Buying a BJ74!!

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fireball

fireball

SILVER Star
10 Year
Joined
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Location
southern VT
After a few weeks of searching and reading lots of the 70-series tech archives, I'm going to add my name to the owner-list!

Buying a '89 BJ74, fresh off the boat from Japan, from a dealer in Vancouver. I've had a PPI done and the truck looks and sounds to be in great shape. A few small items but overall a very nice, original, low mileage truck with some awesome overtly-80s seat fabric and door panels!

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I'm now trying to figure out logistics of having some preliminary work done to it, having Jason at Cruisin off Road build me a front bumper and planning some time off to use it as a launching point for a 2-3 week adventure back home to PA.

Fun stuff! Just wanted to stop in and say hello. Please get ready for a few hundred questions coming soon :)
 
The more important side:


If you see something terrible or think I've made a horrible mistake, speak up ASAP. Still might be time to stop the wire transfer!

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Nice looking truck with low miles........

The batteries are mis-matched so I would consider replacing them with a matched set.
 
Nice looking truck!
 
I paid for a PPI and he said it was one of the cleanest he's seen in quite some time.

A spot of repair in the driver side rocker. Not thrilled about this, but it's 25 years old, and coming back to PA. It's a tool, not a jewel, right?!

20141201_122021.webp DS rocker closeup.webp

@cruiserdan I need to do my reading on 24V systems, but should I buy 2 new or can I just replace one to find a matching? I can ask the seller about them, they might have installed 1 new? He had to do a few items to pass BC inspection before able to sell it to me.

@fjcalifornia Not sure folding the windshield down will be in the foreseeable future. Do you have the green soft top 73 that I saw some photos of? If so, that's a beautiful truck! While not a reality anytime soon, been pondering in my head how to turn a 74 into a ST version similar to the NAS D90, sort of an external front cage then full cage in the back....
 
Batteries should be the same brand, same size, same model and the same age. otherwise they will be imbalanced which shortens the service life.

Also a 12V "center tap" (if present) is not such a good idea.

If one of those batteries is indeed "new" and you can find another just like it, that would work out OK.
 
Group 27. I am running Interstate commercial units.
 
Thanks again for the warm welcome! I didn't know it was a madness, perhaps I should reconsider? ;)

Here's the first slew of questions, mostly softballs for you:

1. Is there an A/C button or how do you turn on the A/C?
2. Does the same key work everything or do you guys have different ignition and rest of car keys?
3. Apparently the temp sensors are not working properly for the int/ext temp display. Do you know where they are located? Will try to clean them first but sounds like they might need replacing.
4. How could I source an OEM grey steering wheel? There's a pile of them somewhere over in Japan, as at least half of these I've been looking at have some sort of ugly aftermarket OEM wheel....
5. Is there a market for the OEM front porch bumper? I'd be surprised but wanted to ask. Going to have this fitted to work with OEM PTO winch.
6. Can the FRP top support a RTT? I haven't seen many brackets or roof rack setups so am concerned about this.
7. will a 33" tire fit in the spare location? Is the door strong enough to support a 33." Am debating 32vs33 and that just might be the deciding factor. And by fit, I mean with the passenger side rear door still open and clear the spare.
8. What's the cheapest and easiest way to mount a 24-12V convertor? I want to do something just for a CD player and ipod charger for the trip home. Once I get home I'll probably tear everything apart and do the real wiring, but I can't make it 5,000 miles singing to myself and on a single iphone charge!

Thanks all!
 
fireball said:
Thanks again for the warm welcome! I didn't know it was a madness, perhaps I should reconsider?
Click to expand...
Fireball -
This is your honeymoon phase. The madness will build, but the LAST thing you should do is reconsider. To paraphrase Napoleon Bonaparte:

In Landcruisers (politics)... never retreat, never retract... never admit a mistake.
 
A/C has a rotary control switch behind the blower knob.
As built one key works all the locks.
Dunno about the temp stuff, I don't have that feature.
More front porches are in the bushes off to the side of the carport than are on trucks...:lol:
I would not put a tent on the FRP.
A 33 inch tire will just barely fit on the door. That plus a steel wheel is pretty heavy, heavier than I like. When I had that set up I could open the LH door with about a creditcard thickness of clearance.
There are small converters that you can plug into the lighter socket (if it works).
 
fireball said:
Thanks again for the warm welcome! I didn't know it was a madness, perhaps I should reconsider? ;)

Here's the first slew of questions, mostly softballs for you:

1. Is there an A/C button or how do you turn on the A/C?
2. Does the same key work everything or do you guys have different ignition and rest of car keys?
3. Apparently the temp sensors are not working properly for the int/ext temp display. Do you know where they are located? Will try to clean them first but sounds like they might need replacing.
4. How could I source an OEM grey steering wheel? There's a pile of them somewhere over in Japan, as at least half of these I've been looking at have some sort of ugly aftermarket OEM wheel....
5. Is there a market for the OEM front porch bumper? I'd be surprised but wanted to ask. Going to have this fitted to work with OEM PTO winch.
6. Can the FRP top support a RTT? I haven't seen many brackets or roof rack setups so am concerned about this.
7. will a 33" tire fit in the spare location? Is the door strong enough to support a 33." Am debating 32vs33 and that just might be the deciding factor. And by fit, I mean with the passenger side rear door still open and clear the spare.
8. What's the cheapest and easiest way to mount a 24-12V convertor? I want to do something just for a CD player and ipod charger for the trip home. Once I get home I'll probably tear everything apart and do the real wiring, but I can't make it 5,000 miles singing to myself and on a single iphone charge!

Thanks all!
Click to expand...

1) The A/C switch is located behind the fan speed switch. (Dual purpose switch)
2) Same key for everything (at least on mine)
3) Outside temp sensor is in the frame horn while the inside sensor is located somewhere near the sidewall above the shoulder harness attach point. (I think this is correct)
4) The parts guys can chime in here...... "Cruiserdan, Beno, etc."
5) Front Porch Bumper ..... Future beer cans. :)
6) Again "Cruiserdan" can probably help you with this question.
7) Sorry .... Above my pay grade.
8) "Elkaholic" just installed one in his Cruiser.

** If my answers are different than Dan's above ...... Go with his ..... I was just winging it.
 
I have a grey oem steering wheel from a BJ70 that I am starting to part out.

Joe
 
Somewhere in the world there is warehouse full of OEM steering wheels. :)
 
Gun Runner 5 said:
Somewhere in the world there is warehouse full of OEM steering wheels. :)
Click to expand...
Yep, Akella just got me one.....
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PS - One might ask "why" if I already have one. The answer is that OEM wheels tend (in my experience) to swell and delaminate from the interior metal frame.

It appears that direct sunlight on the upper 1/3 of the wheel just cooks the gray wrapping. The vinyl gets loose and the wheel feels sloppy.
 
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