Why all the hate on the FJ80 3FE (cost of ownership)

[Cruising@5280]

Wondering why so many people bag on the 91 and 92 FJ80 with the 3FE? It's is a 4x4 for God's sake not a rocket or race car.It may have more ponies under the hood but it gets the same mpg. Also in regards to cost of ownership, look up how much more it is to have a HG done at a shop on a 4.0 vs a 4.5. Plus these motors were designed to run on crap gas and grunt through pretty much anything thrown at them. The being factory locked issue on 93 & up is really not that big of a deal when you can get ARBs WITH on board air for $1600.00 and save by buying a 91 or 92.

I'll say three more things and let people start with their bagging on the pretty sweet 3FE.

1. I switched over from Jeep (after 8 of them) and I must say I love my FJ80 more than any Jeep.

2. Isn't a TLC a TLC?

3. I don't want this post to piss anyone off, just wanted to say what was on my mind.

HAPPY TRAILS

 

[MTNRAT]

I would say owning any 80 is good enough in my books.
Cheers,
Sean

 

[Beto]

Love my 3FE, wouldn't trade it for anything, locked or not she still the beast that gets admired where ever I go.

 

[jditom]

Dude you own a TLC 80 series

Feel the love

 

[DuManchu]

At times I wished my 94 had a 3FE, seems to be a more reliable engine. But on the other hand, the 1FZ seems pretty darned reliable too, as long as the HG holds up .

For me it was the factory locker option, I'm not a good enough wrencher to install ARB air lockers, at least I don't think I am.

 

[jonheld]

The 3FE and the 1FZFE are apples and oranges IMO. For a daily driver i think the 1FZFEs more poies makes it more desirable. In the woods the 3FE rules. That old tractor motor pulls down low like a naughty school boy. Love it.

 

[FirstToy]

If you like it, who cares what anyone else says.

 

[alkaline747trio]

Almost everyone who has the 3FE is happy with it, it might not get up and go like the 1FZFE, but it sure does go...and go...and go. I don't think I'll ever get a 93+ 80, I'm happy with my '91 and the simplicity of working on this engine. 3FE POWA!!

 

[80krazE]

If you like it, who cares what anyone else says.

WORD!!!!!!

Couldn't agree more. There are plus/minus factors for each of our Cruisers, depending on use. I have a 97, but would drive any year model 80 series. We are all TLC owners and have decided to drive the 80 series. We made the choice.

And after all, we are all kindred and in an elite class.

 

[Romer]

I don't think anyone is really knocking it, you have an 80 and it's the best 4WD vehicle out there. I think the comments were focused towards someone who has no clue about an 80 and understanding that there are certain advantages to the 1FZ, like being able to supercharge it and have it as fast as a V8 or ability to tow over the mountains.

You listed what you see as advantages of the 3FE in your post. No heated arguments here. Just folks deciding if the want the Chocolate or Vanilla flavor of one of the best trucks ever made. Me, I like Strawberry.

 

[adictoserie80toyota]

Hello, i'm Miguel from Spain, i have a FJ 80 3FE engine, i love my 4wd, the 80 series is the best 4wd of the world even fabricated, first the Mega Cruiser, please can you translate in spanish the beautifull things you say abaut the FJ 80 3FE engine.

I can understand what you says abaut this model


Thanks a lot

Miguel

 

[RavenTai]

Not sure where you guys are getting "simple" from, I find my 3FE more difficult to work on than my1FZ, it is more cluttered and less organized in layout, it is the peak in the the number vacuum lines and hoses in the whole land cruiser line, with earlier and later engines have less clutter, setting the timing was a pain, the timing marks are in the same spot as the 2F but now buried behind a bunch of other crap. replacing the umpteen coolant hoses requires stripping a lot of the accessories,

Access is better with a De-smog but still not great.

My 1FZ has been more reliable than my 3FE (neither have had any major problems) but that is not a fair comparison in my case, in a previews life my 62 was a parts truck given up for dead and being picked clean by vulture mechanics, I am still finding parts missing here and there.

Having said all that an FJ80s are really getting to be a great value and if a 3FE fits your needs you certainly can have a lot more left over for mods. certainly a better bang for buck ratio.

 

[MJADDICTION]

I love mine...

 

[harper68]

It took you 8 jeeps to switch over I was done after one. This is my 4th toyota 4x4 and first LC. 93 with lockers the wife bought it in 99 didnt care for it at first but discovered it would out wheel the Tacoma and now is my prefered vehicle to drive. Probly feel the same about 91 or 92 they are just bad ass.

 

[Thermodyn]

I own two FZJ80's and I still think the FJ80's are the best looking personally. I love the 15" rims and the third-world look they have. All business. The FZJ's are great, but exhibit more of the "American SUV" look which I could do without.

JMHO

 

[IdahoDoug]

I had a new 92 and a year later a new 93. While the 93 was better in nearly every way, one quality was lost that I'd forgotten about until this thread popped up. The 92 rode better - on road and especially offroad. I'm not saying "handled better" here as the 93 will run circles around the FJ in that department. But the ride on the 93 was astonishingly supple on the road. It moved in long well damped strokes where you couldn't really feel when the truck's motions stopped in any rough way. On the trail, it adopted this cool gangly spider effect over incredibly large holes and crossed up the axles effortlessly and with no drama. Seemed like the coils they spec'd that year allowed the suspension to easily cycle where the stiffer 93+ springs gave handling but lost something else. There's my FJ80 nostalgia trip.....

DougM

 

[udm (nsw)]

Sorry to disapoint,

I will never ever buy a 3f underpowered, 30ltr/100km car again... it is just a wrong choice of motor for an 80series.

Toyota should have just posponed until they got the 1fzj running.

PS.My fj80 transplanted in 2005 with a turbo diesel is now a real car.

 

[Cruiser Jimmy]

I really like my 80, 3FE that is. But more than anything else it is the character I give it, and the wheeling I do with it that makes it mine. With thanks to wheeling (and this forum), I've made some really great friends!!

 

[upcruiser]

I've loved my '92. I paid a premium for it back when I picked it up, in fact could have gotten a nice FZJ for the money. The 3FE was more suited to what I want. Underpowered? Depends what you are using it for. To date, I've towed car haulers with vehicles loaded on them behind mine, along with an assortment of other fairly large trailers. It was fine, and if you aren't in a rush on the freeway (which I rarely drive mine on) your good to go. To call it less of a rig because of the 3FE is retarded logic in my book. To me it enhances the rig. If I used mine to daily commute on freeway speeds in the mountians, I'd probably have a different oppinion.

 

[Josh9180]

i am glad to hear fellow 3FE owners brag about their engines i love mine and i personnally dont think i would be any more happy with a 1FZ.

being a toyota mechanic for the past 4 years i have driven plenty of land cruisers and plenty of FZJ 80's even two supercharged. i love my 3FE and wouldnt give it up for anything.
-josh