I would not get an 81/82, some rare parts in steering unless upgraded. Many do not have a/c and way too hard to ad.
I had two 1983's which served me well (one is DOA the other still lives in Tucson). The headliners suck in 1981-1984 models.
1985+ use the same steering box spacing as fj62/80's so spares live on.
1986/7 brown interior is rare, very rare and finding stuff is impossible. later 1986+ have foam headliners, nicer by a strong margin. 38mm idler shaft also appear here, better ....
1988+ are fj62's with auto tranny. nicer dash and steering, later versions have rear shoulder belts.
now, buy one with no rust, period.
ideally get one with less than 150,000 miles and without a doubt below 180,000 (start with a fresh truck). I say this because deferred maintenance kicks hard above 180K and many trucks die in the 170-180 range (strange, but true). Frame cracks etc grow, and wheeled trucks can be a nightmare. Southwestern trucks can get backed inside, which if you like the oem interior say goodbye.
h55's (factory 5 speed manual) can be added to any and all years easily (in 1996 I put one in my blue 1983). h55's can be added to fj62's as easily. fuel economy ranges from single digits to 18 mpg US. Diesels can get better, but ask a BJ60 owner if they like the power. fj62's get the worst mileage.
Personally, I will never own another stock 6 60 gasser again. miles of towing, poor economy, expense to smog, etc kicked my ideas of that truck away. A top quality v8 conversion or diesel would be my choice, adding since I don't care about rhd I might even get a HJ61 JDM truck.
(so I'd do a grey interior late model 1986+ and diesel convert or expense a vortec)
Eaiser to dd with all the convience of p/w p/l auto etc and will looks just as sexy if you swap out the square lights for the rounds.. Just a biased thought. Good luck with the hunt.
