1993 80 Series Landcruiser
1993 80 Series Landcruiser
Engine - 1HDT 4.2L Turbo Diesel
Transmission - H151F 5-speed Manual
Suspension - 3inch Tough Dog
Tyres - BFG K02 All Terrains
Equipped for - Daily Driving & Touring
Thanks for sharing your 80 series with us. We know the 80 series is a crowd favourite over in the states and that it didn't get released over there in the 4.2L turbo diesel. How did you go getting your hands on one?
Happy to share! Duke is my pride and joy! Yes, the 80 series is a popular cruiser here, but they were only available with the 4.5L straight 6 1FZ (After 1992). We never got a diesel or a manual transmission here in in the states, so Duke is a very rare bird. What makes it extra special is the fact that it is left hand drive and has the factory triple locking differentials. It is much more common here to import from Japan, so the majority of diesel 80s found in the states are right hand drive JDM cars. It’s a little novelty that allows me to hit the drive-through like a normal person. I found Duke in the local classifieds in Montana. The seller had imported two of them from France, and decided to sell one. I sold my 1993 FZJ80 and my other daily driver in order to get my hands on my dream car! I spent pretty much every penny I had and have never looked back.
A lot of us love the classic factory look of the 80 series. You guys have gotten it right in between keeping it classic but tastefully modifying it to suit your overlanding needs. Is this what you guys are going for?
Thank you! I think the 80 is one of the most handsome 4x4s ever made. It’s iconic. A small lift and some all-terrain tires make it look how I imagine Toyota would have wanted. Everything I do to the cruiser involves two questions: 1. Does it keep the original design integrity? 2. Does it look period correct? I love the idea of keeping things in the same time period. If the original owner were to modify this truck in 1993 for the same use, how would they do it? I am not a fan of all of the new tech (light bars, pods, new fancy wheels, etc) on an older car, although performance of the mods probably suffers when compared. We like to keep things simple and basic for camping and exploring. Ironically, I’ve found lightness is key for keeping a 4x4 happy and healthy. Luckily, all of this goes hand-in-hand, so the cruiser has somewhat built itself out.
Bryce, we have been following you on Instagram for a while now, it looks like you are quite the home mechanic, what work & modifications have you done to it since owning it and what are your plans for the 80 series in the future?
I’ve always been obsessed with cars of all shapes and sizes for as long as I can remember. I feel like that obsession naturally grew into wrenching and working at home. Plus, I’m a bit of a prideful cheap-ass and feel like “I could do that” with everything. Most of the time I am biting off more than I can chew, but I read the manuals, ask the forums and take my time. Every job thus far has been my first time trying it.
Since I bought the car in December of last year, I have mainly tackled preventative maintenance and updated things that were worn out. The car came with zero documentation, so there was a question mark slapped on everything. Replacing this drivetrain in the states would cost a fortune so keeping up with maintenance takes priority for me. The truck had a secondary fuel filter already installed, which was awesome. The first thing I did was replace all filters with OEM and flush and refill all oils and fluids. We deep cleaned and installed the drawer/sleeping system I had built for my previous 80 series. The roof rack also came off my old 80. Things I have rebuilt/replaced include:
Rebuilt the starter
New exhaust manifold (Old on had a crack)
New intake OEM gaskets
New Water Pump + Gaskets
Timing belt
Installed PROVENT 200 catch can
New Big End Bearings (Rod bearings)
ACSD Delete
Installed EGT and Boost gauges
Tough Dog 3in lift with caster correction
Now there isn’t a leak to be found and the engine bay is dry as a bone, though the list goes on as I continuously tinker. Every little bolt cleaned and torqued to spec is piece of mind for me. The perk of doing all of this work alone in my driveway, is that now I can diagnose and fix on the trail.
As for future mods, the list is finally short and non-urgent. A 3in Stainless exhaust is next on the list (all in the name fo keeping the 1HDT cool and breathing). I hope to overhaul the brakes and delete the ABS sometime soon. I need to rebuild the front knuckles (who doesn’t?). Some rock sliders would be amazing. On days where I have nothing going on, I find myself in the driveway under the truck with a wire brush, cleaning everything I can touch, getting rid of 27 years of grime so that I can build it up for another 30 years. We are incredibly happy with where the build is now and it performs flawlessly in terms of both driving, and camping. Duke is part of our family and we are grateful for all of the adventures made possible by our trusty friend.
