FJ60 vs. 80 questions

[rfc2307]

Good Morning, my wife and I are considering adding yet another cruiser to our platoon. We have pretty much decided on an early (1994/95) FJ80. I have extensive experience with the FJ60/62's but know nothing other than what I read about the 80. Any comparative information would be appreciated from fellow mudders that have been there, done that and got the T-Shirt.

Merits of the larger straight six? vs a V-8 conversion? Ease of 5 speed install? Maintenance gotcha's? gremlins, etc...

Thanx, in advance!

If anyone wants the same diatribe on restoring a FJ60, I will be glad to commiserate

 

[DSRTRDR]

80s come in three different flavors:

'91/'92 3F-E engine

'93/'94 OBD I FZ-FE engine

'95-'97 OBD II FZ-FE engine

you are mixing two flavors, so it's difficult to comment

 

[Cruiserdrew]

The FZJ 80s are better trucks. Solid, dependable, much more powerful. Though powerful and Land Cruiser are hard to use together until 2008. Not quite as iconic as a 60/62 but really good trucks. Also the 80 is easy to lift and modify, and seems much less prone to rust problems.

In the USA, converting to 5 speed is virtually impossible. It could be done with an international shopping trip and piles of cash, but for all intents and purposes not practical. Much easier to convert an FJ60/62.

What are your needs though? Maybe a 100 would suit you better especially if it's a ride for your wife.

 

[rfc2307]

I am familiar with OBD-II. Are there reliability, maint concerns that you know of around any of the variants? Our existing 1989 3FE is a fuel injected OBD-I engine, in my experience, the OBD-II engine package can (potentially) be easier to diagnose, but I am looking for torque and livability information.

 

[western flyer]

http://www.sleeoffroad.com/newbie/newbie100.htm

Best to read up some more and then ask some more specific questions.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/84888-faq-80-lx450-nov-2013-added-shaky-mirror-fix.html

I have both a 60 and an 80; the 96 and 97 models fit my needs/wants a bit better. YMMV. As noted above, maybe a 100 would be better for you.

 

[mattafact]

I've owned 2 60s and 3 80s (All FZJ) and done quite a bit of work to my best friend's FJ80. If I had to do it all over again I would get a 62. It has overdrive and fuel injection yet maintains that iconic look and classic feel. A close second would be an FJ80. I love the older style flairs, the 15" 80s style 4 spoke wheels, the funky interior colors, etc. Plus the 3FE is (to me) far easier to work on than the 1FZ and you don't have the ever present worry of the head gasket. Yes it's less powerful but they are land cruisers, not race cars. I daily drove a 2nd gen 4cyl 4runner for 6 months so I know all about slow.

Having said all that I'm rather enjoying the 280ish HP of my VVTi 2UZ in my 06.

 

[86tuning]

If you're wheeling it regularly, remember that the OBDII cars have a lower hanging exhaust. The pipe crosses under the frame instead of over it like on the earlier trucks. It does this under then middle, near the passenger doors.

On my 97 LX450 I modified the exhaust, did a cut and turn on the cats, and re-routed the exhaust over the frame to improve clearance.

The LX450 seats feel better to me than the older land cruiser ones too, fwiw.