As noted above, there are differences. Drive them both, see if the differences matter to you. While the LX is a good deal, saving $4K is also a good deal - more to put towards mods. A 91+ $4K in mods is better off-road than the LX. That puts the two equal in price, one's better on road, the other off-road. Just another way of thinking about it.
Can not deside 91 LC or 97 LX
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What kind of mods would need to be done to make it better then 97 LX?
The non 1FZ motor is a total dog and lacks power at altitude and once you put on the 33's. Spend the extra coin and get the '93-97 rig. The 1FZ also revs higher and can be easier to put forced induction on (turbo kit) if you want to go big.
I run 33's with my '96 LX450 and it works great as a daily driver and offroad setup. Run an OME 2.5" heavy lift with 1" Slee polyeurathane spacers up front and you will be good to go with 285's (33's). Anything bigger and you need a gear change in the pumpkins (ie 35's need 4:88's to not be a total dog). Nice offroad potential with the above mentioned tire/lift setup that is relatively inexpensive as well. I can also cruise at 75-85mph safely with this setup with very little effort.
Plan on getting some sliders.... because the stock steps bend like a tin can with any trail impact. Ask me how I know
The LX450 has 8 way power seats on the driver and passenger side, 6 disc CD/tape, and typically every option on them. Too bad it doesn't have lockers.
I run 33's with my '96 LX450 and it works great as a daily driver and offroad setup. Run an OME 2.5" heavy lift with 1" Slee polyeurathane spacers up front and you will be good to go with 285's (33's). Anything bigger and you need a gear change in the pumpkins (ie 35's need 4:88's to not be a total dog). Nice offroad potential with the above mentioned tire/lift setup that is relatively inexpensive as well. I can also cruise at 75-85mph safely with this setup with very little effort.
Plan on getting some sliders.... because the stock steps bend like a tin can with any trail impact. Ask me how I know
The LX450 has 8 way power seats on the driver and passenger side, 6 disc CD/tape, and typically every option on them. Too bad it doesn't have lockers.
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I would personally also go with the 97 LX. But $9k is only decent if you ask me. I just saw a 94 LC with lockers NOT sell on ebay for $6900. Low miles for the year, and good condition. But I am not seeing that one or the one you are looking at in person either. I also looked at a 96 LX that was SUPER clean, no lockers, pretty low miles, everything worked, good history of maintenance etc. for only $7900 here in socal. Still got her email too if you are willing to travel. But I vote for the newer LX.
As a new owner of a 93 (who used to drive an 89 fj62) I can say keep on looking for a 93 and up. Everything else being equal I definitely would not want to go back to a 3fe/a440 powered rig. $5,000 seems steep for a 91. I looked for over a year before I got a locked 93 with 137,000 for $6000 in the overpriced San Francisco/Bay Area ( and I still might have paid too much). My priorities might be wrong but If I was you I would be looking for lockers, Low mileage(good records/ original owner), lockers, discount on price due to "body damage" to flares/bumpers and running boards and such (that you already know will be removed) and lockers. Average person wont charge more for lockers but you will pay if you have to install arb lockers afterwards. You also might try shopping with cash right before property and fed taxes are due/seasonal work slows down/Christmas bills are due (early December or April).
gnx7;[URL="c2c://14082840063" said:
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How do you figure?
With all things being equal (tires, lift, bla, bla, bla) the 3FE tractor motor offers more control in the rocks IMO. There have been several discussions on this in the past and the FZJ crowd will produce torque curves and horsepower charts and 8x10 color glossy photos with circles and arrows on the back of each one. But I have driven both rigs (my 91 and a friends 93) over the same trail. We both swapped rigs for a stretch of rock garden during an outing. He didn't want to go back to his and I couldn't wait to get back to mine.
On the highway and as a daily driver it's another set of rules and the FZJ will win, but I'll take my old, crusty, "runs like a dog", has no horsepower, weak axles (I love that one seeing as I've been wheeling with 36" Swampers for the last 4 years), non-elecrically controlled transmission, clunky drivetrain 1991 FJ80 anytime.
How do you figure?
People with inferior equipment always think it's best. Otherwise, they'd have to feel...well...inferior
It's like the guys with manual transmissions who can't even walk after a day on the trail talking about how much more control they had while their left leg is shaking like a leaf.
But hey, if a midsize Jeep engine with no HP and 10 mpg is good enough for your 3 tons, go for the 91. It'll be fine. Really.
A Toyota 4x4 forum - the only place where horribly deficient drivetrains that last forever are considered a good thing.
Interesting. I've never noticed a control difference between a FJ80 and a FZJ80... Maybe that's because I'm stock geared with 35"s, so I've learned how to left foot brake! The only thing that I have noticed has been having to "bump" up something, it's a lot easier with the 1FZ. Don't get me wrong, both are great trucks, but I think when you consider everything, the Lexus is a better deal. IMO
You said it, so I will bust it! And continue to bust peoples mentality towards, "I gotz a big motor!
Shirley it should handle big a$$ tars! "Any motor this side of a Diesel, when jumping FROM factory tire to 33's IS A DOG! Kudos cracking the Da Vinci code on that one....
I could put 33's on my 4runner then b!$ch about the power, but smart would I sound?
As for the original poster,,,,,My opinion
3FE if, 80% is off-highway, you live in sparse surroundings where ALL Cruiser parts and a place to work on them are hard to come by. You don't care about getting your interior (or lack of) dirty, and skrapes, bruises, beating and bashing are all parts of the daily commute. You watched MacGyver as a child and snow storms, power outages, hurricanes, mud (<
) slides are just another obstacle in life to overcome or 
, and doesn't always mean certain death. And you have been known to say "whats a paved road?". Iron block, iron head and timing gears, about as durable as a gas engine can get....1FZ if, 20-50% is off-highway, you require leather and are the complete opposite of above, wear a suit and tie and know who "Salvatore Ferragamo" is......and "Star Bucks" is part of your daily commute...
3Fe.....dependent on traversing harsh terrain on a common basis.
1FZ....kmmmmt!
I cant say it with a straight face, any service on the motor will result in higher labor rates and price premium for parts.IMO the MPG difference is not applicable because they both get the same or VERY close MPG and as long as the tire size has not deviated too much FROM THE FACTORY SETTINGS you wont notice the power differences that much.
"I am looking for offroad capability" unless the 97 has lockers there is not a distinction in traction they will both get stuck in the same places and get in and out of the same places. (open diffs suck!)
What I read: "my daily drive it 1/2 mile to work." = Fuel consumption is NOT an issue
5K for a 3Fe??? Guy is
the good stuff...
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You said it, so I will bust it! And continue to bust peoples mentality towards, "I gotz a big motor!
Any motor this side of a Diesel, when jumping FROM factory tire to 33's IS A DOG! Kudos cracking the Da Vinci code on that one....
I could put 33's on my 4runner then b!$ch about the power, but smart would I sound?
As for the original poster,,,,,My opinion
3FE if, 80% is off-highway, you live in sparse surroundings where ALL Cruiser parts and a place to work on them are hard to come by. You don't care about getting your interior (or lack of) dirty, and skrapes, bruises, beating and bashing are all parts of the daily commute. You watched MacGyver as a child and snow storms, power outages, hurricanes, mud (<
1FZ if, 20-50% is off-highway, you require leather and are the complete opposite of above, wear a suit and tie and know who "Salvatore Ferragamo" is......and "Star Bucks" is part of your daily commute...
3Fe.....dependent on traversing harsh terrain on a common basis.
1FZ....kmmmmt!
IMO the MPG difference is not applicable because they both get the same or VERY close MPG and as long as the tire size has not deviated too much FROM THE FACTORY SETTINGS you wont notice the power differences that much.
"I am looking for offroad capability" unless the 97 has lockers there is not distinction in traction they will both get stuck in the same places and get in and out of the same places. (open diffs suck!)
What I read: "Fuel consumption is NOT an issue"
5K for a 3Fe??? Guy is
I agree. 5k is too much for the 3fe. I can find a $3,000 fj80 all day on the west coast with less than 200k on it. I would go with the fj80...if you can find one for 3k and you put 6k into it (same price as the stock LX), you'll be so impressed with it off road that you'll never look at the 'small penis' FZJ or LX's again. IMHO.
I'd go with the 91 for 3 reasons.
1) Head gasket on the 1FZ
2) No viscous coupler
3) Every swinging d1ck in town has a FZJ80 or LX450.
1) Head gasket on the 1FZ
2) No viscous coupler
3) Every swinging d1ck in town has a FZJ80 or LX450.
I totally agree with that statement for some reason I believe it has been the source of many members wipe outs here on mud, do a search.
I have been doing some research and although I am not ready to present my findings yet to the NTSB
, I feel that it is the uncertainty of a system and its activation or lack of activation that is a source for a unpredictable response in the AWD chassis.The DaVinci code....VVV
(Sorta like counter steering with a front wheel drive car, a no-no, in a FWD you are to steer where you want it to go then floor it, (unlocked, tail out, then) counter steer a AWD VC and it locks.....bye bye birdy!
)Unpredictable handling is very hard to recover from and hard to sense in an out of control maneuver, the removal of said VC would have the chassis more predictable and responsive manor should the vehicle become out of control.
My
Big
Fat
Humble
Opinion
Originally posted by tntoyota
1FZ if, 20-50% is off-highway, you require leather and are the complete opposite of above, wear a suit and tie and know who "Salvatore Ferragamo" is......and "Star Bucks" is part of your daily commute...
ROTFLMAO!
I didn't say impossible! YOU like I, find and know its limits, raise your hand (MUD) if you do this......(maybe 1% of MUD) nothing like finding out when its too late....
I drift my 4runner....
