Hey! First post here!
I live in Finland and have been on the look out for a 70-series LC for a little while since my current car will get scrapped within the year. Long story short I've never owned a land cruiser, closest is a couple of Lada Nivas, the LC from wish I suppose. And as such I'm looking for some buyers advice.
Mostly looking for a short body and have found some RJs and LJs that look decent. But I'm not familiar with what to look for when buying one. I've heard that rust is one of the first things to check, and based on that the general condition of the driveline etc. can be inferred, sort of.
So far I've checked an -89 RJ70 2.4 Petrol (400kkm). And first impressions were not great. Apart from some rust holes and general wear, the car would barely idle and sputtered and choked a lot when I was test driving it. In addition it was quite loud, the subaru forester I currently drive, hell even my old Ladas didn't scream like this one. Couldn't see any holes in the exhaust underneath, just a pretty sizeable dent. Another issue was the suspension. It was a pretty stiff ride, and I'm not sure if I'm just not used to old suspensions or if they've messed with it somehow. Was somewhat hard to tell how well maintained the car was, since it was caked in dirt underneath, but what was visible was not terribly rusty. The frame looked good, but I'm not quite sure about all the mounts, fasteners and bushings. Most mechanical replacements I could do myself, but I no longer have access to a welder. So I'm hesitant to put down the money for this car as it seems like a bit of a gamble with the owner not providing much info about its service life etc.
On saturday I'm checking out a -91 LJ73 2.4 TD (300kkm). Just based on pictures I've requested, the frame and the running gear seem to be in good condition. The rear windows seem quite badly rusted, but that's less of a concern. What I've heard is that the 2.4 TD engine commonly has overheating issues, so that's something to ask about. Checking the car out in person, are there any tell-tales that the engine might be cooked?
A lot in one go, but I'm trying to get my start with land cruisers to be a good one.
Thanks in advance!
I live in Finland and have been on the look out for a 70-series LC for a little while since my current car will get scrapped within the year. Long story short I've never owned a land cruiser, closest is a couple of Lada Nivas, the LC from wish I suppose. And as such I'm looking for some buyers advice.
Mostly looking for a short body and have found some RJs and LJs that look decent. But I'm not familiar with what to look for when buying one. I've heard that rust is one of the first things to check, and based on that the general condition of the driveline etc. can be inferred, sort of.
So far I've checked an -89 RJ70 2.4 Petrol (400kkm). And first impressions were not great. Apart from some rust holes and general wear, the car would barely idle and sputtered and choked a lot when I was test driving it. In addition it was quite loud, the subaru forester I currently drive, hell even my old Ladas didn't scream like this one. Couldn't see any holes in the exhaust underneath, just a pretty sizeable dent. Another issue was the suspension. It was a pretty stiff ride, and I'm not sure if I'm just not used to old suspensions or if they've messed with it somehow. Was somewhat hard to tell how well maintained the car was, since it was caked in dirt underneath, but what was visible was not terribly rusty. The frame looked good, but I'm not quite sure about all the mounts, fasteners and bushings. Most mechanical replacements I could do myself, but I no longer have access to a welder. So I'm hesitant to put down the money for this car as it seems like a bit of a gamble with the owner not providing much info about its service life etc.
On saturday I'm checking out a -91 LJ73 2.4 TD (300kkm). Just based on pictures I've requested, the frame and the running gear seem to be in good condition. The rear windows seem quite badly rusted, but that's less of a concern. What I've heard is that the 2.4 TD engine commonly has overheating issues, so that's something to ask about. Checking the car out in person, are there any tell-tales that the engine might be cooked?
A lot in one go, but I'm trying to get my start with land cruisers to be a good one.
Thanks in advance!
