My growing obsession with 80's...

[kletzenklueffer]

Likewise, I'm trying to keep from buying an 80 or a 60. I shop for a dual sport and end up looking for a Cruiser.

Is there a "best" year of cruiser to seek? I see a lot of 91-93's for a bit cheaper than 94 and up, and seem to recall a reason to go with a 94-97 model. Center diff lock?, better engine (EFI?)

I may just end up in a 60 and find a diesel for it. I've considered a 60 with a Tesla coil conversion.


















Just kdding about the Tesla coil.

 

[ashooter]

...

Is there a "best" year of cruiser to seek? I see a lot of 91-93's for a bit cheaper than 94 and up...

I specifically sought out my '92. If I remember right from my research, there were some upgrades between the 91 and the 92, then in 93 they went to the larger engine. I have NO regrets about my decision! The 3FE is no dragster, but it's a solid engine (with no headgasket or "pesky heater hose" woes) and is plenty gutty enough if you don't plan on going to tires larger than 33" or maybe 34".

If I was going larger than the 255's I have on this truck, I'd regear. The engine doesn't have trouble turning the tires, but the 3FE in these 80's was factory geared 4:11 to turn 29" diameter tires so larger tires just turn too fast going over rough stuff. I find myself locking the center diff and putting it in Low and still riding the brake on super rough ground. 4:56 would be a lot better for rock crawling with 33"+ tires. The way I use my truck, 4:11 is livable.

 

[a.mus.ed]

There are a lot of opinions on what year is best. I don't think I'm too set on any one year, because most are good arguments. I love my '95 because it's got OBDII, but emissions doesn't know it. My buddy loves his '94 because it has the big bus transmission. ashooter's argument for the '92 is valid as well. Study up and figure out what is important to you.

 

[Nay]

'95+ OBDII (some were not in '95) so you can supercharge it (effectively) at some point.

They are all relatively cheap now if the owner actually wants to sell it, except when people get really excited about low mileage stockers that are in my mind the worst "deals" out there because the vehicle is still 13+ years old and it probably hasn't had any baseline maintenance.

 

[Pskhaat]

Is there a "best" year of cruiser to seek?

http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=689

http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1268

http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=69432&postcount=38

:victory:

 

[taco2go]

Think the right one will find me.
To Be Continued...

Right on! There is one out there just for you-like one of those dragons in Avatar. Good things come to those who wait.
Back whenever, I had to wait two and a half years - well worth it.

 

[thecriscokid]

http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=689

http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1268

http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=69432&postcount=38

:victory:

Lots of good info and opinions out there, thanks for including those links. I'm feeling like I may try the 91-92 3FE route.
I would love to find a well kept, re-geared, 1 or more dif locked, semi-built, entusiest owned, cruiser. whatever color.

I want to keep my 00 Tundra continue upgrading it and use it for what I do now wich is traveling with toys, mostly to mountain bike.

The cruiser that I hope to aquire and mod to my needs will be for more off-road types of trips both localy in the CO hills, Utah and to have a Baja surf expolation vehicle.

 

[Nay]

I'm feeling like I may try the 91-92 3FE route.

1 or more dif locked

in the CO hills

I would not get a 3FovEver for exactly what you just described. You want 1ZFE power for Colorado altitude (and that is not even sufficient) and 93+ has the dual factory locker option.

Older 80's are cheap now, I'd get something that fits your usage better, which is '93+.

 

[thecriscokid]

I would not get a 3FovEver for exactly what you just described. You want 1ZFE power for Colorado altitude (and that is not even sufficient) and 93+ has the dual factory locker option.

Older 80's are cheap now, I'd get something that fits your usage better, which is '93+.

I'm definatly still sorting out my thoughts. How about the 3FE with extra low dif gearing? Say, 4.88 and 295/75/16? Or I guess 33 or 34 on 15"s.

Any thoughts on something along those lines? Have you tried your 5.29s with 35"s? Would 65mph be at all comfortable?

I'm definatly drawn to the lack of electronics and air bags and throughing in a FF rear axle from a later model. Yeah, the 93+ would probably be easier to set up and get going. Just drawn to the simplicity at this point.

Keep the input coming though

 

[Pskhaat]

3FE with extra low dif gearing? Say, 4.88 and 295/75/16? Or I guess 33 or 34 on 15"s.

I have a 4.10-geared FZJ80 with 315s. I have "raced" an FJ80 with 4.88s also with 315s up Hwy550 out of Durango. The two trucks were nearly identical in speed, my FZJ80 may have had a couple hundred pounds more in load and eeked out an extra yard or two every mile.

"Raced" is in quotes because really, it is an exercise in futility to think these trucks no matter how well setup can maintain acceptable US highway speed when laden.

I'll tell you if my FZJ80 got totaled tomorrow, I would buy an FJ80 and figure out a way to put an H55f in her. YMMV :ylsmoke: ...actually I take that back, I'd figure out a way to keep my beloved Troopy...

 

[Nay]

I'm definatly still sorting out my thoughts. How about the 3FE with extra low dif gearing? Say, 4.88 and 295/75/16? Or I guess 33 or 34 on 15"s.

Any thoughts on something along those lines? Have you tried your 5.29s with 35"s? Would 65mph be at all comfortable?

I'm definatly drawn to the lack of electronics and air bags and throughing in a FF rear axle from a later model. Yeah, the 93+ would probably be easier to set up and get going. Just drawn to the simplicity at this point.

Keep the input coming though

I had 5.29's with 35's. It runs the same with 37's. I also ran it with 4.10s and 35's for 18 months. Gearing makes a huge difference when crawling at altitude, and a bit on the highway, but the reality is a stock 1ZFE is underpowered going over the high passes so it's all really spots on the dog once you lift and add big rubber. I am slow in the same places on 5.29's that I was on 4.10's with overdrive off. Not as slow, but still slow.

There is no way, and I mean no way, I would consider a 3FE powered 80 in Colorado as a choice. I don't mind a pig, there is something about a big inline six that I just love, but you go 1995+ and get OBDII and you have the option to supercharge down the road as a near bolt on when you get sick of 12 mpg without the power you'd really like.

I don't daily drive my 80, and it gets from point A to B just fine, plus it wheels like a monster, so I'll take the reliability of the naturally aspirated drivetrain and leave the rest well enough alone.

That's the real value of an 80. Buy it with dual factory lockers, add 3"-4" lift and 35's or 37's, regear, and forget about everything else except the basic minimum armor.

 

[Pskhaat]

We all need to remember that Toyota designed these for 32"|235/85r16|7.50r16 tires. In the USA they put on 31"|275/70r16 as indicated by the interchangeable 31|32 teeth speedo gear.

I just don't see that 35" or even 37" tires were ever design-spec. :smiley_drive:

Nay, I love the look of the 37s but there is a lot of geometry correction needed at these sizes. I wish I had that, but reality is these trucks were made for a different duty. I bet a 3F-E rolling 4.10s on 235s at 14k feet would feel "normal," or as normal as any naturally aspirated older vehicle at that altitude.

 

[ashooter]

Actually, my '92 came from the factory with 4:11 gears and 235/75R15 tires - about 29-inch diameter!

In my opinion (FWIW) a lot of the moaning guys do about the 3F-E is unwarranted.... but I was driving an '89 4-Runner before with a little 4-cyl, so this 3F-E boogies compared to that. 255/85R16's with an OME 2" lift and 4:56 gears would probably be perfect for this truck. 5:29 would be too low - that 3F-E would be screaming at 70mph. If you really NEED tires larger than 255/85 or 285/75, you probably really need the '93+.

Actually, I think my next set of tires are going to be 235/85's. I just measured the new 235/85 Yoko 742 against my half worn 255/85 Toyo M/T the other day. From the ground to the hub on the Toyo was 15.5"... From the ground to the hub on the Yoko was 15.0". Not enough to worry about, and on my non-lifted truck would probably look "right" and function a little better, not to mention being cheaper and a LOT easier to find.

...Too bad they don't make a 245/85R16!

 

[upcruiser]

If I bought another 80 series to use for what I use my current one for it would be an FJ80 for sure. Obviously the FZJ's have some nice upgrades to them but for the money I think a good FJ80 can be a better deal. The power issue has never been a problem for me. I think pretty much any epic overland vehicle once kitted out is going to be a dog on I70 in Colorado. List out your 5 favorite wish I could haves... and I guarantee they all will probably be pulling 45mph max climbing towards Eisenhower. Honestly, the only place in the whole country that I have been frustrated with my FJ is that particular stretch of highway. I have the stock 4.11's with 33's. I am thinking that 4.88's are in my future and will make all the difference. But back to the value issue.

Take an FJ80 and an FZJ 80 of similar mileage and condition. For the savings of the FJ you can install ARB's, or even pickup a set of used, refurbished FZJ axles from cruiserparts.net with lockers and still be well under the likely purchase price of the latter with the option of installing an H55 5 speed like Scott mentioned.

If the truck is your daily driver I could see the advantage of the FZJ being a bit more friendly on freeway commutes thanks the extra power but on the trail, and for a dedicated expedition rig, the 3FE is butter.

 

[AndrewP]

I have owned an FZJ80 for 10 years and a 3FE/A440F FJ62 for 3. I drive both of them every day or every other day. Make no mistake, the 3FE is a dog. It's underpowered around town, which increases it's fuel consumption. It's OK on the freeway once it's past 53mph where the TC locks up. Any hill is going to be a problem.

The 1FZ-FE on the other hand has enough power for almost anything. Around town it feels fine, it comes up to speed at a light just fine, and on the freeway it will cruise all day at 80 mph if you care too. It can tow a 2500 pound trailer with little effort. It will do the Grapevine at 70mph.

Anyway, I own both, drive both and like both, but if it came down to a choice, there is no reason to get a 3FE over a 1FZ in an 80 series. With better power and torque, the 1FZ is better at everything that might be important for a camping/travelling truck.

The only reason I can see to wanting a 3FE is if you wanted to swap in a 5 speed manual transmission. It's pretty much bolt up with the 3FE, and essentially impossible on a 1FZ-FE.