I bought my 1986 12H-T 5 speed for approx $8500au 5 years ago. It would be less for you lot in the US with the US-AU echange rate, but import costs would come into it.
The advantage with importing one from Japan or Australia is that you would get the diesel, 5 speed, F.F. diff, sliding side windows, front quarter vents, plus ALL of the lesser gear that would be required for the conversion.
Just an idea. Keep an eye out on Aussie
eBay for an idea on prices.
http://cars.ebay.com.au/
There are quite a few 2H engined vehicles, but the 12H-T isn't as common as I think that a lot of people that have them don't want to sell them. Rusted 60 series cruisers are becoming more common, so might be the reason for a sale.
I know of one that has quite high milage (480,000 kms) that has come up for auction for three weeks and still hasn't sold. If it was cheap enough then it might be good to rebuild.
http://www.fowles.com.au/auctions/lot.aspx?Auction=DQ4WD14&Number=1771628
As I said, this is high milage and is a bit knocked-around, but they are available.
I dont know if that one is a manual or auto, but all our 60 series have FF axles, and sliding rear windows.
Rodd
BTW: my 12H-T has now covered over 498,000 km's and still runs very well!
(over 309000 miles) I also get about 1100 km's out of 135 litres of diesel (684 miles using 35 gallons)