The Toyota Landcruiser Owners Club

[hodgy0_2]

looking to upgrade from an 80 to a 100 series

most 100s say 7 seater -- can you fit the 8th seatbelt in the rear (believe it or not i often need it)

does the 100 have elockers (diff locks)  on the front and rear axle's

what are the major weaknesses to look out for -- (like electric windows are on the 80 - and the BEB problem)

is the active suspension reliable -- can it be retro converted to a conventional springs dampers etc


thanks guys

James

[Google]

[suvsteve]

hi mate i think the best guy to ask is our duel fuel man wandering willy as he owns a 100 i personaly think the 80 is a bit more robust than the 100 tho i do like the 100 and the look of the 100 from wot i can tell talking to willy the early 100 base models would be a better option as they have less to go wrong and the newer autos have a sealed gear box so you cant change the oil an so on

so willy over to you mate  
_________________
regards steve

you have only one life, enjoy.

[Wandering Willy]

Hi James

As Steve says, the 100 is a different sort of car from the 80. In Australia there are a lot of 105s which has a very similar chassis to the 80 but the body from the 100. However, they don't (didn't) sell them in the UK so we only have the 100 with the independent front suspension.

Now, the 100 has a couple of variations. I have a GX model diesel automatic. This has diff locks on the transfer box and rear axle. I believe that you can fit a locking unit to the front axle but that would be quite unusual. This would be a non-Toyota part possibly using compressed air to operate it so a compressor would be required. You can also fit air operated locker to the rear axle and some of the serious off-roaders prefer this to the electric units used by Toyota.

The GX model doesn't have the self leveling suspension or the sunroof or the electric steering wheel. This means a more basic car but less potential problems. So you would have the conventional suspension with dampers on this model. It's the VX which gets all the bells and whistles. There aren't a lot of GXs in the UK but there are a few.

Then you move on to the petrol engined 100s. These have a 4.7 litre V8 engine and a different system for the diffs from the diesel cars. As I understand it, they use the ABS to control wheel spin. The rear axle may have a limited slip differential as well but not the locking diff.

A further complication is that the second user imports are often equipped like the petrol engined cars even if they are diesel. You have to check carefully with these.

Regarding the third row of seats. They are two seats which mount separately. You might be able to fit a centre seatbelt but it would probably only be a lap belt. I had a Previa with this arrangement giving 8 seats. But the middle passenger wouldn't be as secure as his neighbours if you follow me.

As for weaknesses, the only one I have heard of (with the GX) is that the mounting points for the torsion bar spring which holds up the front end (there is one on each lower wishbone) is that with hard use the wishbone can split or the fixing on the non-moving end can fail where it meets the end of the torsion bar. It the same arrangment as was used on the old Morris Minor in the 1950s and early 60s in case you are familiar with that car. However, failures are only with hard off-road use - it's not a common problem. You can get stiffer springs (bars) and stronger fixings plates plus reinforcing pieces for the wishbones but they come from Australia so they are a bit harder to find here.

The independent front suspension complicates the process of raising the suspension because you need to lower the front diff if you jack the front end up. The back just needs longer springer and dampers. The front dampers are a standard design.

A small point is that I was surprised by the amount of rust under the back end of my car when I got it. It was 5 years old with 58,000 miles. The lining to the rear bumper was pretty rusty (perhaps 3 more years life before the metal began to fall apart). The spare wheel carrier is fairly thick metal but was also quite corroded as were some corners of the floor pan behind the back wheels. So, I spent a few happy hours painting everything with primer and hammerite back in the summer of 2007. It's easier to do that than to replace the rusty metal later and painting it gave me a good feeling!

The diesel engine follows on with pretty much the same design as the later 24V engine from the 80. There is an ECU which manages the injection pump but it's not a common rail diesel (like the D4D). The new V8 diesel in the 200 series is a common rail engine.

The petrol engine is shorter and wider than the diesel being a V8 rather than a straight six so there are a few access problems (like needing to take the rad out to change the timing chain) but these are not big differences. I understand that the petrol cars are all automatic. There are some manual diesels but the automatic is pretty good. My car is an early 2002 with the 4 speed automatic which has a drain port for the fluid but the later 5 speed box doesn't which may be a worry later.

The fuel consumption on my diesel is about 24mpg if I don't use the air conditioning when it drops to around 21. I understand this is a typical figure for the model. It's not as good as the 80. I had my car weighed a while ago and it was 2.9 tons with me and the missus in it plus a few tools (nothing heavy). My car has the standard Toyota tow bar which is pretty heavy (80 - 100kg?). But its a pretty heavy outfit which probably accounts for the fuel consumption.

So, that's my thoughts. if you have any other queries, just ask and I will try to help. Needless to say, I am pretty happy with my car and wouldn't change it for anything else I can think of.

Willy

[wildsmith]

[hodgy0_2]

Guys

many many thanks -- as ever this forum never disappoints (best car forum on the net IMHO)

I think I have done a deal on a W reg VX 4.2TD

150K -- bit more than I was hoping

first impressions were a much more civilised ride - quiter too

hopefully it will go OK -- and I dont regret selling the 80

i'll keep you posted

just one thing -- are you saying that the 2nd row has shoulder seatbelts instead of the lapbelt as in the 80

oh and also the active suspension -- does the car lower itself at speed -- like the RR

oh quick should it go up and down and do all the doors need to be closed for it to operate -- when stationary off course

also clocked the posts re the adjustable steering column -- seems to be a weakness

[wildsmith]

[hodgy0_2]

interesting

wonder if it would be possible to lock it in the low setting for motorway cruising

the range rovers do -- and it does make a difference to MPG aswell as stbility

on that note -- saw a frightening report on Fith Gear re hi speed manouvers in 4X4's

[wildsmith]

[hodgy0_2]

ah OK -- didnt see the sport mode (was quite a rushed first look -- in the dark )

seem to be so many gizmos's

so the sport mode stiffens it all up -- cool

Once again Thxs

[wildsmith]

I just checked the one 3rd row seat I have (drivers side) and as far as I could see there's neither end of a belt for the middle seat.
_________________
Jon m0zxj

01 UZJ100 lifted (AHC & 40mm BL), ARB locked f&r, cryo'd 4.88's, TJM front bumper, 12k goldfish, sliders, rack, snorkel, 35's, storage, aux power etc.
93 HDJ80 sold
94 HDJ80 RIP

[hodgy0_2]

yes thanks Wildsmith -- as i thought -- its the same as tyhe one i was looking at

only two

but I,m sure I have seen 100 series advertsied as 8 seaters -- maybe it was a factory option -- or i coul retro fit one

[wildsmith]

Yes I've seen them advertised as 8 seater as well so at worst you need different back seats. It may be the lap belt was / is hidden somewhere I didn't spot on my single seat.
_________________
Jon m0zxj

01 UZJ100 lifted (AHC & 40mm BL), ARB locked f&r, cryo'd 4.88's, TJM front bumper, 12k goldfish, sliders, rack, snorkel, 35's, storage, aux power etc.
93 HDJ80 sold
94 HDJ80 RIP

[Nor]

There is no problem fitting an eighth seat belt, as long as it is a lap belt only.
I think the problem is the EU regulations demanding a head rest and a three point belt for all.
_________________
2004 HDJ100 AHC Auto 160'km, ex 2000 HDJ100, ex 1997 HZJ80GX Africa edition.

[hodgy0_2]

Hi Nor

thanks for that -- so I could fit a lapbelt -- thats fine as it will be no worse than the 80 I have at the moment

[100rob]

Hi guys, regarding the lap belt in the rear does anyone know what exactly is needed and if the anchoring points are already in place?  The 8th seat would sure come in useful!!  Hodgy, I hope you enjoy your Landcruiser, I can't imagine being without mine, It's morphed into a part of me!!!!!!

Rob