1994 FZJ80 Import (1 Viewer)

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Joined
Apr 10, 2008
Threads
4
Messages
26
Location
Saudi Arabia
Hello everyone! I need some advice and all opinions are welcome. I have lived in Saudi Arabia for six years and acquired a 1994 80 series Land Cruiser a few years ago. Since then, I have spent time replacing worn components, interior parts, and doing general maintainance like a front axle rebuild, brakes, etc. It has some foreign-only options such as the H151f 5 speed manual transmission, part time transfer case, rear full floating axle (with drum brakes), console refrigerator, rear AC, and OEM dual fuel tanks. We take it on desert trips all the time and everything works well. It has the 1fz, but is unfortunately a carbureted version (recently rebuilt the carb). It has about 142, 000 miles on it (converted from km). I have added front LED lights in the front bumper, a Prinsu rack, and White Knuckle sliders.

We are at the point of leaving Saudi Arabia at the end of this year. Given the 25 year import rule and the fact that I've fallen in love with the vehicle, I am seriously considering importing it back to the U.S. A major bummer is that it has the carburetor and would live in Colorado, so I might have to do an EFI conversion. So, given all that information, would you go to the effort of importing it? For those with experience importing a vehicle, do you have any advice?
 
@John Young may have some insight, as he has imported a few trucks from that part of the world.
I'd do it without hesitation. You won't be able to buy anything like it in the states. LHD with manual transmission and no rust most likely. I don't doubt that you could find a ready buyer almost instantly. The cost from UAE to the US was roughly 3K US for the international transport and another 1K for internal US transport. I'd think it would be about the same from KSA.

Post some photos--there's always interest in seeing the differences. Cloth seats for example.

Regarding the engine, you've got plenty of options. Personally I'd consider a Toyota diesel swap as I've recently fallen in love with them. Just don't do it in KSA because you won't be able to import to the US unless the original engine configuration is maintained. The regs are really clear on that.
 
Thank you! I will definitely post up some pictures. It is in pretty good condition and I've done quite a but of "restoration" type work on it. If you don't mind, I'll PM soon to ask about shipping agents you've used, John, or if you want to, post them here. I'll have a chance to get some photos organized this weekend.
 
Hi Slink, I used Leader Relocations in Dubai. I think they may only be operating in the UAE. Do call Ms. Jing and feel free to mention that I referred you.

Jing Sambas
International Move Consultant
Leader Relocations LLC
Tel: +971 4 885 2204 | Fax: +971 4 885 0724
Toll Free: 800-MOVERS (668377)
autoship@leaderrelocations.com
 
I’ll be shipping a ‘94 FZJ75 pickup or “chass” as they are called here in the next year or so. It has the same engine. Of course mine will be going back to Alabama so no issues with emissions. I did get one shipping quote already from Schumacher Cargo. They have an office in Jeddah. Quote was door to door; Riyadh to Atlanta and was something around $6k. I’m sure I can do better as another expat told me you can ship two in a 40’ container for around $6500.

Good luck!
 
Thanks for the infomation. $6k sounds a bit steep to me; not sure if that would be worth it. I looked at Schumacher Cargo, too, but didn't get an estimate yet. I'm in Dammam. You work in Riyadh, I assume? If you find any other shipping companies that look OK, please post up and I will do the same.
 
I’m actually at the Dammam airport headed back to Riyadh right now. I live in Riyadh but work mostly up north near Turaif and sometimes in Ras al Khair.

That quote again was door to door. I’m sure if you drop off and pick up at the ports and/or provide your own US customs broker that number will come way down. Of course that doesn’t mean you’ll spend a lot less if you add it all up.
 
I think starting in 2000 they started installing the 1FZ-FE in the Land Cruiser pickups. You could probably get one of those engines in KSA to swap in as cheap as trying to convert to fuel injection. You would need the wiring harness and ECU. Not sure what else would be necessary.
 
I think starting in 2000 they started installing the 1FZ-FE in the Land Cruiser pickups. You could probably get one of those engines in KSA to swap in as cheap as trying to convert to fuel injection. You would need the wiring harness and ECU. Not sure what else would be necessary.


Engine swap would be a red flag getting thru custom. Probably figure a way to import separate but then the cheap labor would be gone.
 
Engine swap would be a red flag getting thru custom. Probably figure a way to import separate but then the cheap labor would be gone.

I thought of that but then considered that it would be the same engine as the US 80 series. Probably not worth the risk.

It's not clear to me what the OP's issue is with the IFZ. I don't think it takes a fuel injected engine to pass emissions - now that I've given it a bit more thought.
 
My issue with the current 1FZ is about driving it at a variety of elevations back in Colorado. In my experience tuning a carb to run correctly at elevations between 5000 ft and 13000ft doesn't work very well. There is an altitude compensator that can be added to the carb (some South American 1FZ-F engines have it). I think it would go through customs/emissions fine with the carb since that was the OE provided intake setup. I wouldn't do the swap (of any kind) here in KSA, despite the cheap labor. I wouldn't want to risk trying to import a vehicle that had an engine swap. I would consider getting it to the US and then doing an engine swap, though, partially because my county doesn't have emissions requirements.
 
Schumaker Cargo got back with me. The quote is similar to the one you received, around $6k. That's in closed container and they allow you to put some things in the vehicle/container. The quote also included things like port fees, processing, etc. A few other companies I've contacted responded that they are "not currently shipping from the Middle East."
 
Schumaker Cargo got back with me. The quote is similar to the one you received, around $6k. That's in closed container and they allow you to put some things in the vehicle/container. The quote also included things like port fees, processing, etc. A few other companies I've contacted responded that they are "not currently shipping from the Middle East."

We ship a lot of products out of RAK and right now insurance rates are sky high in the Arabian Gulf. Schumaker ships out of Jeddah so they aren't impacted by the current events in the east. That said, I would hope I could find a cheaper rate when the time comes.

What's your timing?
 
We ship a lot of products out of RAK and right now insurance rates are sky high in the Arabian Gulf. Schumaker ships out of Jeddah so they aren't impacted by the current events in the east. That said, I would hope I could find a cheaper rate when the time comes.

What's your timing?


If I ship it will be in June 2020. We might also have some household goods being shipping so a private container might be a good option. I wouldn't want to be shipping millions of dollars worth of cargo on the Arabian Gulf right now, either.
 
If I ship it will be in June 2020. We might also have some household goods being shipping so a private container might be a good option. I wouldn't want to be shipping millions of dollars worth of cargo on the Arabian Gulf right now, either.

That might work well for you; especially if your company helps on the household goods.
 
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Finally some pictures. Some from our last dune trip. Sorry about the delay. It's been a busy fall season!
 

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