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From MUD where else !! this is all I've readWhere have you found data on 97 VIN numbers? What’s the highest 97 VIN do you think?
Well, we are known for doing ridiculous swaps like that. The last project we did before I got the 100 was a LS3 in a Volvo wagon. So you never know...
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I agree other than the alternator thing. I hate that alternator. (I'm still bitter from the last time I swapped it out... new years day, girlfriends birthday, walmart parkinglot in Houston, 18F out and sleeting)
When I took the 80 out for it's first trail day I was blown away. The thing just feels so much more planted. Factory shocks and springs and set of bigger Wrangler Duratracs... I took my built-ish 100 on the same trail the following weekend and was sad to say it was not nearly as comfy
Phil.... WE NEED MOAR PICTURES. That thing makes me feel all fizzy.Show me an international expedition vehicle using an IFS 100 series platform. There are some but rare. Maltec who arguably builds some of the best off road expedition vehicles in the world feels the 80 platform is the best. The latest creation pictured below built for the US market is built on 80 chassis fully locked on 37's and it has an inside shower.
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Phil.... WE NEED MOAR PICTURES. That thing makes me feel all fizzy.
Your rig is horrible and incapable due to inadequate rock sliders
The 80 is so much more durable than the 100 series ,that independent suspension can no way take the abuse that a solid axle 80 can. I highly regret selling my fzj80 and going to the 100 series . I should’ve kept our white LC and just dropped a V-8 into it.I know that this topic has been covered many times but this may be a little different.
Backstory: I bought the 100 series about a year ago for a road trip through Baja. Since then my dad and I are drinking the land cruiser Kool-Aid. So a month ago when my friends family was selling the 80 series that they bought new in 97. We gave it a new home. By vin, we think it is one of the last 200 80's made. However no lockers!
The original plan was I was going to take the 80 as my adventure vehicle (ready for most anything - besides king of the hammers - mostly overlanding and trips like Baja - thinking Utah later this year ) and my dad was going to take the hundred as his retirement car.
This is where we want you guys opinion!
Do I continue building out the 100 series for an adventure vehicle or do I start over with the 80?
both of these were soccer mom cars that had some care before we bought them. Oops! But overall in pretty good shape.
What has been to them so far:
The 100 series:
2004 lx470
Miles: 167,XXX
Overall baselined
Timing belt was done.
Heater hoses and radiator done.
AHC removed with old man emu installed.
Both diffs and trans serviced
All four brakes done
BFG ko2 33's
Yellow box
Lou's hid conversion and high beams (awesome btw)
Dissent rack
ARB air compressor
Bluetooth added
The 80 series:
Miles: 163,XXX
97 collector edition.
Rear brakes done.
Steam cleaned inside and out. (Interior look like there were a few frat parties thrown in it.)
Planned maintenance so far:
Front end rebuild.
Transmission and diff service
The infamous heater hoses.
A new radiator and upgraded blue fan.
Fix oil leaks
New radio.
New headlights.
Cleaning up the interior some more BH3D cupholders on their way (the important stuff )
Pros of the cars in my mind:
80 series pros:
Solid front axle
A little rougher example than our 100 series.
100 series pros:
V8
A little more comfy on the road
More done to it so far.
Things I may want to do to the car I pick (excluding doing everything I did to the 100 to the 80 +/-):
Bumpers and sliders
Kiss drawers/ sleeping platform
Rear locker at least (still trying to figure out atrac v lockers)
Gullwing rear window
2nd battery
Over the last few days, we have gotten stuck in our debate on which one to continue to build out. All ideas welcome and anything else!
PS. Cross posting to 80 series forum to make sure to get both sides of the argument
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Show me an international expedition vehicle using an IFS 100 series platform. There are some but rare. Maltec who arguably builds some of the best off road expedition vehicles in the world feels the 80 platform is the best. The latest creation pictured below built for the US market is built on 80 chassis fully locked on 37's and it has an inside shower.
View attachment 2002016
Interesting build I looked at when for sale....sleeper Nice
Neither.... FJ 105 FTW!
Having driven 80's for the last seven years I feel like they require an awful lot more to make them as enjoyable as my 100 series. I really enjoyed blasting out to Moab this year at 75mph with the cruise on over the Rocky mountains. About the only thing I could hear other than my radio was the occasional whistling of some wind over the mirrors.
When it was off road time I just hit the button on the console for 2'' of lift and away we went. For the 3% of the trip that was spent off-road there were times when I would have preferred my 80 just because I didn't want to scratch the 100. However, the rig didn't miss a beat and was way more comfortable to drive the other 97% of the time.
For me the only way this becomes a close match is if the 80 series has the 4.7 and a750 transmission. Even then you are going to be hard pressed to get a suspension under it that will be anywhere near as versatile as a properly working AHC system.
Both.... I DD my LX470 and play with my 80.
Sell both and get a jeep
The 80 is so much more durable than the 100 series ,that independent suspension can no way take the abuse that a solid axle 80 can. I highly regret selling my fzj80 and going to the 100 series . I should’ve kept our white LC and just dropped a V-8 into it.
100 is built a bit tougher in a lot of areas IMO. Frame is beefier for sureThe 80 is so much more durable than the 100 series ,that independent suspension can no way take the abuse that a solid axle 80 can. I highly regret selling my fzj80 and going to the 100 series . I should’ve kept our white LC and just dropped a V-8 into it.
FRAME IS BEEFIER ???? The 100 frame may look bigger but it's actually thinner and very prone to rusting. And lets not forget the nightmare that Toyota when through to replace all those Tundra frames, They're the same frame. If you crawl underneath my neighbors Tundra you'll shear you were under a 100, they both have the same problems. TOUGHER, THAT FUNNY !!!!100 is built a bit tougher in a lot of areas IMO. Frame is beefier for sure
OK you guys already know I I don’t know squat about the 100 series...
Wrong.FRAME IS BEEFIER ???? The 100 frame may look bigger but it's actually thinner and very prone to rusting. And lets not forget the nightmare that Toyota when through to replace all those Tundra frames, They're the same frame. If you crawl underneath my neighbors Tundra you'll shear you were under a 100, they both have the same problems. TOUGHER, THAT FUNNY !!!!
WOW, Some one has drink the 100 KOOL-AID, lolWrong.
Toyota upgraded the 100 series frame with more crossmembers and better design to suit the IFS. Also nothing even close to the tundra frame. But thanks for playing. We’re looking for facts here, not opinion.