1985 BJ70 restoration candidate ?

[Madogeoff]

I am looking at a BJ70 as a possible frame off job. It has stuff going for it and some not so good, and I think it is way over priced. Can you give me a reality check, should I walk away? The good; Excellent rear frame welding repair two years ago, new 55 rebuild, great batteries, new windshield, good new custom exhaust, brake and fuel lines. Bumpers replaced with simple but utilitarian metal and hooks, newish tires and aluminum rims, stock ones 'thrown in'... drives good. The bad; Heavy oil leaking around oil pan and probably elsewhere, burns or and leaks half a quart between fill ups, fumes in cab, 400,000 some kl. (240,000 miles) old and worn suspension links, shocks and springs. Brackets from frame rusted out that hold side steps, interior is rough with missing panels and knobs. The ugly; repainted two years ago green, looks good at a distance but usual rust working through along windshield frame, back along roof, and quarter panels.Doors good,but rubber seals gone along bottom. Back rear panels badly spray foamed and bondoed. Major body work in all probability. I can do body, but I suspect engine needs overhauling. Wants $6,500. I think even 5,000 is too much considering what else is out there. Anyhow, I'm going through the thinking of what it needs, and what I do. It is good on fuel, is a "Light Duty" Cruiser, and utilitarian enough. My heart says yes, my gut no. This is the fourth Cruiser I have checked out and driven. What thinkest thou...? Thanks for considering this for me.

 

[jake2far]

I have done what you are contemplating. The frame is probably gone from rust. If the back frame was bad enough to need rebuilding it is a good bet the rest of the frame is rusted from the inside out.
If you purchase it and you do a frame off purchase a new frame (new to your rig) get a good one from a 70 or a 74 which can be shortened to fit, Sheldon at G&S cruiser had or my still have 1 from a 70 and 1 from a 74, have it galvanized.
If the rig is missing small parts and needs alot of misc stuff with a bad frame the price is to high.
Contact me at jake2far@hotmail.com and I can send you pics and info about what you are getting into.
Good luck.

Jim

 

[crushers]

your in Ontario,
why not do a drive up and we can chat...
cheers

 

[lshobie]

Too much money for a truck that needs EVERYTHING. Buy it for 1500-2000 and then buy a JDM LJ70, do a conversion and your are done.

Or, buy it and put 10-15K into it to get a truck that will rust out again in 3 years.

Been there done that.

 

[Madogeoff]

Thanks Guys, I might not have looked at this BJ70, except that it was local. So it is really not a good candidate considering the extent of decay and I'm getting a little to old to waste my time on something that might not last, also I tend to drive a little hard and go places that in retrospect, would break this frame weakened little "chariot". The search continues, I'm impatient but not in a rush. Thanks for the time and effort to consider and reply to my questions. Best timing for me would be late fall, I'm being flexible, to a degree, but I would prefer LHD, diesel, a pick up would be grand, but a trailer could be used with other rigs like a BJ40. Crushers, love your restoration, but I can't figure where you are in Ontario from your site, Can't be far being 519 area code....Cheers

 

[crushers]

just look up Tara and you are 5 mins away...

 

[gofast]

Sounds like a parts tuck to me. Do a buy and sell or craigslist search here in BC and you'll find much better for the price. At the $6500 you can by clean FJ80 and still afford the diesel and tranny swap for what you'd have to put into the truck to get it right. Your could also by a pretty clean 73 series. The 6500 plus what you'd spend in restorations would get a fantastic 73 or 74.

 

[crushers]

ummm, i have just recieved some new information from Japan about vehicles over 15 years old.
there is now a program in Japan (similar to the one i have mentioned before here in Canada) where vehicles traded in to dealers are now being crushed instead of put back up for sale in auctions and dealerships. (read Cash fo Clunkers program).
what this means to us is higher cost to purchase, smaller selection to chose from, plus higher yen trade = much more expensive to purchase 15 year old vehicles in Japan.

heads up.

 

[lshobie]

ummm, i have just recieved some new information from Japan about vehicles over 15 years old.
there is now a program in Japan (similar to the one i have mentioned before here in Canada) where vehicles traded in to dealers are now being crushed instead of put back up for sale in auctions and dealerships. (read Cash fo Clunkers program).
what this means to us is higher cost to purchase, smaller selection to chose from, plus higher yen trade = much more expensive to purchase 15 year old vehicles in Japan.

heads up.

I'd say for the average car and others that sell for cheap at auction - they will be prime candidates for the program, but something like a cruiser that someone can get good money for at auction - they won't send them out for a crushin, wouldn't make sense.

The worst part is the Yen though, I have bought a bunch of things from Japan recently and it is kicking my ass.

 

[Madogeoff]

Southpaw Importations ( to the tune of Good Vibrations)

Crushers, I know the area around you pretty good, I will have to visit sometime in the next couple of weeks when I am up that way again...too bad about the Jap imports going up in price, and driving on the wrong side of the road issues, ( due apologies to my allies) ...do you also import southpaws from africa, middle east or europa. Are there businesses in Canada that convert to left hand drive like they commonly do in Bolivia ? Just wondering about the lay of the land, thanks.

 

[crushers]

mandated, no choice...

I'd say for the average car and others that sell for cheap at auction - they will be prime candidates for the program, but something like a cruiser that someone can get good money for at auction - they won't send them out for a crushin, wouldn't make sense.

The worst part is the Yen though, I have bought a bunch of things from Japan recently and it is kicking my ass.

 

[crushers]

first, i have looked into Europe and Africa but finding decent rigs is hard.
I would not recommend anything from South America since all i have seen so far is crap, s***, and puke from that area.
you could buy a gasser 80 from USA and convert to diesel but NOT CHEAP for a decent conversion. talk is cheap till the bill comes in or the quality of work is examined.
doing a LHD conversion on a RHD vehicle is not easy or cheap at all, unless you want to do the pull and fan belt conversion as seen on some jeeps.
i can do all the above but what i would suggest, unless you have already done this, is try a RHD for an hour drive or so and see how easy it really is.

i have heard it all, seen it all and NOTHING about Cruisers done right is cheap. simply said; go cheap and regret it.
we will chat when you get here, be ready to buy me coffee...
cheers

Crushers, I know the area around you pretty good, I will have to visit sometime in the next couple of weeks when I am up that way again...too bad about the Jap imports going up in price, and driving on the wrong side of the road issues, ( due apologies to my allies) ...do you also import southpaws from africa, middle east or europa. Are there businesses in Canada that convert to left hand drive like they commonly do in Bolivia ? Just wondering about the lay of the land, thanks.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

Hi Crushers, You mention the difficulties associated with importing from Japan, The Middle East, and Africa but what about Australia and New Zealand? .................1978HJ45

 

[crushers]

he was asking about LHD units...
i have a contact in Oz that has just shipped me a beautiful 75 series troopie but it took almost 6 months the get the bloody thing here.
remember, LC are Oz work vehicles similar to our ford and chev trucks so you must take care where and what you purchase... there is no recourse once it arrives here.
cheers

 

[Gun Runner 5]

My Bad......I did not notice the LHD part. I simply assumed that based on the large number of Cruisers in that region that importing them would be no more difficult than importing from Japan but I did not take in consideration the condition of available vehicles. Take care...........1978HJ45

 

[lowenbrau]

Mine has a decent frame at least. Come and get it...$1500

Scroll down in this thread

https://forum.ih8mud.com/70-series-tech/201486-where-find-left-hand-drive-70-a.html

 

[crushers]

and i have a decent RHD body to sell... between the 2 you could end up with a nice truck...