JDM Import HDJ81

[Root Moose]

Has anyone else been lusting at the diesel import Land Cruisers from Japan?

Anyone know much about them?

Internet lore tells me they are pretty indestructible, any one on here have experience?

What's your gut on driving a RHD in LHD traffic? I've driven overseas but never "mixed" like that.

Seats 7-8 and gets better mileage than a minivan... Very tempting.

 

[Richard]

Used to have a guy drive one in to work every day and up around our area, had SSRs on it too, but haven't seen it in a long time. If I see him again I'll try and give him your contact info.

 

[Twinkie]

Yah, shoot, what's his name? Works(ed) on the 5th floor. His wife's name is Tracy. I'm sure it'll come to me. Last I heard he still had it. Maybe he doesn't work there anymore.

 

[Twinkie]

Todd Skinner.

 

[Louis]

I had an import business, all I imported were cruisers from Japan, HDJ81's, BJ74's, HZJ73's etc etc. Lockers, a/c, all kinds of goodies. If interested and serious I can help you out and save you alot of grief.

Regards,

Louis


Email: lshobie@yahoo(dot)com

 

[Grant88]

Ive drivin 2 RHD cars. Wasnt all that bad with traffic. Only part I found really weird was left hand turns through intersections and things like that.
Everything eles including that aswell as driving period (steering, gearbox, gas, clutch, etc) I got confortable with and it didnt bug me. Just takes alittle time adjusting to it...

 

[Root Moose]

Thanks guys.

I'm still kinda on the fence and at the "fact finding" point. There are some other family changes coming down the pipe that will affect what direction the trucks take - mostly seat counts.

Louis, is there such a thing as a 70 series station wagon with a 1HD-T in it and front coil suspension?

Or is there such a thing as a 70 series SW with front coils and a turbo 1HZ?

You see where I'm going with the questions... Love the look of the 70 series wagons but also like coils and and reliable turbo diesels.

Maybe the stuff posted on mud about the diesels in the Prados are overstated? A Prado chassis would be plenty strong for my purposes but there are so many stories about the engines (cracked cylinder heads) flying around it has put me off them.

I understand from Mud that the engines in the Prados are pretty gutless too. I'd like to pull my race car with whatever I end up as well (~2700lb car + ~1500 lb trailer; lets say 5k lbs just to be safe).

May go `81 yet. We'll see. The 80 series is a better highway cruiser, right?

Part of me says that at 15 mpg and 30-40% of the purchase cost of a JDM 80 a built LX450 off of Mud may make more sense. But TD wagons are so cool... and I like the idea of ~25 mpg in a wagon.

Dunno

I'd appreciate any comments.

 

[Root Moose]

Congrats are a little premature... but yeah, the future is looking bright.

 

[Louis]

The 7X series wagon is called an HZJ77, it comes with the 1HZ non turbo engine, no HZJ77's come with a turbo unless it is an aftermarket install. I installed my own turbo and intercooler in my 1HZ powered HZJ79 - it screams now and will have more power shortly when I go to Water/air intercooler and mwth injection. The HZJ77 were leaf spring until 1998 - then they went front coil - you can convert easily if that's a problem.

The prados are a gamble - and most often are shit.

The HDJ81 is great offroad with the lockers, I've owned gassers and diesels - diesel is better on fuel, but both are costly to maintain. The Gasser 80 is 7 passenger, the HDJ81 is 5 passenger.

The main problem wheeling an 80/81 around here is the size - you will dent and scratch it. The 7X series are the best off road, narrow and bare bones, my HZJ79 has 4 relays and a glow plug timer - that's it.

A good HDJ81 all ready to go (I am not selling them) is 16-25K, one that needs 3K worth of work can be had for under 14K. An HZJ77 is rare and they are usually over 20K if you can find them - they sell quickly at auction.

A really good family cruiser is the HJ61, turbo charged from factory, cable locking diffs, a/c, lots of room and a little narrower than the 80/81 - they can be had for cheap - 10-16K, lots of JDM's for sale out west now, market is flooded with 6X, 8X series, the HZJ73 and 77 are sought after.

Hope I didn't confuse you much

Oh, and the 1HZ with turbo is a nicer engine that the 1HDT in my opinion - smoother and feels like more power. I'll dyno mine again shortly.

REgards.

Louis

 

[Root Moose]

Nope, I'm still with you.

So, the 77 is a five passenger truck? They never had third row seats? Is the rear bench in the 77 a good fit for three across or is two people and a third in the middle only when absolutely necessary more realistic? I ask because from photos they look like the rear bench is fairly narrow with a shape that is not going to be that comfortable for the middle passenger. This is the situation I have now with the XJ (narrow) hence the investigating a new truck.

Turbo'ing a 1HZ is a aftermarket kit thing or do you need to fangle it yourself? You did yours yourself? Mud write up? I'm not interested in an R&D project but can weld up some steel tube well enough if I know what components to use.

I thought I saw some HDJ81s with the third bench but maybe I'm confusing different trucks. I guess it isn't a big deal to retrofit provided the "bung" for the shoulder belt is there under the plastic.

I love the 60 series trucks but they are a little retro for me. I'd prefer something more modern with at least front air bags if I can find it. I'm looking for something that is off-road capable but not necessarily a dedicated bush buggy - if that makes sense.

I guess that rules out 70s as well though. Let's call the air bags a nice to have.

I should look up the tow capacity of the HZJ77.

 

[aweber]

I had an import business, all I imported were cruisers from Japan, HDJ81's, BJ74's, HZJ73's etc etc. Lockers, a/c, all kinds of goodies. If interested and serious I can help you out and save you alot of grief.

Regards,

Louis


Email: lshobie@yahoo(dot)com

FJ80 High Pinion Front 3rd wanted :glasses::beer::flipoff:

 

[Louis]

Ya the seat is narrow, pretty much the same as my HZJ79. I fit myself, my 6 year old and my 4 year old in a booster and it is tight.

The HDJ81's don't have airbags. The HZJ77 is a 5 passenger - no third row. The HDJ81 - some had third row - but probably a retro.

There are turbo kits for the 1HZ, all from OZ, my turbo is better, it is an easy install. I have sold the turbos to a few guys.

Tow capacity isn't huge on most 7X series - not sure about the 77 though.

The 1HZ is an awsome engine.

Here are some videos of my truck in various stages of development. And I do have some buildup threads on mud, will try to find them.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=lshobie&search_type=&aq=f

 

[Louis]

Aweber, I just had my front 8 inch rebuilt and ARB installed, I'm looking for a spare Pretty common diff though - should be easy to find.

 

[Root Moose]

Took a look at the tow capacity rating of the `77. I think I will have to go with a `81 because of this.

I guess the `81 makes more sense for what I want to use the truck for.

Thanks for the data! I may contact you directly when I get closer to making a purchase.

 

[Louis]

Ok, no problem. I can direct you to my guy in Japan, he goes right to the auction, takes pics and sends them to you - then you bid if you want it. Or just buy one That's already here - just make sure it has lockers

 

[Dirk]

Louis, how about half-cuts or just powertrains? I would be interested in a 1KZ-TE for my diesel pickup.

 

[Louis]

Not sure about those, I don't know of anyone bringing in cruiser halfcuts to canada. You might be able to get one from a supplier in the USA though - there are guys there bringing in lots of Japanese diesels.

One guy put a 3B in his pickup - and put a turbo on it, that would be a good engine in there - or the 13BT.

With the 1KZ-te you'd need the wiring and all the other bits and pieces, my concern would be sourcing parts - then again you might try:

Dave Stedman at Japan4x4.com He is in Japan and has saved me thousands of dollars. I never buy any big dollar items from Toyota Canada anymore - I get them from Dave. For some reason Toyota Japan charges about 75-50 percent less than Toyota Canada.

He might be able to source an engine for you.

Good Luck!