Oh What To Do...?

jamin · 04-09-07, 05:44 PM

Hey,

i'm fairly new here, but have been lurking for a long time, and i have a dilemma. right now i'm and cruiserless, and i've got one in mind to buy, its a 85 hj60 currently located in alberta. its stock, if i buy it, the tranny will be freshly rebuilt along with the t-case, and the motor (12H-T) has around 100k km on it.

now why diesel, i know its been discussed a lot around here, here are my reasons... first off, curiosity... i'd like to do something different, second is reliability, and lastly is fuel price, no diesel isn't cheaper then gas here in arizona, but i am very interested in producing my own biodiesel.

so here's the question. i've got a ball park figure of 10-12k or so to play with after my house sells. the cruiser will cost 5, plus importing it. i'd like to pick up an AXT Turbo kit for it, re-do the suspension (2" lift with 1.5-2" shackles) plus tires... is this at all realistic? i'll be doing the work myself, and i don't have to do the turbo yet. but is it worth it. the body has some rust spots, and who knows about the frame... its been on salted roads for a lot of years...

anyone who's imported... what was your bottom line cost? did you drive it over yourself(or is that even an option) or did you pay a company? do you feel its worth it?

this will be both a DD and a wheeler, though at this point not super hardcore. i'm new the the wheeling world but i've got the cruiser bug, and my career takes me out into the back country a lot (adventure-based counseling!!)

ok, enough unguided blabbing... what does the almighty cruiser consensus think?

jamin

jamin · 04-09-07, 05:51 PM

oh ya, that rebuilt tranny is an H55F, another attraction to the old blue beast

jamin

NocalFJ60 · 04-09-07, 05:54 PM

Welcome

If I imported one from Canada, I would find a nice clean fj60 and swap in the engine into a clean frame and chassis. I wouldn't waste your time on a bad frame. Maybe drive it awhile and look for a clean 60 with with blown engine.

There is more information about importing in the diesel forum.

http://forum.ih8mud.com/diesel-tech-24-volts-systems/76210-importing-threads-first-read-before-posting.html

http://forum.ih8mud.com/diesel-tech-24-volts-systems/

brownbear · 04-09-07, 06:21 PM

If it is an HJ60 it has a 2h engine. Non turbo. The 12h-t is a turbo direct injected engine, sold in the HJ61. If it is a HJ61 then you cannot import it to the USA. HJ61 is an imported vehicle from Japan designed for japan, not Canada.

The HJ60 was sold in Canada. So you can import that one.

The 60's in Canada are rusty. If I ever buy another 60 it will be rust free Arizona rig. And I will just put a diesel in it.

acer · 04-09-07, 06:30 PM

I did import a BJ60 from BC. Relativly little hassle at the border, do your homework however. My frame is rusty, but totally solid. Agree NOTB rigs can be cancerous, but with careful investigation, one can be had. Just dont rush headlong into anything
best of luck
J

OursSauvage · 04-09-07, 06:33 PM

Hi,
You speak about a 85' ... so it's a hj 60 !
But maybe with a engine swap (engine holder have been change)

I wouldn't make a lot of worry about the frame... we also have snow in Europe and never heard someone having a trouble with broken rusty frame. (just know a "60" with big hole on frame, without flexion and coming from Africa !!!)
But the body .... take in mind it's certainly a big amount of rust... everywhere, especially where you can't see !

(That why I sold my hj 61 before arriving in Canada)

brownbear · 04-09-07, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OursSauvage

Hi,

I wouldn't make a lot of worry about the frame... we also have snow in Europe and never heard someone having a trouble with broken rusty frame. (just know a "60" with big hole on frame, without flexion and coming from Africa !!!)
But the body .... take in mind it's certainly a big amount of rust... everywhere, especially where you can't see !

(That why I sold my hj 61 before arriving in Canada)

no the frames get pretty rotten in Canada. They can be rotten to the point it is not drivable.

Snow isn't why they rot. It's the tonnes of salt spread on the highway. Some provinces the cruisers are better than others.

OursSauvage · 04-09-07, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brownbear

Snow isn't why they rot. It's the tonnes of salt spread

Yes, of course

jamin · 04-10-07, 01:06 PM

sorry, i feel like a bit of an ass, its a 60, so it doesn't have the 12h-t, didn't do enough homework i guess... though it isn't the original motor.

this cruiser has spent most of its life in the territories, and much of that was in a barn... between motors...

i think a new body is probably where it will go to if i buy it, last time i was up there it was running well, and as far as i could see the rust is only on the body... rear fenders and such... but granted that was a year ago, and i wanting to lay in the snow to long to check out the frame.

oh and thnx for the importing link, totally the best forum i've yet to find on the subject!

OursSauvage · 04-10-07, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brownbear

Some provinces the cruisers are better than others.

I'm right now in Luna Pier Michigan, near Toledo Ohio...
After 2 days here, I understand more deeply what you mean !
I wash the car already two time to keep it unsalty

The roads are white of salt !