. All these work as advertised and make daily use manageable. To keep the cabin comfortable, dual zone climate control works like a charm, and cold A/C and hot heat can be pumped in on command. Adjacent to the HVAC, upgraded BOSS audio does its job, with US FM capability as well as Bluetooth handsfree technology. If you prefer to let in a natural breeze, a power moonroof can unfurl on command. The driver can get comfortable behind a tilt adjustable steering column, and power lumbar support is available to make longer drives less taxing. The cabin is also quite utility oriented to boot. The middle row can flip fully forward, and the rear hatch area is spacious and features barn-door style entry for easy loading. The headliner is clean and tidy, and the deep-pile carpets excel at trapping dirt and keeping the cabin tidy. Still, at over 30 years old, it’s far from perfect, and we wanted to note some steering wheel wear, light carpet stains, and door card distortion. Even the original owner’s manual is on hand to help protect your investment! The 1FZ-FE under the bonnet is a beast. This large displacement I6 has enough power and torque to get this behemoth up and running, and we’ve performed a laundry list of maintenance to this FZJ80 to get it ripe and ready for daily driving here in the states. To start, it cranks over with haste, and a fresh oil and filter service gets you on track for future maintenance schedules. We changed the engine air filter, and shored up a couple pesky oil leaks by replacing the rear main seal and valve cover gasket. We tended to the accessories, installing a new A/C compressor, and rebuilding the power steering pump. We also performed a replacement of the water pump, and flushed out the coolant for good measure. This 4.5l fires right up and chugs along nicely at idle. A smooth-shifting automatic gearbox helps put power down to all four wheels, and for the true off-road die hard, a proper low range can be engaged when needed. The suspension was rehabbed with all new Ironman shocks, and this lifted beast rides comfortably over rough pavement. We also got this 80 under the knife for new front lower control arms, rear upper and lower control arms, a front panhard bar, and rear swaybar bushings. Both front hubs were rebuilt with new bearings and seals, and a fresh alignment was performed to make the most of all of the good reconditioning. New inner and outer tie rods help the power steering system track reliably, and the factory Toyota alloys are shod in good Falken all-terrains. They look killer against the custom paintwork, and are ready to turn and burn for miles to come!