Buying a BJ74, is it a good deal?

[ABro]

I posted this in "Chitchat" since it is not a "Tech" question, but was told to post in here.

Looking at a BJ74 currently located in Japan, the shipping and paperwork would be all taken care of. I have a connection over there who has it, and exports cars and parts frequently.

I am not sure on the year, but it is a 5 speed with PTO, grey, looks rust free, removable top ect. Interior looks pretty good and from a video he sent me it seems to run really well. I know these trucks are pretty desirable and not super common. He said he would be able to get it in my hands for $7500 shipped.

The catch is it has ~237,000 miles, so I am worried about potential issues and parts being hard to find. In the US anyway.

Obviously any number of things could go wrong, and it is a high milage truck, but does it seem like it would be worth $7500? I plan on keeping a driving it for a while, but would like to sell it again for a profit or at least break even.

 

[yeti in ga]

I would say yes , if there is not a rust issue post some pictures and let some of the experts pick it part.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

When you include the engine, there might be $7,500 simply in parts. As I mentioned to you earlier, the mileage isn't as important as the quality of maintenance that the Cruiser has received while the mileage was accumulated.

 

[LDowney]

...
I am not sure on the year, ...

The year is extremely important. The title date must make the truck at least 25 years old to be legally imported. Once you are certain of passing the 25 year old gate; a registered importer (RI) will need to be identified that can handle the paper work, shipping port from Japan, port of entry into US (for the RI to work with to prep the paper work and establish a basis for calculation of your shipping costs) and type of shipping available (RORO or container). These points of understanding will help define your total cost of investment and how long it will take to get to you.

Also as Charles has stated, the condition of the truck is important. If it has received good care, 237k miles may not be troublesome. If it has not received good care, the miles could be a lot. It will come down to the info that you get from your contact and how much you want the truck to take a leap of faith buying to buy sight unseen.

Good luck.

 

[ABro]

@1978HJ45

Absolutely man, unfortunately I do not know all of the maintenance history, as i believe it is an auction truck. I am hoping to get some better pics and information soon. It is a 13bt truck too, which would be a welcome upgrade from my worn 2f in the 60.

 

[ABro]

The year is extremely important. The title date must make the truck at least 25 years old to be legally imported. Once you are certain of passing the 25 year old gate; a registered importer (RI) will need to be identified that can handle the paper work, shipping port from Japan, port of entry into US (for the RI to work with to prep the paper work and establish a basis for calculation of your shipping costs) and type of shipping available (RORO or container). These points of understanding will help define your total cost of investment and how long it will take to get to you.

Also as Charles has stated, the condition of the truck is important. If it has received good care, 237k miles may not be troublesome. If it has not received good care, the miles could be a lot. It will come down to the info that you get from your contact and how much you want the truck to take a leap of faith buying to buy sight unseen.

Good luck.

It is more than 25 years. They calculate the age down to the month as well so it would have to be manufactured before today's date in 1989. Paperwork is all goo to go, my contact ships quite a few cars. I also know the owner of a pretty well known JDM importer. These things really do not worry me as much as potential mechanical issues common to the mileage.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

The good news: The BJ74 is a fantastic Cruiser and the 13B-T is a very reliable powerplant. : )

 

[ABro]

Here are some pics, interior looks a little dirty but complete. Also, looks like it is 430,000km, so 260k miles or so.

Any thoughts?

 

[ABro]

Also looks like it has A/C?

 

[John Galt]

There are a lot of BJ-74s with that much mileage still running strong without major problems. Run it parked with the oil filler cap sitting on the opening, but not screwed in. It shouldn't blow off. Then have a compression test done and that will tell you what to expect in the near future. While the injectors are out for the test, have them serviced, unless you have proof it was done recently. Run a tankfull to near empty with B20 biodiesel fuel to clean the fuel system before you change the fuel filter. Find the water trap / sedimenter on the right side of the engine compartment and drain it. Then drain and flush the fuel tank as well as replacing all lubricants. Drain and flush the rad then add new diesel coolant.

 

[LDowney]

Also looks like it has A/C?

The pump visible in "engine bay.jpeg" is the power steering pump. The reservoir on BJ74 is remote to the pump (due to lack of a reservoir, the pump can be mistaken as an A/C compressor). The A/C compressor is mounted low on the 13B-T and would not be visible in the picture. If you spotted refrigerant lines, I missed them.

 

[ABro]

Thanks for the info! I thought that was likely to be the PS pump, I was referring to the fact that the HVAC controls state "A/C" on them. Though, I guess it is very possible that Toyota used the same control panel regardless.

 

[sadam_husain]

looks pretty tidy for its age and mileage mate, I've had a FJ75 for 12 years and still love it. Mechanical stuff on those things are pretty easy to fix a lot of the cruiser stuff from other models is all common and fits its the body that's a bit harder to fix if you need to source replacement panels, common places that suffer rust is the windshield frame, below the windshield frame, A pillars rot out and the front floor pan, roof gutters rust out but not on fibreglass top models they don't

 

[roscoFJ73]

Looks like it is the 85-86 model with no roll cage and no rear seat belts

 

[rick_d]

I don't think I have seen a JDM truck w/o AC- this one has dash switch and I assume it is there.

Most JDM bj74'sdo not have rear roll system. The '87 I still have and '88 I had did not.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

The pump visible in "engine bay.jpeg" is the power steering pump. The reservoir on BJ74 is remote to the pump (due to lack of a reservoir, the pump can be mistaken as an A/C compressor). The A/C compressor is mounted low on the 13B-T and would not be visible in the picture. If you spotted refrigerant lines, I missed them.

The A/C compressor is below the air box and slightly aft and the coolant lines are most likely routed lower in the engine bay. The heater / AC control head looks identical to my 1987.

 

[joekatana]

I think @ 7500$ here in the US it really is a no brainer,I have 13BT/H55 combo's seen for sale here for that amount.......and you never really know the mileage on those.To me it seems highly unlikely that someone would chop up a good low mileage Cruiser if he could sell the complete thing for a premium for being low mileage.

I have owned several high mileage Diesel Cruisers and travelled around many continents with them and even if they start to have some wear on them they still wont leave you stranded

Remember Old Diesel Cruiser never die.......they just rust slowly away


Just my 2 cents

Joe

 

[ABro]

I think @ 7500$ here in the US it really is a no brainer,I have 13BT/H55 combo's seen for sale here for that amount.......and you never really know the mileage on those.To me it seems highly unlikely that someone would chop up a good low mileage Cruiser if he could sell the complete thing for a premium for being low mileage.

I have owned several high mileage Diesel Cruisers and travelled around many continents with them and even if they start to have some wear on them they still wont leave you stranded

Remember Old Diesel Cruiser never die.......they just rust slowly away


Just my 2 cents

Joe

That is what I am thinking, as long as I can track down parts through Canada I think I should be OK.

Also, my company has some vendors in ZA, NZ, OZ let alone Japan. So I should be able to give those guys a ring to see if they can help me out. Hopefully

Now I just need to dump my daily and buy it.

 

[cruiserdan]

7500 bucks on the ground is very cool.

I have been able to get quite a bit of trim, weather stripping, some sheet metal and various bits through the US system. It is remarkable how much is available for something that was never sold or supported here. Yan, Akella here on MUD, has been able to get quite a few things that TMS USA would not touch. Mine only has ~85,000 miles on it but the body was a bit beat up. NO rust but trail bruises.