BJ44 Stock Question

[BJSeriesExpert]

Hi All,

Has anyone bought or have any expertise with a BJ44? I have a BJ40, but buying a BJ44 and not sure what to check to make sure it's stock. The year is 1982, it has Zebra Stripes seats and engine is 2B. I thought I'd start this conversion for anyone interested or can help.

Appreciate your time and willingness to help.

 

[Economist LC76]

The best way is to make many photos. Starting from VIN plate, engine, interior in details, from different sides and under.
Color at least doesn’t look original.

 

[Living in the Past]

That is not stock. Never seen a stock three wiper LHD windshield. Heard of someone custom making one. Thought the 2B was a JDM engine. The headlight guard seen on special edition JDM 40 series.

 

[tlaporte]

@Living in the Past: what's your clue that this is LHD? I downloaded the picture and cranked up the brightness but still could not see a steering wheel inside.

I, too, thought 2B was a JDM-only option, and I've only ever seen those side-view mirrors on JDM trucks. OP mentions zebra-striped seats, which were typically associated with LX models, which would comport with your mention of the headlight guards on special editions.

I just assumed that this was an RHD truck.

 

[BJSeriesExpert]

That's what I was wondering about with respect to having 3 wipers. It is imported from Japan, was originally a RHD, but converted to LHD using original BJ40 series gearbox.

 

[Living in the Past]

@Living in the Past: what's your clue that this is LHD? I downloaded the picture and cranked up the brightness but still could not see a steering wheel inside.

I, too, thought 2B was a JDM-only option, and I've only ever seen those side-view mirrors on JDM trucks. OP mentions zebra-striped seats, which were typically associated with LX models, which would comport with your mention of the headlight guards on special editions.

I just assumed that this was an RHD truck.

Wiper motor on the right would be a LHD.

The zebra strip interior was common on JDM mid wheel base vehicles. They didn't get the LX designation like SWB.

 

[BJSeriesExpert]

Additional pictures.

 

[Economist LC76]

How about VIN plate? It will say a lot
Up to now:
There is no 2B LHD
There is no BJ44 LHD
There is no Hard top on medium wheelbase LHD
There is no triple wiper LHD
There is no side mirrors such type on LHD

VIN plate please

 

[tlaporte]

Wiper motor on the right would be a LHD.

Ok. I noticed that location but I wasn’t familiar enough with the 3-wiper setup to know that it wasn’t different from 2-wiper setups like my RHD HJ47 with wiper motor on left.

The zebra strip interior was common on JDM mid wheel base vehicles. They didn't get the LX designation like SWB.

You’re right, I forgot that.

OP mentions that this has been converted to LHD, which to my mind pretty much throws out the question of “what is stock?”

 

[Economist LC76]

Not very correct conversion from RHD to LHD

 

[Living in the Past]

Assume they kept the RHD cowl and dash and switched instrument cluster and glove box. The insert dash started 10/81 on RHD and 10/82 on LHD. The pre 1/79 seam in the rocker is a mistery.

 

[a.greenspan]

Read Folkerts sides

MWB Landcruisers

There is a lot of info to be found on the Short Wheel Based (SWB) 40 series like the FJ40, BJ40 and BJ42, and even info about the Long Wheel Based (LWB) versions BJ45, FJ45, HJ47 aka “Troopie” is e…

bj44.wordpress.com

 

[a.greenspan]

There is no Hard top on medium wheelbase LHD

You could get one (plastic) from Toyota as an option .

 

[Economist LC76]

You could get one (plastic) from Toyota as an option .

There is no Toyota OEM Plastic option. All South American plastic tops are local production (take a look at the catalogue).
Original hard tops on the mid wheel base is JDM only.

 

[a.greenspan]

In fall 1979 I ordered the 43 new .
& except the roll bar and a mechanical winch for example as an option the Toyota plastic top was an option too.
Was about 5000 DM.
Wanted no hard top only the roll bar.
Got the 43 in spring 1980.
Forgotten:
They only came in white , rear doors too and looked bit better than the SA products.

 

[Economist LC76]

In fall 1979 I ordered the 43 new .
& except the roll bar and a mechanical winch for example as an option the Toyota plastic top was an option too.
Was about 5000 DM.
Wanted no hard top only the roll bar.
Got the 43 in spring 1980.
Forgotten:
They only came in white , rear doors too and looked bit better than the SA products.

Unfortunately there is no evidence in the catalogue that Toyota made the plastic top for BJ43 in Europe. I can provide part numbers for the winch, Roll bar, for the rear heater, even for different tires, but the soft top is the only top for BJ43 in Europe. If we cannot find any picture or part number in the original Catalogue than it was a dealer option but not Toyota (in Switzerland for example it was option with the Warn Hubs, different front bumper with the Warn winch or Vestfalia towing hook - all these were on the new cars but from the dealer).

 

[Bear]

It's more than possible that sometime after leaving the factory, items were added/changed to suit a previous owner. An interesting series of holes in the face of the front bumper. That rocker seam might be part of the attachment of a replacement cowl/firewall.

Yes, for historical investigation, a VIN plate might be instructive along with a photo of the stamped frame serial number.

Unless someone is concerned about absolute originality, this one is no more modified than many other Land Cruisers out there. If the seller however is representing this as a 100% original Toyota factory creation, valid documentation and detailed examination would be needed for authentication.

 

[a.greenspan]

I know ..........since years ....
that Folkert wrote this
" ...the Bj43 hardt top never exist"
but it is not corrct.
I ordered the 43 new and the hard top was not a dealer option, came from Toyota.
I knew when I wrote above: Toyota made a plastic top you would
write the same as Folkert did, but again it´s not correct.
Both of you never ordered a new 43.
A dealer option would not be profitable for the dealer in the late 70`s.
They only sold a handful 43 .
Remember the discussion I had on Mud some years ago
" Toyota build J4`s in Portugal"...haha.

 

[a.greenspan]

"Unless someone is concerned about absolute originality, this one is no more modified than many other Land Cruisers out there."

Mr. Economist´s restoration he let do somewhere in Germany 4 a lot of money isn`t original, his 43 came with split rims.
Other items are wrong too
By the way before I bought the 43 I catched a lot information.
It´s my money I spend & at that time 1979 I knew that the Toyotas are rust buckets
When I told that I would drive the 43 the next 10 years without storing it in a garage I got pitiful smiles.

Put bigger tyres for better ride on the 43 and a bucket seat .
And an option to start the Diesel without a lot of smoke.... all great when you realy use the truck.
Drove it 34 years.
25 without storing it in a garage.

 

[YoYoHo]

I ordered the 43 new and the hard top was not a dealer option, came from Toyota.
I knew when I wrote above: Toyota made a plastic top you would

What is a plastic top ? The one shown above on the BJ44 is steel as is the one on my BJ46 both factory options.

If you are saying the 43 you have was offered with a factory steel hard top then can you post some pictures of the inner rear lip where the rear doors go ? The factory hard top was only offered with Ambulance door in any market from what I have seen and thus if the 43 was offered with a factory hard top I would expect to see the return lip.

my 46 has the return my 43 does not

Always learning, happy for education if this is not the case, I know for a fact I was not buying a 43 in the late 70's and have never bought anything direct so who knows what my junk has been through