Scott came to us with a 1991 FJ80, the wagon that built the 80 Series legend, and a clear idea: keep everything that makes an FJ80 great, the full-time four-wheel drive, the go-anywhere body, the bulletproof feel, and give it the modern power and refinement the factory never could. That is exactly what we built. This is an FJ80 with an LS heart, a fully reworked cabin, and the kind of mechanical refresh that turns a 30-year-old truck into something you would drive across the country tomorrow.

The centerpiece is the drivetrain. We pulled the original setup and dropped in a 6.2L LS3 V8 mated to a 6L80E six-speed automatic, and we did it the right way: we kept the factory transfer case, so the FJ80’s full-time four-wheel drive is fully retained. Too many swaps sacrifice what makes an 80 Series special. This one does not. A custom-made Champion 3-core aluminum radiator, a new electric fan, new headers and full exhaust, a custom engine wiring harness, a low-profile oil pan, and a cold air intake round out an engine bay that runs cool, clean, and strong. Both driveshafts were custom cut and balanced, the A/C was converted to R134a, and a new Optima Yellow Top battery feeds it all.

Underneath, the FJ80 was brought back to better than new. A full Old Man Emu suspension with new coil springs, shocks, and a steering stabilizer levels and firms it up. We rebuilt both front Birfield knuckles, replaced the tie rod ends and drag arm, and went through the steering and axles replacing anything sub-par. The brakes are all new top to bottom: upgraded front brakes, drilled and slotted rotors, new drums and shoes, new lines, a new emergency brake cable, and a new booster and master cylinder. The entire undercarriage was power washed, treated with Rust Bullet, and top coated with 3M rubberized coating to seal it for the long haul.

Inside, every surface was addressed. All seats were reupholstered in auto-grade vinyl, the door and cargo panels reconditioned, and new carpet and padding laid throughout with new floor mats and a new rear cargo mat. We rewrapped the steering wheel in leather, reupholstered the sun visors, and built a custom center console with cutouts for accessory switches and lighting. Then we worked through the long list of little things that make an 80 Series feel finished: fixed the dome lights, sorted the blower motor high-speed, fixed the driver’s door window rattle, replaced the power antenna, reconditioned the window operation with all new inner, outer, and track seals, and freshened the door handles, thresholds, and grab handles throughout. For modern convenience, a new touchscreen head unit with Bluetooth, navigation, and a backup camera, plus new speakers throughout.

Outside, the body was worked straight and refinished in its original factory Garnet maroon, laid down in a two-stage base coat and clear coat process. There is something right about an 80 Series wearing the color it was born in, deep, classic, and unmistakably Land Cruiser. New fender flares and seals, new LED headlights and exterior lenses, a new windshield and seal, a new front grille, headlight bezels, and front emblem, fresh Toyota emblems front and rear, and a roof rack finish the look. It rolls on black off-road wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich All-Terrain tires, with a Delta off-road front bumper running a brush guard and LED pod lights, plus a matching rear off-road bumper with spare tire carrier. Sound deadening on the wheel wells and firewall keeps the cabin quiet at speed.

Every detail on this build was handled in our shop in Belle Plaine, Kansas, then road tested before it went home to Scott. This is what a true 80 Series restomod looks like when it is done right, vintage Land Cruiser character with modern muscle and the four-wheel drive left exactly where it belongs. Watch the full build come together and hear that LS3 run in the video below.

Complete Build Sheet

Drivetrain and Performance

• 6.2L LS3 V8 mated to a 6L80E six-speed automatic
• Factory transfer case retained, full-time four-wheel drive preserved
• Custom-made Champion 3-core aluminum radiator with new electric fan
• New headers and full exhaust throughout
• Custom engine wiring harness
• New low-profile oil pan and cold air intake manifold
• Both driveshafts custom cut and balanced
• A/C converted to R134a
• New Optima Yellow Top battery
• Dash cluster updated with new tachometer

Suspension, Brakes, and Wheels

• Full Old Man Emu suspension: new coil springs, shocks, and steering stabilizer
• Both front Birfield knuckles rebuilt
• New tie rod ends, drag arm, and any sub-par steering components replaced
• Upgraded front brakes with drilled and slotted rotors
• All new brakes: drums, shoes, lines, and emergency brake cable
• New brake booster and master cylinder
• Black off-road wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich All-Terrain tires

Body and Exterior

• Full undercarriage treatment: power wash, Rust Bullet, and 3M rubberized top coat
• Body work and refinish in original factory Garnet maroon, two-stage base coat/clear coat
• Delta off-road front bumper with brush guard and LED pod lights
• Matching rear off-road bumper with spare tire carrier
• New fender flares and seals
• New LED headlights and exterior light lenses
• New windshield and seal
• New front grille, headlight bezels, and front emblem
• New rear Toyota Land Cruiser emblem and chrome Toyota emblem
• Roof rack installed
• Reconditioned mud flaps and exterior door handles
• Zinc-plated door jamb and drop gate hardware
• New gas flap limiter, hood seals, and hood blanket

Interior and Electronics

• All seats reupholstered in auto-grade vinyl
• Door panels and cargo panels reconditioned
• New carpet and padding throughout with new floor mats and rear cargo mat
• Steering wheel rewrapped in leather
• Sun visors reupholstered
• Custom center console with cutouts for accessory switches and lighting
• New seatbelts as needed
• Touchscreen head unit with Bluetooth, navigation, and backup camera
• New speakers throughout
• Window operation reconditioned with new inner, outer, and track seals
• Driver’s door window rattle diagnosed and fixed
• Dome lights, blower motor high-speed, and instrument cluster dimmer repaired
• New power antenna and rear wiper motor, arm, and blade
• Sound deadening on wheel wells and firewall

Want a Build Like Scott’s?

This FJ80 was built to order for its owner, but we build trucks like this every day. If you want an LS conversion that keeps your 80 Series’ full-time four-wheel drive intact, or you want us to source and build one for you from the ground up, we handle the whole process and ship nationwide with free transport in both directions. See our FJ80 restoration page for more, or contact us to start your build. Call or text us at 316-633-9902.