A few things that might be useful for those looking to install a sub tank into the LC 80 series.
So, this little journey started back when I pulled out my standard sub for an upgrade to the Long Ranger tank. Tim, then Hammer were both interested in the tank that came out. Even though it was basically just the sheet metal tank, as nearly everything else is re-used in the LR install. I got quotes from freight companies (DHL, TNT, etc) for freight to the US, and the cost was prohibitive, AU$6-700 from memory. I assumed that was the only way to send it...
Anyway, fast-forward a year or so and Tim is on the hunt for a duel filler neck for his custom fab sub tank, I do a bit of googling and make some calls on his behalf. As possibly the worlds largest Land Cruiser market (?) Australia has many places that wreck Cruisers for parts. I found a couple of people who had what he wanted (although people wrecking 80's were not especially common), one was interstate and not willing to ship direct to the US. However I found a local guy, who had one. Was freight again going to make this not worth it?
Knowing that the postal service was by far the cheapest option, I checked out the AUSPOST website for the maximum dimensions/weight of what you could send by mail. Not knowing exactly what the 80 filler looked like, but confident it would be acceptable, we went ahead and got that and sent it. Looking at the max dimensions on the AUSPOST site I went and measured the sub tank sitting in the shed, seemed it would just pass. So we sent that too, a fuel tank, through the post, like a letter... Who’da thought?
Standard sub tank parts are not particularly desirable in Australia, in fact the guy who I got the filler from said ‘he’s buying a lot of 80's at the moment’ and ‘all the early axles, etc’ that no one over here wants, he ships straight to South Africa.
He can put together a complete ‘bolt in’ 80 sub tank conversion with relays, switches, filler, tank, etc, (be worth checking if the US 80 has the provision in the wiring loom for that?). I don’t know what the cost would be, maybe around AU$1500 landed, but that is just a guess rather than a quote. Anyway, if anyone wants to go down that route.
http://earlylandcruiserspares.com.au
The Australian version of eBay is also a good resource to find wreckers.
Any regulars who want specific help, just hit me up outside of Kinja.
Worth noting, that as with many things, despite appearing mechanically similar, there are many differences between an 80 and a 105. So just be careful the parts are specific to your vehicle. The 105 tank fits between the chassis rails on an 80, that we know, don’t assume any of the rest of it fits. Also 105 and 100 are different in this respect, a 105 set up will not fit a 100 series, I’m pretty sure.
Seems like the standard sub tank is probably not a bad size for exploring most of the US, if you don’t have a Brent in your life! Should work with standard spare tyre fitment and doesn’t affect clearance.
Any questions just holler below.