78 Central American BJ 40 Value stateside

[74TLC]

78 Central American BJ 40 Value stateside PICs

Hi Folks, new member here. Have been reading up on the BJ series but dont know a lot about them. Was hoping to see if I could get any opinions of the value of a diesel 40 I found here locally recently imported from Costa Rica. Its got the B motor and a 4 speed and showing 137,000km. I didnt get a chance to drive it but clutch seems good and motor sounds good anyway w/o driving it yet. Would really like to get one of these one day but the cost is quite a bit more than FJs Ive looked at lately. Wasnt sure which are better trucks to have the Canadian models with a few creature comforts or the stripped down versions of central America. It seems to be in VG shape just minimal rust coming back through the neon green in the rear corners. Its had a pretty recent paint job so its hard to tell where all body work may have been done. I really wish it had a 10 yr old paint job and a different color at that. Guy said he overheated it recently and the head has just been replaced , got head from Calif, and supposedly $3800 for all recent work.. ouch . Started up pretty easily but smoked for a minute but I think I didnt activate the glow plugs, its a little different from the old 240D Ive got. I did notice the oil pressure needle would go down from say halfway when revved a little to pretty low when idled down for 30 seconds or so, was a little worried about that. Toyota pressure needles seem to always be on the low side FWIW my 84 22r has a mech guage along with the original and it will read 60lb when the needle is halfway or so.
asking price on this truck is 12,5 , what are these things worth in the states. I guess since its already imported that headache is over anyway. Thanks for any advice.
BTW I was really looking into this for a grease cruiser as Ive gotten into this recently with a coupe of old Mercedes, they run fine on WVO(unheated to min heat from a small exchanger) , are the Toyota motors as receptive to grease as the Benz motors?

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[Eric Winkworth]

it looks like a clean truck, but 12,500 is pretty steep IMO, I got my newer BJ70 for just under 10,000. I would go JDM when I get another truck, low km's rust free, unmolested for usally under 20,000 cdn depending on the options you want, don't get stuck looking at one truck, shop around, I know it is kinda far for ya but Wayne in Alberta seems like the go to guy, in my eyes. He has amazing feedback and will stand behind his rigs. Someone like that is worth alot compared to a curb side buy, you could inherite someone elses problems, the bottom line is alot of people get rid of there LC's because they are trippin about it needing some much needed expensive work, so be carful.

cheers

 

[brownbear]

I would verify the compression.

ensure the frame is ok, not rotted.

do a good insp of the body, use a magnet if possible to make sure there is no fiberglass or bondo.

Those trucks are going up in value, no matter what. I would say around 10-11 is a good price if its clean and the engine has good compression numbers.

Then after getting it, maybe a year of two later, strip all the paint off and repaint using metal ready, maybe some POR-15 paint, and a good top coat.

As for your question on the WVO- it needs to be hotter than the Merc take. The Mercs run at almost cold oil. But the cruiser will need to see 180 degrees. Which should not be too hard. You will need a second tank. The cruiser can't do the single tank as easy as the Merc.

Unless you go Bio, then use it as normal diesel. No heat is needed. But a heat Racor will make the engine happy.

 

[Diescipel]

$12.5kUSD? Oh my god, I might sell you my far better looking etc. 83 BJ42 with 5 speed and ps for that much.

What country is this in?

I watch sales of diesel 40s in the states and Canada out of curiosity and I can't imagine such an example going for more than $5-7k USD. I bought mine for $10k CAD, which was about $8300 USD with exchange rate of the time. But mine has an alu tub, 5 spd., ps etc. and is really clean, though had/has some rust issues. I looked at a perfect frame-off restored 82 BJ42 in my quest (which I probably should have bought, but I wanted the 5 spd. etc.)--the guy started at $15k CAD but was down to $11k CAD before I decided on my 83. A pristine 84 BJ42 was on eBay recently and got one bid at $20k (probably the seller's friend) but didn't go anywhere near the buy it now price of $25k. I really think sellers overprice BJ40s because they think they are so exotic or rare or something (I've thought this), but the fact is the market does not support the overpricing.

One thing to note on Central American cruisers: when I stayed in Nicaragua, my host father had an 84 BJ40--it seems that Nic at least didn't ever get the 3B engine (much better), nor even the disc axle because it still had drums up front. It also didn't have a roll bar, and in general was a kind of stripped down version, or really an older version. All the advances went to the North American cruisers aparently. I also can't remember prices, but my sense at the time was 'wait for the 25 year rule to apply on these, and you can get a cheap diesel 45 pickup'--so I would just say that the prices in Central America should be lower than the U.S. or Canada, not only because the cruisers are old versions, but the economies can't support higer prices.

That said, there's a few MUDders who live in Central America and might have more direct experience.

I run partial BIoD in mine and it's fine, I'm sure WVO won't be a problem. If you really want a diesel 40 series, there are lots of options, including already imported ones that come up for sale occasionally, Canadian rigs from Alberta where nothing rusts, and engine swap possibilities.

This all goes by way of saying: DON'T IMPULSE BUY THAT CRUISER FOR $12.5K!

hth
B

 

[74TLC]

This truck has already come into the US, tagged in Alabama . It still has some 05 Costa Rica stickers on it so it hasnt been here long. I think he would go 10Kusd. I think he brought it back to resell and try to make some dough but after expensive repair bill he says he wont break even. It has drum brakes, no roll bar. Frame appears really nice, all undercoated, not recently either I dont think, new rubber door seals and seat covers. The vin plate looks a little nondescript, are all these like this. Being "way down here" in Alabama you dont see many of these from either south or north of the border. And this one has already had the import costs paid(seems he said about 1500 for shipping and importer fees) Id much rather have a newer one or diesel 80 but for the 25yr rule for importaion for US or transplanting another diesel into something newer, choices are slim for US.

 

[brownbear]

http://www.luxuryimports.ca/forsale/1977BJ40-1/index.php

http://www.luxuryimports.ca/forsale/1980BJ44/index.php

these are examples of what an importer can get for you. The yellow one I have seen. It was a really nice unit. I am not sure what it sold for. But the price before it went was 13,000 USD. And it was perfect. 44,000kms.

So maybe try talking to this importer or another. They can maybe search for you, then you will get what you pay for.

Everyone has opinions on prices. The perfect BJ42's Will go for a high dollar.

I have seen rusty Bj40s arounb the 3 k CAD mark.

Search the buy and sells in Vancouver, Calgary and also the auto traders.

www.canadatrader.com

http://www.buysell.com/root/search/9/539/3334/1/false/1990_Prior_Import_SUVs.aspx for the buy and sell.

Informed is better than impluse for sure!

 

[Diescipel]

Choices are not as slim as you think. You can import newer than 25 yr. cruiser with a registered importer--it's easy and not very expensive (mine was less than $600 for everything--I drove it across the border). In fact, I'm surprised that, as a 78 model year recently imported, he would have to use an RI and pay RI fees. $1500 seems very high to import this cruiser.

Engine swaps depend on your state smog laws etc.

I still think $10k USD for a stripped down Central American 40 series is too much. Canadian versions don't have creature comforts... unless you consider roll bars and disc brakes creature comforts. 3B BJ42s are slow, I can't imagine how slow this will be. B engines don't have piston skirt oil cooling, and so are not as happy to turbo.

If you want to pay for convenience then go for it. But you will pay. Make sure you do all the mech checks brownbear and others recommend. But I would just wait it out and keep my eyes open and maybe think about a flight up to Canada in your near future... or even down into Central America for that matter. Take out the middle man.

My .02

B

 

[brownbear]

Choices are not as slim as you think. You can import newer than 25 yr. cruiser with a registered importer--it's easy and not very expensive
B

Isn't that only if its from Canada? Not Japan or Central Am. Also you can import any vehicle from Canada that was designed for our market. Even if it is 6 months old....

I am told some grey area import from BC, as the overseas imports get assigned a 17 digit VIN. Not really grey to me, if it can be done, then why not.

But this is not a importing thread. Just a value thread.

 

[crushers]

Hi Folks, new member here. Have been reading up on the BJ series but dont know a lot about them. Was hoping to see if I could get any opinions of the value of a diesel 40 I found here locally recently imported from Costa Rica. Its got the B motor and a 4 speed and showing 137,000km. I didnt get a chance to drive it but clutch seems good and motor sounds good anyway w/o driving it yet. Would really like to get one of these one day but the cost is quite a bit more than FJs Ive looked at lately. Wasnt sure which are better trucks to have the Canadian models with a few creature comforts or the stripped down versions of central America. It seems to be in VG shape just minimal rust coming back through the neon green in the rear corners. Its had a pretty recent paint job so its hard to tell where all body work may have been done. I really wish it had a 10 yr old paint job and a different color at that. Guy said he overheated it recently and the head has just been replaced , got head from Calif, and supposedly $3800 for all recent work.. ouch . Started up pretty easily but smoked for a minute but I think I didnt activate the glow plugs, its a little different from the old 240D Ive got. I did notice the oil pressure needle would go down from say halfway when revved a little to pretty low when idled down for 30 seconds or so, was a little worried about that. Toyota pressure needles seem to always be on the low side FWIW my 84 22r has a mech guage along with the original and it will read 60lb when the needle is halfway or so.
asking price on this truck is 12,5 , what are these things worth in the states. I guess since its already imported that headache is over anyway. Thanks for any advice.
BTW I was really looking into this for a grease cruiser as Ive gotten into this recently with a coupe of old Mercedes, they run fine on WVO(unheated to min heat from a small exchanger) , are the Toyota motors as receptive to grease as the Benz motors?
]

here is what i can see, or think i can see.
there is a seam that runs down just behind the door but it seems to disappear about 6-8" from the bottom, this screams bondo a that location.
i would suspect bondo all down the sides since the spot welds dimples are missing about 6" below where the top meets the tub side.
same with the hard top sides, there is usually a row of spot weld dimples about 2" up from the bottom of the hard top sides...
interesting that there is no padded dash but it has the screw type window lock ups instead of the latch type...
the taped on column cover is interesting as well as the zipped tied rear tire carier latch...
the tires seem tired...
the rust on the hood latches, windscreen latch downs and fuel door screams pretty rusted at one time...
i would suspect the bottom of the bib probably has bondo...


it is your money... this is only what i can see...
cheers

 

[Tapage]

12.5 K for this Toy is much for me .. here in Panamá with 12.5 K USD you can buy easy an HJD-80 in good shape ..

So looks nice .. but I'm not gonna pay more than 3 k USD for this truck ..

 

[roscoFJ73]

I was curious as to the lack of information on the VIN tag too.
Why do some look like that when some look like this??

 

[Diescipel]

I was curious as to the lack of information on the VIN tag too.
Why do some look like that when some look like this??

Again, I think it's the Central American thing. I bet the gov'ts don't require as much info as in N. America or Oz etc. Just a guess. But then again the info that is missing is really for Toyota not a gov't--it's not emissions or compliance info.

Hey should this thread be in the new 70 series section? Or did the '78' year BJ40 screw things up?

B

 

[beanz2]

I was curious as to the lack of information on the VIN tag too.
Why do some look like that when some look like this??

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. I've never seen a VIN tag stamped in such a manner as to bend the plate itself. And the 10-digit number VIN is rather unusual. What is most interesting is the plant code of Z12. All the cruisers I have seen has an A11 plant number (I haven't seen Gifu-built FJ45_V plates). Could this cruiser have been assembled somewhere else?

Hey should this thread be in the new 70 series section? Or did the '78' year BJ40 screw things up?
B

Well, it don't have 24V 'lectricals so it gots to be banned from the other forum

Dave

 

[roscoFJ73]

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. I've never seen a VIN tag stamped in such a manner as to bend the plate itself. And the 10-digit number VIN is rather unusual. What is most interesting is the plant code of Z12. All the cruisers I have seen has an A11 plant number (I haven't seen Gifu-built FJ45_V plates). Could this cruiser have been assembled somewhere else?





Well, it don't have 24V 'lectricals so it gots to be banned from the other forum

Dave

Possibly Venuzeula (sp).Dont they have rules that if its assembled locally they are considered more favourably by the govt.
But then again isnt Venuzeula all gassers?

 

[Tapage]

All asembled Venezuelan Cruiser are gassers .. all ! .. if you can found one or two diesel are imported.