Thread: Question regarding Suzuki LJ80

This may be of interest - though the text has the engine size as the same as the LJ50 but the specs list is correct.

http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au...uzuki_lj80.htm

LJ Suzukis are prone to rust, are all 30 years old and therefore rust free examples are not rare, they are mythical.

I have a soft spot for the LJ50 = the three cylinder 2-stroke version. He had one when I was a kid, with a wooden seat made by Dad bolted between the wheel arches for the kids. This was before both comfort and safety had been invented!

We had it in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea, where it went by the name of the "Liklik Bigpella" or Little Big Man. It went anywhere a Land Cruiser would go, but easier. And slower - the original motor had no torque, just LOW gearing.

Because of the slow speed, many LJ's have been upgraded to Corolla motors but even these motors will now be old.

I read a review of the release of the LJs in Australia, which described them as 4wd motorcycles. With the tall, thin tyres and the two-stroke motor option, there was a lot in common between the bikes and the LJ's.

They fell over as easily as a motorbike also.

Easy way to tell which model is by the engine- 3 pots lj50- 530cc two stroke engine. 4 pots lj80 -800cc 4stroke. I think both these engines were motor bike engines. Wheel base & width different to Sierra's.Still remember dad throwing me & my mate into the back of a lj50 travelled from Picton to Crookwell,got out looking like a half opened pen knife's & were blown of the road by a bogo van.Great in the bush. Try a Suzuki forum.

Originally Posted by twitchy

Plenty of suzuki forums to source parts from as well.

Cheers, I found this one: http://www.suzuki4wd.com.au/, do you know of any others?

The front end is fairly banged up, but in a couple of pictures I can see white paint on the chassis. Looks like it has the orig skinny bar-treads that Garrycol mentioned.

AFAIK it has spent the entirity of it's time around 500km from the coast, so hopefully rust is minimal. Some surface rust, mind. I'm just making sure he doesnt mind me uploading some images of it, should have some up soon. They're a great looking little goer.

Originally Posted by Slunnie

They fell over as easily as a motorbike also.

My first 4wd was an LJ50 with the massive 550cc powerhouse that was lucky to reach 80kph downhill with a tailwind, if it tipped over you just put one hand out to right yourself . Was great for chasing my younger brothers on their trailbikes as it could go wherever they went. I looked at doing a rotary conversion but saw the light and bought a rangie instead.

here it is:

At one stage the Corolla conversion was sufficiently popular for a mob in Qld to do a conversion for the transfer case. I think it raised high range by about 23% and left low where it was.