Well finally after having my medallion for quite a while I finally have a running vehicle to put it on, if not the one I'd planned to put it on. I've had a '93 FZJ80 for several years but I didn't know the broken timing chain guide when i bought it, nor did I realize other issues it had. It's currently in MANY pieces and the bare rolling frame is taking up my shop floor. I've been looking for a new vehicle for over a year now and had mostly been looking at early 2nd Gen Tundras and 100 Series LC. Neither pop up at reasonable prices if at all in my area and every time one has it was gone or too roached out, but then, I came across a super clean '08 GX470 in Salsa red w 156k for a good price. I had to get it. It's has basically no rust on it save a little on the exhaust, some maybe, maybe not surface on the axle and the battery tray where the battery they put in has leaked. It needs to have the 90 timing belt/water pump service done and I'm going to baseline the rest of it myself. I'm going to leave it stock for a bit while I make a decision whether to abandon the and part the 80 and build the GX or keep the GX as a stock travel light overlander and build the 80 as a hard core overlander, possibly with the 6bt Cummins from my 2500 that is in rough shape. Main thing for me though is it's been nearly 2 years since I've had a reliable vehicle that I can trust to get in and drive anywhere beyond the city limits so I'm excited. I got it just in time to go to OEE this weekend. Anyways look forward to seeing others up at OEE this weekend.
Location: Myrtle Beach, SC
'08 Lexus GX470
If I choose to build out the GX current planned build as follows:
Total Chaos LT front, harrop lockers rear, maybe front as well, rear drawers and Prinsu rack, full skids sliders winch bumper and rear bumper w swing out. There are other items as well but most all of will take time and may never be done to the GX is I decide to keep it pristine and build the 80. I also have been looking at fabricating a offroad tear drop at a later date as well
I've been wheeling for many years though it's been a while since I've been able to go for various reasons. My main of road rig has been a '87 Samurai Rock buggy that I built over a number of years and iterations. Currently it has a 2.0L engine and trans swap from a Vitara that I build a turbo setup for. Yota truck axles and a dual tcase setup. Unfortunately this spring, after finally resolving some issues with my piggy back efi controller I blew the engine doing a tuning pull when I didn't realize the boost adjuster had gotten open to full and it hit at least 18psi, likely causing a detonation.
