for 30-50k, just buy a 100s with a v8 already since you only have a 2 inch lift and 33s, a lifted 100s with 35s might be a better option for you at this junction.
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Yep I would only do one if I had the means myself. It can be worth it for a shop but all depends on what kind of money you have
Agree just get a 100 series
Agree just get a 100 series
TRDdrew
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@91FJ80FD as someone who owns both a 3FE 80 and a 100 series id have to agree with @Marco Lau and @bhsdriller
I too would love to do some form of a swap to my 80 as well but the mighty 3FE refuses to quit lol
30-50k is a ton of money but ultimately if drivability and power is you main concern, a 100 series cruiser will give you both at a fraction of the cost of a swap. I love my 80 and my 100 but for different reasons. My 100 is stock gearing on 35's and is fully armored, but it drives like a dream compared to my 80. I wouldn't hesitate to jump in and drive it anywhere and know ill be comfortable the whole time and with a ton more power as well.
You could sell your truck and get into a really nice 100 series for around 15-25k, honestly maybe even less, the market is currently soft on them from what I've seen.
I ultimately think your LC experience would drastically improve with a 100, but that just my 2cents.
I too would love to do some form of a swap to my 80 as well but the mighty 3FE refuses to quit lol
30-50k is a ton of money but ultimately if drivability and power is you main concern, a 100 series cruiser will give you both at a fraction of the cost of a swap. I love my 80 and my 100 but for different reasons. My 100 is stock gearing on 35's and is fully armored, but it drives like a dream compared to my 80. I wouldn't hesitate to jump in and drive it anywhere and know ill be comfortable the whole time and with a ton more power as well.
You could sell your truck and get into a really nice 100 series for around 15-25k, honestly maybe even less, the market is currently soft on them from what I've seen.
I ultimately think your LC experience would drastically improve with a 100, but that just my 2cents.
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At this point I don't have a budget; I just have 2 shops giving me ballpark quotes, one recommends a 6.2 LS swap the other said that a 5.3 LS will not really improve what I want to do. So, it's kind of hard to figure out and the project would happen in 2027 sometime.
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The prices are still what get me, I have the means of doing a swap myself so 30- 50 grand is just absurd to me. I get it a shop has overhead and employees to pay for but you will never get it back out of the truck. A buddy of mine bought a nice 62 with a very well done 5.3 swap for 23k.
I'm surprised they said that, a 5.3 LS would definitely be an improvement. As much as a 6.2? .... no, but an improvement none the less. Of course the choice is yours I still stand by my statement. If you don't have sentimental attachment to the truck ... buy a 100 series
OR swap a 4.7l motor into it
This is kind of the rub:The prices are still what get me, I have the means of doing a swap myself so 30- 50 grand is just absurd to me. I get it a shop has overhead and employees to pay for but you will never get it back out of the truck. A buddy of mine bought a nice 62 with a very well done 5.3 swap for 23k.
I'm surprised they said that, a 5.3 LS would definitely be an improvement. As much as a 6.2? .... no, but an improvement none the less. Of course the choice is yours I still stand by my statement. If you don't have sentimental attachment to the truck ... buy a 100 series
OR swap a 4.7l motor into it
The rig came from a very close family friend like a father to me, rig cost $10k, I have put another $12K into get getting it up and going. The one shop that says a 5.3 is not a vast improvement I'm going to speak with later this week. The other shop that wants ballpark of $50K said he only dose crate engine and transmission, and he would recommend a rear axle swap to a solid rearend. I'm doing a lot of research right now, as the truck run, but has a small oil leak at the front and ream main seals.
Thanks for the insight.
At those prices.. an 80 may not be the best fit. I drive a 3FE 80 on 37s and yeah its slow.. but not -$30k slow 
Very likely not a rear main seal leak, but a leak from the rear of the oil pan gasket.
If it were me, I’d throw in a Wholesale Auto valve body into the tranny, fix remainder of leaks & maintenance, and drive the piss out of it. If the rig is too slow for you to enjoy driving, you may be better off getting a different model, as others have suggested.
Sure, the 3FE won’t win any races, and you have to anticipate hills & such on the highways (mine spends a lot of time in 3rd gear going up hills on the highways @ 5000+ elevation), but it really is a great ride once you are off road & get to enjoy the real reason the 80 series was designed to accomplish in the first place- low gear crawling in compromising terrain.
If I had $50k to sink into a 3FE rig, I would be hard pressed to do so unless that type of money was purely disposable income. That much money is out of my league.
Just my .02…
Best wishes!
In the $30k plus range, just buy one already swapped that is in really good shape. I have seen some great looking rigs in the classifieds here and BaT for $33-35k. Then sell yours to put a dent in that cost.
For me, the big difference between the 100s and 80s is the suspension, which is no secret to anyone on here. What exactly are you using for 80s for that warrants more hp? Certainly not off pavement since the 80s with the SAS shines in that department, and you do not need ton of HP for rock crawling. The only legitimate argument for a V8 swap is pulling grade on highway with oversize tires. The only other reasons a 100s might be a better fit if you plan on just doing overland style types of off-roading, meaning you stick with 33-35" tires and a 100s with the v8 and larger platform should out perform an 80s in that department. If you are into rock crawling, you are most likely on 37s or 40s anyways, and unless you have a V8 or diesel swap, you will be riding on the right lane pulling grade and in that case, 100s is out of question. If you are into overlanding, and stick with 35" or smaller tires, a 3-FE or 1FZ-FE will do just fine on the highway, but certainly wont win any races. You pay 80k for a 392 Rubicon, and to run 37" or larger tires, you will need to upgrade your axles, suspension, tires, regear, bumpers etc etc. so will be well over 100k when it is all said and done. $20k on an 80s, put larger tires, a V8 swap, etc etc, you are still looking at half the fraction of buying a new vehicle to essentially performs more or less the same.....Besides, it would be way cooler than a Jeep...
I probably have changed my mind over the years of owning my 80s and honestly, i have no intention to do a V8 swap in the near future. I love the 3-FE and it has been more than reliable and with the upgrades i have done to the rig, i think i might just keep driving it. This is from owning it for about 10 yrs now and the more seat time i have in it, the more i like the 3FE. Unless i go with 40s, which i doubt it will happen since 37s is the sweet spot, i am going to keep the 3-FE. It isn't terribly slow on the highway and can maintain 75mph, and 55 -60 up steep grade is all she wrote and nothing to complain about.
What is your current MPG?
I'd calculate how many miles/ how much gas you'd have to buy in order to break even with the "better gas mileage" a V8 would provide. Given the low miles I drive combined with my age, I'd be tens of thousands of dollars away from making it pay, not that I could stomach spending $30-50K on my 80 for any reason whatsoever.
A 100 series only gets 12-14 mpg according to the internet.
Swapping in an FZ-FE would increase your mpg by 10%.
Right now, I'm getting maybe 12mpg on the highway and maybe 10mpg the rest, LS swap would increase it to maybe 16 / 14 mpg? Like I have said it's a long-term goal / project set for 2027/ 2028What is your current MPG?
I'd calculate how many miles/ how much gas you'd have to buy in order to break even with the "better gas mileage" a V8 would provide. Given the low miles I drive combined with my age, I'd be tens of thousands of dollars away from making it pay, not that I could stomach spending $30-50K on my 80 for any reason whatsoever.
A 100 series only gets 12-14 mpg according to the internet.
Swapping in an FZ-FE would increase your mpg by 10%.
Just picked up the cruiser from Manny and the guys over at Tampa cruisers in preparation for GSMTR 35! Upgraded to 4.88, front and rear arbs lockers, 35in MT’s and a whole bunch of other goodies! Looking forward to putting this 3-fe to the test!
Ok, asking for some ballpark number on 2: 3FE engines I might be selling early 2027.
3FE engine with rebuilt top end about 175,000 miles? Currently in my rig and runs great.
3FE engine with 235,000-mile, block at machine shop cylinders being reboard to .20 over, top end has not been touched.
Looking at sell both the engines next year as I'm looking at doing a V8 swap of some sort in my 91 FJ80.
3FE engine with rebuilt top end about 175,000 miles? Currently in my rig and runs great.
3FE engine with 235,000-mile, block at machine shop cylinders being reboard to .20 over, top end has not been touched.
Looking at sell both the engines next year as I'm looking at doing a V8 swap of some sort in my 91 FJ80.