1991 80series Cruiser

Hi.

I have the same model, non-turbo diesel, which I bought about 4 years ago with 166,000km on the clock.

These units are rock solid and have no major bad habits, but then are not the quickest thing on the road. But mine has just done a 37,500km trip around Australia, and apart from busting a cv joint at Adelaide River, performed exceptionally well.

The headlights are not worth two bob, which I am told is due to voltage drop, and easily rectified by an auto electrician. I didn't bother, just fitted a pair of spot lights to use when needed.

The gearbox is a bit "notchy", and a search elsewhere on this forum will give you a range of options to correct it ... mainly in the choice of oils. I put in a new Daikin clutch before heading around Australia and it is terrific. The original clutch lasted some 270,000km, but was wafer thin when I chose to replace it.

What I also like is that you can opton them up for next to nothing via eBay. I have bought a stack of goodies from there and it is now just as I want it.

The price seems good to me. There is not much can go wrong with them and mine has been very reliable.

Jack

Apparently they can crack around the steering box (not a mafor fault but somwhere to look)
If it is going to rust it will be around the back windows
gearboxes are notchy pricks of things. i sometimes struggle to select 1st when taking off and double clutch it back to snd. The oil is due soon so i will be doing a search on the recommended oil as many claim the right oil can transform the g box.
I think they early ones may have come out with 15 inch wheels so check that and if so you may want to upgrade to 16s
Brakes on the later 80s were upgraded.
Should be a good buy but as always try shaving some of the price. My 94 80 was a grand more but did need a bit of work. Since then all has been well apart from last weekend when i noticed all the swaybar bushes were knackered causing a bit of thumping

Mine is a 1994 model which now has close to 300000 on the clock.

It still goes fine without major troubles. I use synthetic oil in the engine and also in the gearbox (All terrain 80) which seems to help the shift in low gears. The funny gerashift and funny feeling clutch has always been there and never been a problem.

Put new bushes and bearings in alternator and starter motor but these are normal wear and tear.

I have a 50mm OME lift with nitrocharger shocks and this helps clearance and ride.
If you intend to travel in sand (in desert) take the spare wheel from under the vehicle and throw it on a roof rack or carrier. Otherwise it can act as a sand anchor when in deeper wheel ruts.

I am very happy with my vehicle and hope you get a good run out of yours. It sounds like an excellent buy.

Look at landcruisers on line ,, www.lcool.org all will be revealed , good points and bad ,truths about bigends ect ect ,repairs and mods ect ect.