Considering bj series purchase

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Mr.Bryan

Mr.Bryan

Joined
Mar 28, 2003
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Hey guys,

I've been considering a BJ series for quite some time and I'm getting to the point where I'm seriously considering pulling the trigger. I've done some searching through here and googling but I still have a few questions and I was hoping for a little direction or some opinions.

First off, Chicago area. I'm considering importation and I don't mind driving it back from any port (Miami, NY, whatever is fine) but one that is already titled in the USA would be cool too.

As far as what specific model goes, I'm trying to weigh out the benefits to each and see what works.

Specific traits I'm looking for is the short or medium wheel base, removable top, diesel, manual. I like the dual side facing bench in back but it's not a necessity.

From what I've read, the HZJ73 sounds like a great option but I've also come across the bj73 with a 2.5L turbo diesel. Not sure of how either drives. This will be a fun car / summer daily driver for me. Parked in winters to avoid salt.

Thanks for any and all help and if there are any other resources you guys know about or suggestions for reading material, I'd be grateful for them.

Thanks!
 
Keep reading this site... lot's of good information, the search is a lot of fun. back facing benches are dangerous, all the BJ's seem to have forward facing in my understanding.
 
A BJXX will have a 3.4 litre 4 cylinder diesel, neither of the 2 you are talking about have that engine. The HZJ73 would be an awesome rig, the other sounds like an LJ..I would choose the HZJ over most B and every L model myself.
 
Yep, my BJ60 can do 70 mph in 4th gear and it weighs about 5,000 pounds. A 5 speed and a turbo are coming up as soon as I have some extra cash laying around. Great motor, built to outlast its owners, but a bit unrefined for some peoples tastes.
 
I second the HZJ recommendation.....

Check out landcruisersdirect.com Some great inventory there. I wish I had used them when I bought my first cruiser. Whatever you do, do not buy a cruiser from South America...go with JDM.

I have spoke to Steve (the owner) on the phone a couple times in the past and he is a nice guy.
 
Thanks guys. I was looking at the landcruisers direct a bit. Not terribly far from flat nasty. Might have to make a side trip.

Any thoughts on a 73 with 2.5L?

Any of you guys driving a right hand drive in the states? Is maneuveringthrough traffic much more complicated?

As far as imports, anyone have experience with Costa Rican vehicles or would that be lumped into avoiding South American ones?
 
Think very hard about anything that has a BJ or an HJ in front of it.

Try finding parts for either. Consistently. And all of the parts that you need. Like gaskets and seals and consumables.

A 1HZ Is serious work in the US market. I am merely trying to be honest with you.

Good luck sir
 
My RHD BJ74 is easy to drive. The hardest things for me were the location of the rear view mirror and which stalk activates the turn signal.
 
jblueridge said:
My RHD BJ74 is easy to drive. The hardest things for me were the location of the rear view mirror and which stalk activates the turn signal.
Click to expand...

Same for me. It took me a couple of days to fully get used to the turn signal and wiper stalks being switched, but other than that it is great. The only difficulty is passing on a 2-lane road when driving alone. At least with 97hp I don't find myself doing that much.

PATHnz said:
I think the 2.5L is a Euro market engine and universally maligned
Click to expand...

That would be a 2LT. They get a bad rap because of their cylinder head problems, but apparently that is much more common among JDM automatic models. I've heard that the euro-spec 2LTs that are backed by a manual tend to run cooler and are thus less prone to cracking.
 
AirheadNut said:
Same for me. It took me a couple of days to fully get used to the turn signal and wiper stalks being switched, but other than that it is great. The only difficulty is passing on a 2-lane road when driving alone. At least with 97hp I don't find myself doing that much.



That would be a 2LT. They get a bad rap because of their cylinder head problems, but apparently that is much more common among JDM automatic models. I've heard that the euro-spec 2LTs that are backed by a manual tend to run cooler and are thus less prone to cracking.
Click to expand...


And you were not around in the US market in the mid 1980's when they were replacing almost every single 2L/2L-T head in the US market during that time.

Then, bye-bye Toyota diesels for the US market.

2L-T was the beginning and end of Toyota diesels in the US market.
 
Concur. I think there is some confusion in differentiating between the 2LT and the VM 2.5 TD 5 cylinder engine in the Portuguese spec BJs.
 
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OGBeno said:
Think very hard about anything that has a BJ or an HJ in front of it.

Try finding parts for either. Consistently. And all of the parts that you need. Like gaskets and seals and consumables.

A 1HZ Is serious work in the US market. I am merely trying to be honest with you.

Good luck sir
Click to expand...

@beno, @cruiseroutfit,

Just throwing these thoughts out there for discussion sake. I'm not trying to spark any doomsday fears...

I understand parts are being coming harder to find/purchase in the U.S. for 70 Series. Based on many posts here by numerous people, I thought the consensus was that the 1HZ was the 'better' motor choice for the North American market due to its long production run and 'easier' acquisition of parts?

As a 3B owner, and someone who is neither super mechanically inclined at the moment or made of money, is the worst case scenario that we can expect longer wait times on parts from Japan or hunting the used market? I know that @beno, @cruiseroutfit and @cruiserdan have said parts in the N.A. system are disappearing by the day. I'm sure this is common sense/knowledge, again just a discussion point.

From what I have seen a la landcruisersdirect.com and other businesses there is an inverse relationship between the number of 7X's coming into the U.S. now and Toyota's support of them. I am making a big assumption (wish) in my mind that somewhere, somehow, somebody is going to be able to fill the logistical gap that is being created for the really hard to find parts? Or, for someone who owns a 7X and is not a parts guru, is this going to be a losing battle as we march into the future?

I realize some of these questions are really generic big pictures concerns that may not have an exact answer at the present time. Just curious what the experts think, especially those being owners themselves.

(Sorry if this is getting alittle OT, I think it makes an interesting discussion if nothing else)
 
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Fantastic discussion points I myself am curious about.

The 2.5 I referred to was a Spanish market cruiser. Good to know though.

As far as ability goes, I can 5 banana all day but yea, not having the parts could pose a problem. The B and H are something that have always intrigued me because I've always wanted a diesel LC. Before I swapped a 5.3 vortec into my 80, I was considering a 4bt but $, time and significantly less research needed led me to the 5.3.

Out of curiosity, as far as pricing on these go, the hzj @ landcruisers direct is up for $18k. Is this what to expect as a normal range in the US?
 
While Toyota USA does not support these out of market vehicles, finding parts is not the nightmare it is sometimes painted to be. I see this discussion over and over, and I feel compelled to chime in on parts availability. I buy, refurbish and sell 75-100 Land Cruisers a year. Almost every one of them needs something before it is sold. This means LCD has a wide and deep network of parts suppliers. LCD is a parts company that doesn't sell parts, but consumes them. I have yet to find a part that I couldn't source for 1HZ, 3B, 13BT, 2H, 12HT, 1HDT, 2L, 2LT, and more. Yes, parts for older diesels are fewer and farther between. But for the trucks LCD deals in, 0% problem. US sources like Cruiser Outfitters, SOR, @beno, @cruiserdan and others, foreign sources like Japan 4x4, Toyota Japan, Toyota UAE, Amayama, Partsouq and used sources like @joekatana and many, many others. Not to even mention the amazing amount of aftermarket support in Australia. Again, this is for the platforms LCD deals with. And if all those channels fail, my collection of new parts, used parts and parts trucks exists to support LCD customers as a last resort. Yes, you will have to wait 2-3 weeks for some things and should always plan preventive maintenance in advance. Yes, some things will become harder and harder to find or be lost completely. Yes, fewer and fewer things are available from Toyota USA, but there is still some availability (AVAILABLE 7X SERIES PARTS--USA MARKET). And US suppliers (Cruiser Outfitters) are expanding out-of-market product lines, and I recall reading that @beno is beefing up on such inventory as well.

So it's not the same as buying an FJ Cruiser and going to your local Toyota store. But it's not an unconquerable task to find the parts you need. Going with a 1HZ is likely the smartest move to give you the best chance for long term availability. And if you buy from LCD, you'll always have a last resort. ;)
 
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