Gaskets leaks happen, most are not forever. The 1FZ head gasket is slightly more prone to failure, but it is hugely blown out of proportion here, mainly by 3FE guys. Most of the rigs that I wheel with, still have the original gasket, not bad after ~20+yrs/~200K+ mi. I have also replaced head gaskets on F motors, they are also much more prone to head cracks. The F motor heads like to push the oil plug out of the head, puking all of the oil out. Not exactly convenient, or easy to repair, especially on the trail.
Like most motors, there are a couple of hoses on the 1FZ that are not convenient to get to. The 3FE isn't any better, the hoses in the water pump area are a pain. The 3FE tends to leak, like everywhere, the hoses down low get swelled, need to be changed more often. due to the poor belt, and well everything on the front of the motor layout, most anything in that area is a pain to work on.
So, they have been replaced? That is a painful job.
Agree, I'm not a F motor hater, IMHO, great motor for a FJ40, not so much for a tank like the '62 or '80, especially coupled with the relatively inefficient, power sapping, mechanical transmission. One of our wheeling buddies bought one of the first FJ80's. When the FZJ came out, immediately traded for the lockers, wheeled them, was one of the first to do the Rubicon in an '80, etc. Last year, put it on it's lid, so moved to a '96. After running/wheeling the '96, now says, if he knew then, what he now does, would have traded the '93 in '96. He likes it that much better, and the '93 had ~140K, the '96 has ~200K miles. It is personal preference, enjoy what your prefer.
