Meeting your heros is a part of growing up, but sometimes you realise those heros aren't who you expected them to be. This lesson was learned through owning a VDJ79. Always wanted one, but when I got one, I realised they were quite uncapable offroad especially for the time of wheeling I prefer doing. Oh well, back to what I know best.
Introducing my 1990 1HDT GXL 80 Series. It's full time 4WD, centre locked, and an out-of-the-box suspension setup that works better that I could ever get the VDJ79 going for under a 50K investment. Let's run through what I've done to this car to get it to a point where I'm happy with it!
When I purchased the vehicle, it had only recently had a full birthday. Motor out, full rebuild (pistons, rods, crank, head, injectors, fuel pump, turbo, intercooler, and all the rest). In terms of mods, it was full old-timer spec. We're talking alloy bullbar, tall roofrack, and EGT+boost Gauges. That's all.
So, let's get into my adjustments.
Bullbar:
My first step was to get rid of that Bullbar. I ordered a tube bar from Kinselas Kustoms with a triple hoop. It's got fantastic clearance, it's strong, winch compatible and it looks like it's built to wheel - which it will! It was an easy install, although once I'd pulled the old bullbar off, I realised that the chassis rails had pushed apart, which made it hard to slide the new Kinselas Kustoms bullbar on. This also happened on my last 80, 105, and 79, so it's not really an issue... just get a ratchet strap, tie them together and hit them with a large mallet.
Roof Rack:
When I put the bullbar on, I quickly realised that a stealthy bullbar plus an old roof rack wasn't going to look right. This immediately made the 80 look more suit for purpose (absolute thrashing on the tracks!)
Bullseye Brackets:
The factory candles on old landcruisers are notoriously bad, so I had to get this solved ASAP, as I live rurally and critters are a real issue. I'd rather see them first than hit them with my nice bullbar! I opted for a set of bonnet mount brackets with a set of side shooters, which perfectly take care of the side-to-side vision when I'm going down a straight road, or around bends - you'd be suprised how much extra vision they give you in the squirlies. After this, I needed to take care of the frontal vision, and got a set of roof brackets and a 50" dual row curved LED lightbar. It's one of the brightest ones that you can get and it comes in reasonably cheap considering the output. What do I like about it? It gives great throw and even better spread, plus it's really well made and won't take on water like a cheaper lightbar will.
Solar Screens:
This was the product that got me off the ground, and into the 4WD industry. They are the absolute ducks nuts - it's easy to sell a product that is awesome, you don't have to push it uphill! I got the touring set and a dash shade.
Are dash shades legal? Not really. Will you get pulled over for them? Probably not! The ADR states that you cant cover the bottom of your windscreen and you can't have anything dazzling on your vehicle. If this is the case, it doesn't really cover anything but the bonnet (which you can't see through anyways), and if it's dazzling that's the issue, we ought to ban alloy bullbars and chrome too! It's more reflective than Solar Screens anyways - but that's just my two cents...
Solar Screens are a no brainer if you like to camp in your car or if you drive long distances. I personally find that they reduce the stimulation of a long drive, which leads to tired eyes. Also, they can't be seen through because the material is thicker than any of it's competition, so it's great for privacy, it blacks the car out, and it makes the car way quieter when you're sleeping.
BushBash Starlight Headliner:
This Starlight Headliner absolutely transformed my night time driving experience. They add a great ambiance and make the vehicle feel way more modern. Plus, it's just a nice touch. You definitely want to black out the roof liner to get the most out of these.
It's a very large install, so I'd set aside a whole day to do it, but it's very worth it. It's a much better unit than what you can buy on eBay or Amazon, so if you've got the money, definitely invest in it. I got the 800 strand set, as its suitable for a wagon.
Maxxis Razr 315s
It's a personal preference of how big you go, and I've run everything from 29s to 37s. 35s/315s are a nice compromise. They ride well, handle perfectly off and onroad, and they don't howl at all. I'm glad that I spent the money here and didn't go for a cheaper tyre.
So that's where I'm up to! You can stay updated on the build on my instagram @realbenleehearn or on the tiktok @makscaravancentre.
Cheers!
Benjamin Lee-hearn