Hello- new BJ42 owner- Australia.

[beejay42]

Introduction..
Hello all, new member here-
I have just finalized the deal on a 1984 BJ42- haven't yet seen it with my own eyes, let alone touched it- but had many long conversations about details and history, and had one of my uncles look over it and test drive it this afternoon.
I am buying it from Brisbane and getting it trucked down to Melbourne- 1400 kms.
It seems to be in really nice shape- no rust- great mechanically, and the only bogged repair apparent is under the sill of the back doors.
Genuine 84,000 kms- imported (from Brazil? Venezuela? Japan??- the previous owner thinks it was imported but doesn't know where from) by an old Italian guy who drove it to the shops twice a week, then owned for two years by a young guy I am buying it off- who as his first car bought it with his father and poured money and love into it. He has hardly driven it himself (didn't have a license for most of the ownership apparantly) and now needs a ute for his tradey apprenticeship. Apparantly it used to be a police car in its country of origin.
heres the couple of photos I have of it




So, it is pretty much stock-
3B, no turbo, 4 speed, no lifts, etc..
original bench seat in front, rear seats removed and mod plated for a three seater (apparantly).
the previous owner put the lights and wheels on it (with a whole lot of nice internal stuff like re-doing the roof lining, sound systems, restoring dash etc,
The tires are Maxxis Big Horns, 33 x 12.5 with offset black sunny rims and some rather overdone custom flares
Tires probably wont pass roadworthy as they stick out too far- but the original split rims and tires (7 of them) are coming with it so I will put those on for roadworthy and see what I want to use after that.


Work I am going to have to do when it arrives to get it past roadworthy,
new windscreen- has a small crack,
it doesn't have a window washer tub installed (has been removed at some point)- under the bonnet the tubes just end, going nowhere- I have to find one at a wreckers, or adapt one from another vehicle - SUGGESTIONS WELCOME
swap tires/wheels,
possibly get a new front left indicator as the plastic is cracking/crazing.
And a few other fiddly little things,

Other things I want to do-
remove stickers-
probably remove the lights at the windscreen, possibly putting them somewhere on the front?
get a second battery for all those lights,
Find and install an original heater as at some point it has been removed- the holes filled and painted over- SUGGESTIONS AND/OR LINKS WELCOME
possibly remove the flares if I settle on 'normal' tires- will see how I feel about them
give it one hell of a cut and polish
and check out what the fuel lines are, and other necessary things, to run this baby on Biodiesel (bought, not made)
(I am not interested in doing any big mods- no lifts, possibly-maybee a rear locker, but thats it- this will be my daily driver)



anyway- not sure when I will get my hands on it- I will be booking the transport tomorrow- just have to find a company that will let me transport a car full of tires/wheels (1 spare Big Horn, and 7 split rims and tires, plus spare parts)- apparantly they do not like to transport cars with anything in them- don't want to be responsible or something...
Now I have to sell my trusty old 74 tricked up but tired transit van- it's a new era

I have been looking for around 6 months for a 4x4- flipping and flopping across many different types. Decided about a month ago on a FJ40- wanted a BJ but just never found any good ones or affordable ones. I was about to buy a lovely green 70' FJ40 (with 79 motor and gearbox) running on duel fuel- NO rust, great mechanically, but just too many things to do for roadworhty- things I don't have the time for- and once considering the work needed to be done, not really that much cheaper than this one I have bought. Found this one- and the amount of effort and work I DON'T have to put into it (that someone- bless him -has already done)- and figured for the diesel, the low K's, the added frills, the 14 year younger car, etc, it was worth the extra few grand (now into debt).

Fingers crossed it turns out to be a good one- I have gambled and not got a professional mechanical inspection- I may be a fool (maybe), but I go with my heart and intuition on these things.

So hi all-
I will have a few questions,
and comments and advice are MORE than welcome (so long as it is not- 'you should have gotten a professional mechanical inspection')

Hans.

[tmarx]

Congrats on a very nice truck

Strange about the 4sp for such a late model

[steverb]

nice and welcome!

[beejay42]

Thanks guys-
tmarx- yeah the 4 speed surprised me too- and that should have been on the list of possible mods wanted-
but I will see how it drives first.
Plus, no matter what I end up doing, just getting it on the road is going to exhaust any funds for a while- so nothing major until next year at least.

[M5driver]

NIce score! and welcome to Mud - from Malawi.

[beejay42]

Transporting is looking to be damn annoying-
standard policy here for every company I have contacted is that there can be NOTHING at all within the car-
You are allowed 'one spare tire and one jack', and the tire has to be secured in a wheel carrier.
Anything that can be removed from the car will be- I am told- at my loss and expense.
They claim it is for occupational health and safety... I am sure it is at least in part to create more freight business.
My wheel carrier is loose- it is an early FJ40 one and there is apparantly a different hole pattern- so it has not been drilled to match yet by the PO- and thus is not on the back of my truck.
So, I am going to have to try to have the spare big horn attatched to the wheel carrier and then strapped down inside the back-hopefully making it look like it is actually bolted down there- and then get the other six split rims and tires (there is seven available but one isn't roadworthy so shall be left- six should do me just fine as well) freighted down by a seperate company. Bloody hassle and more money.
I could just leave a set up there with my uncle and sell it off- but I figure for a couple-few hundred dollars it is worth getting a full set of rims and tires extra.
Anyway,
the truck is paid for, freight of it booked, booked into my local 4x4 diesel mechanics for a roadworty (Guests 4WD), and just have to book the freight of the tires.
Then the waiting game...

[amaurer]

shouldn't an '84 have three windshield wipers and full length sliding rear windows?

[beejay42]

Still got my training wheels on- but I think what you describe is the LX model, with the bench seat in the back...?

[tmarx]

Originally Posted by beejay42

Still got my training wheels on- but I think what you describe is the LX model, with the bench seat in the back...?

Yep

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

Yep, a 1984 BJ42 in Australia with a four speed! While one could buy the "LX" version at the Toyota dealer. Perhaps it is a "one-off" import from somewhere else.

Importing Land Cruisers to Australia from anywhere but Japan is a bit like bringing coal to Newcastle!

Regards,

Alan

-------------------------------------------------------------

Originally Posted by tmarx

Congrats on a very nice truck

Strange about the 4sp for such a late model

[brisveganbj42]

4spd? bummer.. does it have power steering, air conditions and disk brakes too?

you should of just flown up and driven it home.. woulda be a tiny bit cheaper and a heap more fun!

ive done the trip from bne->mel->bne once.. and flew down to drive back a 84 bj42 that had been sitting for 2yrs prior.. got home no problem

well done on the buy!

[beejay42]

The PO did not find out for certain where the old Italian guy had imported it from-
he thought Brazil was a possibility.
It also doesn't have a heater- either it was removed and the holes very well sealed and painted- or possibly it didn't come with one in the first place? (made for somewhere equatorial??)
I am keen to try to figure out the story of it, if possible.

Thanks Brisvegan- It has power steering and disc brakes (front only)- no air con- and as said- no heat.
yeah bummer about the 4 speed- I didn't actually realize it was a 4 speed until I had set my heart on it- TOO LATE! just assumed it would have been 5- oh, well- will have to accept and make the most of the 4 for a while as I look into affordable ways of swapping for a 5...
I have started trying to call around Melbourne and locate a 5 speed box- but no luck yet. Halls 4x4 rekons it is going to be very hard for me to find one- they just sent off a few containers of 40's to the states (you buggers stealing our parts), so are very short on parts themselves.. The bloke I spoke to said I could try to put a 60 series box in (shortening and lengthening drive shafts, and a new hole for shifter I think). Cost from the for a good 60 series box and bits $1,100. More than I am hoping to spend.
I don't know-
If anyone has any suggestions of a good wreckers (or otherwise) where I can source a 5 speed box (and the associated bits needed for a swap) in Melbourne or OZ in general- please let me know.


EDIT- oh, and maybe I should have flown up and driven it down- I just don't really have the time at the moment- and when all the costs add up- the money saving would not have been that great- flight, fuel, food, accomadation, etc- plus spending two days doing it (where I could be working and making money).. plus its is a long drive to take a car on its first run...
but it would have been nice- and fun. If I had known from the beginning about having to transport the tires separately- then I probably would have just planned to drive it down. Too late now.
Cheers.

[lostmarbles]

Welcome Beejay.

I reckon you should wait before getting the 5 speed.

I'm happy with my 4 -speed anyway. And there will probably be more important things to spend your money on.

[beejay42]

Thanks for the welcome Lostmarbles- and good to hear.
I will continue to keep an eye out for a affordable 5-speed- especially if they are hard to find (lets call it a long term project), but ahh...
More important things to spend my money on? LOL, what money?
you are very right.
4-speed will do me for a while whatever happens.
I am just worried about those long drives down to to the great ocean road and SW VIC- don't want the engine screaming the whole way, and want max economy... and ah, I think I am just impatient for my truck to arrive. Its getting picked up monday and may take a week to get here.... its going to be a long week.

[brisveganbj42]

beejay.. there is a guy on another forum (Outer Limits 4x4 Board :: Index) with the username Ray185 who has put a 5spd from a 60 in his FJ and might be able to share some useful info..

Theres a 4x4 club with a large contingent of 40 owners in .vic called 3rd ROCK 4x4 Club - Australia and could help out sourcing parts.. also Matt.mcinnis off this board has been sourcing h55f's and sending them over to the US in the back of troopies..

hope this helps you on your quest.. the 3b is a solid performer.. i love mine!

[beejay42]

Thanks mate,
thats some very useful info.
I've come across both those boards before but haven't joined up or read too heavily.
I'll look and see if I can find any posts by Ray185 about his swap- and join up at both forums- good to know 3rd Rock has a strong VIC membership.
I did a search here for Matt.mcinnis but have come up with nothing- is that his username?

Thanks again.

[HelimanBD]

Very nice MATE !!!!
Good catch and enjoy it.

regards,
HelimanBD.

[brisveganbj42]

Originally Posted by beejay42

I did a search here for Matt.mcinnis but have come up with nothing- is that his username?

my bad.. its matt.mcinnes

[HawkDriver]

Welcome.

Nice rig.

[philclmp]

Hello Beejay.

I thought that if you're shipping within you're own country it would be easier!! I'm based in Ireland and have recently brought a 1982 BJ42 from Globalclassicimports in New Zealand. It came in a 20 ft. container from Auckland via Rotterdam, Holland to Dublin. It's all original, no power steering, no discs but in excellent shape and has heater - you'd need that in Ireland. Don't fret over the 4 speed v. 5 speed box yet. Just enjoy the drive. My 4 speed BJ seems happy at 50mph on the open road!! Best of luck with your buy and hope your happy when you get it!! All the best

[beejay42]

Thanks Philclimp, and welcome. Yeah- bloody shipping... we (the public) used to be able to just put stuff on the trains- cars, cheap freight... now only the big companies can do it. My truck is probably coming down on the train but they won't admit it- they prefer to pretend it is coming on a big semi trailer... Fingers crossed they are not going to give me grief for one Big Horn ratchet strapped down in the back instead of attatched to the wheel carrier- and a couple of spare parts and paperwork wrapped up and hidden under the seat... I'll see how I go without a heater.. I am used to driving a 74' transit van, no heat (removed by a PO for straight six install) , no air con (sliding doors), drum 'brakes' all around, no power steering (keeps my arms strong while the beer belly grows lol)... so even a 24 yr old BJ42 is a couple of steps up in technology It gets cold here, but not that cold. The main thing I would need a heater for is for defrost when it is wet. And, I would probably prefer air-con that heat anyway. I am so curious to start figuring out the story with mine. What size tires are you running? To be practical I need to be looking more along the lines of cruising at or above 60 miles-ph so I can flow with the traffic a little better- 100-110Km speed limit here (62-68 miles). Mines got 33's on it, (and the split rims are something like 31-2) which the PO says keeps it at highway speed. We'll see. BTW, Philclimp, got any photos of your ride?

[matt.mcinnes]

Originally Posted by brisveganbj42

my bad.. its matt.mcinnes

Someone mention my name

Hi and welcome to Mud

Now I have in my shed a washer bottle and motor as well as a 2 heaters complete, a 5 Speed a 4 speed.

Yep it's Matt's mini wreckers

PM sent

Hmmmmm 5 speed really need to chat about this before you spend large.

Also have a number for windscreens $135 I think my last one was, but been a while. mobile service he comes to you too, worth a call even just for a price.
A-Z windscreens 0418 560 956

Matt

[beejay42]

Thanks a lot Matt
will see you this arv.
That windscreen number is great- the cheapest I've found so far was $175 delivered and fitted.

[patches84]

Brazil would be LHD, so unlikely to be from there. If it was an import, I would think Japan. Likely it is from another state and was 'imported' to QLD. Easy to veryfy: take your VIN number to the rego guys and ask them wht the year of first rego was.

As for the 5 speed: you need to be looking for a BJ70 or 73 for the most likely source. I have helped ship most 40 series parts I can find to the US, and there are not too many left to source your gear box from. You will shorten the rear drive shaft approx. 2.5", so it is not a big deal.

What you are after is the top loader from a 40 series, which you can still order from the dealer. The reason for this is that the top loader for a 60/70 series is 2 3/4" further aft (thus the hole in the floor would have to be moved for the shifter). This is not a requirement, just a nicety if you want the shifter to come out the factory hole.

As for your tyre carrier- too easy. What you are after is '76-80 for slight modification or 81-84 for direct bolt-on. You ought to be able to get all that you want from the wreckers. A better option is to get a nice tyre rack from the US (Specter Off Road www.sor.com ) which holds the tyre and an Esky/ petrol can.

As for the wipers, yes, the 3 wipers are only on LX series. I love my LX, and put an LX windscreen on my HJ47 as well to get the 3 wipers. This is an easy re-fit, but it is hard to find the windscreens. I have sent several to the US for the many RHD Cruisers there, but they are not readily available here any longer.

Air con: easy enough. Just need to get the under-dash unit from one with air con, and then get all the under-bonnet air con bits off of a BJ70/73. You can buy a condensor which fits in front of your radiator (remember that your rad is 1 1/4" wider than the pre'81 40 series is, so don't order a condensor without specifying the year).

Enjoy the new rig.

Cheers,

Josh

[matt.mcinnes]

My shed has more space now and Hans knows what it means to be a true Cruiser nut

Great to meet you look forward to your BJ's arrival

Matt