Diesel Purchase advice

[splitbuseric]

Hi all,

I am a new member to the list.... From Canada where we have lots of diesel LC's....I dont currently own one but am looking to purchase one in the immediate future.... I need a little advice...

My landcruiser will be my DD as well as my weekend warrior, have to haul firewood on a trailer and get the best possible mpg....I need a diesel and with a growing family need space... I think that rules out Bj42's cause I have 1, soon to be 2 kids... So I am looking around at Bj60s and HJ60's... What is the fuel mileage on these two vehicles comparatively? I was leaning towards the 3B cause they seem to be more common and maybe better on fuel? Or is the 6cyl diesel similar?

I drive 22km one way to work each day so that is a concern.... Also are there any years which are preferable? Should I try and get the '84? and later with 5spd?

Sorry for all the questions but I want to make sure I get the right righ and there are a couple of each around for sale...

Pmail me if you wish

Any Southern Ontario guys on the list here?

Thanks
Eric

 

[Jan-78FJ40]

Really depends on what you want to spend. The JDM import 61s are great, and you get a turbo with them.
My 3B and 2H get the same average mileage of 24 mpg (~9.6l/100km) without a turbo.
j

 

[splitbuseric]

Its going to be a bit of a fix it as you drive it... I am handy with vehicles....Not too worried about age or how many kilometres....Also what about an '85 Bj70 with an HT diesel? I am not as familiar with that model? Has 500,000 km on it though....

 

[gowyn]

I drive a '90 hdj81 returning 24mpg.

 

[nickw]

I own a HDJ81 and love it.
I have also owned a BJ60.

I would get a 81 if you could afford it.

If you want to spend less you could look at a 61, or a BJ60.
If you get a BJ60 I would recommend you turbo charge it.

Cheers,
Nick

 

[gowyn]

just have to watch out for the starter/welder right Nick? hehe

Her's a jdm 61 http://www.luxuryimports.ca/forsale/1987HJ61-4/index.php

for sale. nice truck.

 

[Jan-78FJ40]

Its going to be a bit of a fix it as you drive it... I am handy with vehicles....Not too worried about age or how many kilometres....Also what about an '85 Bj70 with an HT diesel? I am not as familiar with that model? Has 500,000 km on it though....

I don't know what engine that is. the BJ70s came with a 3B originally.
500.000km is high for any engine, so it does not sound too good, IMO.

 

[mjohn7]

Given you may want a four door (with the kids)a LJ78 might fit the bill. Not as big as the full size HDJ81, and it should be able to haul a trailer with firewood on the weekends. Also the LJ78 will be less to puchase, and still has all the options the full size offers. I have seen them sell in Calgary for $12,500., compared to the $18,000 and up for the HDJ81.

Also they(LJ78) have been said to get 33 to 38 mpg, with the 2.5 turbo motor.

 

[Greg_B]

Given you may want a four door (with the kids)a LJ78 might fit the bill. Not as big as the full size HDJ81, and it should be able to haul a trailer with firewood on the weekends. Also the LJ78 will be less to puchase, and still has all the options the full size offers. I have seen them sell in Calgary for $12,500., compared to the $18,000 and up for the HDJ81.

Also they(LJ78) have been said to get 33 to 38 mpg, with the 2.5 turbo motor.

If your contemplating this, do a full search on 2LT, and make sure the importer you use has done as much due diligence as they can. Someone here a while back mentioned budgeting $3000.00 over and above purchase price to do the head and look after this issue so you can be assured trouble free.

HZJ77 might fit the bill. Fit it with a turbo, heep your foot out of the throttle and the fuel mileage is supposed to be not that bad.

If you want LHD I would go 3B, make sure it's healthy and then turbo it. If you really want a project, buy a rust bucket BJ60 with good engine/tranny, then buy a rust free 60 in the deep south, and swap over the diesel drivetrain. Otherwise, buy rust free (or next best to) RHD.

hth's

gb

 

[Eric Winkworth]

I'm a southern ontario guy, I curently own a BJ70 with a 3B diesel. enogh room for the family but not much else.

My fuel miledge is great, but the 3B is a gutless tractor like motor, that lasts forever.

personaly if I were to do it again I would buy JDM, you can get such a nice truck, and for how much parts alone cost you are getting a better deal then a CDM spec IMO

cheers

 

[light_duty]

If your contemplating this, do a full search on 2LT, and make sure the importer you use has done as much due diligence as they can. Someone here a while back mentioned budgeting $3000.00 over and above purchase price to do the head and look after this issue so you can be assured trouble free.

gb

I agree with Greg - if you go with the 2L-T or 2L-TE, buy from an importer or be ready to do the head.

I just put my parts order together for my 2L-TE head repair, and it looks something like this:

Toyota head: $850 (11101-54121 - avail at dealer)
Stretch bolts $80
Timing belt: $50
Water pump: $90
Gasket kit: $280
Idler pulley/idler assy: $150
Misc belts: $40
Machine shop: $200 (est.)

So, with (Alberta) tax, you're looking at under 2 grand if you do the work yourself. And then you're good to go until the next timing belt change.

Robin

P.S. I was a Southern Ontario guy for a while, when I was a student at Western. I still miss the great microbrews and the beach at Grand Bend...

and hey, do you have a split window bus? just guessing from your nickname.

 

[mjohn7]

I'll have to disaggree with Light-Duty, buying from a local imported will not insure your truck has no head cracks or any other unforseen damage. Remember these are "used "JDM trucks mostly bought at auction with a little known servcie history. (if service history is with the truck it is in Japanese not english) I dought any local importer is pulling the head to inspect for cracks prior to offering the truck for sale. As with any "used" truck local or import you are taking a chance and as such it is always wise to budget for unforseen repaires.

 

[crushers]

I'll have to disaggree with Light-Duty, buying from a local imported will not insure your truck has no head cracks or any other unforseen damage. Remember these are "used "JDM trucks mostly bought at auction with a little known servcie history. (if service history is with the truck it is in Japanese not english) I dought any local importer is pulling the head to inspect for cracks prior to offering the truck for sale. As with any "used" truck local or import you are taking a chance and as such it is always wise to budget for unforseen repaires.

it depends on which importer you use, to blanket a statement such as you just made is a bit arrogant in my books.
some of us actually do a coolant compression test, install a lower rad hose heater, change out the thermostate, timing belt (if there is no record of it being done in Japan) flush the system and change out the water pump at the same time as the timing belt, and recommend a pyro installed. some of us also warn the customer about the short comings of the various engines (they all have short comings). some of us actually care about the customers we have.
we can not guarrenttee that the head will not crack but we can do our best to inform the customer how to drive and maintain their purchase.

 

[splitbuseric]

P.S. I was a Southern Ontario guy for a while, when I was a student at Western. I still miss the great microbrews and the beach at Grand Bend...

and hey, do you have a split window bus? just guessing from your nickname.

Yep I have a '55 Westfalia Bus and '53 beetle. I have always been a VW guy but when it comes to trucks I like toyota..

I think budget limits me to Bj60HJ60's. I just don't have the bread right now to import. Is there any drawbacks to either the 2h or 3b?

thanks
Eric

 

[light_duty]

Yep I have a '55 Westfalia Bus and '53 beetle. I have always been a VW guy but when it comes to trucks I like toyota..

Eric

Nice...I used to have a '67 split bus. And a bunch of '71 Westies (the best year!). About to sell my '90 Westy. Kinda sad to leave the VWs behind but I guess I'm a 'cruiser guy now.

I may do up a beetle sometime for fun, but never again as a DD.

Anyway good luck on your search for a diesel cruiser.
Robin

 

[nickw]

Yep I have a '55 Westfalia Bus and '53 beetle. I have always been a VW guy but when it comes to trucks I like toyota..

I think budget limits me to Bj60HJ60's. I just don't have the bread right now to import. Is there any drawbacks to either the 2h or 3b?

thanks
Eric

In my opinion the 3B is a better engine.
It's ready to turbo charge (has oil skirt cooling) and has proven itself time an time again. They run forever and are probably the easist Toyota diesel to get parts for. Power wise, they are pretty slow until you turbo it.

From what I know the 2H has a problem with cracking rings. It also does not give you that much more power over the 3B for the amount of extra fuel it burns. The 2H does not react well to a turbo (early failure). From what I hear the 2H is the worst diesel Toyota ever made. I have never owned or driven a 2H, so I am just going off what I have heard about them. I am sure if you search the forums you will find lots of opinions.

In my opinion get a 3B (BJ60) turbo charge it.
If want a manual, get the 5-speed (H55) transmission.
It has better gear ratios off the line as well as final drive.
Look for a 1984 or 1985.
Before 84 they were a 4 speed.
After 85 had the 2H engine.

Cheers,
Nick

 

[crushers]

3B, B, issues:
cracking heads, cracking precups, head gaskets, diaphram and the dreaded fine spline vacumm pump on 83 onwards.
good points:
very strong bottom end, excellent fuel milage
2H, issues:
rings, non-sleeved
good points:
quieter, almost as good on fuel, more powerful, auto availalbe, auto has 4.11 gears and 2.48 t/case.
both of these wagons have 3.7 gears and 1.96 Low t/case in the manual configuration.

these are my experiences of these engines.

cheers

 

[Eric Winkworth]

I have yet of having the pleasure and piece of mind, that Wayne offers with his import business, I have done a few parts transactions and he is a man of his word, from the amount of positive feedback he gets from his customers, also just having someone that stands behind there truck and does a professional inspection, is in my opinion worth its weight in gold.

I bought my CDM spec curbside, after seeing many rigs in less perfect condition I settled for one in good shape that ran great. Although she starts for me in -20, it still isn't a JDM!!!!