good year for an 80 series?

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is there such thing,having a good or bad year for an 80 series?could you please tell me what to avoid and which to look for on an 80.i'm looking for w/factory lockers and some extra amenities.thank you in advance.:D john
 
is there such thing,having a good or bad year for an 80 series?could you please tell me what to avoid and which to look for on an 80.i'm looking for w/factory lockers and some extra amenities.thank you in advance.:D john

80 Series Land Cruiser - Front Bumper

1991-1992

* First major wagon body re-design since the 1980 introduction of the 60
series.
* 3FE 4.0L engine and A440F automatic transmission held over from the 62 series wagons.
* Introduction of full time, four wheel drive system.
* Introduction of all coil suspension for the wagons.
* 15" x 7" alloy wheels standard and unique to '91-92 but the same as SR5 mini-truck wheels
* front disk / rear drum brakes with FF front and SF rear axles
* third row seats available for the first time
* no airbags available
* no ABS brake system available
* no factory lockers available

1993-1994

* Introduction of 16" wheels.
* Rear axle changes to full floater with disk brakes when equipped with ABS
* Also gets viscous coupling HF2AV transfer case versus
non-viscous HF2A transfer case for drum braked 80's (and fj80's)
* Introduction of 4.5l 24 valve motor.
* Front and Rear factory lockers become an option.
* Automatic transmission - Electronic Controlled A442Fwith mechanical lockup converter
* Somewhere in 1993 the AC system changed from R12 to R134. With the R12 systems the dryer unit was in front of the battery and with the R134 it moved to behind the bumper. Might have been in 1993
* The thickness of the drive plates on the front hubs were increased after April 1994 (build date). The new drive flange number is 43421-60040 and the old one is 43421-60022. This is important since certain after-market birfield joints were based on the earlier birfield. If you try to install an earlier birfield into a later truck, you will not be able to install the circlip on the end of the axle shaft.
* Supercharger systems now available for 1993-1994 models.
* Front ABS Lines are routed on the front control arm.
* Radiator is a 3 row brass core.

1995-1997

* 1996 saw the introduction of the Lexus LX450 Model.
* Exhaust system changed from side by side catalytic converters to in-line converters. The exhaust also routes below the frame rail just behind the catalytic converters to avoid excessive heat on the passenger floor-boards.
* Front grill changed from the word TOYOTA written across the front to the new Toyota symbol.
* Headlight mounts are different from 1991-1994 vs. 1995-1997 and will not interchange.
* Redesigned dash board with airbags as standard equipment.
* Headliner changed to two piece molded units.
* Emission system on engine changes. Changed from a Mass Air Pressure meter to a Mass Air Flow meter. Certain plumbing was also removed.
* Supercharger & Turbo systems available for 1995-1997 models.
* ECU updates and truck became voluntary OBD-II compatible. Fully compatible in 1996 models.
* Wheel Lug nuts change from conical to washer type.
* Airbags become standard
* Automatic transmission changes to the A343F. Some 95's were produced with the A442F. The transmission type is printed on the label on the driver door.
* 1997 saw the introduction of the 40th Anniversary editions as well as the Collectors Series.
* 1997 the rear swaybar brackets that attach the bar to the frame were changed from a plate side that attached to the side of the frame to a bracket style that attached to the bottom of the frame.
* ABS wires on the front were moved upward and no longer run down the front control arm.
* Radiator is a 2 row aluminum

40th Anniversary Specifications

* Two Tone leather seats
* Serialized symbol on center console.
* 40th Anniversary floor mats
* 40th Anniversary emblems
* Black Chrome badging
* Available in Sage and Green colors only
* Auto climate control

Lexus LX450 Differences

* Revised Audio System with sub-woofer in the center console.
* Optional factory installed cell phone.
* Softer suspension.
* Body cladding on doors, fenders and tailgate.
* Rear bumper corner pieces are bigger and the rear cross member is coverer with a plastic trim piece. Mud flaps are two-tone colored and not interchangeable with an Toyota
* Auto Climate Control
* Softer leather on seats and additional sound proofing.
 
From looking at your avator, I think you should stick with 93+, and 95+ for air bags.
lol,btw i don't own one of those cars i just work on them.thanks
 
80 Series Land Cruiser - Front Bumper

1991-1992

* First major wagon body re-design since the 1980 introduction of the 60
series.
* 3FE 4.0L engine and A440F automatic transmission held over from the 62 series wagons.
* Introduction of full time, four wheel drive system.
* Introduction of all coil suspension for the wagons.
* 15" x 7" alloy wheels standard and unique to '91-92 but the same as SR5 mini-truck wheels
* front disk / rear drum brakes with FF front and SF rear axles
* third row seats available for the first time
* no airbags available
* no ABS brake system available
* no factory lockers available

1993-1994

* Introduction of 16" wheels.
* Rear axle changes to full floater with disk brakes when equipped with ABS
* Also gets viscous coupling HF2AV transfer case versus
non-viscous HF2A transfer case for drum braked 80's (and fj80's)
* Introduction of 4.5l 24 valve motor.
* Front and Rear factory lockers become an option.
* Automatic transmission - Electronic Controlled A442Fwith mechanical lockup converter
* Somewhere in 1993 the AC system changed from R12 to R134. With the R12 systems the dryer unit was in front of the battery and with the R134 it moved to behind the bumper. Might have been in 1993
* The thickness of the drive plates on the front hubs were increased after April 1994 (build date). The new drive flange number is 43421-60040 and the old one is 43421-60022. This is important since certain after-market birfield joints were based on the earlier birfield. If you try to install an earlier birfield into a later truck, you will not be able to install the circlip on the end of the axle shaft.
* Supercharger systems now available for 1993-1994 models.
* Front ABS Lines are routed on the front control arm.
* Radiator is a 3 row brass core.

1995-1997

* 1996 saw the introduction of the Lexus LX450 Model.
* Exhaust system changed from side by side catalytic converters to in-line converters. The exhaust also routes below the frame rail just behind the catalytic converters to avoid excessive heat on the passenger floor-boards.
* Front grill changed from the word TOYOTA written across the front to the new Toyota symbol.
* Headlight mounts are different from 1991-1994 vs. 1995-1997 and will not interchange.
* Redesigned dash board with airbags as standard equipment.
* Headliner changed to two piece molded units.
* Emission system on engine changes. Changed from a Mass Air Pressure meter to a Mass Air Flow meter. Certain plumbing was also removed.
* Supercharger & Turbo systems available for 1995-1997 models.
* ECU updates and truck became voluntary OBD-II compatible. Fully compatible in 1996 models.
* Wheel Lug nuts change from conical to washer type.
* Airbags become standard
* Automatic transmission changes to the A343F. Some 95's were produced with the A442F. The transmission type is printed on the label on the driver door.
* 1997 saw the introduction of the 40th Anniversary editions as well as the Collectors Series.
* 1997 the rear swaybar brackets that attach the bar to the frame were changed from a plate side that attached to the side of the frame to a bracket style that attached to the bottom of the frame.
* ABS wires on the front were moved upward and no longer run down the front control arm.
* Radiator is a 2 row aluminum

40th Anniversary Specifications

* Two Tone leather seats
* Serialized symbol on center console.
* 40th Anniversary floor mats
* 40th Anniversary emblems
* Black Chrome badging
* Available in Sage and Green colors only
* Auto climate control

Lexus LX450 Differences

* Revised Audio System with sub-woofer in the center console.
* Optional factory installed cell phone.
* Softer suspension.
* Body cladding on doors, fenders and tailgate.
* Rear bumper corner pieces are bigger and the rear cross member is coverer with a plastic trim piece. Mud flaps are two-tone colored and not interchangeable with an Toyota
* Auto Climate Control
* Softer leather on seats and additional sound proofing.
thank you for taking the time,that wasvery informative.i guess if i go that route i'll stick w/the 96-97.john
 
head gasket

somebody at the 100 series section mention about a self blowing headgaskets on 80 series.any more info on this?:o john
 
somebody at the 100 series section mention about a self blowing headgaskets on 80 series.any more info on this?:o john
S
E
A
R
C
H
!
;)
 
Here is a good thread debating it:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/52460-offical-1fz-head-gasket-debate.html

and there is a section in the FAQ in the 4 bananna repair section on actually changing it.

Some people have never had an issue with their HG. Some have had them blow.

What you will find is the design could have been more robust and Toyota improved the design so if you find a truck that the HG has been replaced, then there should be no concern.
 
...self blowing headgaskets on 80 series...

Which is why 91-92 are better. :flipoff2: to all you 93-97 guys. *
:flipoff2::flipoff2::flipoff2:



*All kidding aside, I think 97 would be the best year.
 
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everything ells (lockers, stronger tranny and motor, better interior in 95-97) out way the head gasket, you still easily get 250k out of it with good maintenance.

[serious] There's some debate as to which tranny is stronger, A44xF vs A343F. Fact: The A44xF was used in buses. [/serious]

I was kidding in my last post, just so you know. :cheers:

And besides, 3FE trucks don't need lockers.....oh wait, I wasn't supposed to say that.... :ban:
 
...if you find a truck that the HG has been replaced, then there should be no concern.

...Provided the PO used an OE gasket. I've got a truck in the garage that was brought to me with an aftermarket HG that blew after only 11K miles. Night and day difference between the aftermarket and OE HG's!
 
i have a Locked 95 with 370,000 miles and as you can see under my info i also have a 91 i like the 95 better and personally and from what i hear the 95 was te best year land cruiser ever made
 
I've owned a '94 and a '97. The '94 was unlocked, cloth seats, bare bones. It was awesome. I loved that truck, and it was my first car. I put about a quarter million problem free miles on it.

The '97 is a 40th Anniversary with the works: lockers (awesome), automatic climate control (garbage), leather. Also awesome.

However, the cloth manual seats were a hundred times more comfortable than the leather adjustable ones. If I had a perfect cruiser, it would be cloth with lockers, 1997, no sunroof, no third row seat, sliding rear windows.
 
I have to agree about the cloth seats. My 93 is now 15 years old the seats look like new. Also, since they are manual instead of electric just one less thing to break. My 93 has been a great truck. The " better looking dash" on the 95-97's is subjective. I bought my truck because is was the cleanest and best kept I could find. What year the truck was really secondary to me, unless you have to have the airbags and leather. IMHO Buy the cleanest one with low miles you can find within your budget. You can't go wrong with any year.. They're great trucks.

PAB
 
I have a '94 and I understand that after '94 the transmission changed a little to be a little lighter duty. I don't have lockers, and that's about the only thing I would change about mine--I love it.
 
97!!! anniversary edition, if you don't like the leather you can prolly sell or recover. Besides i got mine from a soccer mom, it had never been offroad.
 
97!!! anniversary edition, if you don't like the leather you can prolly sell or recover. Besides i got mine from a soccer mom, it had never been offroad.
did i just push some kind of launch button?didn't expect so many replies.i kinda like 97 also being the last year of the 80 series,would be nice next to my 87 60 series. john
 
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