Help on Buying a BJ70

[Vicm]

I have been looking for a BJ70 to buy for a while.
There might be chance on this one.
I would appreciate any feed back. Actually if all goes well , I plan to buy it for the wife (with 4 kids) as a daily driver for about a year , then keep it for myself and buy her somthing else.
I am not really knowlageable about the 3B so , please tell me what questions to ask and what to look for and if this is a good idea( the wife thing).
Not sure about the year.
This has 380 Km with new injectors,tires and suspension.
I will post more info and pic If I decide to go and look at it.
The price seems very reasonable to me (about 1/2 the average price I am used to see on those).
Thanks in advance for inputs.
Vic

 

[arcteryx]

wife + 4 kids will be tight, if not impossible if they use car seats. I could get my family in it, but we only used 2 car seats and the middle seat was very uncomfortable for that child. it was only used on short jaunts. And you have to climb back there to buckle each kid gets old fast. I'd suggest getting a BJ/HJ60. Should be a lot in your area.

FWIW, the seller has almost posted it here (twice IIRC)

 

[crushers]

to be blunt,
who cares how good the deal, a 70 short wheel base with 4 kids is just dumb. those are tight with just 2...
a 77, 80, 81 even a 60 is a better choice...

buy here a 4wd car or van and be done with it. if you want to buy it for yourself then go for it...

yah, yah, "i have 10 kids and haul them in a 70 everywhere" bully for you, i pity the kids and wife...

 

[roscoFJ73]

And on top of that the 3B is slower than the 2nd coming of Christ
Of course they are a great offroader but they are really for the hopelessly devoted fans.

If you go ahead with it,make sure the wife knows exactly what she is in for and make sure the body isnt full of filler.
You might also want to take a look at the turbo diesel Pajeros 4dr

 

[Eric Winkworth]

And on top of that the 3B is slower than the 2nd coming of Christ
Of course they are a great offroader but they are really for the hopelessly devoted fans.

If you go ahead with it,make sure the wife knows exactly what she is in for and make sure the body isnt full of filler.
You might also want to take a look at the turbo diesel Pajeros 4dr

hahaha

It depends on the wife and kids, my girlfriend loves the cruiser, but that being said she never drives it.... I wouldn't want people climbing into my back seat everyday, it really is a hassle.... I bought this truck for me a partner and gear....

 

[2rivers]

That's a classic post there ROsco!!!

 

[Devils Paw 80]

Check the frame thoroughly for cancer, along with the wheel wells, roof gutters, etc. There's no question that it's a poor choice for a family car, especially with new lift springs. The 3B is a great engine, abeit quite slow. But then it's a Toyota so you're expecting slow, correct? I loved driving mine. If it's in decent shape for a good price- what the heck- buy it.

 

[jipstyle]

Hey guys,

This is quite funny. I saw the ad for this exact BJ70 on my local (Halifax, NS) kijiji and while doing research into land cruisers, BJ70s, and their diesel engines, I found your forum. Then I found this post and recognised the photo.

Eric: did you go take a look at the truck? I'm in Halifax and I don't want to drive out to Wolfville unless there is a good chance that I'll buy the truck. Any comments?

I'm not even sure it is still for sale .. .. but I hope so!

Cheers,

jp

 

[Eric Winkworth]

just look it over really well, get under it and just look at everything.... frame and body mounts expecially...

if it looks decent, keep it well oiled and get a pyro and stay in a normal egt range, keep the cooling system clean, and you should be able to drive it a good while longer....

 

[seapotato]

yeah what he said. RUST. check everything, and if you can live with the amount it has, then maybe take it for a drive.

And fwiw, my girlfriend loves driving the 70 too, yeah it's kinda slow, but compared to some thing it's not so bad.
Think I might actually prefer the slowness, with a faster car I tend to get in the" fast lane, passing people , in a rush" sorta mindset, with a slow ass 3b, chill in the slow lane, finish the coffee before work.

Cant imagine 4 kids in it tho. I'm not sure why I even have the back seat in it anymore, not like anyone ever sits back there. Just dogs and they don't use the seat, it's been flipped up for the past 2 years.

 

[Eric Winkworth]

And fwiw, my girlfriend loves driving the 70 too, yeah it's kinda slow, but compared to some thing it's not so bad.
Think I might actually prefer the slowness, with a faster car I tend to get in the" fast lane, passing people , in a rush" sorta mindset, with a slow ass 3b, chill in the slow lane, finish the coffee before work.

It really is true isn't it, driving my cruiser definitaly puts me in a very chilled out headspace.... it's a great around town truck, and it obviously loves backroad and offroad driving.... not much of a 401 truck tho!!!

 

[gilghana]

To be honest with four kids I would be looking for anything other than a SWB. I would forget it! Size of kiddies car seats these days you have to almost have two rows!! Subaru or something if it has to be a 4by? Or like Wayne says why not get a full sized 60 or whatever... My GF also loves our 78, but I sneakily suspect that she loves our old Defender in way the troopy will never be...
Gil

 

[Eric Winkworth]

I'd say you have the right dream, but there is a reason they make so many different cruisers... spend the money get a nice JDM and love it for your life... (if you take care of it, and don't get one with some new powerful motor that needs BEB and heads every 150000)

 

[Radd Cruisers]

Yep, its not a six person vehicle, but I owned several and they are fun to run around town in.

 

[Vicm]

First thanks to all of you for the feedback,
That one I believe was sold. I found another one for sale , when contacted the guy , he said he is going to keep it.
I am used to slow driveing. I had 2 Toy trucks with 22r and another one with 22re.
Also I still have my Fj40.
I was worried about taking 3 kids in the rear seat. This would have been for a short term only , so i wanted to hear your inputs.
I am going to put a diesel in the 40, and be done with it. The wife will have to choose whatever car she likes.
If I ever sell my 40 , I will look for a bj70, but I think I will get one shipped from the far east.
The problem with the 40 is driving in the hard rain , which is very common here, is just not working out.
Thanks for the advices, keep cruising.
Vic

 

[Eric Winkworth]

First thanks to all of you for the feedback,
That one I believe was sold. I found another one for sale , when contacted the guy , he said he is going to keep it.
I am used to slow driveing. I had 2 Toy trucks with 22r and another one with 22re.
Also I still have my Fj40.
I was worried about taking 3 kids in the rear seat. This would have been for a short term only , so i wanted to hear your inputs.
I am going to put a diesel in the 40, and be done with it. The wife will have to choose whatever car she likes.
If I ever sell my 40 , I will look for a bj70, but I think I will get one shipped from the far east.
The problem with the 40 is driving in the hard rain , which is very common here, is just not working out.
Thanks for the advices, keep cruising.
Vic

the same thing just happened to me, I wanted a b2600i that I had been drooling over for a couple weeks... I contact the guy and now he wants to keep it.... people...

 

[roscoFJ73]

the same thing just happened to me, I wanted a b2600i that I had been drooling over for a couple weeks... I contact the guy and now he wants to keep it.... people...

Is that a Mazda? I didnt know people drooled over Mazdas

 

[jipstyle]

Yep, that one sold rather quickly and sadly .. not to me.

I don't mind driving slowly .. my current rig is a CJ5 with an antique inline-4 that makes 80hp on a good day. With a stiff following wind, I can almost do highway speeds!

I'll keep looking .. thanks for the info, guys.

 

[Eric Winkworth]

Is that a Mazda? I didnt know people drooled over Mazdas

a rust free b2600i (extended cab) with a 2.6 litre engine (same one they use in lift trucks) 197000km's for 1500 OBO. 5spd 4x4.... what's not to drool over man? A friend of mine's has 400000km's on it and other than being rusty... it still works great.... Some Mazda's were great until ford got there hands on it... i've always like b2600's

You should see the factory manifold on those trucks, it looks like a header....

good little big truck

 

[roscoFJ73]

a rust free b2600i (extended cab) with a 2.6 litre engine (same one they use in lift trucks) 197000km's for 1500 OBO. 5spd 4x4.... what's not to drool over man? A friend of mine's has 400000km's on it and other than being rusty... it still works great.... Some Mazda's were great until ford got there hands on it... i've always like b2600's

You should see the factory manifold on those trucks, it looks like a header....

good little big truck

I guess we are spoiled down here. We can get about 6 japanese trucks in this class .
Most people drool over the Hilux or Navarra or Rodeo(isuzu)
The mazda is the ugly fat gal of the bunch,although they scored surprisingly well in the 4WD Action ute of the Year competition.
I think the mazdas are all diesel now with 2 engines to choose from or if you want a gasser,you buy the Ford Ranger(rebadged mazda)