any one here owned a gas 80 ?

[brownbear]

the 91-92s are just brutal - same as an fj60.

you know it's almost funny. I told my wife prior to buying the 91 it cannot be as bad as our F250(which had a 460).... but damm it is.

How the fawk can a piddly 6 cyl suck that much fuel? I highly doubt the 4.5 is that much better. Maybe a bit but...

Every inline 6 I know is a bit heavy in fuel.

Typical diesels are 30% better, but the 91 gasser to the 91 diesel is probably 100% better.

I get average 10 MPG IMP town. But nothing is far away. Short driving times. Nice ride and the wife is safe with the kids.

It seats 8, F250 sat 3. So the functionality of an 80 is superb. The ride and handling over a 60 is remarkable. But my 60 blows it away for economy.

I bought this 91 to convert it. I will have a fuel sippy jet A-1 burning anti hippy van soon.

 

[brownbear]

Ah I got to add.... the 91 has nice power and torque. I have not driven the 93's up. But the 91 is really nice to drive. The 3fe is a nice engine. I can easily drive 70 mph or more. I can pass etc. feels great in town. And the little I drove in Van with it felt nice.

Only v8 fellows think they are underpowered. If you are used to 60's with diesels its fine. I'm anti power in the most part. I want slow and economical myself. Now too bad this thing doesn't use less fuel.

 

[d0ubledown]

X2 on staying away from ace cars. i just went there the other day (luckily they were closed so no salesmen to bug me)...they had 8 80's/450's. all super high miles. i think the average was probably 160k MILES..not KM. sure, the cheapest they were asking was i think just under 10 or 9 G', but it wasnt locked, completely wife beatered inside, and had well over 200 thousand miles. the 94 with the lockers has waaay too high K to be asking what they're asking. and the interior is all trashed too. after peeking at the clusters on the other cars on their lots..i realized that they were ALL US imports. seems shady...

Im currently in the same boat though...wanting a locked 80 but not a gasser. But i also want the 3rd row seats, but AFAIK, those arent available (or very rare) on diesels. the lower mileage, diesel's reliability, better fuel economy than my runner (which averages 18-20L/100km) is the main reasons im in search for a JDM and not NA spec. yes...they're like $20-25K, but alot of em seem like they're still almost new.

imo...If you really want a diesel...best bet is to go JDM. RHD isnt that difficult once you get the hang of it. sure you may pay a bit more now...but if you buy from a reputable importer (lots around western canada), they get the basis covered for you...most importantly...mechanicals.

not sure if you were going to be doing the conversion yourself or get it done. i recall seeing a front half cut diesel 80 on CL not too long ago...would have made a great donor for the swap. gasser 80's may get 14 or so, but if you plan on doing anything like lift/tires/bumpers etc...that will probably drop much lower. FWIW, theres a lifted on 36's & locked FZJ80 in craigslist..176K miles i thiink. shes asking 14G's...

hope this helps.

oh...and if anyone knows of a locked HDJ81 for sale anywhere locally or at an importer...please let me know...thanks!!

 

[crushers]

Ah I got to add.... the 91 has nice power and torque. I have not driven the 93's up. But the 91 is really nice to drive. The 3fe is a nice engine. I can easily drive 70 mph or more. I can pass etc. feels great in town. And the little I drove in Van with it felt nice.

Only v8 fellows think they are underpowered. If you are used to 60's with diesels its fine. I'm anti power in the most part. I want slow and economical myself. Now too bad this thing doesn't use less fuel.

seriously the diffence is night and day between the 91-92 and the 93+...WAY more power, WAY better fuel milage, WAY more fun to drive...
should give one a test drive BB, you will sell the 91 in a heart beat...

 

[crushers]

In basic terms, your center diff is replaced with a spool.

if i am reading this right then the front driveshaft is turning all the time after the conversion... is this correct?

 

[brownbear]

seriously the diffence is night and day between the 91-92 and the 93+...WAY more power, WAY better fuel milage, WAY more fun to drive...
should give one a test drive BB, you will sell the 91 in a heart beat...

I understand that. But I feel I got a 80 for cheap. 6500. That will make s good candidate for diesel swap. I might have a line on a 1hz in the near future and might have a deal with the auto that mates to it.

The 3fe will be advertised here for cheap. It's super solid has 180k miles, burns no oil that I can see. Would be good in a 40 IMOP. Or a 60 owner that wants EFI.

 

[canucksafari]

Im currently in the same boat though...wanting a locked 80 but not a gasser. But i also want the 3rd row seats, but AFAIK, those arent available (or very rare) on diesels. the lower mileage, diesel's reliability, better fuel economy than my runner (which averages 18-20L/100km) is the main reasons im in search for a JDM and not NA spec. yes...they're like $20-25K, but alot of em seem like they're still almost new.

Hmmm? Sounds to me like you need a Safari. They all have rear LSD or a rear vacuum locker. A Pathy LSD pops into the front easily. Front lockers, like ARB, are available. Not a lot of bling but they have lots of zing, especially when you add a turbo. TD4.2 engine is found in numerous applications - marine, industrial, agricultural, and commercial - around the world. The Engine, Tranny and T-case will go for ever - I hope.
Seven Seater
http://www.outbackimports.ca/safari.html#06-78
Five Seater
http://www.maxoverdrive.ca/nissan.asp?id=88

Just found this shorty in Japan for under $2,400 CAN FOB. Listed as gas but photo shows diesel.
http://www.daishi-trading.jp/detail.php?No=1243

Okay, I have an extinguisher.

 

[Deny]

Hmmm? Sounds to me like you need a Safari. They all have rear LSD or a rear vacuum locker. A Pathy LSD pops into the front easily. Front lockers, like ARB, are available. Not a lot of bling but they have lots of zing, especially when you add a turbo. TD4.2 engine is found in numerous applications - marine, industrial, agricultural, and commercial - around the world. The Engine, Tranny and T-case will go for ever - I hope.
Seven Seater
http://www.outbackimports.ca/safari.html#06-78
Five Seater
http://www.maxoverdrive.ca/nissan.asp?id=88

Just found this shorty in Japan for under $2,400 CAN FOB. Listed as gas but photo shows diesel.
http://www.daishi-trading.jp/detail.php?No=1243

Okay, I have an extinguisher.

You do know this is a Cruiser Club site right? What's next, telling people not to buy a 4X4 and get a girly mini-van cause you can stuff more people in it and look cool cruisin the lot?

 

[canucksafari]

You do know this is a Cruiser Club site right? What's next, telling people not to buy a 4X4 and get a girly mini-van cause you can stuff more people in it and look cool cruisin the lot?

Ya mean something like this :

All jabs aside, I would love to have a diesel Cruiser and hopefully one is in my wife's future. However, IMHO many of them, like the Prados, are way over priced for what you get. I am not interested in bling. I am sure when i do get a Cruiser, it will be a local smokey diesel rust bucket or US clean gas eating pig. Financially, there just doesn't seem to be much leaway there. If Toyota and Nissan started selling new diesel LC and Trolls here like they do in the rest of the world, then I expect the used diesel market prices would drop substancially.

 

[kim]

"the 91-92s are just brutal - same as an fj60.

you know it's almost funny. I told my wife prior to buying the 91 it cannot be as bad as our F250(which had a 460).... but damm it is.

How the fawk can a piddly 6 cyl suck that much fuel?"

Exactly my thoughts on the 3FE.

 

[baxter650]

if i am reading this right then the front driveshaft is turning all the time after the conversion... is this correct?

No, not untill the Center Diff lock is engaged.
For any 4wd, (Hi or Low) CDL must be engaged and hubs to lock.
Mileage increase is neglegable, main reason for doing it for me was 1) less wear on the front diff parts.
2) Ability to move truck in the event of a front drive shaft or diff failure.

 

[crushers]

No, not untill the Center Diff lock is engaged.
For any 4wd, (Hi or Low) CDL must be engaged and hubs to lock.
Mileage increase is neglegable, main reason for doing it for me was 1) less wear on the front diff parts.
2) Ability to move truck in the event of a front drive shaft or diff failure.

please explain better, my understanding is the "spool" is a solid piece of machined metal... so this replaces the viscus coupling? the center diff lock locks the viscus couple, no? so how does this actually work?

 

[baxter650]

No, not the viscus coupling, there are a set of spiders and a splined end gear in the case just like a rear diff, they are replaced with a spool unit.
I'll se if i can find the instruction sheet that came with it and post some pics, no promisses though.

 

[semlin]

Ah I got to add.... the 91 has nice power and torque. I have not driven the 93's up. But the 91 is really nice to drive. The 3fe is a nice engine. I can easily drive 70 mph or more. I can pass etc. feels great in town. And the little I drove in Van with it felt nice.

Only v8 fellows think they are underpowered. If you are used to 60's with diesels its fine. I'm anti power in the most part. I want slow and economical myself. Now too bad this thing doesn't use less fuel.

you may have a freak 3FE as your view of them is definitely in the minority. there are some strong running 3FEs out there. Landpimp swears his 92 pulls as well as a 93+ but admits that it also pulls way better than other 3FEs he has driven. I have heard similar reports from others of freak 3FEs. generally they are dogs.

My brother had a 91 then my wife drove it for a while and then it went to a friend and he sold it within a year. We tried everything to boost the power on that thing as all three of them could not stand the lack of power.

I didn't mind it but i never daily drove it either.

 

[canucksafari]

Semlin, how gutless would you say a gas 91-92 80 is compared to a naturally aspirated diesel 60 and a gas 60 - all with autos? I was figuring a 60 - even in a gasser - is better value for the money. Does the 60 gasser get around the same milage? I never liked FT 4X4 or auto hubs. So IF i got a LC, I would have to change out the FT 4x4 at probably considerable cost.
John

 

[kim]

Semlin, how gutless would you say a gas 91-92 80 is compared to a naturally aspirated diesel 60 and a gas 60 - all with autos? I was figuring a 60 - even in a gasser - is better value for the money. Does the 60 gasser get around the same milage? I never liked FT 4X4 or auto hubs. So IF i got a LC, I would have to change out the FT 4x4 at probably considerable cost.
John

John, my first tank in my gasser was 12 mpIg, I lightened up on the pedal and the result was 13.5 mpIg.

 

[semlin]

Semlin, how gutless would you say a gas 91-92 80 is compared to a naturally aspirated diesel 60 and a gas 60 - all with autos? I was figuring a 60 - even in a gasser - is better value for the money. Does the 60 gasser get around the same milage? I never liked FT 4X4 or auto hubs. So IF i got a LC, I would have to change out the FT 4x4 at probably considerable cost.
John

Unless you need the mileage or slightly bigger cargo room I don't see any reason to own a 60 over even a 3FE 80 other than aesthetics. An HJ60 has good power and mileage but loses on every other front. Maybe a BJ60 for the mileage and a manual tranny if you are willing to sacrifice everything else?

the fulltime 4wd means it is better in snow and ice. on the highway there is no decision required to lock up so you can deal with variable conditions. it is also really really good on loose surface roads like logging roads. You do not need part time 4wd to deal with a broken birfield or axle on the trail and those breakages are very rare until you get in 37s like baxter has and even then you have to rock crawl to break one. then you can just lock the CDL and either drop the drive shaft or pull the offending birf/axle and stuff a rag in (better). I can do that in half an hour.

since weight is pretty comparable and the 91-92 series 3FE is the ultimate refinement of the F series motor , power would logically be comparable or slightly better with the 80 with the bj60 maybe being slightly faster off the line with a manual tranny.

otherwise, for everything else the 80 wins easily. The coil suspension on the 80 means it handles better on the road. for durability, the 80s are renowned for not rusting. not so the 60s. for comfort and convenience, no comparison again. the cargo bay in a 60 is slightly bigger but the 80 can go to an 8 seater with the removeable jump seats which is a good trade off. 80 is also cheaper to lift and more capable offroad out of the box.

 

[canucksafari]

It won't be for me but for my wife. I have been trying to teach her to drive my Safari but she doesn't like the RHD and she is just learning to drive a manual box. The LC would be her DD, so she has to approve. What would be the difference in cost for a diesel swap into a 60 gasser from an 80 gasser - both with auto boxes? The prices for an 60 or 80 in no rust condition seem to be pretty close on the craiglists. I think buying a clean gasser and eventually doing a diesel conversion would be my plan unless I could find a well priced 60s diesel with an auto.
John

 

[Granite Grinder]

But the 60 wins hands down for it's good looks. What turned me off the 80 series is the size. I wheel with 80 series trucks all the time and with the narrow trails we seem to pick the 80's look like behemoths. Having gone from a 40 series to a 60 I thought the 60 was gigantic. Now I find I zip around, following 40's with no problem. Then I watch the 80 series doing 3 point turns, folding in the mirrors, using the body armour. On trails like Moab or Rubicon (other than old sluice) 80's shine. When your slaloming through quad trails I'll take the 60. I'd also take a simple diesel motor over a gasser anytime, for instance a 3B. When N Korea drops an EMP bomb, I'll still be driving around. My .02.
GG

 

[brownbear]

you may have a freak 3FE as your view of them is definitely in the minority. there are some strong running 3FEs out there. Landpimp swears his 92 pulls as well as a 93+ but admits that it also pulls way better than other 3FEs he has driven. I have heard similar reports from others of freak 3FEs. generally they are dogs.

My brother had a 91 then my wife drove it for a while and then it went to a friend and he sold it within a year. We tried everything to boost the power on that thing as all three of them could not stand the lack of power.

I didn't mind it but i never daily drove it either.

It's possible. But I have not driven any other 80 to know the difference.

But it isn't slow. My Bj60 is slow.

I drive 6.0 suburbans which I consider fairly quick. But my 80 seems fine, it gets up to 60 mph fairly easy. And easily hold well over 70 mph on the highway.

It's seen 80 too. Not even downhill.

I'll video tape the acceleration and try posting it on youtube.