Knitty Gritty - Yarn Cruisers 1990 FJ80

[Yarn Cruiser]

HI! This is the build thread for my (new to me) 1990 FZ80. Thanks to @J1000 for the help acquiring her. I had been wanting to have a 4x4 of my own for a while and I had considered a bunch of different potential options but this truck presented itself and I decided to give it a good home.
Here's the details:
1990 Fj80 - Yes, a 1990 Fj80! Door sticker says born on 2/90
3FE w 260k, power steering pump is not working but engine runs good
semi float rear axle
paints faded but interior is clean and in good shape
front bumper is bent up but no damage to frame just the grill
rear tailgate and hatch are crunched and rusty, needs to be replaced
windshield is trashed too
but I have big plans..
As @that'swhatshesaid the his and hers set is complete.

 

[Cruisertrash]

@Yarn Cruiser is this the one that came from Firestone?

Looks great by the way. Don’t let anyone dog on that 3FE, that thing is cool as hell and plenty of people have wheeled 3FEs. That motor doesn’t get dogged on when it’s in a 62 ya know? Interesting that the build date is 2/90. That’s got to be an early US 80. Congrats!

 

[Johnny Utah]

Congratulations Brandi! I love the color combo and smooth top roof. Those are my favorite style Toyota wheels too. I had them on my Prado.

I can’t wait to see what you do with this new truck.

Now you have a rig for your sig!

 

[Yarn Cruiser]

@Johnny Utah we are both pretty exctied and we have some cool plans lined out for her.

We love the wheels but we will be trading them out for others for better tire options. It was a tough choice.

 

[Yarn Cruiser]

@Cruisertrash if I wanted to go fast I would have gotten into race cars! 🤣🤣

 

[DaveInDenver]

I'm also a big fan of the FJ80. Very cool, congrats!

Congratulations Brandi! I love the color combo and smooth top roof. Those are my favorite style Toyota wheels too. I had them on my Prado.

We love the wheels but we will be trading them out for others for better tire options. It was a tough choice.

The wheels must be 15" then? There are 16" versions of those but I guess they're more common overseas such as on Prados. They are one of the most recognizable Toyota wheel styles for sure.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Yeah Dave, those wheels came in several sizes and offsets. I had 15x8 on my Prado, but they had a fairly high positive offset. The set that came on early 80s had a neutral or negative offset, I guess to compensate for different axle widths.

 

[Johnny Utah]

@Yarn Cruiser I wish those 15s would fit on my 80...too bad.

 

[DomOfTheDead]

I'm also a big fan of the FJ80. Very cool, congrats!


The wheels must be 15" then? There are 16" versions of those but I guess they're more common overseas such as on Prados. They are one of the most recognizable Toyota wheel styles for sure.

Yeah, she came with the 15 in version. We like them and would like to keep them on but finding tires for 15s is tough anymore. We already have my stock 80 wheels and tires ready to go to get the truck rolling although we might explore reinstalling the 15s when it is ready for new shoes

 

[that'swhatshesaid]

Ladies with 80's!! Super excited to get on the trail with you in our own rigs!

 

[SteveH]

Bumper for ya! - not mine - just saw this (it's even the correct early style): https://cosprings.craigslist.org/pts/d/colorado-springs-1991-land-cruiser/7627834917.html

 

[Yarn Cruiser]

@SteveH thank you but we will be going with an after market bumper.

 

[J1000]

Looking forward to seeing what you do with this rig! Other than the body damage (which isn't that bad) this truck is really clean! Didn't seem like it had much less power than my 1FZ 80 was either.

 

[allen.wrench]

Congratulations! Looking forward to this build thread and the results.

BTW, I know someone who was also born in 1990. It's a great year for a birthday 😁

Allen

 

[Yarn Cruiser]

We put her on new to me 33s! What a big difference it makes already. Dom also tested out what she would look like with his 35s. He might be having to much fun with multiple trucks and tires. I am not in love with these wheels but for now they will do just fine.

My super rad mechanic cut off rusty shocks for me so we can get ready to put on some fox shocks. She sits a tad taller between the tires and dobisons 2" lift in the front. Then onto her butt. 🤣 rear suspension that is.

 

[allen.wrench]

2" lift in the front. Then onto her butt. 🤣 rear suspension that is

Gonna rock the Carolina squat?

Allen

 

[DomOfTheDead]

Finished off the spring and shock replacement. 2 in lift Fox shocks and Dobinson front springs I got from @IoN6 previously installed on the Offroadacado.

rear Dobbies courtesy of @MonPetiteShoe

@Stuckinthe80s hooked us up with a power steering pump and reservoir. I cleaned it up but the high pressure line and probably the other hoses need to be replaced before the replacement pump goes in. The old pump had zero fluid in it and a bad pulley bearing.

 

[DomOfTheDead]

Gave the rear bumper the Markofsky cut

the battery was missing its hold down bracket so I improvised with a cut of angle stock and a hammer. Black paint and a j hook set.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Truck's looking great but I can't help notice there's a lot of first person reports by @DomOfTheDead. One is to assume @Yarn Cruiser is too busy throwing wrenches and cussing? BTW, love the kitty under the truck supervising the effort!

 

[Yarn Cruiser]

I am busted. 🤣🤣. I am busy knitting and cussing. I need to wait for the weather to cool down so I can work in the garage. Excuses excuses I know but someone has to keep @DomOfTheDead busy.