Are the BJ40 land cruiser any good. its only petrol in USA????

[stampee]

Ok so I never really had a real 4x4 before and wonder should I avoid the diesel version??? I had a siekel kitted out Volkswagen T4 syncro (only has rear diff lock) when I lived in the alps though I stupidly sold it and now just got an old audi quatto four wheel drive but certainly not a 4x4. I go up the mountains a lot

Ive found a guy with a nice rust free 78 BJ40 looks good with 90,000mile on the clock. its $8500 in dollars. Why don't people in the US drive them? Excuse my ignorance. Im in france and I've seen 2 locally being driven around here, one actually had a sheep in the back. Im hoping the farmer was taking him to the vet and it wasn't a case of he was just lonely. I also know a farmer back home who drives a horrible old yellow one , looks like its gone through rocks rather than over them. but Ive never seen him drive anything else, dam thing is still going

Also please explain why you guys have these land cruisers held in the same kind on respect as we seem to have for mercedes G wagons,
Are they any good in the snow?

 

[TheHardWay]

Parts! From my Mud readings of the past few years, the caution is the relative scarcity of Diesel engine parts when something inevitably wears out/breaks. Diesels apparently didn't meet EPA standards back then, so we're' sold here. There just aren't that many in the states to begin with.

 

[1911]

B and H-series diesels were never imported here, hence the scarcity. I would love to have one myself. A BJ40 doesn't rev very high or do particularly well on the freeway/motorway, but they have gobs of torque for off-road.

 

[stampee]

Lol we got loads of the them it seems, but I have never seen a petrol one in the few weeks I've been looking. Diesel is defeinatly a preferance here , for the torque. No one here who pulls trailers or horse boxes use petrols . We all generally avoid the petrol(gas) 4x4 due to the running cost and Diesel engine go on for ever.
Funny as I'm importing a triumph Gt6 From states( midlife crisis) and the company who does Porsches, Ferrari s etc had a restored FJ but was sold , found it a bit strange but hey You guys love these things,

Perhaps I need to see what all the fuss is about, though I never drove a left hand drive before so hoping I could get use to that quickly . It hard enough remembering to drive on the wrong side of the road. living currently in south of France near the Pyrenees so there is a playground not to far away. Might be a fun summer toy
Thanks and kind regards
Dave

 

[1911]

...though I never drove a left hand drive before so hoping I could get use to that quickly . It hard enough remembering to drive on the wrong side of the road.

You get used to it in about 10 minutes, it's really not a problem. I go back and forth between the US and Ireland and Scotland a fair amount; in fact I have a UK driving license and just got back from five weeks holiday in Scotland and Ireland - so now I'm getting used to shifting with my right hand again. Keeps things interesting.

 

[stampee]

To be honest I like the info available on here , their certainly growing on me but I don't think I will get the B40 , started looking around and well its hot here in the summer and may have found a GEM, though think I would have to sell my car. Would they be reasonable for a daily driver? I drive up to the mountains 2 ,1/2 hrs away every weekend in the winter, Whats the realistic fuel economy like , though guess ye won't know for diesel ones.

 

[alberta mac]

I've been driving diesel landcruisers since 1992. They are the only thing I rely on. The 1980-81 was a B type motor that had a smaller displacement. At the mid year of 1981 I believe they went to a 3B, the 3B is said to be the ''killer B'' as for the high milage one can get !
Note there is no timing belt or chain it is gear driven. tune ups every 300,000km requires looking at the injectors and glow plugs. The usual oil changes and belts, hoses is the norm.

In 1983 and 1984 they came out with power steering and the 5 speed ! I have the 1983, they are said to be rare but if you find a real decent one then the modification is worth the price for that pleasure. In europe you will also have more body styles for options while here in Canada you only have 2 options in the Landcruiser jeep body style. Short jeep style and jeep style pick up truck. appologies to those who are offended ! : )
The yellow looks to be a bj44 as apposed to the bj42 and 40 that Canada received.
While looking at these one should look at the frame: rear perches, inside frame metal integrity, the body mounts that bolt to the frame under drivers and passenger side seat connected to the body.
As for milage my bj42 has 434,000. The cruiser wagon has 607,000km and there are others out here that have much more ! The main issue will be the inherent '' rust '' As for G wagons we do not get them in much supply. You also have ''teseven'' in France ! the french solution for ''RUST''
When you buy a landcruiser you are purchasing much more than just transportation ! the drive may be slow so get use to it but she will rarely let you down. Turbo's are also an option.

Cheers and post up more of your finds !
Your journey will be a good one !

 

[stampee]

Wow thanks for the time in writing the information for me. Cool . Well it's located a It's a bit of a trek from me. But he's saying its a bj43 . 3b engine. Year 1978
Sound right? I know you get some dodgy characters on the Internet.
Though I can easily afford the asking price as I've apparently inherited a high undisclosed sum from a wealthy ancestor in The US. Just waiting for it to be transferred into the bank account I gave them ,

 

[Gun Runner 5]

Improved fuel economy, reliability, torque and reasonable road manners especially with a turbo.

 

[gerg]

These are old trucks that become hobbies. They are habit forming. Make sure your marriage is solid before you get one.

 

[lostmarbles]

...But he's saying its a bj43 . 3b engine. Year 1978
Sound right? I know you get some dodgy characters on the Internet....

A BJ43 came with a 2977cc B-engine as far as I know so for it to have a 3B engine I think it would have to have had an engine transplant.

A photo of the inside the engine bay might shed a clue.

.. I've apparently inherited a high undisclosed sum from a wealthy ancestor in The US. Just waiting for it to be transferred into the bank account I gave them ,

You didn't by any chance have to send over a little sum of money to "unlock your inheritence" did you?

 

[roscoFJ73]

Ive found a guy with a nice rust free 78 BJ40 looks good with 90,000mile on the clock. its $8500 in dollars.

Also please explain why you guys have these land cruisers held in the same kind on respect as we seem to have for mercedes G wagons,
Are they any good in the snow?

38 year old rust free 40 series Landcruisers are as rare as hens teeth. It maybe the real thing or it could be one that has been patched up(possibly on the cheap).

They are the choice of 4wd for most Australians who need something with rugged reliability. We don't get to take them in the snow very often(you can this week in Tasmania) but they are used as the main transport in remote areas by govt and private corporation almost exclusively.

 

[bellaire35]

I have owned both, the petrol and now a bj40. If you are not in hurry climbing mountains then go with the diesel. And I need to stress you have no choice but to take your time climbing mountains. The b engines are tough and reliable. Very simple to work on which you will not only want to learn but in my opinion a required skill. A skill I am slowly learning with the help of this forum and the members. I have no problems running 60-70 mph highway speeds at lower altitudes. Parts are around but I'm biased as I live in Central America where these are more common than the petrol cruisers.
Guess it goes without saying if you drive these the way they were meant to be driven (off road) you are always going to need show her some love. Little things will go wrong but that's goes with the territory.
Maintenance wise: basic oil and fuel filter changes and clean air filter. But if your OCD like me you will check all the fluids often such as transfer case, transmission, differential, injector pump oil if not equipped with pump from engine, grease zerks...
My brother has a 6 cylinder full size bronco and he may get up the mountain faster but makes more stops at the fuel pump.

 

[stampee]

I've been driving diesel landcruisers since 1992. They are the only thing I rely on. The 1980-81 was a B type motor that had a smaller displacement. At the mid year of 1981 I believe they went to a 3B, the 3B is said to be the ''killer B'' as for the high milage one can get !
Note there is no timing belt or chain it is gear driven. tune ups every 300,000km requires looking at the injectors and glow plugs. The usual oil changes and belts, hoses is the norm.

In 1983 and 1984 they came out with power steering and the 5 speed ! I have the 1983, they are said to be rare but if you find a real decent one then the modification is worth the price for that pleasure. In europe you will also have more body styles for options while here in Canada you only have 2 options in the Landcruiser jeep body style. Short jeep style and jeep style pick up truck. appologies to those who are offended ! : )
The yellow looks to be a bj44 as apposed to the bj42 and 40 that Canada received.
While looking at these one should look at the frame: rear perches, inside frame metal integrity, the body mounts that bolt to the frame under drivers and passenger side seat connected to the body.
As for milage my bj42 has 434,000. The cruiser wagon has 607,000km and there are others out here that have much more ! The main issue will be the inherent '' rust '' As for G wagons we do not get them in much supply. You also have ''teseven'' in France ! the french solution for ''RUST''
When you buy a landcruiser you are purchasing much more than just transportation ! the drive may be slow so get use to it but she will rarely let you down. Turbo's are also an option.

Cheers and post up more of your finds !
Your journey will be a good one !

 

[stampee]

Haven't purchased just yet as got an offer on a house waiting to hopefully true. But finding a few interesting motors about. Even managed to find a FJ40 looks like a fun motor . But they always seem to be miles away so viewing is a little difficult. Still more swaying toward diesel but bet the petrol Sounds amazing .?