70 series from owning an 80?

[Onlysixsyllables]

Anybody in here ventured into the 70 series after owning an 80? Or owns both?

Im in the US east coast, currently own a 93 80 series with front and rear lockers I fully built. I love it and it's been super reliable and capable for what I've put it through. However, I've been diving deep into owning a 70 with the 1hz. Anyone go from an 80 to one of these?

I had a HDJ81 with the HDFT which was a blast. Sold that (it was too clean to beat) got my 1fz, but now after a few years I'm leaning towards getting a 1hz 70. I don't care about slowness. Just want to hear thoughts of anyone who owns both or went from an 80 to a 70.

Looking at getting either a Hzj73 or a troopy. Has to be manual. Thank you!

 

[Irish Reiver]

Pretty sure there are a few on here with both or who have had both. I have been on a similar thought process for over a year. I currently have two 80-series which i fully restored. I also restored 3 others which are long gone so my appetite for doing another 80 is pretty weak. Would love to get my hands on a 76 or even a 78. Don't care if gas or derv or manual or auto. My only red line is must be left hand drive.

 

[cruisermatt]

Having driven every variation of 80 and 70 series now I can comfortably say from a nice 80 series to any 70 series other then a Prado model is like going from a Escalade to a wheelbarrow. Huge downgrade.

What part of a diesel 70 series appeals to you the most?

 

[mudgudgeon]

Having driven every variation of 80 and 70 series now I can comfortably say from a nice 80 series to any 70 series other then a Prado model is like going from a Escalade to a wheelbarrow. Huge downgrade.

What part of a diesel 70 series appeals to you the most?

Would definitely agree with this.

70s, especially older ones are built as bare bones workhorses.
I get that the low tech aspect might be appealling on face value, but it comes with a harsh ride, low NVH treatment, which means hot, noisy etc in cab ride will be harsh, and they have absolutely minimal creature comforts

Seats are basic, aka uncomfortable. Combined with harsh load carrying suspension, your kidneys might just hate you forever.

Driver's compartment is very cramped, at 6'6", I can barely drive the early 70s. Newer ones have a longer cab, but they are still narrow and cramped compared to 80s, even more so compared to a full size US market pickup or SUV

1HZ will pull a loaded trailer over a brick wall, but will need 3 weeks to do it. After having a 1hdft, you might rethink your comments about slow being OK. 1HZ aren't a total slug but they definitely require you to "drive" them hard to keep up on highways etc, add any significant hill and you'll be down shifting rapidly.
Adding a turbo will wake them up, but is not without significant risk

Would I have another 1HZ powered cruiser? Sure, IF it it was the only engine option, and I had a budget to add turbo, exhaust, intercooler etc AND manual trans. Not a chance I'd own an auto trans 1HZ rig.

I went to a 1fzfe, 5 speed 80 after 1hz, 5 speed HZJ105. The 1fzfe took s little getting used to. I missed the low end torque of the 1HZ. It makes then easy to drive. 1fzfe is definitely more responsive to the right foot

 

[technical]

Get both. For me the fun is driving the one i feel like and enjoying it for what it is. A bit rough / noisy / bouncy…i love it. And i dont have the regretful nostalgia of selling one to get the other.

I told my girlfriend you only live once…so i need them.
Lucky me…she put down the weapons.

 

[fullthrottle]

LoL, yep I've gone down this path, had an LX470, 80 series that I fully restored and loved, sold it and was getting FOMO, so purchased a BJ73.

Compared to the 80, a definite comfort downgrade. And rust...bloody hell is there some rust in the older versions.
But it's that nostalgic pull of the old cruiser that really gets me. If I could have found a 40 at the time, then even better. But at only $5k NZD for it, was a pretty good buy and the stars aligned and said yes!!

Mine has a 1HDT with 5 speed. So the power problem is sorted.

What you'll miss...
Comfort and Power. But even that can be fixed with some work.

 

[jonheld]

Last year 3 of us did a trip to the North Maine Woods. A fully built LX570, my LX450, and a 95 HZJ75. At one point, we all swapped trucks and I was close to leaving my 450 by the side of the road in favor of the 570.
However the 70 Series was a little too similar to the 78 FJ40 that I had as a kid. That was a hard "no" from me.
The 40 is cool in many respects. The 70 is a bit on the "dorky" side IMO.

 

[Broski]

Love my 80 but have been looking at /wanting a 73 for a while now !
I was just at SAS 10 and had the opportunity to drive a very nice clean well set up 75 so we swap rig for a bit on the trail.
My wife was with me and within minutes she was like can we get our 80 back !
The ride was definitely harsher even though the 75 had fancy new spring.
It didn’t help my cause at all now she doesn’t want me to get a 73
I haven’t given up though.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

Anybody in here ventured into the 70 series after owning an 80? Or owns both?

Im in the US east coast, currently own a 93 80 series with front and rear lockers I fully built. I love it and it's been super reliable and capable for what I've put it through. However, I've been diving deep into owning a 70 with the 1hz. Anyone go from an 80 to one of these?

I had a HDJ81 with the HDFT which was a blast. Sold that (it was too clean to beat) got my 1fz, but now after a few years I'm leaning towards getting a 1hz 70. I don't care about slowness. Just want to hear thoughts of anyone who owns both or went from an 80 to a 70.

Looking at getting either a Hzj73 or a troopy. Has to be manual. Thank you!

If you want to see virtually every version of the 70 Series currently in the U.S., I’d plan on attending the 70 Series Meet & Greet in September.

 

[Onlysixsyllables]

Love my 80 but have been looking at /wanting a 73 for a while now !
I was just at SAS 10 and had the opportunity to drive a very nice clean well set up 75 so we swap rig for a bit on the trail.
My wife was with me and within minutes she was like can we get our 80 back !
The ride was definitely harsher even though the 75 had fancy new spring.
It didn’t help my cause at all now she doesn’t want me to get a 73
I haven’t given up though.

How worse was it in comparison? I'd love a 75. Was it sluggish? Or was the ride just harsh compared to the 80

 

[Broski]

How worse was it in comparison? I'd love a 75. Was it sluggish? Or was the ride just harsh compared to the 80

The one I drove had a 1FZ-F with a header on it and a 5 speed stick so power was fine. I did not get to drive it on the Hwy so that I don't know.

Ride was noticeably harsher as to be expected with leaf springs. It was also running much smaller tires so even though it was aired down still wasn't getting the same benefit that you would with a bigger tire.

Like I said the wife wanted out of it right away

 

[SNLC]

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

You can make leaf springs real nice. Bolting on a lift kit designed for 600lbs over stock up front and 1,000lbs over stock on the rear definitely doesn’t make it ride nice. Arguable it rides worse than before that lift kit. Inverted shackles ride real nice too!

Listen to the hens in the hen house though and I am sooooooo wrong!!

Cheers

 

[rahksi]

“Fully built”

 

[Kernal]

If the OP doesn't mind, @SNLC , what mods were done to the 70 Series pick-up above?
Details (engine, suspension) etc
Cost to build?

 

[Broski]

If the OP doesn't mind, @SNLC , what mods were done to the 70 Series pick-up above?
Details (engine, suspension) etc
Cost to build?

That's a best of everything open check book build 79 on a 80 chassis what dreams are made of !! I would guess well over 6 figures

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Having driven every variation of 80 and 70 series now I can comfortably say from a nice 80 series to any 70 series other then a Prado model is like going from a Escalade to a wheelbarrow. Huge downgrade.

What part of a diesel 70 series appeals to you the most?

Everywhere but the USA the 70 series is a landscapers truck. I drove a 2014 70 series on an 80 chassis from AZ to Wyoming then Utah and wore headphone the whole way. Also drove a 4 door 70 series from Texas to Az a little better but nothing like an 80.

 

[Devils Paw 80]

Anybody in here ventured into the 70 series after owning an 80? Or owns both?

Im in the US east coast, currently own a 93 80 series with front and rear lockers I fully built. I love it and it's been super reliable and capable for what I've put it through. However, I've been diving deep into owning a 70 with the 1hz. Anyone go from an 80 to one of these?

I had a HDJ81 with the HDFT which was a blast. Sold that (it was too clean to beat) got my 1fz, but now after a few years I'm leaning towards getting a 1hz 70. I don't care about slowness. Just want to hear thoughts of anyone who owns both or went from an 80 to a 70.

Looking at getting either a Hzj73 or a troopy. Has to be manual. Thank you!

A 73 has a relatively short wheelbase while a Troopy is the opposite. A 73 would be way better for off road, while for camping you'd probably want the Troopy. I'd imagine either one will probably be in the ballpark for cost compared to your previous HDJ81. Also, either one is probably more rare in the states than a diesel 80, especially a Troopy. So, do you really want to beat on it?

I had a BJ70 for 3 years. It never had any problems other than horrible rust that prompted me to sell. This 70 helped me come to the conclusion that I no longer had any interest in owning a diesel again- although it ran like a top. There really is no comparison with an 80 regarding the driving experience. See some of the comments above. I agree that a manual would be essential with a low powered engine. Good luck in your search.

 

[mudgudgeon]

Love my 80 but have been looking at /wanting a 73 for a while now !
I was just at SAS 10 and had the opportunity to drive a very nice clean well set up 75 so we swap rig for a bit on the trail.
My wife was with me and within minutes she was like can we get our 80 back !
The ride was definitely harsher even though the 75 had fancy new spring.
It didn’t help my cause at all now she doesn’t want me to get a 73
I haven’t given up though.

Just have to tell her covering a 73 to 4 link front and rear with coil overs all round will make it nicer than the 80

 

[mudgudgeon]

A 73 would be way better for off road

Wheel base is a little on the short side. Have seen these standing up on their back wheels many times going up ledges