1994 Japanese Spec Diesel Cruiser In Palo Alto

[lowenbrau]

I'll comment on this, having been involved in a 40 series swap and currently planning a 70 series one and investigating an 60 series.

The 40 was a fairly easy prospect but it did require a lot of parts from the donor.

The 70 is going to be a total pain in the butt and effectively the same amount of work as chopping a car in half and welding it back together. The firewall cannot be effectively removed and replaced (as in the 40 series) without much custom fabrication in order to make the vehicle not look like it was bodged together. The steering column, steering box, drag link, tie rod are all different. The dash, heating/airco system, peddle assembly, brake and clutch slave, also different.
Wiper assemblies, headlamps as well.

A swap over involves taking two rigs, chopping them behind the A Pillar and swapping the front clip. This leaves one good rig and one big pile of mostly useless (in this region) parts.

I'm not surprised to see costs exceeding $10,000 for an 80 series.

 

[Stone]

So Bruce...if you had $10k to spend any which way you like on a RHD 80 series that you already owned, would you spend it on a conversion to LHD steering or on mods that would actually increase performance and capability? Would be a no brainer for most of us, I think.

Kalawang: I hear what you're saying. The visibility is diminished driving a RHD vehicle in NA (right lanes) in certain situations. It's only more dangerous if you don't take those factors into account and not be more careful. Most RHD drivers are aware of that, compensate for it and therefore reduce the risk of the situation. It's not for everyone...but when you consider that the RHD Cruisers that are being imported were never originally made available here, and how mint most of their conditions are, those are some of the reasons why people like me are more than happy to become competent RHD drivers.

 

[semlin]

"you can hang back enough to see before swinging out, but that also encourages others to pass you when you make enough space."

In Stone's case the folks behind him already have enough encouragement to pass him from their keen desire to avoid inhaling the pungent diesel aroma he emits.

seriously, I agree with everybody Driving RHD in LHD land can be dangerous, but a reasonably attentive and competent driver can largely negate those dangers. What you are left with is a vehicle slightlier trickier than the norm

Put another way, it is relatively more dangerous to drive a 20 year old landcruiser on the highway compared to a brand new Porsche Cayenne, based on their relative handling and braking characteristics, but that does not mean we should all drive Cayennes, or does it?

 

[Stone]

"you can hang back enough to see before swinging out, but that also encourages others to pass you when you make enough space."

In Stone's case the folks behind him already have enough encouragement to pass him from their keen desire to avoid inhaling the pungent diesel aroma he emits.

That's why you don't wheel with me anymore. I'm going to get you to love that smell yet. If you think mine's bad, you should drive in a trail behind Greg in Das Poo Vagen.

Cayennes are not where it's at...give me a 911 of any vintage any day.

 

[Greg_B]

My experience with wrong side driving was very uncomfortable but managed safely. I prefer to drive without any disadvantage.
Kalawang

As in most situations in life, if you think it is an issue, it will be. This is your experience, so then RHD is not for you. Again, my experience (and many have relected the same to me) it that is has become amazingly seamless for me to go back and forth. I truly am suprised as I thought it would be "different" even after a while. It is my experience that I have no huge disadvantage, and in certain situations am at an advantage. When I am at disadvantage I go into Cruiser time. Signage is not an issue as Crushers pointed out, I don't tailgate in LHD or RHD as a rule so I have good visbility. I work in a profession which sees the results of driver error. I am likely a more defensive driver because of this, not matter if I am in a LHD or RHD vehicle.

I like it~

I have driven RHD in RHD countries, LHD in LHD countries, and now RHD in a LHD country. For me it has been a couple of days to adapt, and you're golden. This has been my experience so far anyway...

gb

 

[Kalawang]

Lowenbrau,


I was thinking of 80 to 80. As much as I can see from my Japan sourced LC80 and the locally assembled 80's, parts seem to be the difference. I'm pretty sure that if I could spend the money, I could re-assemble my Japan 80 into a Philippine 80 albeit as a deisel. Apparently the deisel 80's haven't been locally distributed except as a Japan convert.

I'll try to take some pictures of my conversion without taking my car apart, and put them in a new thread in the near future.

Stone and Semlin,

I doubt that I myself would spend $ 10,000 for a conversion. We get that kind of thing done for far less, but only by using the parts that came with the car and a lot of cutting measuring and re-welding. I also have a camry made in Japan for the Philippines, and the car is a joy to drive. However I like my clunky old cruiser more.


Kalawang

 

[lowenbrau]

So Bruce...if you had $10k to spend any which way you like on a RHD 80 series that you already owned, would you spend it on a conversion to LHD steering or on mods that would actually increase performance and capability? Would be a no brainer for most of us, I think.

I am also one of those who can switch seamlessly between left and right hand drive Cruisers. I have a harder time adjusting between GMC and Toyota. If all things were equal I would not spend more than $500 extra to get e LHD rig. Its not that easy though. You have to consider resale, maintainance, and worst of all, having to talk to any stanger who thinks your car is 'weird' That alone is reason to stay left.

I'd be happy to take on a swap project for anybody. The best thing is likley to buy a LHD rig and update it with all the JDM goodies. If you are a US buyer its likley the only reasonable way to own an HDJ81 or HJ61. Canadians have the option of just buying a RHD rig and driving it. That's what I'd do.

 

[Stone]

...and worst of all, having to talk to any stanger who thinks your car is 'weird' That alone is reason to stay left.

LOL...amen, brotha! I don't even make eye contact anymore because I'm so sick and tired of having to explain the whole thing to people.

 

[Stone]

Kalawang:

FWIW, I'm going to be in the Philippines from July 12-20 for my grandmother's 90th birthday, and I'm hoping that I'll be able to glean some information on what's available for export from the Philippines. I have lots of relatives who are businessmen back home and I think they would be able to ship something to me if I find something in great shape and reasonable cost.

It will be my wife's first time there, so I don't know if we're going to have much time looking for Cruisers. I might just have to put it off until the next time I go back there.

 

[crushers]

the one that gets me is the old "isn't that illegal?". i had that one again today, this guy comes up and tells me as i get out of the LJ that "your vehicle can not be diven on Canadian roads!!" i try to explain it to him and he gets even more upset...
as i walk away i just shake my head...

 

[Stone]

...this guy comes up and tells me as i get out of the LJ that "your vehicle can not be diven on Canadian roads!!" i try to explain it to him and he gets even more upset...
as i walk away i just shake my head...

Wayne:

Don't you find it funny that sometimes the people that are the most adamant are the ones with the least information?

I've also had that happen to me. But I'd say, 80% of the time people think it's "cool", 10% of the time people just give this dumb stare, and 10% of the time people give me their stupid opinion even though I didn't ask for it.

 

[Kalawang]

Kalawang:

FWIW, I'm going to be in the Philippines from July 12-20 for my grandmother's 90th birthday, and I'm hoping that I'll be able to glean some information on what's available for export from the Philippines. I have lots of relatives who are businessmen back home and I think they would be able to ship something to me if I find something in great shape and reasonable cost.

It will be my wife's first time there, so I don't know if we're going to have much time looking for Cruisers. I might just have to put it off until the next time I go back there.

Stone,

Offhand, I'd say that's about the time my favorite auction house sells some Japanese stuff. I'm not sure if LC's and other Japanese SUV's will continue to be on offer as the local car manufacturers are mounting a heavy attack, but if there's a chance, I'd be happy to take you to the source and let you do your thing. It might actually be smarter to deal direct with the importers about their sources so that you can ship directly to Canada. I know one of the people involved and will be happy to host a meeting which, hopefully, will lead to more serious talk.

Do your homework before then. I'll be happy to help if you need further info prior to your coming.


Kalawang

 

[Tentsontop]

To Iu koto de . . .

RHD is great. There are a lot of great vehicles I wish I could bring over from Japanland. US spec cars are pretty blah compared to the bells and whistles you find on Japanese rides. Just about all the bigger vehicles in Japan have optional engines with single or twin turbos (Luce,Sylvia, Cima, Fairlady, Skyline, MarkII, Chaser, Crown, Cresta, Bongo Van etc).
At anyrate, I looked into bringing an R34 over. Way too expensive. Motorex in Cali buys them in Japan for $10K - $15K then sells them for three to five times what they bought them for. As far as the "federalization" process goes. I think it more or less involves bringing engine emissions to California standards, changing the speedo from klicks to MPH and safety inspection. You can keep it RHD. That's not a problem. A Land Cruiser would be a piece a cake if you have the time and money.

Here's an interesting link some of you might be interested in. It has a list of vehicles you can import and register in the US without having to go through the above if you only intend to show or drive it sparingly.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/ShowDisplay/