Value of an 84 BJ60?

[e rock]

I almost hate to ask, but I could use some input. I don't generally follow the prices of diesel rigs since I wasn't expecting to stumble on to one.

Can anyone give me an idea as to the value of an 84 BJ60 with 348K km? I don't know much about it, but I found one for sale and figured I'd ask here before I talked to the seller. It's got a 5-speed, and is bone-stock. I didn't crawl under, but there was NO visible body rust. No bubbling, fading, or chipped paint at all. The only corrosion I noticed was on the chrome strip on the rear hatch. The interior hardly looked used at all. The entire rig seems to have been meticulously cared for with no evidence of leaks. The engine compartment is rather unremarkable with the exception of two relatively new batteries.

I don't know how long it's been in the states or anything else about it yet, but it is currently registered in Washington.


Price range? Other things to look for or ask about? I realize that the mileage could be a concern for things like bearings and such - anything else?

[Fantom]

There are countless things to look for, rust is only one of them. When I bought my truck the outside body looked great, but the genius at the body shop that did the work put new steel over rust and after a year it was bubbling up. There is always the rust on the frame you have to look for, etc. etc. Just to give you an idea, other the the rust problems, mine was immaculate. Lady driven, never off-road, religiously maintained at the dealer that she bought it from (I checked). I paid $9000 (she was asking 12000). At the time the truck had 328000Km. Depending on condition, work done, etc. etc. I have seen them go from $5000.00 to 14000 (around the 350000Km mark). Some of them show it the others have been restored or extremely well maintained. It all depends on countless things.
Good luck.

[Diescipel]

You've got to check the frame carefully, especially the inside of the rail all around the rear wheels. The body sounds good, but is it recent respray?===>BONDO is a possibility. If it has had body work done to get rid of rust watch out unless you can document exactly how the rust was repaired. However, I can imagine a garaged and unabused 60 managing to be relatively rust free especially if the frame was treated religiously--ask about that.

350k kms is probably no biggie for a 3B as long as it has been maintained well. The tranny too. Of course a compression test and test drive is in order. Look for different color smoke and note when it occurs. Some some is normal, other kinds aren't, or they indicate problems. 3B engines are easily turbo'd FWIW.

2 new batteries?? I thought all the Canadian BJ60s were 12v ?

I dunno, we have lots of debates here about value, but I think Fantom is in the right ballpark.

B

[fe sus]

"2 new batteries?? I thought all the Canadian BJ60s were 12v ?"

I have a 12V 2 battery BJ60... at least some of the BJ60's sold up in CA came with 12V dual battery systems. They are just wired in parallel... or is it in series... well, whichever way makes it 12.

[brownbear]

All Canadian BJ60's have dual bateries even tho they are 12v. It has to do with our temps.

I paid maybe too much for my 84 BJ60. I looked for a while tho. I was comfortable at the time with the price I paid, especially comparing it to other 60s. I paid 10k canadian. It had 227k kms. Solid frame(even mostly black factory paint on it). Engine ran very nice. Had all the records back to new. It was a Local calgary truck, spent its whole life there. So minimal rust.

I have had to repair the wheel arches and the rocker panels. I also replaced the front fenders.

The interior wasn't comfortable enought, so I had it totaly re-upholstered.

New suspension...... blah blah blah.

What it comes down to for price for you, it has a USA title, is the body clean(frame too) Mechanicals work. etc....

Shit worn out BJ60s are in the 2-4k price. Sweet nice ones 7-10k price Canadian dollars. For USA title it may add 1-2k ontop of it.

They will be 50 % more than a gasser for sure.

But hey all IMOP. I've only bought one cruiser and it was a expensive BJ60. SO my view is bias.

G-luck.

[cruiser_guy]

I've ripped apart 2-3 3B engines, 2 with about 250,000-300,000km and one unknown. All of them tested to within new specs on the bearings.
The 3B problem to watch for is a cracked head and all of the engines I tore apart had cracked heads!

[e rock]

Thanks for all the info guys. I didn't get a chance to go look at it today, but I'll have to get back there with the new info...

It's actually at a (slightly less skeezy than average) used car dealership. Link with pictures here.

Originally Posted by cruiser_guy

The 3B problem to watch for is a cracked head and all of the engines I tore apart had cracked heads!

Where does it crack? If I do pursue this one, I'll get it checked out beforehand and it would be nice to be able to tell the mechanic what to look for.

Thanks,
Eric

[brownbear]

ah you may never know about the crack untill you pull the head off. From the common knowledge on here and other spots the head cracks may not cause any issues as it is away from coolant passages. But you could do two things to make sure your engine is going to be ok, first compression test. Then you could also do a coolant pressure test.

Nother(3rd) have a oil pressure gauge hooked up and get a idle oil pressure and rev'd one.

But if I could only do one thing it would be compression test. If I could not do any, a cold start in the morning, big drive, lots of hills. watch for blue smoke.

3b's are damm good engines.

But if you want a really good diesel for the usa, also consider a 1HZ swap into a clean FJ60. That to me is waay better than even our JDM imports here. IMOP. we get clean turbo unit, but I like the clean arizona fj's and a nice throughly checked out 1HZ.

I would like to do a 1hz conversion on a late 80 series truck from the usa. 3rd row etc....

[expat]

Tailgate looks a bit rippley (is that a word?). BUt looks like a clean unit. It's all in the frame, engine and tranny anyways. You could likely find one cheaper in Canada, since the JDM's seem to dominate the market now, but hey it's already imported. Low ball the guy... or have a friend low ball him and see where it goes from there.

Good luck!

[e rock]

Well, I'm certainly not in any position to drop $14K on it. Part of the reason I'm asking you guys about value is to get an idea of whether or not it's worth my time to try lowballing. I'll still give it a shot, but the price would have to come down a lot for me to be in the market.

I guess I'm not totally diesel crazy to the point that I need to have this. I'd love to have it if it were cheaper, but in the same price range, my wife would rather have a 96ish FZJ80. And I'd be shopping for a 98 CTD Dodge tow rig.

[brownbear]

yah I don't know what that one would go for in the USA.
In canada, it would not be 16k canadian, maybe max 11k, which it 9.5k to 10 usa

what I would do, take a flash light, ask the dealer if you can pop open the rear interior covers on the sides of the cargo area, look in towards the wheel arches, if it clean cool. BUT IF it is rotten its min 600 in parts. next concentrate your frame insp around the rear shock upper tube mount.

For that kind of money, it may be best to import your very own Bj60 or Hj60 from Canada or make your own, get that clean 60 and put a rebuilt diesel or certified JDM engine in.

Not saying that unit is no good, but I would try to get more around the 10 mark.

[Diescipel]

It seems like they at least know that a diesel LC is not the usual fare in the US and is a highly sought-after option, so it might be hard to talk them down. That being said, I think $14k is on the high side but $10k might be okay if I REALLY wanted a 60 series diesel. I got my BJ42 for $8300US, then had to import it (total over $9000). But I really wanted one. Mine wasn't nearly as cleen as this, but it had the Aqualu etc.

Otherwise I was thinking you could go in with the usual put-downs about diesels--they're slow, stink, smokey etc. You could also talk about the mileage being so high and gee it might just not have many miles left in it Maybe some comparables with FJ60 sales and argue that a diesel is not worth 2x the price.

I personally would go with BB's suggestions. If you can do a diesel swap in WA legally, you could end up coming out with a much better truck in the end for the same $$$ but more of your time. Otherwise, FZJs are frankly awesome (seen all the stuff in the last two or three Toyota Trails?) but of course would be better with a diesel heart...

.02
B

[cruiser_guy]

Originally Posted by e rock

Where does it crack? If I do pursue this one, I'll get it checked out beforehand and it would be nice to be able to tell the mechanic what to look for.

Thanks,
Eric

It would crack between valves but like others have said, generally that is not an issue. Opening it up and looking may very well make it an issue though and you don't want that! Once the tension is off of the head the crack can grow and become a problem.