redrangie
05-09-2005, 09:39 PM
well, after much debate, I got an fzj80 to add to the stable. I thought a little comparison might be interesting. If not, :flipoff2:
Body Clearance - fj wins. I had to cut the shiat out of the rrc and lift it over 5 inches (without a body lift - nightmare in itself) to get 33's to fit and have decent clearance.
Engine Complexity- Rover wins. Seriously. The 94 fzj I bought is obdI, but my god, the vacuum controls. It took me hours to track a leak, my guess is because there are so many of the damn lines that there is really little actual vacuum. Carb cleaner just doesn't cut it. Don't even ask about the filtration of fuel and air.
Frame quality - Rover wins. Toyotas frame is like a wishbone, widely spaced (crossmembers) and thinner as well as springier. Cross-members are not boxed, but c channel, if that.
Gear Storage - Toyota wins. While the 80's are the same as an LWB, they put space inbetween the seats and the boot. The seats fold flush and out and are also thinner. 35" spare will STAND UP in the back! with the rear seats (not jumps) in place.
Front suspension - gotta give it to the yota. The arms at the frame side are perpendicular to the frame, allowing better movement. Links are all as beefy as the ones I built for the rover, STOCK. Tie rod is out of the way like rockwares already.
Rear suspension - even. 5 link versus 3 link. I don't think the panhard really does much, but almost no rear steer, and just about the same as my modded set up. beefier stock links, 1.5" on the toy. The rover flexes more with stock components (links)
Axles - no brainer here. Those yota front birfs are frickin huge.
t-case - mine is a bw, and the toyota is a viscous as well, but not quite. The vicous unit on the toy only works without the diff locked. It will not lock via the viscous, it merely performs like an open diff. The diff-lock on the yota disengages the abs, which I don't know is good or not yet. ratio is 2.48 on the yota. I still like the feel and operation of the rover viscous, but that's just me. Rover wins.
Tranny - Rover wins. Manual valve body. Nuff said
Clearance of drivetrain - Rover. you would not believe where the cats are. The exhaust of the yota runs THROUGH the inner fender to the cats, which hang below the body. I never thought I would have to armour an exhaust down tube.
Departure/Approach - Rover. Even before cutting. The fzj is one big biotch. I cut the rear crossmember off and welded on a new one, just to save 5 inches, and it still sucks. Front is about even, but there are some ancilaries that have to be relocated on the toy. The receiver/dryer hangs below the body and is mounted in the stock bumper? WTF?
Brakes - ROVER. better feel, better stopping power. PERIOD. The yota has some weird weight distribution proportioning valve in the rear that I DON'T trust. It's mechanical, but weird. ITTY BITTY master cylinder for such a big rig. Even with ABS, I think it's small.
Parts availability and aftermarket support - Toyota. I gotta say, It's a nice feeling having so much stuff out there, and there are certainly a hell of a lot more toyota dealerships around than Rovers for when you are stranded. Pricing seems about even. Although a wireset for the fzj was 100.00 for a bosch set. and they're even like 6mm.
Electrical systems - Toyota. Not even going to list why here. This is too big a post already.
Looks - Rover. Only because the fj doesn't make Honda drivers nervous. Yet.
Body Clearance - fj wins. I had to cut the shiat out of the rrc and lift it over 5 inches (without a body lift - nightmare in itself) to get 33's to fit and have decent clearance.
Engine Complexity- Rover wins. Seriously. The 94 fzj I bought is obdI, but my god, the vacuum controls. It took me hours to track a leak, my guess is because there are so many of the damn lines that there is really little actual vacuum. Carb cleaner just doesn't cut it. Don't even ask about the filtration of fuel and air.
Frame quality - Rover wins. Toyotas frame is like a wishbone, widely spaced (crossmembers) and thinner as well as springier. Cross-members are not boxed, but c channel, if that.
Gear Storage - Toyota wins. While the 80's are the same as an LWB, they put space inbetween the seats and the boot. The seats fold flush and out and are also thinner. 35" spare will STAND UP in the back! with the rear seats (not jumps) in place.
Front suspension - gotta give it to the yota. The arms at the frame side are perpendicular to the frame, allowing better movement. Links are all as beefy as the ones I built for the rover, STOCK. Tie rod is out of the way like rockwares already.
Rear suspension - even. 5 link versus 3 link. I don't think the panhard really does much, but almost no rear steer, and just about the same as my modded set up. beefier stock links, 1.5" on the toy. The rover flexes more with stock components (links)
Axles - no brainer here. Those yota front birfs are frickin huge.
t-case - mine is a bw, and the toyota is a viscous as well, but not quite. The vicous unit on the toy only works without the diff locked. It will not lock via the viscous, it merely performs like an open diff. The diff-lock on the yota disengages the abs, which I don't know is good or not yet. ratio is 2.48 on the yota. I still like the feel and operation of the rover viscous, but that's just me. Rover wins.
Tranny - Rover wins. Manual valve body. Nuff said
Clearance of drivetrain - Rover. you would not believe where the cats are. The exhaust of the yota runs THROUGH the inner fender to the cats, which hang below the body. I never thought I would have to armour an exhaust down tube.
Departure/Approach - Rover. Even before cutting. The fzj is one big biotch. I cut the rear crossmember off and welded on a new one, just to save 5 inches, and it still sucks. Front is about even, but there are some ancilaries that have to be relocated on the toy. The receiver/dryer hangs below the body and is mounted in the stock bumper? WTF?
Brakes - ROVER. better feel, better stopping power. PERIOD. The yota has some weird weight distribution proportioning valve in the rear that I DON'T trust. It's mechanical, but weird. ITTY BITTY master cylinder for such a big rig. Even with ABS, I think it's small.
Parts availability and aftermarket support - Toyota. I gotta say, It's a nice feeling having so much stuff out there, and there are certainly a hell of a lot more toyota dealerships around than Rovers for when you are stranded. Pricing seems about even. Although a wireset for the fzj was 100.00 for a bosch set. and they're even like 6mm.
Electrical systems - Toyota. Not even going to list why here. This is too big a post already.
Looks - Rover. Only because the fj doesn't make Honda drivers nervous. Yet.