Reviving this thread. I’ve been researching a bit on these options. But it sounds like my 93 Fzj80 might have problems doing some of the options even though it has under 140k miles on it. It sure would be nice to have more power. Any input on a low mileage 93 would be appreciated. Tia.
Supercharger vs Turbo vs Engine Swap?
- Thread starter jaymar
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Indestructible 47
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For more power in an 80 series you have about 3 different options. Not going to include the s/c because nobody does a kit for them currently.
1. Turbo the 1fz. If you are mechanically minded, don't mind learning, watching guages and getting your hands dirty the turbo route is the easiest. However being a 93 you will need a standalone ecu such as a Haltech to control everything. Haltech does a plug in and play kit for the 80 series.
2. LS swap. Cheap, excellent parts availability but costs start to add up with adapters, transmission ect, heavy on fuel.
3. Swap a less conventional engine. Maybe diesel interests you. Expect the costs and complexity to be high taking this route.
When considering the 80 series platform, imho it's not possible to make significant gains in the power department for less than 10k absolute minimum, doing all the work yourself. I have found that when building cars, if you sit down and nut out every dollar you need to spend, you will end up closer to double that figure all said and done than to your original estimate.
Whatever you decide, 4x4s are more about the places they take you than how fast you get there.
I have really been happy with my turbo 1fz. Even on 40's its quick around town and I am sure faster than most stock toyota trucks/4runner.
Thanks for your knowledge! I was afraid having a 93 would complicate adding a turbo. I’m average at wrenching. Guess I’ll checkout the Haltech thing. Thanks again!
Haltech is not plug and play for 93 only 95-97 and isnt setup for automatics. and honestly their plug and play kit kind of sucks.. ecu is great but the plug and play harness sucks.
AussieHJCruza
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Haltech + compushift will run a 93
So haltech and compushift will work on the a442f old transmission?
AussieHJCruza
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I haven't run it, but have spoken to haltech and they have said that the compushift will give the haltech everything it wants to see, and the haltech will give the compushift what it wants to see. A compushift will run an A442. Wholesale Automatics here sells a kit for it
Thanks for all the input!
Reviving this thread because I see a brand new supercharger for the 1FZFE that is CARB approved.
Granted it is only for 1995-97 years but pretty much a bolt on solution with 25% more power promised.
Leaving the DIY route out of the discussion given it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, I think an apples to apples comparison would be CARB legal LS swap vs this Magnusson Supercharger.
Not taking any sides, but off the top of my head, with the new swap rules in CA (cuz that’s where I live so I am mostly concerned about being street legal here):
- An LS swap with a matching year/class will likely net you hp somewhere a little north of 300hp at a cost of $20-25k. Right? For CARB compliance, you can’t chop and swap like in some other locations so CA legal swap is likely to require lots of custom work.
- The Magnusson SC is $8.5k plus tax and install (say 8 hours @ $140/hr) will cost you about $11k. A 25% increase from a stock 1FZFE, on paper, would give you about 240hp.
Questions I’d ponder over:
- how much power increase is satisfactory?
- what does reliability mean?
- how much do I want to spend?
Again, not taking sides but thinking aloud my situation. ‘97 LX450 with stock engine and 265k miles on the odometer. Runs great, drinks oil but given the weight of front and rear bumpers, wrap around cage and goodies in the trunk, it is slow.
Power: I don’t need it to go 0-60 in 4 seconds, I just need it to get to 60
Well, it struggles to get there on all these lovely mountain ranges we have in California and roads that run along foothills. I feel the current motor is just at the cusp where if I gave it some more power, it will be a much smoother ride and I won’t have the tach jumping from 2k to 5k every time there’s an incline on the freeway.
On the flip side, forced air through a 30 year old engine sounds like signing its death warrant.
Flip again and LS swap sounds like an endless project and money pit. Mine isn’t a DD so I have even less motivation to start a new project (and it does compete with other projects).
Choices choices
Edit: new Google estimate for CA legal swap. Drum roll - $70-90k. Don’t shoot at me, just relaying what Google led me to:
“but estimates can roughly be between $70,000 and $90,000 USD. (as of 2023)”
www.corsetticruisers.com
(Scroll all the way to the bottom)
Toyota Land Cruiser 1995-1997 1FZ-FE 4.5L I6 Magnuson - MP90 Supercharger Kit - TREperformance.com
Unlock the full power of your Toyota Land Cruiser with the Magnuson Classic Series Supercharger System! Designed specifically for the 1FZ-FE 4.5L I6 engine, this bolt-on kit delivers an impressive 25%
treperformance.com
Granted it is only for 1995-97 years but pretty much a bolt on solution with 25% more power promised.
Leaving the DIY route out of the discussion given it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, I think an apples to apples comparison would be CARB legal LS swap vs this Magnusson Supercharger.
Not taking any sides, but off the top of my head, with the new swap rules in CA (cuz that’s where I live so I am mostly concerned about being street legal here):
- An LS swap with a matching year/class will likely net you hp somewhere a little north of 300hp at a cost of $20-25k. Right? For CARB compliance, you can’t chop and swap like in some other locations so CA legal swap is likely to require lots of custom work.
- The Magnusson SC is $8.5k plus tax and install (say 8 hours @ $140/hr) will cost you about $11k. A 25% increase from a stock 1FZFE, on paper, would give you about 240hp.
Questions I’d ponder over:
- how much power increase is satisfactory?
- what does reliability mean?
- how much do I want to spend?
Again, not taking sides but thinking aloud my situation. ‘97 LX450 with stock engine and 265k miles on the odometer. Runs great, drinks oil but given the weight of front and rear bumpers, wrap around cage and goodies in the trunk, it is slow.
Power: I don’t need it to go 0-60 in 4 seconds, I just need it to get to 60
Well, it struggles to get there on all these lovely mountain ranges we have in California and roads that run along foothills. I feel the current motor is just at the cusp where if I gave it some more power, it will be a much smoother ride and I won’t have the tach jumping from 2k to 5k every time there’s an incline on the freeway.On the flip side, forced air through a 30 year old engine sounds like signing its death warrant.
Flip again and LS swap sounds like an endless project and money pit. Mine isn’t a DD so I have even less motivation to start a new project (and it does compete with other projects).
Choices choices
Edit: new Google estimate for CA legal swap. Drum roll - $70-90k. Don’t shoot at me, just relaying what Google led me to:
“but estimates can roughly be between $70,000 and $90,000 USD. (as of 2023)”
LS3 Conversion; 60, 62, & 80 Series Land Cruiser
Want more muscle for your Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60, FJ62, or FJ80? Is it time to give your Land Cruiser a more modern mill? An LS swap—specifically a Chevrolet LS3— can be just the thing.Why an LS Swap into a Land Cruiser?Land Cruisers are amazing vehicles—something we all know. However, if...
www.corsetticruisers.com
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Save $2500 and make about 30% more power by reclaiming wasted energy that was headed out the exhaust pipe with a simple 7psi bolt in turbo kit that’s upgradable to 14psi in the future. CARB approved for Commiefornia? I think Johnny was working on that but you’d have to ask him.
forum.ih8mud.com
Cruisers and Company 80 Series Turbo
@damonhimself was the 50% off Cruisers & Company Turbo winner at the 2024 Cruise Moab Raffle! Turbo, transgo shift kit, bunch of oil leaks fixed, ready for some fun. Going home today, thanks Damon! Anyone attending Cruise Moab 2025
forum.ih8mud.com
I don’t know who’s Johnny but if you mean Wits End then I think that project ended a while ago. Couple of other turbos I see online aren’t California legal.Save $2500 and make about 30% more power by reclaiming wasted energy that was headed out the exhaust pipe with a simple 7psi bolt in turbo kit that’s upgradable to 14psi in the future. CARB approved for Commiefornia? I think Johnny was working on that but you’d have to ask him.
Cruisers and Company 80 Series Turbo
@damonhimself was the 50% off Cruisers & Company Turbo winner at the 2024 Cruise Moab Raffle! Turbo, transgo shift kit, bunch of oil leaks fixed, ready for some fun. Going home today, thanks Damon! Anyone attending Cruise Moab 2025
AussieHJCruza
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This is the Magnuson supercharger back again. Easy upgrade but much more power with a turbo for a little bit more effort.Reviving this thread because I see a brand new supercharger for the 1FZFE that is CARB approved.
Toyota Land Cruiser 1995-1997 1FZ-FE 4.5L I6 Magnuson - MP90 Supercharger Kit - TREperformance.com
Unlock the full power of your Toyota Land Cruiser with the Magnuson Classic Series Supercharger System! Designed specifically for the 1FZ-FE 4.5L I6 engine, this bolt-on kit delivers an impressive 25%treperformance.com
Granted it is only for 1995-97 years but pretty much a bolt on solution with 25% more power promised.
Leaving the DIY route out of the discussion given it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, I think an apples to apples comparison would be CARB legal LS swap vs this Magnusson Supercharger.
Not taking any sides, but off the top of my head, with the new swap rules in CA (cuz that’s where I live so I am mostly concerned about being street legal here):
- An LS swap with a matching year/class will likely net you hp somewhere a little north of 300hp at a cost of $20-25k. Right? For CARB compliance, you can’t chop and swap like in some other locations so CA legal swap is likely to require lots of custom work.
- The Magnusson SC is $8.5k plus tax and install (say 8 hours @ $140/hr) will cost you about $11k. A 25% increase from a stock 1FZFE, on paper, would give you about 240hp.
Questions I’d ponder over:
- how much power increase is satisfactory?
- what does reliability mean?
- how much do I want to spend?
Again, not taking sides but thinking aloud my situation. ‘97 LX450 with stock engine and 265k miles on the odometer. Runs great, drinks oil but given the weight of front and rear bumpers, wrap around cage and goodies in the trunk, it is slow.
Power: I don’t need it to go 0-60 in 4 seconds, I just need it to get to 60
On the flip side, forced air through a 30 year old engine sounds like signing its death warrant.
Flip again and LS swap sounds like an endless project and money pit. Mine isn’t a DD so I have even less motivation to start a new project (and it does compete with other projects).
Choices choices
Edit: new Google estimate for CA legal swap. Drum roll - $70-90k. Don’t shoot at me, just relaying what Google led me to:
“but estimates can roughly be between $70,000 and $90,000 USD. (as of 2023)”
(Scroll all the way to the bottom)LS3 Conversion; 60, 62, & 80 Series Land Cruiser
Want more muscle for your Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60, FJ62, or FJ80? Is it time to give your Land Cruiser a more modern mill? An LS swap—specifically a Chevrolet LS3— can be just the thing.Why an LS Swap into a Land Cruiser?Land Cruisers are amazing vehicles—something we all know. However, if...
I’ll not be insulting to you but I will strongly suggest that you actually look at the link I posted. No where does it mention Wits End.
No offense taken
Sorry, I simply missed the link somehow. Looked at it now and seems like a great deal. Let me ask about CARB approval. Thanks!
FromThem, yes. The devil is in the details. But can be done for much less. I am having the same debate. My choices are L87 swap or the turbo kit above. They said CARB approval in the works. Going turbo on old motor is risky. In comparing apples to apples, you’d need to consider at least a significant overhaul on the 1FZ which isn’t cheap. Also an important part of the equation, at least to me, is the trans. If I go with a 2022ish L87, I can get an 8 or 10 speed trans which IMHO is almost as important. And this trans would be a lot more efficient and shift better as well. New LT is also a low end torque monster.Reviving this thread because I see a brand new supercharger for the 1FZFE that is CARB approved.
Toyota Land Cruiser 1995-1997 1FZ-FE 4.5L I6 Magnuson - MP90 Supercharger Kit - TREperformance.com
Unlock the full power of your Toyota Land Cruiser with the Magnuson Classic Series Supercharger System! Designed specifically for the 1FZ-FE 4.5L I6 engine, this bolt-on kit delivers an impressive 25%treperformance.com
Granted it is only for 1995-97 years but pretty much a bolt on solution with 25% more power promised.
Leaving the DIY route out of the discussion given it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, I think an apples to apples comparison would be CARB legal LS swap vs this Magnusson Supercharger.
Not taking any sides, but off the top of my head, with the new swap rules in CA (cuz that’s where I live so I am mostly concerned about being street legal here):
- An LS swap with a matching year/class will likely net you hp somewhere a little north of 300hp at a cost of $20-25k. Right? For CARB compliance, you can’t chop and swap like in some other locations so CA legal swap is likely to require lots of custom work.
- The Magnusson SC is $8.5k plus tax and install (say 8 hours @ $140/hr) will cost you about $11k. A 25% increase from a stock 1FZFE, on paper, would give you about 240hp.
Questions I’d ponder over:
- how much power increase is satisfactory?
- what does reliability mean?
- how much do I want to spend?
Again, not taking sides but thinking aloud my situation. ‘97 LX450 with stock engine and 265k miles on the odometer. Runs great, drinks oil but given the weight of front and rear bumpers, wrap around cage and goodies in the trunk, it is slow.
Power: I don’t need it to go 0-60 in 4 seconds, I just need it to get to 60
On the flip side, forced air through a 30 year old engine sounds like signing its death warrant.
Flip again and LS swap sounds like an endless project and money pit. Mine isn’t a DD so I have even less motivation to start a new project (and it does compete with other projects).
Choices choices
Edit: new Google estimate for CA legal swap. Drum roll - $70-90k. Don’t shoot at me, just relaying what Google led me to:
“but estimates can roughly be between $70,000 and $90,000 USD. (as of 2023)”
(Scroll all the way to the bottom)LS3 Conversion; 60, 62, & 80 Series Land Cruiser
Want more muscle for your Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60, FJ62, or FJ80? Is it time to give your Land Cruiser a more modern mill? An LS swap—specifically a Chevrolet LS3— can be just the thing.Why an LS Swap into a Land Cruiser?Land Cruisers are amazing vehicles—something we all know. However, if...
Ah yes, if it can be done for a reasonable amount and for me, that is around $20k then it is comparable. And you are right, no free lunches with forced air so I’d be looking to rebuild which is going to add to the cost of adding turbo or SC.
I’d be really interested in what you have discovered so far in terms of a CARB legal swap. Some cursory reading I did suggests that they are making swaps very very hard so we might not have the option of swapping in the latest and greatest LS variant. Tranny - oh yeah! An 8-10 speed would be so so so desirable. So like you said, devil is in the details
What are the details? And best I can tell, my stock tranny used to complain in reverse, uphill. Hasn’t done that in a while. But makes me think, sending more power through it might mean a tranny rebuild too.
@SJWantsADiesel
I have @Cruisers and Co. OBD1 (93/94) Turbo kit that is currently being installed and im in CA.
By Q1 of 2025, Turbo kits for OBD1 will be available from cruisers and Co.
Stage 1 7psi
Future in the works:
Stage 2 14psi
-Intercooler soon be available to market.
I have @Cruisers and Co. OBD1 (93/94) Turbo kit that is currently being installed and im in CA.
By Q1 of 2025, Turbo kits for OBD1 will be available from cruisers and Co.
Stage 1 7psi
Future in the works:
Stage 2 14psi
-Intercooler soon be available to market.
Last edited:
