60 v 62 v 80

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Question: which truck goes with old flannel shirts, beat up leather boots, weather station on the radio, dirty mutt dogs, tire chains, moldy coolers, canned heat, spent shell casings, survival knives, empty Red Man chewing tobacco pouches, rusty nails, broken Merle Haggard cassette tapes, and army surplus sleeping bags? 80s have coil over springs front and rear, not leaf springs. Results in better flex off road and smoother road ride. Not sure on durabilty compared to leaf springs, probably pretty tough. You can drop a leaf sprung truck off a medium height cliff and not break the suspension, though. Very simple. My newly re arched 60 still rides like a brick and is noisy inside like an industrial echo chamber. But if I want comfort and quiet, I climb in the Tundra. I don't drive old landcruisers for comfort. I drive them because I smile when a new Explorer passes me as me and my mutt listen to the weather channel while I chew Red Man and he wears flannel. Wouldn't be the same in an 80. :D
 
Haha, AMEN DocB. I think I'll start looking for a good 62. She even likes the style of the 62s over the 80s. Thanks for all the input guys.
See you on the trails.
Chris
 
DocB said:
I don't drive old landcruisers for comfort. I drive them because I smile when a new Explorer passes me as me and my mutt listen to the weather channel while I chew Red Man and he wears flannel. Wouldn't be the same in an 80. :D
Click to expand...
Interesting where this thread has gone.

In my local TLCA chapter we've had a mass exodus to the 80 for all the rational reasons - it's more comfortable, easier to upgrade, easy to wheel, etc. But it's been interesting to see some of these people lose their smiles.

A friend sold his V8J60 in favor of an 80 rationalizing the whole way, only to recently tell me he's now lost interest.

Another bought an 80 after his 4Runner was stolen. Spent big bucks on the usual upgrades (while continually touting the superiority of the 80 over everthing else). Last month he put it up for sale and is now looking for another 4Runner.

I think a lot of people don't realize how strong the emotional component is with the Land Cruiser obsession. 80s just don't have the soul the older cruisers do...
 
DocB said:
Question: which truck goes with old flannel shirts, beat up leather boots, weather station on the radio, dirty mutt dogs, tire chains, moldy coolers, canned heat, spent shell casings, survival knives, empty Red Man chewing tobacco pouches, rusty nails, broken Merle Haggard cassette tapes, and army surplus sleeping bags? Wouldn't be the same in an 80. :D
Click to expand...


YES, I totally agree. I love the fact that the 60/62 make you feel a little more like a Griswald than a Yuppy.

I love the 80, 100 etc. but I love the soul (quote Cruisergreg, 80s just don't have the soul the older cruisers do) the 60/62 have over the 80.

The chicks really dig the 60/62 as well. You can work on them easier.


Hey a little bit of bias in my attitude is that I like the 60 better than the 62 because the 60s don't have all the automatic and power crap the 62s have. I am a manual type of guy ;)
 
i thought the 4.11 on 62 are were good enough for 33. ive read several posts here where 60 owners go to 4.11 to turn 35. confused, but hey im a neube
 
I had this same delema a while back. I was set to get a 93-94 80 with lockers but then a smoking hot deal on a 60 fell into my lap and I just couldn't pass it up. I would say not a 62, 60 or early 80. I will explain why.

I will agree that the older cruiser have a more classic look and feel. I think with time the 80 and newer cruisers will get that same class but it is gonna be another 10 years. This is why my 55 is so neer and dear to my heart.

Where the 80 is concerned I think there is an important point that has been overlooked. The 91-92 80s have the 3fe (engine) that the 62 has. The 93 and newer cruisers have diffrent engines.

Personaly I would NOt buy a 62. I have a 60 and love it. I like the stick shift, round headlights...... If I was going ot get an auto I would get the first gen 80, they are cheep too because they don't have the power and features of the newer 80s. You can also mod it so that you can shift it into and out of 4x4, thus increasing the availible power and giving you more control.

I Here is a post I started when I was shopping for 80s that really seems to break them down into the 3 types:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=21907

I hope this helps

E
 
To me, this doesn't make a lot of sense. You won't buy a 62, presumably b/c it's underpowered, etc., but you will buy an early 80 with that drivetrain, which is even more underpowered. The 60 and 62 body styles are basically the same, classic as you describe (and I agree), and yet you don't like the 62. And you name being able to modify an 80 to be 2wd as a plus, when the 62 does this out of the box. Not ragging you here, just doesn't make a lot of sense to me. What would make sense is if you just flat didn't like the 62. Even that though, in that you like the basic body style doesn't really figure to me. The drivetrain is the 62's Achilles heel, so why recommend it in a 80 series body over a 62 with the body style you prefer?

TJK
 
Yes the 60 and 62 are almost the same But it is the small diffrances that make it for me. For some reason I really dislike the squaire headlights the most, not on function but style.

My thinking is for someone on a budget getting a cruiser when deciding from the 60, 62 or 80, Why get the 62??!

If you want the rugged looks and compleatly manual/easy to work on K.I.S.S. rig get the 60!

If you want you and your girl to have an auto to drive and power gadgetry and the more comfortable and flexy coil setup get the 80.

In my eyes the 62 is a compromise If you want new with powertoys get that! If you want classic and simple system get that!

If your grandmother dies and leaves you some money get a 1994 80 with e-lockers.

E
 
I agree, the arguments don't really make sense. The 91-92 FJ80 is probably the one LC i'd avoid entirely, worst of both worlds.

As for the 62 being underpowered, I think that the rap is a little undeserved. After 15 years the average 3FE is pretty crudded up and athsmatic. While no one thinks twice about having their carb rebuilt on their 2F, the tendency is to treat the EFI as a black box. Cleaning out the throttle body and verifying the TPS, ISC, FPR, EGR, and O2 sensors is not complicated or difficult and should be done as a matter of course. Speaking from experience, it can add a tremendous boost.

Another argument in favor of the 62 against the 80 is that, considering the degree of parts crossover between the 60s and 62s as well as the increasing number of 62s getting parted out, repair will be signficantly cheaper with the 62, which is an important consideration if you're planning to do much off-roading.

Bill
 
This question plays with my emotions on a daily basis. I can't decide what I want to do next. I love round headlights, most days don't mind driving stick, don't like the choke, love the rugged styling of the 60 series (i think we all agree its classic), a slightly less bumpy ride would be nice. I also see many advantages and in the 80 and even the 100. As more time goes on I think the only way to solve this is to buy one of each. Other wise you're making a compromise somewhere!
 
poseidon said:
If your grandmother dies and leaves you some money get a 1994 80 with e-lockers.
Click to expand...

And some flowers.... ;)

FJ62 is cheaper than an FJ80 in most cases. That was what I had in mind budget wise. Kind of the best compromise, if you will. Costs less than an FZJ80, but you do get some of the creature comforts.

Admit it, you hate the giant chrome mirrors on a 62. :)

TJK
 
i was torn between a 60 and 62 when i was looking. basically what sold me is the simplicity of the 60. esp the manual transmission. would i rather have efi? sure, but there is always a trade off. i still would like something a bit more comfortable at time though. i also would like to have some shoulder belts in the back seat. the more i drive my 60, the more i love it, but the more i realize i would really like to get an 80 or 100 at some point too. in my mind if you are looking for a classic look and something utilitarian, then go for the 60. if you are looking for something a little more comfy, then look at an 80 instead. like others have said, an 80 is well on its way to being a classic or having a classic look as years go by.

i still don't get why everyone hates or loves the round or square headlights...doesn't make a difference to me, but i of course i got the round ones :D
 
Kaderabek said:
Here's the classic.

:)

TJK
Click to expand...

You got that right. 55 trumps all other wagons.

Bill
 
I must agree the 55 is the BEST of all and the neerest to my heart!

Yes I hate the mirors and the headlights on the 62, UGLY those squaire headlights make it look too much like the ford Exploder I have to drive at work and makes my stomach feel a little queezy. I am also a person that really does not like autos. The only auto I ever owned that I cared about was a 1962 Imperial! If i had my ultimate dream landcruiser it would probably be a turbo diesel 5 speed 1994 80 with e-lockers! If I was going auto I would try to get the coils and newer stylings.

I am sure any model LC he gets will be great, the are all wonderful. Just a little bickering about style.

I am sure we all can agree that one of each is the BEST I am working on my collection right now, just got my 60 this month. I am also pestering my parents to get a 100 or an low mile 80 instead of the Durango my mother wants!


E
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom