The HDJ81's have arrived!

Nice rigs, no pricing shown??????

Drop me a line for pricing. In most cases the final price of the vehicle will depend on exactly what the customer wants done to the truck in terms of preparation, accessories, and modifications.

Yeah need the price.. also is it legal to register it in the U.S specially CA? I may be interested to purchase HDJ81.
Also all of them come in manual transmission? I just want to know actually i dont have problem with that at all..
Hmmm.... 2 cruisers heh... one left hand and right hand drive.. Definetely....

Unfortunately, importation to the US is not an easy, or completely legal process.

Could you be more specific. After reading through this thread https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=10164 , it does seem difficult to import Japanese cruisers through Canada, but not illegal if done correctly. Does the HDJ81 just not conform to US laws? If so, is it the engine or safety violations. I'm seriously considering one and just would like to know if it's a total pipe dream. Thanks.

Very Interesting

I had not come across this post, but it is very informative. According to article #3:
3.) REST-OF-WORLD IMPORTATION.
a.) DOT. In order for a Cruiser to be imported into the US that was not originally manufactured for the US or Canadian market it must be imported by an RI/ICI and it must be on the list of vehicles eligible for importation. Vehicles make it onto this list one of three ways. First of all the administrator of the NHTSA may deem a vehicle eligible for importation. Second, an RI/ICI may petition a vehicle's eligibility claiming a substantially similar US spec'd model exists. Lastly, an RI/ICI may petition a vehicle's eligibility claiming while no substantially similar US spec'd model exists the vehicle is capable of being modified to meet US safety standards. This last option sometimes involves crash testing three vehicles to prove crashworthiness. Currently, the only Cruisers on the eligibility list are through model 1996. These petitions for eligibility for Cruisers are NOT model specific, they only state Land Cruiser MPV. MPV stands for multi-purpose vehicle and is the designation all SUVs and minivans get. This designation is visible on the manufacturer's tag on the driver side door sill. My BJ70s have all had this MPV designation. Any 60, 80, 70 series short, medium, or long wagon, or 40 series short or long wagon would be eligible for importation under the existing petitions, no pickups. From going through non-US/Canadian spec'd Cruisers I have found very little to not be in compliance with US safety standards. This is because Toyota uses DOT spec'd parts on their lines whether the vehicle is going to the US or not. Things like seat belt supports, safety glass, DOT brake lines, etc. are all already up to snuff. The only things I have found different are minor, like the speedos, high mount rear brake lights, side marker lights, license plate lights, locking glove boxes, etc., all things that can be easily and affordably modified. The only big expensive things are on 9/1/97 and newer manufactured SUVs, there needs to be dual airbags and side safety impact beams.
b.) EPA. Please see #1C.
c.) Other EPA possibilities. From working with my contact at the EPA who was in charge of working with the ICIs who were filing certificates of conformity, there appears to be some other ways to go about emissions. He told me that if I could show that the emissions standards for the country the Cruiser was originally manufactured/certified for were equal to or more strict than the US standards, then testing could be avoided. He also told me that if we could obtain government or manufacturer emissions output information for the Cruiser, such as the emissions certificate of conformity on file in the country of origin, which shows the vehicle's emissions to be within US limits then testing could again be avoided. He also told me he felt that the whole test-every-third might be circumvented if manufacturer proof were provided that no running changes were made to that model during that model year that would affect emissions. On that same token he felt the same argument could be made for same models of different years, again that if manufacturer proof were provided that no running changes were made to that model between model years then testing could be avoided. While he felt these were all possibilities no one has ever attempted to circumvent the testing process by using any of these ideas.
d.) Right hand drive. There was a time when the DOT didn't care, but just recently they ruled that from now on there must be a petition for import eligibility on file for a RHD model. Currently there is only one RHD petition on file and that is for the Nissan GTS/GTR. Rick, I know you say those importers all told you that they would have to convert a RHD Cruiser to LHD. The truth is they told you that because they did not want to go through the hassle of petitioning a RHD model and importing your truck. Since there is at least one petition on file for a RHD vehicle we all know now that the argument CAN be successfully made that a RHD model is as safe as a LHD of the same model. The trick is finding an importer who is willing to petition a RHD Cruiser.
e.) More exemptions. The NHTSA lists on their website import exemptions that go for the EPA as well, such as for show purposes, research, diplomatic service, etc. But for the most part those are temporary exemptions, the vehicles must be shown to leave the country within one year. If you are looking to have a trailer queen trail truck or if you live on a ranch there is another exemption. Vehicles may be imported for off-road use only and be exempt from DOT/EPA. The vehicle can be imported but it CAN'T be licensed/registered for road use, so no plates! This exemption however has its limits. For example, off road diesel vehicles manufactured after 1/1/96 with an HP of 50 to 100 must meet emissions standards and off road diesel vehicles manufactured after 1/1/97 with an HP of 101 to 175 must meet emissions standards. Lastly, there is another option. A vehicle can imported as parts, reassembled, and titled in some states as a home built vehicle form used parts. This loop hole was recently closed down in my state, but in many others this is a real possibility. The requirements for doing this are different in each state, so call your local DMV and ask.

It would appear that with a little work one should be able to import an HDJ81 into the US. Please email off to list to discuss further. I would be glad to support your efforts importing one of these fine vehicles.

MM.

i just picked up an intercooled HDJ81, should be here next month... it iwll be interesting to do a comparrison of how the 2 perform...
cheers

Nice work! Does it have a boost compensator as well?

I am planning to intercool and tweak mine as well. So far there is not much support from the manufactures in the tuning department. There is going to be some trial and error on the dyno!

i have been told that the install was clean, just the way i like 'em...
are you making time for the import round up that Stoney has been talking about?
gotta run,
cheers

What is an HDJ81 I have an HDJ80 that apears to be more ore less the same except mine is RHD

1994 HDJ80 1HD-T Auto VX Leather heated seats vicous coopling ABS cils all around, four discs and so on and so on?

The HDJ81 VX is the turbo-diesel (1HD-T) version of the 80 series TLC. The"81" designation could be a JDM specific model. Where are you located?

rising sun said:

The HDJ81 VX is the turbo-diesel (1HD-T) version of the 80 series TLC. The"81" designation could be a JDM specific model. Where are you located?

Click to expand...

Well mine is a Turbo Diesel 1HD-T 80 and a VX model and it is a HDJ80 all the serial no indicate as such, on chassis etc. I know of no one over here in the UK referring to them as HDJ81 every one accepts them as HDJ80 in fact IMHO if you asked about HDJ81 here no one would know what you were talking about. What is JDM, is it Japanese Domestic Market? On 80’s Cool List most owners of turbo diesel 80’s refer to them as HDJ80 but I have heard of one or two calling them HDJ81, but with no explanation. I would like a good explanation on what the difference is between a HDJ80 and a HDJ81.

Yours, 1994HDJ80 1HD-T

The only thing I can add about the "1" is comparing Luke Porter's '90 HJ61 to my '89 FJ62. I suspect the 1 gave it the 12H-T and some interior improvements like the 40/60 rear split seats and "turbo" upholstry, and maybe the overhead center console with map lights and factory tiltometer. Did not have a high top roof nor PTO stuff. Full-floater rear, 5spd, 24V, driver's suspension seat, but those would probably come with a 12H-T anyways.

eshelbyk said:

The only thing I can add about the "1" is comparing Luke Porter's '90 HJ61 to my '89 FJ62. I suspect the 1 gave it the 12H-T and some interior improvements like the 40/60 rear split seats and "turbo" upholstry, and maybe the overhead center console with map lights and factory tiltometer. Did not have a high top roof nor PTO stuff. Full-floater rear, 5spd, 24V, driver's suspension seat, but those would probably come with a 12H-T anyways.

Click to expand...

Well maybee but The high speck ones over here are the VX models which is what I have and that is an HDJ 80 so the 1 must mean somthing else or just started off as a typing error perhaps, it is not a number that seems to be banded about very much, i am still curious though.

1994HDJ801HD-T

I thought that the 1 usually stood for factory turbos. the BJ70, 74 are N/A the bj71 and 73 are Turbo'd
Same with the hj60 and the hj61 is a factory turbo. I don't follow 80's but I'd suspect it's the same.

the BJ61 is not turbo'd so that shoots down your theory...
sorry.

You know I did think about that on my bike ride today... Since there are fj61's and the hzj81 isn't turbo'd either, have to rule out high roof too. wierd, another LC oddity.