Vortec versus 3FE reliability, whisch do I want?

[alex e]

Vortec versus 3FE reliability, which do I want?

My 62 needs to be able to drive 1000 miles a trip if necessary since it will be my and my father's expedition/hunting rig. We'r'e traveling out to West TX from Dallas and Houston then wheeling at the ranch and coming back several times a month, so I am thinking, would a fresh Vortec be a better idea than a smooth running 88 engine? I am not 100% sold on the 3FE in this truck being bulletproof, and obviously a Vortec might blow up as well. My thought though, is should I just go ahead and bite the bullet, drop in the Vortec and know I have a much younger engine under the hood? I realize there will be a need to purchase an AA Adapter, tranny, ECU flash/harness, etc. as well. This is my Dad's and my project, and I don't want it to die on us in the middle of nowwhere just to save a few bucks........we can spend plenty to get all the bumpers, sliders, wheels/tires, so why not a new engine too?


(plus I can put the 3FE into my 40, shhhhhhhhhh!)

 

[CruisinFJ60]

get the vortec.

my recomendation is one of the newer 5.3s out of a tahoe or yukon as they came with 320hp stock and would have lower miledge.

also the new 5.3 is lighter, better fuel economy, parts and upgrades readily available (as are with 5..7) and responds better to mods, and has more power than the older 5.7 vortec.

so i vote 5.3

 

[FJ40Jim]

A brand new vortec is prolly gonna be a little more reliable than a 20 year old 3FE. But the thing that makes V8's unreliable is installation. If it is installed & wired properly, fine. but if it is installed by a PO while drinking beer and watching the ballgame in the garage, some of the details might not be right. It's the little corner cuts that can bite you a thousand miles up the road.

Do it once, do it right.

 

[cruiser88]

A brand new vortec is prolly gonna be a little more reliable than a 20 year old 3FE. But the thing that makes V8's unreliable is installation. If it is installed & wired properly, fine. but if it is installed by a PO while drinking beer and watching the ballgame in the garage, some of the details might not be right. It's the little corner cuts that can bite you a thousand miles up the road.

Do it once, do it right.

x2...

 

[mmw68]

I would be more worried about the tranny on that FJ62 more than the engine. Just like the 2f, if well maintained a 3F will run forever, but the tranny's seem to die around 250K.

How many miles on the truck? I would be inclined to give it a good tune up, change the injectors out, do a few tweaks, and run the engine for a few more years. Dropping a Vortec in is going to run $$$, once you add up a adapters and labor - even if Randy does it.

Put that money towards a new engine for the FJ40, and deal with the 3FE when it dies. If it ain't broke - don't mess with it.

I seem to remember the PO of this truck taking care of it until it was rear ended.

 

[mmw68]

How are the seat?.. Change them out too!!! 1000 miles a trip, you will thank me later!

Best mod I ever did on my old FJ62!

 

[REKCUT]

If you need to do a rebuild then for what you say I would probably go with the vortec, but if it runs good now and you keep the maintance up then it not be anymore likey to give out than a vortec. Most of the common things that go wrong are well know and you can carry spare parts for. They are used all over the world and are very reliable. IF money is not a factor then I guess go for it but its not like we are talking about a few hundred dollars here. Its several thousand.

IF money is no option then I would look at a desiel swap.

 

[brokenparts]

Vortec.

 

[Ducks]

Well, my preference would be a Toyota diesel, either the 1HZ-T or the 12HT. But if you don't want to do a diesel swap, then I would say rebuild the 3FE and put a manual h55 in instead of the auto. Oh, and swap out the vacuum actuated t-case for an fj60 t-case.

 

[alex e]

OOoh me likey the seats and console! DO TELL.

 

[Ducks]

x2 Find seats that specifically fit your back. Get nice new ones. It will make the drive completely different.

How are the seat?.. Change them out too!!! 1000 miles a trip, you will thank me later!

Best mod I ever did on my old FJ62!

 

[Downey]

I will tell you what I tell absolutely everyone; Go to a wrecking yard and ask for "late model, low milage engine, tranny, harness, and computor, nothing cut, nothing missing". Next, get your hands on one of Downeys V8 instruction manuals (freebie) and learn!!!!!. Besides V8 conversion parts, we seem to provide more info on the electronics of the conversion than other companys provide. PM me your mailing address and I'll get you instructions ASAP.

 

[alex e]

Downey- What's the normal range to pay do you think?

 

[mmw68]

They are Procar seats. Ironpig off road carries them. The console is a VDP jeep console.

see this link:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/44298-interior-pics.html