H vs. B motor

[SUUEEET]

Just joined the forum. We are FINALLY in the market for a diesel cruiser!!! Wanted to know the difference(s) between the H and B motors. Our (my wife and my) hearts are set on an early 80's(round headlights) 60 series cruiser. Would be nice to know parts availability, ease of repair, reliability, etc between the two. The decision is probably splitting hairs but I want to do this right the first time. We are in Dallas, Texas. Thanks in advance.

 

[Volcano cruiser]

First welcome to Mud. Great folks and a great place. As to how this all works best generally folks will tell you stuff like...search function is your friend... google is your friend. As this is your first post I'll say those things as well and also point you up high on the page to cruiseraq. Hit that go to engine specs and check out the numbers and other differences between B and the H series engines. Then hit the back button and go through the section on production years and models . What you'll find is that the 60 series for the years that you mentioned mostly ran the 3B engine. Lots of folks run them turboed today and love them. I have the original B engine in my rig. A great little workhorse but without the turbo it really has to work to pull a 4500 pound vehicle up mountain roads at modern speeds. I don't know H engines. I have heard from some here that some have had problems, I'm sure that others will speak to them. I'm a big fan of the B engine and in fact when I get around to replacing my B engine it will be with one of the more recent ones either the 14B or the 15B.
Good luck and again welcome.

 

[owenjam]

The 3B is a perfect application for the truck you want, and its also a World Record holder. Most parts are easily ordered from your local toyota dealer as long as you find someone in the parts dept with some experience. Everything else thats discontinued you prolly wont need or can buy right here in the classifieds section of Mud or on Ebay.

Welcome to Mud!!

 

[John Galt]

Just joined the forum. We are FINALLY in the market for a diesel cruiser!!! Wanted to know the difference(s) between the H and B motors. Our (my wife and my) hearts are set on an early 80's(round headlights) 60 series cruiser. Would be nice to know parts availability, ease of repair, reliability, etc between the two. The decision is probably splitting hairs but I want to do this right the first time. We are in Dallas, Texas. Thanks in advance.

Excellent choice, there are lots of them in Canada, mostly with the durable and reliable 4 cyl 3B motor. Many I know of are pushing half a million kilometers and still going strong, though the body is either rusted out or rebuilt. I know of a few Japanese Domestic [JDM] 60 series with the 6cyl H motor. Slightly more power than the 3B, and smoother running, but equally reliable and durable. Classic 60 and 70 series Landcruisers are made to be maintained and repaired, not thrown away when they become unfashionable. They'll last a lifetime if well maintained.

 

[lostmarbles]

....and its also a World Record holder.......

Please explain more! (What record?)

 

[kim]

Just joined the forum. We are FINALLY in the market for a diesel cruiser!!! Wanted to know the difference(s) between the H and B motors. Our (my wife and my) hearts are set on an early 80's(round headlights) 60 series cruiser. Would be nice to know parts availability, ease of repair, reliability, etc between the two. The decision is probably splitting hairs but I want to do this right the first time. We are in Dallas, Texas. Thanks in advance.

Either engine is a great choice, IMO. They are both bullet proof, super reliable and relatively easy to maintain.

 

[Tapage]

Both are great engines .. ( are Toyota ) but both are slow ! engines without turbo. I own a 2H on my Tencha for more than 10 years and I love it .. hey are 2 more cilinders .. !

Don't get me wrong B are amazing to .. but for your 60 series at least a 3B turbo or a 2H turbo ..

 

[rchalmers3]

Both are great engines .. ( are Toyota ) but both are slow ! engines without turbo. I own a 2H on my Tencha for more than 10 years and I love it .. hey are 2 more cilinders .. !

Don't get me wrong B are amazing to .. but for your 60 series at least a 3B turbo or a 2H turbo ..

Another 2H owner weighing in. I have owned both 4 and 6 cylinder 'cruisers. You can definitely make use of either, but I think you will experience smoother idle with a straight 6, due to better inherent balancing. And the extra torque comes at no additional charge.

Read Tapage's thread about putting a turbo on his 2H. Going turbo is on my future project list!

Enjoy!

Rick

 

[SUUEEET]

Thank you to all that replied. It is great to hear from others that have actually gotten into their motors and offered recommendations. I currently have a VW Golf TDI and are well knowleged about VW diesels. It is the car we will be rehoming when the cruiser comes home. We feel confident now with each motor although probably leaning towards the B for now. Will keep you posted of our success.

 

[RufusTheDufus]

Parts are harder to find for an H than a 2H. I'd stay away from the H for this reason if you have the option. I think they were last used in Cruisers in 1980.

 

[sandcruiser]

I like my 2H, but would not even consider it without a turbo in the States/Canada where open highways are common.

You hear good things about the 3B, especially with a turbo. Seems to me that the 3B might get slightly better mileage as it is smaller/lighter. But the 2H will have more torque and smoother idle and can probably be tweaked to get more performance, more easily, than the 3B.

Frankly: I'd look for the truck with the low mileage and a clean body. If it has a 3B, then be a 3B fan. If it has a 2H, the be a 2H fan. I wouldn't buy a B or an H motor in a 60. Just too old for practical daily use.

Side note: the 62 (square headlamps) can be converted to round eyes... but you get to keep the electric doors/windows, which is nice. Otherwise you can get a 60 up to 87 and still have stock, round eyes. I've got an hj60 that was built in 88 with round headlights (stock) but a 62 interior, and manual doors/windows. But I'm in the third world....

I'm about to sell the thing for $9,000. If you want to get it to the US, you are welcome to buy it.

 

[Gwynley]

I have an 89 2H (with square headlights) I find it very smooth and fast enough for UK / European motorways (which generally have higher speed limits that the US). It isn't quick - but once at cruising speeds it keeps up.

Off road it has loads of torque, lugging people / gear around doesn't bother it at all.

 

[roscoFJ73]

Please explain more! (What record?)

Probably the Western Australian heavy transport escort driver who clocked up some formidable miles in a HJ60.
I think it did 1.4 million klms before retirement.
I guess that would have been the Perth/Karratha/Port Hedland run.

I would take the 2H but not if there was a 3B in better condition. These are expensive toys and if they break down they are probably twice the price of a gasser to rebuild if you include pump and injector work.

If you can afford one,it would be better to step up to a 1HZ . More power,better parts availablity. A very easy engine to work on and is designed to be maintained in the field. Many surfaces have reusable gaskets or dont require them. The vac pump and P/S pump are bult into the tiiming cover and are very long lasting.
Will run for years with just filter and oil changes

 

[SUUEEET]

If you can afford one,it would be better to step up to a 1HZ . More power,better parts availablity. A very easy engine to work on and is designed to be maintained in the field. Many surfaces have reusable gaskets or dont require them. The vac pump and P/S pump are bult into the tiiming cover and are very long lasting.
Will run for years with just filter and oil changes

Not familiar with the 1HZ motor. I'll check it out.

 

[Coyote808]

Not familiar with the 1HZ motor. I'll check it out.

Noticed your location on your profile. Don't bother with trying to import a truck with a 1HZ in it until 2016 at even the very soonest. Because the 60 series never came with the 1HZ in them, that's one point against it. The other is you can't import a truck with it in them legally because they're not the NHTSA's certified list of importable vehicles because of Emissions, and for the 70 series safety. Yes there are trucks in the US, mostly 80 series, but a few 70s as well that have the 1HZ that are in the extremely dark grey, but if you truly want to have a diesel powered cruiser in the US, and a 60 series, look north. Canadian BJ60s and HJ60s in good condition might be an endangered breed, but one worth protecting and saving if you can find it. Other than that, South to Australia if you don't mind driving on the opposite side of the car, but only if it's 25 years old or older. And then there's Japan, same deal, but they're harder to find I hear, but you can give it a shot. You can also look across at the Atlantic to "Ye Olde Worlde" and try to find one there. Steering wheel is on the wrong (read: left) side, and they read in km/h (whatever that means) with no small MPH readouts (same goes for Aus and Japan too). But you could pass by a Highway Patrolman and not get a second look. Once again, if it's not from Canada, it has to be 25 years old or older, so you're limited to mostly BJ60s and HJ60s, I believe the HJ61s came about later on in the production cycle, but I could be wrong.

And I can't reinforce this statement enough. Parts will be harder to find, one because they're old, two they were never sold in the USA, three their diesel, four because they're Toyota DIESEL, and five because Diesel is a dirty, icky fuel that only big rigs use and nobody wants them. (sarcasm for 5)

EDIT: I forgot to mention the UK and Ireland. Because they drive on the opposite side, but they're cars read in MPH on the speedo and the Irish didn't change over to metrics for road signage until recently, so their Cruisers of that period should have MPH on the readouts.

 

[owenjam]

3B in a 40 or 60 series LC holds the most miles/KM ever driven in one vehicle on one engine without a rebuild. If I remember right it was a retired husband and wife that bought one new in the 70's, after retiring started driving all over the world and racked up a ton of miles. Check it out.

 

[owenjam]

Guinness World Records - Travel & Transport - Epic Journeys - Longest Driven Journey

Here is the one I was thinking of, seems like there is another out there too. This one may be a gasser, but there is a 3B in OZ somewhere with a similar record.

 

[street tractor]

If your budget dictates , a good option might be to buy a rust free southern US 60(should be pretty easy where you live), and transplant a 12ht or 1hz.

If you choose a Canadian truck be very careful. You may end up with a healthy drivetrain, but a frame that may need to be swapped long before the engine gets tired!

I'm speaking from experience... Good luck!

 

[Volcano cruiser]

Noticed your location on your profile. Don't bother with trying to import a truck with a 1HZ in it until 2016 at even the very soonest. Because the 60 series never came with the 1HZ in them, that's one point against it. The other is you can't import a truck with it in them legally because they're not the NHTSA's certified list of importable vehicles because of Emissions, and for the 70 series safety. Yes there are trucks in the US, mostly 80 series, but a few 70s as well that have the 1HZ that are in the extremely dark grey, but if you truly want to have a diesel powered cruiser in the US, and a 60 series, look north. Canadian BJ60s and HJ60s in good condition might be an endangered breed, but one worth protecting and saving if you can find it. Other than that, South to Australia if you don't mind driving on the opposite side of the car, but only if it's 25 years old or older. And then there's Japan, same deal, but they're harder to find I hear, but you can give it a shot. You can also look across at the Atlantic to "Ye Olde Worlde" and try to find one there. Steering wheel is on the wrong (read: left) side, and they read in km/h (whatever that means) with no small MPH readouts (same goes for Aus and Japan too). But you could pass by a Highway Patrolman and not get a second look. Once again, if it's not from Canada, it has to be 25 years old or older, so you're limited to mostly BJ60s and HJ60s, I believe the HJ61s came about later on in the production cycle, but I could be wrong.

And I can't reinforce this statement enough. Parts will be harder to find, one because they're old, two they were never sold in the USA, three their diesel, four because they're Toyota DIESEL, and five because Diesel is a dirty, icky fuel that only big rigs use and nobody wants them. (sarcasm for 5)

EDIT: I forgot to mention the UK and Ireland. Because they drive on the opposite side, but they're cars read in MPH on the speedo and the Irish didn't change over to metrics for road signage until recently, so their Cruisers of that period should have MPH on the readouts.

Let's not forget all of the 40s, 60s and 80s still going strong and being driven everyday south o' the border. While the speedo is in km, the steering wheel is where you are used to seeing it. Cruisers have been roaming free from Guatemala down to the tip of Chile since they began production in Japan. Here your problem won't be in finding one, they are DDs for lots of folks. The problem will be in getting someone to sell you one that is in great condition. It can be done and meet the 25 year import cap. In fact there maybe at least one guy here on mud who lives down this way with a diesel 60for sale. Checkout Sandcruiser's sig line in post #11. Good luck
John

 

[rchalmers3]

In fact there maybe at least one guy here on mud who lives down this way with a diesel 60for sale. Checkout Sandcruiser's sig line in post #11. Good luck
John

Buy Sandcruisers rig and I'll deliver it to Texas for ya for the price of the fuel and a one way ticket to San Diego. Offer good from Jan 10 to early April.

Rick