TL;DR: I finally got a diesel cruiser!
Long time listener, first time caller.
Well that’s not exactly true. True for this sub-section of MUD, but I have a 1966 FJ40 I call Helga that is my first “build thread”. Her build thread is here. I have also owned 2 other 80 series trucks (91 FJ80 then a built 97 LX) as well as cutting my teeth on far too many other 4WD Toyotas (4Runners, Pickups, etc) to list here.
However, I have always had more than a passing interest in the diesel versions and like many folks here on MUD the diesel Land Cruisers were the ultimate cat’s meow, bee’s knees, etc.
So, after deciding my Tundra was actually too absurdly huge for my liking, after deciding my 1st gen Tacoma was too small for me despite wanting one for as long as they’ve been around, I realized an LC was just right and I wanted back into one for my daily driver.
Enter Land Cruiser soul searching mode (again). I’ve always wanted a 60 series but they are at or near 40 series prices for a good driver. I also wasn’t sure I would love daily driving one. I also really like the 70 series trucks… hmm, that’s an interesting idea. I had flirted with importing/buying an imported LC in the past but I would start scratching the surface and chicken out every time.
This time would be different it turns out. Started with my usual pestering of the usual suspects, AJ, Jimmy, Dave and Galen about imported cruisers. This time I took it a step further and enlisted the help of a friend who had imported several vehicles including an LC from Japan in the past. He hooked me up with his contacts and the auction site he used.
The world of JDM auction houses is a wild one full of intricacies and processes I was very unfamiliar with. Nevertheless, I started getting the hang of it all and shopping for a cruiser to import. In my searching I discovered the very cool and interesting KZJ78, a 4 door diesel 70 series looking Prado on coil springs that looked badass despite the rectangular headlights. On the other hand, I know the 80 series very well by now and non-drivetrain related parts are much more readily available in the States. Also, the KZJ78 is still relatively smaller than the 80, possibly too small for what I want.
After weeks of searching and crunching numbers on importing either a KZJ78 or an HDJ81, I decided to search the old FB Marketplace and Craigslist for one that had already been imported. There were surprisingly more than I thought there would be. There was the typical gamut ranging from too expensive to too clapped out or modified for me. Then I ran across this gem on the Marketplace in Rowlett, TX. Same year and color as my first Land Cruiser but with far fewer miles and tons of the JDM goodness I really wanted. A few conversations with the seller and a price agreed upon, I was set to pull a u-haul trailer up and snag her over the weekend.
Carpet and seats are damn near immaculate. Headliner and dash are pretty great. Even the D light still works!
Things that don’t work:
Missing Cruise stalk (wtf?). Fixed!
Cooler box (orifice tube, condenser?)
Washer nozzles Fixed mostly…
Current configuration:
Plans:
Dobinsons stock height springs
Dobinsons steering stabilizer
Add factory tow hitch and trailer wiring
Trailer break controller?
Turbo related gauges
Turn up the boost!
Recover steering wheel
Keep it fairly stock (looking at least)
Long time listener, first time caller.
Well that’s not exactly true. True for this sub-section of MUD, but I have a 1966 FJ40 I call Helga that is my first “build thread”. Her build thread is here. I have also owned 2 other 80 series trucks (91 FJ80 then a built 97 LX) as well as cutting my teeth on far too many other 4WD Toyotas (4Runners, Pickups, etc) to list here.
However, I have always had more than a passing interest in the diesel versions and like many folks here on MUD the diesel Land Cruisers were the ultimate cat’s meow, bee’s knees, etc.
So, after deciding my Tundra was actually too absurdly huge for my liking, after deciding my 1st gen Tacoma was too small for me despite wanting one for as long as they’ve been around, I realized an LC was just right and I wanted back into one for my daily driver.
Enter Land Cruiser soul searching mode (again). I’ve always wanted a 60 series but they are at or near 40 series prices for a good driver. I also wasn’t sure I would love daily driving one. I also really like the 70 series trucks… hmm, that’s an interesting idea. I had flirted with importing/buying an imported LC in the past but I would start scratching the surface and chicken out every time.
This time would be different it turns out. Started with my usual pestering of the usual suspects, AJ, Jimmy, Dave and Galen about imported cruisers. This time I took it a step further and enlisted the help of a friend who had imported several vehicles including an LC from Japan in the past. He hooked me up with his contacts and the auction site he used.
The world of JDM auction houses is a wild one full of intricacies and processes I was very unfamiliar with. Nevertheless, I started getting the hang of it all and shopping for a cruiser to import. In my searching I discovered the very cool and interesting KZJ78, a 4 door diesel 70 series looking Prado on coil springs that looked badass despite the rectangular headlights. On the other hand, I know the 80 series very well by now and non-drivetrain related parts are much more readily available in the States. Also, the KZJ78 is still relatively smaller than the 80, possibly too small for what I want.
After weeks of searching and crunching numbers on importing either a KZJ78 or an HDJ81, I decided to search the old FB Marketplace and Craigslist for one that had already been imported. There were surprisingly more than I thought there would be. There was the typical gamut ranging from too expensive to too clapped out or modified for me. Then I ran across this gem on the Marketplace in Rowlett, TX. Same year and color as my first Land Cruiser but with far fewer miles and tons of the JDM goodness I really wanted. A few conversations with the seller and a price agreed upon, I was set to pull a u-haul trailer up and snag her over the weekend.
Carpet and seats are damn near immaculate. Headliner and dash are pretty great. Even the D light still works!
Things that don’t work:
Cooler box (orifice tube, condenser?)
Current configuration:
Plans:
Dobinsons stock height springs
Dobinsons steering stabilizer
Add factory tow hitch and trailer wiring
Trailer break controller?
Turbo related gauges
Turn up the boost!
Recover steering wheel
Keep it fairly stock (looking at least)
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