Adding an aux fan seems like a good idea.
Registry 3FE Owners Check-In (4 Viewers)
- Thread starter alkaline747trio
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Hmm. Thanks. New radiator got less than 1200 miles on it. I was thinking restricted cats but engine runs like it should.
What are your ideas around venting? Louvers?
Check the grommet where the steering shaft goes through the firewall. It deteriorates and lets a lot of heat through. There is a thread on here about replacing it. Also, check the shift boots under the center console.
You are awesome! Thank you so much for the tip. Will look into. Mud comes through again!
Hello Folks - I need some thoughts on a 92 FJ80 I am considering purchasing. It has less than 64K miles and has no rust in the undercarriage and the paint is original and there is not a dent or dimple anywhere on the body. It is the ugly two tone tan and brown paint scheme. All electrical components appear to work well. The AC is not blowing cold but likely just needs a recharge (or conversion?). The vehicle has obviously not been driven much during its lifetime and garaged/barned when not in use. My mechanic and I checked it out last weekend and found that it has an oil leak (I know, shocking) that appears to be the oil pan, which was obviously loose most of the way around and leaking around the perimeter with most of the leak toward the rear. We cannot tell for sure without further work if there is a rear/front seal leak, but my mechanic thinks its just the oil pan. There was also some greenish fluid on one of the knuckles. The exhaust will need to be redone since it is in lousy condition. Other than that the car appears to be in excellent condition. We drove it for about 30 minutes and it drove very nicely. Shifted smooth and had absolutely no rattles.
So my question is what are the pros/cons of buying this vehicle? I realize that there may be more hidden with the oil leak that would require some significant investment if it is the seals. Also, what would be your basic list of immediate/near term deferred maintenance that I should expect to address after purchase to make sure this is 100% reliable? I am not very handy, but I am eager to learn and my neighbor is a good mechanic that could handle most tasks and let me assist. Also, what is a fair price for this rig? The seller is asking $16,500.
I realize that posting here on the 3FE page there are fans of this engine. So my hesitation on this purchase is waiting to find a newer model or even a diesel import v. going with the 92 and older 3FE engine. I would use the vehicle for backroad driving, dirt road commuting, local fall hunting with the dogs, etc. It won't be wheeled or abused but pampered. Thanks for your input. -- Warren
So my question is what are the pros/cons of buying this vehicle? I realize that there may be more hidden with the oil leak that would require some significant investment if it is the seals. Also, what would be your basic list of immediate/near term deferred maintenance that I should expect to address after purchase to make sure this is 100% reliable? I am not very handy, but I am eager to learn and my neighbor is a good mechanic that could handle most tasks and let me assist. Also, what is a fair price for this rig? The seller is asking $16,500.
I realize that posting here on the 3FE page there are fans of this engine. So my hesitation on this purchase is waiting to find a newer model or even a diesel import v. going with the 92 and older 3FE engine. I would use the vehicle for backroad driving, dirt road commuting, local fall hunting with the dogs, etc. It won't be wheeled or abused but pampered. Thanks for your input. -- Warren
Last edited:
I love the simplicity and reliability of the 3FE but at that price I would pass even with the low mileage with it sitting in a barn you've already identified the cause of the oil pan leak and the knuckle seals are the likely cause of the fluid on the knuckles good chance there is some type of rodent damage you haven't found yet either. If you have tha much to spend you are approaching diesel territory anyways which would be a better option in my opinion. If they were willing to accept 5 or 6k I would say yes since you are going to spend many hours replacing seals and gaskets and the chance that a mouse got into the wiring we are talking possible days trying to find that problem.
Sounds like a nice truck. I am not an expert but it's hard to imagine it being worth more than $10k. $5-6k is way lowball IMO, you don't find land cruisers with that low of mileage. $5-6k gets you an average condition FZJ80 250k miles, $10K can get you a pretty nice FZJ80. $16K can get you all kinds of nice stuff including a JDM diesel truck or a really nice and well sorted FZJ80 with mods done and no mechanical issues.
IMO 10-12k maximum would be reasonable for a cosmetically near mint low miles FJ80 that doesn't need any mechanical work.
IMO 10-12k maximum would be reasonable for a cosmetically near mint low miles FJ80 that doesn't need any mechanical work.
Thank you so much for the tip. Exactly what the problem is. Now its down to fixing it.
45292-35050 is the part number. I need to do mine as well.
Here is the thread about it with some instructions. Hot drivers feet.
OK, as a new LC owner & new to building off road rigs, I'm looking for some input from this well-connected group. The short backstory is that I've been looking for a 4Runner for my wife- something around 2005-2009. Ran across this 1991 LC; one family owners, most major mechanical work done in the last 10k miles (just ready to turn over to 166k). Needs a valve adjustment (easy!) but is otherwise in great shape! For $3500, we couldn't resist. My wife likes the rig as-is, but my thought is to build it into a true off road rig- bumpers, tire carrier, lift kit, etc. with the idea that we could turn a small profit towards a newer 4Runner for her daily driver. Living in rural Colorado on crappy county roads requires a sturdy rig for daily use. Knowing that the 3FE is rather under-powered for daily use in the Colorado mountains, the question becomes whether or not this particular rig is the right one to sink $5-6k and make any money. On the flip side, maybe we sink the money into it and have a hell of a lot of fun with it! Either way, it looks like a winner... Any constructive advise from the group is appreciated!
Cheers!
Cheers!
Ooops! I accidently posted in here instead of the "what did you do with your 80 series this weekend" thread. Sorry guys.
Last edited:
OK, as a new LC owner & new to building off road rigs, I'm looking for some input from this well-connected group. The short backstory is that I've been looking for a 4Runner for my wife- something around 2005-2009. Ran across this 1991 LC; one family owners, most major mechanical work done in the last 10k miles (just ready to turn over to 166k). Needs a valve adjustment (easy!) but is otherwise in great shape! For $3500, we couldn't resist. My wife likes the rig as-is, but my thought is to build it into a true off road rig- bumpers, tire carrier, lift kit, etc. with the idea that we could turn a small profit towards a newer 4Runner for her daily driver. Living in rural Colorado on crappy county roads requires a sturdy rig for daily use. Knowing that the 3FE is rather under-powered for daily use in the Colorado mountains, the question becomes whether or not this particular rig is the right one to sink $5-6k and make any money. On the flip side, maybe we sink the money into it and have a hell of a lot of fun with it! Either way, it looks like a winner... Any constructive advise from the group is appreciated!
Cheers!
Offroading and DD will never go hand in hand. I say build it up, regear, and enjoy the hell out of it. The 3FE is bullet proof, and knowing your HG wont blow is worth it than the extra cost of the 1FZ-FE, and even then, it will still be slow with all the extra weight. I live on sea level and my 91 serves me well even with 35s. I wasnt actively searching for a 3FE power plant, but now i am glad i did.
I made it up a nearly 10,000ft pass 3 times in one day in the fj80 with 4 people and gear and only had to dip into 2nd a few times. It was definitely underpowered but it made it no problem at all and didn’t really feel like it was straining. Ymmv.
What size tires and stock gear?
32” tires stock gears. Just drove over the continental divide a few minutes ago and dropped to 2200 rpm in 3rd, didn’t need 2nd; was still faster than the semis. It does run much stronger where I live at 2000 ft though, lol.
Heater control valve for the 91'. I have read all the posts (I think), and it seems this part is unobtainable online. Has anyone figured out a new replacement part that will work? I could bypass it when I blows one day, but there must be somebody that makes a similar part that is available. I could not find it online, but it seems like a simple part that would be used in other vehicles or applications, and could be made to work. Utility is the key here, no reason to let the perfect get in the way of the good.
This is the part number for a 92 not sure of the differences but it's available I know 93+ won't work
87240-60140
Drove about 1000 miles averaging about 15mpg.
looks like that is the later version. the 91 appears to be purely mechanical.
