buying advice on HD HDJ81

[Twytch]

.2 L I6 1HD [COLOR=#00aef0 !important][COLOR=#00aef0 !important]Turbo [COLOR=#00aef0 !important]Diesel[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]
Hi all. I've been suggested I should get some advice from this fine crew of LC owners as well.

Well the time has come. a friend of mine is moving accross Canada and is not able to take his 91 HD HDJ81
I love the Idea of the Turbo [COLOR=#00aef0 !important][COLOR=#00aef0 !important]Diesel[/COLOR][/COLOR] but sadly have yet to work on anything that large or diesel (I have worked on a few small 4 bangers on import trucks).
the over all LC is in great shape however the PS front spindle needs to be replaced ( I'm guessing bearings were not replaced soon enough) the exhaust needs replacing and the 12/24V switch for the starter is toast. he currently has it wired to bypas it in order to get it going. as well the front shocks are a bit soft.. but I would plan on a 2"lift by OME anyway so that does not concern me. there is currently approx 200 000km on the unit right now which isnt too bad from what I've read about on here. The BEB has not yet been replaced, but I rather look forward to it.
I know.. I'm a little strange

I'm wondering two things.. is $10K too much
and am I looking at alot of work with the spindle replacment and wiring issue? (24V starter is pretty nice for this far north)

Thank you all for your input.

Pat.

 

[Prado]

I certainly wouldn't put myself in the category of 'expert' on HDJ81's but I've had mine for a couple of years now and I think 10K is a bit high for the condition you described. The only issue mine has now (after I fixed a bunch of things) is a leaky PS pump (the rebuild kit is coming!) and I'm not confident that I'd get 10K for mine with 160,000KM.

As I understand it, 5 years ago or so there was a significant demand for these vehicles which drove prices up quite a bit but now the bottom seems to have dropped out of the market and prices have followed.

Just my $0.02...hope it helps!

Cheers,
Mike

 

[76 Land Bruiser]

I wouldnt do 10k, that seems steep too me, but it all depends on if you think its worth it.

 

[BCR4619]

Am I reading this right? You cant even get them out of Japan for less than 10K.... the ones around here range from 10-15 or the odd 18k.....

If you think 10K is too high go buy a FZJ80 and swap in a diesel and then see how far above 10k you are (I know its a different beast but correct me if I am wrong your biggest investment will be the HD-T

As for the truck you describe it all depends what you think its worth, exhaust runs around 1G and I would look into the front axle.

Cheers,
Christian

 

[roscoFJ73]

Have you seen it start cold? Its needs to jump into life and settle into a smooth idle immediately with very little smoke.
If it cant do that,you could be up for $1000s.
The little things like shocks and starter are nothing.
You can get the power steering rebuild kit ,including new shaft for $99 on aussie ebay.
Power Steering Pump Overhaul Kit Toyota Landcruiser 1HZ 75 79 Series 80 Series | eBay

 

[Douglas S]

Am I reading this right? You cant even get them out of Japan for less than 10K.... the ones around here range from 10-15 or the odd 18k.....

If you think 10K is too high go buy a FZJ80 and swap in a diesel and then see how far above 10k you are (I know its a different beast but correct me if I am wrong your biggest investment will be the HD-T

As for the truck you describe it all depends what you think its worth, exhaust runs around 1G and I would look into the front axle.

Cheers,
Christian

Mine was $9,500 with zero mechanical issues, lockers, and 115,000 kilometers. They're out there...

 

[BCR4619]

Mine was $9,500 with zero mechanical issues, lockers, and 115,000 kilometers. They're out there...

I wont argue that point I know they are but its like a needle in a haystack so to speak, lots of people want to flip them... for example a 1995 HDJ81 with a HD-FT was for sale here for 35000... keep dreaming buddy.

There was one here for that price a month or so ago and it had a freshly rebuilt motor due to no BEB's bring done.

If you want it sold fast then you are around the 10-12 mark but they arent really nice from the ones Ive seen locally anyway, but most of them are just sitting gathering dust on craigslist.

 

[Prado]

I wont argue that point I know they are but its like a needle in a haystack so to speak, lots of people want to flip them... for example a 1995 HDJ81 with a HD-FT was for sale here for 35000... keep dreaming buddy.

There was one here for that price a month or so ago and it had a freshly rebuilt motor due to no BEB's bring done.

If you want it sold fast then you are around the 10-12 mark but they arent really nice from the ones Ive seen locally anyway, but most of them are just sitting gathering dust on craigslist.

I'm just going by what I see around here (Calgary). I bought mine 2 years ago for $10,000 and put ~$2000 into it fixing small issues here and there. At the time I looked at several in the area and they were all in poorer shape and were anywhere from $9K to $16K...but they weren't selling at those prices. My perception (and I'm entirely willing to be proven wrong ) is that there is a substantial difference between what some people think they're worth and what they are actually selling for. I think the actual market for these things is very small and the law of supply and demand dictates that low demand generally equals lower prices. If I could really sell mine for $15,000 in B.C. then maybe I should list it....Nah, I love it too much!

Cheers,
Mike

 

[BCR4619]

Hah dang I should have looked out of province! I had looked at some cheaper but they had been in the interior for a few years and I didn't want to drive all the way up there to see a fixer-upper. Prices have defiantly dropped from when I bought but as you say there is quite the limited market now as the guys that want them have them.

 

[cody c]

thats an $8000 truck, in that condition. Better deals to be found elsewhere, and your friend aint gonna have much luck selling at that price.

All those bugs can be fixed, front runner has cheap spindles (like $35 used), EBI in vancouver should have them as well (more expensive but less in shipping), they will be the same as the 60 series. Trail gear has chromoly ones for $104 but im not sure if they'll fit an 80.

Thing is, your gonna need new bearings and seals, maybe even a new hub. So you might as well do the front end ($200-400 in parts with shipping, assuming you do the labour), but its also a good and cheaper time to replace brake pads and check the rubber brake lines.

The exhaust, well there was a thread not too long ago about someone in vancouver who makes or was making replacement stainless for HDJ's. Id guess around $1200-1400 shipped.

The starter, hard top say but you should be able to get parts some where. Just a pain to trouble shoot.

Have a look at TRDparts4u (or something like that) a vendor on here, they sell OME 2" springs for a good price, and new shocks will run anywhere from $250-1500.

Then you got BEB's, not sure what thats worth, should be some info and prices in this section though.


So, thats just the costs we know about, then there is the other unknown maintenance and replacement, hows the tires? They make another season? If he's let it get this bad, hows the rest of the maintenance, like oil changes etc?

If you need any sources for parts just ask on this thread or in the 80's section as well.

 

[CruiserGord]

FYI I bought the Toyota power steering rebuild kit and it's got one tiny flaw. When you strip your PS pump there is needle bearing inside where the shaft goes through. That bearing came out of my pump with no cage and some of the needles snapped in half. Only reason I rebuilt my pump though was because it had a small leak and felt a bit tougher to turn my wheel. That little bearing took a few days to track down and have shipped in and cost $50+. All in all though the rebuilt is easy as long as you have a bench vise to help hold the bugger in place.

 

[northernrighty]

Got mine 3 years ago, no "issues" except a/c not working. $11000. I did BEB (cheap insurance).
Did my exaust for $400.

$8000 sounds right.

 

[motorcoach123]

. the 12/24V switch for the starter is toast. he currently has it wired to bypas it in order to get it going

Welcome Pat!

If I understand your original post, you have the 24 volt starter with 12 volts going to it.
You want to either get a new series parallel switch installed, or change/rebuild the starter motor to 12 volts as nothing kills a starter motor/contacts quicker than low voltage!
From a practical point of view, if you can't do almost all your own work, you may want to look into how much trouble it might be getting that truck repaired in a place like HP, AB and if you are going to use it as a daily driver, that might be challenging....having said that, it is a very capable unit that will do almost anything you ask of it when it's in good nick! Good luck!

Cheers,
Gord

 

[rushglen]

Always a difficult decision... the most expensive part of the vehicle is the engine and transmission. If the engine fires immediately from cold, runs smoothly without smoke, runs without rattling etc its a good sign!

Transmission should shift smoothly etc - search this forum for transmission problems. Leaking axles, steering joints, shocks etc are relatively easier and cheaper to repair than engine/transmission.

If you buy and are not sure if the BEB have been done just do them, the risk of not doing them is too great, I did mine after purchase as there was no 'paper trail" - invoices to substantiate the claim - luckily with mine the bearings were nearly perfect (I still put new ones in), at least I can now sleep at night!

They are an amazing vehicle but at this age (21 yrs) you have to look a little harder and put some cash aside for future repairs.

The engine alone is worth $8-9k if good and in 3-4 yrs you'll be able to export the entire vehicle to the states under the 25yr rule...though unless their economy improves it wont be much of an option!

If it has lockers on both axles and the engine is good, no rust on rear tailgate, rear side windows, then the price maybe not be un-reasonable - remember this is Alberta where everything is a little higher priced....

As you're relatively close PM me if you want some advice - I'm certainly not an expert but I maybe able to help.

 

[rushglen]

there is a very clean looking '91 with factory lockers in Calgary here:
1991 Toyota Land Cruiser VX Limited - Alberta Cars For Sale - Kijiji Alberta Canada.

generally at this age there is a huge range of price and condition....

build a contingency fund for the unknown!

 

[sailor]

get a locked truck, and as above, have a contingency fund. Don't blow all your dough on 'jewellery' before the truck is made reliable and all maintenance in up to date..