92 VS 93 Cruiser

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

R

redtailalfa

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Aug 10, 2009
Threads
3
Messages
5
I am looking for a Land Cruiser for my Family. We have a tent trailer that weighs about 1700lbs. I have driven both 92 and a 97. I could not tell much difference in the power. I was allowed to tow my trailer with a 92 and it pulled it fine (it is no rocket ship) The 97 sold but I have found a 93 with the bigger engine. I am looking help regarding this issue. I cannot make up my mind. I like the 92 because it is a base and has less stuff but and runs and drives well. Will the 4.5 make that much of a difference? Thanks for the help
 
IMO I would go with the 94+ yrs.

However use the search here on 'mud and you will find 10k threads with this question to help answer your question.

With that said....

Welcome to the addiction! :flipoff2:
 
the 93 has more power. If you tow it will show up.

welcome! :flipoff2:
 
"IMO I would go with the 94+ yrs"

The 1993 and 1994 model years were identical with the exception of the R134a A/C intro in 1994.

1993 on up will give you the 4.5 liter 1FZ-FE.

If towing is in your future go with the 1993 on up. 1995 on up if you want air bags.

Also make sure the rig has 4 wheel disc brakes, offered as an option in 93,94. Better stopping power when towing and you get the full floater rear axle.

Pete
 
No question, I would go with a 93+.
 
I just mention 94+ because there seemed to be some trucks in 93 with drums in the rear, minus some stuff .... plus some with...

Giving I should have said 93+ but..... 93 seemed to have more abnormalities than the 94. Thats all.
 
Last edited:
I like the torque and simplicity from the 3FE however 93+ is a different animal, specially for towing.:steer:
 
If your main purpose is towing, go with the larger engine. More power up hills, better acceleration, etc...

Now that being said, I tow stuff all the time with my 3FE. I have no beef with its...ahem..."lack" of power :rolleyes:, because I know it's built for this kind of thing. It's a :censor:ing work truck.
 
93+ or bust!!!!!!
 
Now way I'd go with an 80 series after 1992 for several reasons. The first is the amount of maintenance the FZJ's require. Your pick, one that breaks or one you can't break. Choose wisely.
 
TX Cruiser said:
Now way I'd go with an 80 series after 1992 for several reasons. The first is the amount of maintenance the FZJ's require. Your pick, one that breaks or one you can't break. Choose wisely.
Click to expand...

Yeah, my 93 FZJ80 is just a maintenance nightmare. Toyota really dropped the ball from 1993 on up. What the hell were they thinking. :rolleyes:
 
ToothDr said:
Yeah, my 93 FZJ80 is just a maintenance nightmare. Toyota really dropped the ball from 1993 on up. What the hell were they thinking. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I guess I was out if line with that comment. However, almost all the questions on this board pertain to the FZJ, and it isn't because they made the FZJ for 5 years and the FJ for 2. The early 80 is a better rig, period. The FZJ has HG problems, RMS issues, O2's bomb, sensors malfuntion, etc.. yet you don't see that kind of thing on the FJ80.
 
Toyota makes a great truck regardless of year. All models years have issues unique to them, FJ or FZJ. Thing to remember is that with only two model years, 91,92 the sample size for issues with the fj80;s is very small. The 5 year run of the FZJ means than there are many more of those rigs on the road than the FJ's. I would expect to hear more about the FZJ good and bad.

We have owned a 91,94 and 93. Bought the 91 and 94 both new and had zero issues with the 1994 when we sold it at 184,000 miles. The 91, being the first run of the 80 series had the speedo cable go out, replaced both exterior mirrors, and was at the dealer a number of times to fix vacuum leaks on the 3FE.

Based on my OWN experience, the 94 was the more reliable rig. Other people have other experiences. Bottom line is that ALL 80's are very reliable trucks if they are maintained.

Pete
 
If the rig is to be primarily a tow rig, buy a Tahoe or a crew cab pickup. I tow boats that weigh between 1200 and 2500 pounds with my rig and with a company owned Tahoe, and the towing ability of the Tahoe FAR surpasses the Cruiser in both go and stop. If you want to wheel for real and then sometimes tow, then the 93 on LC's are a good compromise.
 
TX Cruiser said:
I guess I was out if line with that comment. However, almost all the questions on this board pertain to the FZJ, and it isn't because they made the FZJ for 5 years and the FJ for 2. The early 80 is a better rig, period. The FZJ has HG problems, RMS issues, O2's bomb, sensors malfuntion, etc.. yet you don't see that kind of thing on the FJ80.
Click to expand...

not saying the 1fz is flawless but 3fe's have head gasket issues ecu relay issues and im sure idling issues as well.

The 3fe is a good workhorse but the 1fz is a beautify designed engine. Its silky smooth and has plenty of power.

So I say buy what you want. Everyone is going to say get the year that they are fond to.

What im saying is get a 95:flipoff2:
 
TX Cruiser said:
I guess I was out if line with that comment. However, almost all the questions on this board pertain to the FZJ, and it isn't because they made the FZJ for 5 years and the FJ for 2. The early 80 is a better rig, period. The FZJ has HG problems, RMS issues, O2's bomb, sensors malfuntion, etc.. yet you don't see that kind of thing on the FJ80.
Click to expand...

The FJ80 isn't without one major 3FE issue. Search up "oil galley plug" in the 60/62 section. :eek:
 
I would say if you are marginal mechanic and want to do your own work go with the 3fe, much easier to work on. I have had my share of issues which sounds like I have had some bad luck. HG,02sensors, radiator.... some still unresolved issue. I did the head gasket on mine with little more than a few hand tools. Vaccuum leak repairs at the dealer? It doesn't have that many hoses just replace them all. I just got 10' of German VW vacuum line (IMO better) and did them all in an hour or so.I think any landcruiser of this age is going to need work from time to time I would like more power though. . Like others said if you NEED more power for towing or whatever the 3fe is not a good choice, you will be getting passed on the freeway often.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom