BJ60 fixer-upper

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

J

jearl

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Jul 24, 2006
Threads
7
Messages
33
Location
Alberta, Canada
Hi,

I have the opportunity to buy a 1983 BJ60 for $250 that's been sitting for probably around 7 years or so. It needs the engine rebuilt. From what my mechanic friend was explaining to me, it sounds like it will need a crank as well (or built-up if possible?). The odometer shows it has about 300k on the vehicle. The body is amazingly in pretty good shape. The only rust is around the back of the rear wheel well lip, and the tailgate. I'm not sure about the frame yet, but the floor appears to be solid too.

I'm currently driving an 87 4Runner and from what I've been reading it sounds like the 3B is a good engine, and probably gets similar fuel mileage that my 4Runner gets (and potentially a little better?).

Is there anything else I should watch out for? What kinda cost would I be looking at to rebuild the engine? Any other advice or motivation would be appreciated! :)
 
Engine rebuild kits around 1300.00 CND. With labour and all expect 3000.

But then you would have a strong engine.

Bodies on the old BJ60s are generally pretty rusty. But with a good drivetrain you could always swap it over to nice rust free FJ60.

The 3B is well suited to a turbo. You can build your own kit for under 1K or buy a ready to go kit for 3K.

There are some people selling rebuilt 3Bs like Crushers on here, and a few others.

Search on the diesel forum for more 3b info.
 
Hi dude .. be sure you get better response in Diesel section ..

Anycase .. 350 k in a 3B engine .. means nothing .. ! anycase 3B rebuis it depends what you gonna change or replacea and your head status. Also depends ini your spares cost ..

aaaaa and I'm not sure about of you gas millegae on your 4 runner . ( diesel ... ? ) but in a 3B in good shape stock maybe 34 - 36 km/g is agood numbe.
 
Where are you located?

$250 sounds like a good deal.
You could part it for a lot more.

If the frame is good I would fix it.
If the frame is rotten just buy it and part it.

Cheers,
Nick
 
nickw said:
Where are you located?

$250 sounds like a good deal.
You could part it for a lot more.

If the frame is good I would fix it.
If the frame is rotten just buy it and part it.

Cheers,
Nick
Click to expand...


Just my thought. For the price, I would pick it up if only to play with it and pretend I know what I'm doing. You could probably get your money back and more in parts, but if you have the interest space and tools, the entertainment value of modding it might be worthwhile.


Kalawang
 
The 5 speed in that is worth at least twice the cost of the whole truck(IF 5th gear is okay).
 
mac said:
The 5 speed in that is worth at least twice the cost of the whole truck(IF 5th gear is okay).
Click to expand...

1983 did not have a 5 speed (H55).
The 5 speed would have to be a swap.
It was the 4 speed in 1983 (please correct me if I am wrong).

Cheers,
Nick
 
Darn, I think it does have a 4 speed! I wish you could just drop by your local Toyota and buy these things still (at a used price of course!). I guess I might be able to just keep it for parts, or part it out. I'll pick it up and take some pics and take a closer look at it to see what there is to work with. I'm located in Lethbridge, Alberta btw.
 
lshobie said:
there are enough used 3 b engines out there now - just buy a used one and swap it in - i wouldnt spend the cash on a rebuild.

regards
Click to expand...

Good advice! You could get many happy years of driving out of a used 3B in decent shape.
Nick, you have me wondering about what the 1st year for the H55 was. I could have sworn it was 83 in Canada.
 
mac said:
Nick, you have me wondering about what the 1st year for the H55 was. I could have sworn it was 83 in Canada.
Click to expand...

Did some searching. Your right 1983 had a 5speed.
I thought they also came with a 4speed that year.
Maybe it was a split year?

Either way $250 is a good price.
If you don't want it let me know.

Cheers,
Nick
 
fe sus said:
The donor rig for my drivetrain swap was an 83 BJ60 with an H55F 5 speed. Can't say for sure that some PO hadn't swapped it in, but it sure looked like it was original...
Click to expand...

It should be. 1983 model year was the 1st year for the H55F in Canada. It is not a split year afaik.

Your alternator is funky though. It looks like the larger coarse spline vacumn pump (which are earlier model alternators). Both my 1983 BJ60's had the smaller fine spline pumps, and any other 1983 I've seen is fine spline as well. I'll have to keep an eye out and check more as I come across them.

gb
 
brownbear said:
Engine rebuild kits around 1300.00 CND. With labour and all expect 3000.
Click to expand...

If you have to go deep (like the crank and oil gears, etc) then add a bit more. A really rough figure of $1000.00 a hole for a deep rebuild is not out of the question. Do a search here. A few have posted up and detailed all costs in rebuilding their engine.

hth's

gb
 
nickw said:
1983 did not have a 5 speed (H55).
The 5 speed would have to be a swap.
It was the 4 speed in 1983 (please correct me if I am wrong).

Cheers,
Nick
Click to expand...

Both my '83 60s came with factory 5spd. I have yet to see an '83 4spd, but I know there are some out there on the road.

Adam
 
I called my friend and confirmed that it does have a 5 speed. He also said the vehicle was manufactured November 1983, so perhaps it's an 84? I pick it up today after work, so I should have some pictures soon. I guess the story with the engine is that it spun a bearing. Who knows, maybe the top end is still good.

Just to clarify, the truck wasn't owned by my friend. He just picked it up for me, and the reason we figure it spun a bearing was because the bearing cap was inside the truck, and the oil pan was just held on by a couple bolts!
 
jearl said:
and the oil pan was just held on by a couple bolts!
Click to expand...

damn ! ..

pics .. and care . !
 
MadmanCruiser said:
Both my '83 60s came with factory 5spd. I have yet to see an '83 4spd, but I know there are some out there on the road.

Adam
Click to expand...

Are your alternators hanging the large vacumn pump off the back, or the later smaller fine spline ones? Both my 1983's were the smaller fine spline style.

Thanks

gb
 
there have been some coarse spline alternators modded to fit the later 5 spd 3B's. the coarse spline alternators do not have the expensive spline problems of the later fine splines...
cheers
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom