considering hj60 purchase -need input

[Outfitter]

Help please - looking to buy this HJ60 in atlanta

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/car/497613892.html

I'm thinking of buying this HJ60 in atlanta - found it on craigslist and then saw it mentioned here - it seems like a decent deal - bumpers have been removed and replaced with painted tube steel - odometer says 285000 kilometers - he says there is some rust holes on the frame - he says the body and interior are good.
What kind of maintenance is going to be needed at that mileage.
I've had a few landcruisers in the past and now have the itch again - I've always wanted a diesel...... but maintaining it in the rural south east may prove too difficult -
thanks in advance for your help and input.

 

[BiG BoB]

Check when the timing belt was last done, if it wasnt recent then have it done

Service it every 5000km's with good oil and a quality oil filter - depening on conditions your air and fuel filter shouldnt need to be done this often.

Personally on buying the vehicle I'd do a full service, and replace the water pump / thermostat / hoses / belts / flush the cooling system / and budget permitting replace the radiator.

I'd also go through the driveline and replace transmission and differential oils, check the unijoints for play, and if there wasnt evidence of regular greasing I'd probably replace them (its much easier to grease the tailshaft with it dropped)

Sean

 

[Frode S]

Check when the timing belt was last done, if it wasnt recent then have it done

No worries, the 2H engine has no timing belt. The camshaft is gear-driven and requires no special periodical maintenance.

 

[super88]

If I still lived in ATL I'd be all over this like stink on... well, you know. That seems like a really reasonable price for a difficult to obtain vehicle that (at least as of late) is in a rust-free locale.

 

[Freewheel]

That one looks like it was Canadian originally (has the classic Canadian roofrack) and holes in the frame sounds pretty Canadian as well. If the owner is seeing and admitting to holes in the frame - it could be really bad. I've seen these trucks survive with massively rotten frames, but if the shock crossmembers or spring mounts are about to fall off, it may not be worth it unless you are just hoping to throw the engine into an FJ60. If it's Canadian, It's also likely to be 24volts, which may or may not be an issue for you...

I've spent the last year baselining an 86 HJ with 230,000 kilometers. The engine is amazingly reliable and I've only had to replace the thermostat, as I've been going through the rounds of checking everything on the engine. As mentioned, it has no timing belt, and apparently, the water pumps tend to leak a bit before they blow, so it may not be something necessary to jump on immediately. Your cooling system flush should tell you a bit about the state of the cooling sytem and whether you want to go in and replace anything else. My main issue with the truck was the transfer case seals were bad including the one between the tranny and the transfer case which causes fluid to leave the transfer and overfill the tranny. -(not sure if this happens with Auto trannies)

I love my HJ...

 

[jmylie]

There should be a sticker on the drivers door showing the importer and stating that the vehicle conforms with Federal laws etc.

$6500 sounds almost too good to be true. Double check the frame, especially the rear. It can be repaired but at least you will know up front.

odometer says 285000 kilometers What kind of maintenance is going to be needed at that mileage

Not to worry, 285,000 km on a 2H and it's barely broken in. I've got over 450,000 km on my 86 HJ.

 

[hks3sgte]

Try and resist. A Land Cruiser with rust is a never ending headache. Even if it's a diesel.

 

[3_puppies]

That one looks like it was Canadian originally (has the classic Canadian roofrack) and holes in the frame sounds pretty Canadian as well. If the owner is seeing and admitting to holes in the frame - it could be really bad. I've seen these trucks survive with massively rotten frames, but if the shock crossmembers or spring mounts are about to fall off, it may not be worth it unless you are just hoping to throw the engine into an FJ60.

X2 if the frame has holes in it, most likely the body has been repaired. check and poke around both.

 

[Rig of Mortis]

Keep the air and the oil clean and you'll have a lot of life to that diesel engine.

Frames can be repaired.

The automatic HJ60s tend to be hard on brakes.

Nice looking truck.

 

[Freewheel]

So are you going to buy it?? We're all waiting with bated breath.