I'd love to see more of this 105. @John Young Got a build thread?
Ali, the 2008 HZJ76 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter janyyc
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Ummm.... two actually. One for the white truck that went with Jan's truck to Vancouver, and a new blue 2003 that I am just starting on. It arrived the very same day as the white truck went into the container. I was not planning the blue truck, but it came along right at the right moment. For the time being I am calling them Missus White and Mister Blue.
prwillard2
SILVER Star
Seb restored my buddy's Land Rover 90 series he pulled from Oman when we were stationed in UAE together. He does great work.
- Thread starter
- #124
Ali is currently somewhere off the Indian coastline, but his arrival to Canada may be impacted by the Vancouver port strikes. Let's see, it's still far off.
In the meantime, I will update this thread with some cool stuff I purchased on one of my trips to Japan in April.
I ordered a massive box of parts from a great and inexpensive local supplier. It weighed 60kg (that's 132 lb!). The poor hotel sent a posse of staff to deliver it to my room, and then it was a matter of figuring out how to portion the parts into smaller parcels for travel (max 32kg each).
Of course the heaviest items were OEM brake rotors for Ozzi, but the coolest item was a brand-new gas can mount for Ali - I figured replacing the straps and hardware was more effort than just ordering the new part...
In other orders, I also splurged on this very cool book. It's expensive enough when ordered within Japan, international shipping makes it obscenely expensive... Thanks @OGBeno for the info on this publication!
And then there's this box... which has an amazing story behind it.
In the meantime, I will update this thread with some cool stuff I purchased on one of my trips to Japan in April.
I ordered a massive box of parts from a great and inexpensive local supplier. It weighed 60kg (that's 132 lb!). The poor hotel sent a posse of staff to deliver it to my room, and then it was a matter of figuring out how to portion the parts into smaller parcels for travel (max 32kg each).
Of course the heaviest items were OEM brake rotors for Ozzi, but the coolest item was a brand-new gas can mount for Ali - I figured replacing the straps and hardware was more effort than just ordering the new part...
In other orders, I also splurged on this very cool book. It's expensive enough when ordered within Japan, international shipping makes it obscenely expensive... Thanks @OGBeno for the info on this publication!
And then there's this box... which has an amazing story behind it.
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- Thread starter
- #125
The aforementioned box contains this:
A 70th anniversary grille. These were only available in Japan, and with the help of @se7en6 and his ’Mud posts regarding these parts I was able to track down and order. A friend, @t00manyuserz, who lived in Qatar at the time (we're talking 2022), ordered it for me on a very special trip to Japan that he took - in those days, entering Japan was basically impossible. He brought it back to Qatar, with the intention of either transporting it to the UAE or bringing it to Canada (he's Canadian and used to live there, the very same person who helped me with mirrors for Ozzi during the pandemic, bringing them along on his move from Japan to Canada...). Well, unexpectedly, he had to move back to Japan, so the grille went back to Japan in his container. Yes, Japan -> Canada -> Qatar -> Japan in the course of a few years. He shipped the grille up to me from Kyoto, where he now lives, and I took it with me.
Here we are heading to the airport with some suitcases - and plenty of Toyota parts.
Fancy traveling for these parts:
But here's the punchline - we were heading back to Europe, and not home to Canada. So now some of the parts are in Europe, and others I have since managed to bring back to Canada... The damn rotors are so heavy!
Attic storage:
A 70th anniversary grille. These were only available in Japan, and with the help of @se7en6 and his ’Mud posts regarding these parts I was able to track down and order. A friend, @t00manyuserz, who lived in Qatar at the time (we're talking 2022), ordered it for me on a very special trip to Japan that he took - in those days, entering Japan was basically impossible. He brought it back to Qatar, with the intention of either transporting it to the UAE or bringing it to Canada (he's Canadian and used to live there, the very same person who helped me with mirrors for Ozzi during the pandemic, bringing them along on his move from Japan to Canada...). Well, unexpectedly, he had to move back to Japan, so the grille went back to Japan in his container. Yes, Japan -> Canada -> Qatar -> Japan in the course of a few years. He shipped the grille up to me from Kyoto, where he now lives, and I took it with me.
Here we are heading to the airport with some suitcases - and plenty of Toyota parts.
Fancy traveling for these parts:
But here's the punchline - we were heading back to Europe, and not home to Canada. So now some of the parts are in Europe, and others I have since managed to bring back to Canada... The damn rotors are so heavy!
Attic storage:
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- Thread starter
- #126
I'm happy to report that Ali arrived at home less than a week ago. Container shipping is such an annoying experience: I certainly don't envy anyone whose profession relies upon it. "Hurry up and wait" has never rung truer - if there is something that is your responsibility, you have to answer by yesterday. On the other hand, if it's in the hands of the shipper/port/customs, you will be waiting. A lot.
As it happened, there was a big strike at the port in Vancouver in July, which in itself had some unbelievable twists and turns, but was ultimately resolved. However, there were other delays, and to top it off, of course our container was selected for a customs inspection - not only a time-intensive experience, but an expensive one at that - to the tune of ~2500 CAD for the inspection itself (while customs cannot and doesn't charge, you are hit with drayage, storage, terminal, and other fees). With all the delays, the fact that I took the entire month of August off (in order to be home and available for the pickup formalities) became completely irrelevant. To throw another complication into the mix, not only was I leaving to Europe at the end of the month for a period of intensive work, but my dad's brother was flying in from Europe for the first time in ~25 years (also arranged by me). Thus we were faced by a confluence of factors, ultimately compounded also by the Labour Day long weekend and beginning of the school year. Mind you, @John Young faced exactly the same situation, and Dubai is quite a distance farther away from Vancouver than Calgary, so I didn't envy his position either.
Luckily, everything could be arranged, and most importantly Ali arrived unscathed.
So let's begin the story...
----------
Friday. My uncle had flown in from Europe only the day before, but no matter - the best cure to jet lag is an early morning wakeup and a long, engaging day. A quick flight from Calgary to Vancouver, an Uber from the airport to the warehouse facility, and a coffee at Tim Horton's to kill about an hour before the cars were unloaded. After getting back from coffee, the cars were unloaded, and John had already started Ali (first crank, of course) and was charging his 105, which arrived dead.
First sight of Ali on Canadian soil:
John had some stress that day, he had a 24-hour permit to get to the inspection, and had been unable to install DRL in his car before its arrival in Canada. I suggest you read his thread for the full story: The (2nd to) Last Hurrah... a 2007 HZJ105 - 'Missus White' - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/the-2nd-to-last-hurrah-a-2007-hzj105-missus-white.1275855/
The interior still had the seat covers from the time spent at SebSports - a very nice way to enter Canada for sure!
On the other hand, the rear had been left untouched, including toilet paper from our camping trips...
As it happened, there was a big strike at the port in Vancouver in July, which in itself had some unbelievable twists and turns, but was ultimately resolved. However, there were other delays, and to top it off, of course our container was selected for a customs inspection - not only a time-intensive experience, but an expensive one at that - to the tune of ~2500 CAD for the inspection itself (while customs cannot and doesn't charge, you are hit with drayage, storage, terminal, and other fees). With all the delays, the fact that I took the entire month of August off (in order to be home and available for the pickup formalities) became completely irrelevant. To throw another complication into the mix, not only was I leaving to Europe at the end of the month for a period of intensive work, but my dad's brother was flying in from Europe for the first time in ~25 years (also arranged by me). Thus we were faced by a confluence of factors, ultimately compounded also by the Labour Day long weekend and beginning of the school year. Mind you, @John Young faced exactly the same situation, and Dubai is quite a distance farther away from Vancouver than Calgary, so I didn't envy his position either.
Luckily, everything could be arranged, and most importantly Ali arrived unscathed.
So let's begin the story...
----------
Friday. My uncle had flown in from Europe only the day before, but no matter - the best cure to jet lag is an early morning wakeup and a long, engaging day. A quick flight from Calgary to Vancouver, an Uber from the airport to the warehouse facility, and a coffee at Tim Horton's to kill about an hour before the cars were unloaded. After getting back from coffee, the cars were unloaded, and John had already started Ali (first crank, of course) and was charging his 105, which arrived dead.
First sight of Ali on Canadian soil:
John had some stress that day, he had a 24-hour permit to get to the inspection, and had been unable to install DRL in his car before its arrival in Canada. I suggest you read his thread for the full story: The (2nd to) Last Hurrah... a 2007 HZJ105 - 'Missus White' - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/the-2nd-to-last-hurrah-a-2007-hzj105-missus-white.1275855/
The interior still had the seat covers from the time spent at SebSports - a very nice way to enter Canada for sure!
On the other hand, the rear had been left untouched, including toilet paper from our camping trips...
- Thread starter
- #127
The container was just on its way out of the yard!
The plan for the drive back was to take it "easy", driving Highway 3 instead of the Trans-Canada - allowing my uncle to also see some really nice parts of BC, and keeping the 1HZ within it's non-highway-speed comfort zone.
Some pictures from the drive back to Calgary:
Look how gigantic a Sprinter is:
The plan for the drive back was to take it "easy", driving Highway 3 instead of the Trans-Canada - allowing my uncle to also see some really nice parts of BC, and keeping the 1HZ within it's non-highway-speed comfort zone.
Some pictures from the drive back to Calgary:
Look how gigantic a Sprinter is:
- Thread starter
- #128
Fits just perfect into our garage:
All I need now is a pickup, and I'll have a UN fleet!
Dry-fitting the very special grille!
Best friends? I sure hope so.
That practically brings us up to date, Ali went in for an inspection and passed, just waiting on the documents (system problems), and then the plate will be affixed. Costco didn't run their regular tire sale this Labour Day, so new boots will have to wait a little longer. Otherwise, I don't think I'll be working on this car much... It's be our family adventure vehicle, or that's the plan for now. There will be some little things I have planned once I return home, so perhaps some more HZJ76 photos as well!
All I need now is a pickup, and I'll have a UN fleet!
Dry-fitting the very special grille!
Best friends? I sure hope so.
That practically brings us up to date, Ali went in for an inspection and passed, just waiting on the documents (system problems), and then the plate will be affixed. Costco didn't run their regular tire sale this Labour Day, so new boots will have to wait a little longer. Otherwise, I don't think I'll be working on this car much... It's be our family adventure vehicle, or that's the plan for now. There will be some little things I have planned once I return home, so perhaps some more HZJ76 photos as well!
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You guys really do follow through with some impressive plans.
That's a happy end with Ali!
Congrats and enjoy now your U.N. fleet mate!
Cheers, Demetrios
PS. As you put it "Container shipping is such an annoying experience"! Contemplating to bring a container too.
Most probably everything will be "in the hands of the shipper/port/customs", so it seems that i will have to be very patient, Lol!...
Congrats and enjoy now your U.N. fleet mate!
Cheers, Demetrios
PS. As you put it "Container shipping is such an annoying experience"! Contemplating to bring a container too.
Most probably everything will be "in the hands of the shipper/port/customs", so it seems that i will have to be very patient, Lol!...
JDM Journeys
Moderator
I could not be happier to see this home, buddy! Can't wait to see it in person!
- Thread starter
- #132
Be patient, prepare for 50% additional costs from the initial quote, and you will probably be fine. I used to be dead-set against RORO shipping, but I think for a direct line (say, Europe-East Coast USA, or Japan-West Coast) it's probably worth the risk of damage from loading/unloading in return for a more seamless and less expensive experience.That's a happy end with Ali!
Congrats and enjoy now your U.N. fleet mate!
Cheers, Demetrios
PS. As you put it "Container shipping is such an annoying experience"! Contemplating to bring a container too.
Most probably everything will be "in the hands of the shipper/port/customs", so it seems that i will have to be very patient, Lol!...
I had several boxes in the back of the 105 containing turbo parts to be installed on the 105 or maybe the diesel pickup currently in Florida by our own @cruisermatt . All the items were properly listed in the shipping manifest and I paid Canadian customs duty on it. I faced some scrutiny when I crossed the US border from Vancouver Island on the Port Angeles ferry, but ended up surrounded by 4 US Customs officers who became interested in the 105, in a friendly way I hasten to add.
I am not too sure how I feel about RO-RO vs container. I've done both. The container approach felt more secure. I have a few more LC's to ship over and if I have two at once I probably will do the container again.
I am not too sure how I feel about RO-RO vs container. I've done both. The container approach felt more secure. I have a few more LC's to ship over and if I have two at once I probably will do the container again.
prwillard2
SILVER Star
Your time in UAE coming to an end?
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- #135
It took a little while to get everything sorted... some system issues with the provincial exam system. But it's now officially registered! In the meantime my dad replaced the front grille with the anniversary edition, and the jerry can and its holder with new OEM.
- Thread starter
- #136
So I’m still working away in Europe, but my dad decided to go camping to one of our favourite spots while the weather holds and took Ali and a tent this time, sending along some nice pictures to console me. 
- Thread starter
- #137
Got home a few days ago, and was super happy to be picked up from the airport in this stunning HZJ76 - surreal experience to be driving the same car I had explored Oman & the UAE in here in Canada.
Immediately I went to work, replacing the rear door stopper on which the rubber had fallen off.
Then, both as a way to kill jet lag and to take care of some business, we drove to Southern Alberta on a stunning day.
With business complete, we went to a local brewery for a celebratory beer. Parked in interesting company...
Immediately I went to work, replacing the rear door stopper on which the rubber had fallen off.
Then, both as a way to kill jet lag and to take care of some business, we drove to Southern Alberta on a stunning day.
With business complete, we went to a local brewery for a celebratory beer. Parked in interesting company...
- Thread starter
- #138
Then some other "maintenance" items before winter comes. Firstly, putting on the assembled roof rack to make space in the garage. It did give me pause putting on a roof rack on this pristine paint, but one has to get over that - it certainly looks much better with the roof rack on. MaxTrax have also found a storage space on the rack itself.
Driving back from Southern Alberta trip, the sun had set and I decided that despite my reservations (I actually like the halogen look), the LED's I had ordered from Australia should be installed for safety's sake.
Driving back from Southern Alberta trip, the sun had set and I decided that despite my reservations (I actually like the halogen look), the LED's I had ordered from Australia should be installed for safety's sake.
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- #139
The bulbs have this braided copper heatsink design for passive cooling.
While I was at it installing the new bulbs, I took out the dielectric grease, cleaned up the battery terminals (by the way, the two batteries are connected in parallel from factory), and greased up the fusible link.
Pictures obviously never reflect how lightbulbs look, but the spread and cutoff are correct, and it's a big improvement on the road.
Then I went about installing the sticker that my dad really wanted installed... it's not OEM model-correct, and one can barely see it behind the jerry can, but it makes my dad happy - that's what counts!
While I was at it installing the new bulbs, I took out the dielectric grease, cleaned up the battery terminals (by the way, the two batteries are connected in parallel from factory), and greased up the fusible link.
Pictures obviously never reflect how lightbulbs look, but the spread and cutoff are correct, and it's a big improvement on the road.
Then I went about installing the sticker that my dad really wanted installed... it's not OEM model-correct, and one can barely see it behind the jerry can, but it makes my dad happy - that's what counts!
- Thread starter
- #140
Lastly I decided to check what on earth was hiding behind the non-standard panel behind the rear passenger jump-seat.
It required unbolting the jumpseat in three spots and unscrewing the panel. Everything raw on this car has some surface corrosion - I'm happy Alberta is such a dry climate!
The cables were remnants of the UN-spec CODAN radio, with appropriate labels and everything. I decided not to pursue removing all the cables for the time being, but cleaned up the aluminum panel while it was out. WD-40 and some sandpaper and it looked much better.
It required unbolting the jumpseat in three spots and unscrewing the panel. Everything raw on this car has some surface corrosion - I'm happy Alberta is such a dry climate!
The cables were remnants of the UN-spec CODAN radio, with appropriate labels and everything. I decided not to pursue removing all the cables for the time being, but cleaned up the aluminum panel while it was out. WD-40 and some sandpaper and it looked much better.
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