Hello from Romania

[BTG88]

That good? I admit it has had one previous owner and the service has only been done by Toyota Finland. Save for the seatbelt of course. Is it such a good find?

When I lived in Australia, I helped a friend find this exact model and color (steering on the opposite side) that was a former bushfire vehicle. This was in 1996 and it was an 1984 with - 19k on the odo. Except for the flashing light on the roof (which we removed) it looked like it had just come from the factory. A set of new tires and we were off to drive across the country. Ran beautifully and was unstoppable off-road. The only downside was the 4-speed - it was happy at 55 mph. Higher than that and it started sucking fuel pretty quickly. Driving that thing hooked me and I happy have recently acquired a '75 FJ40. I say go for it, if the rust seems manageable, everything else is a pretty straightforward fix with these vehicles.

 

[RaduTudoroiu]

Thank you very much for the feedback. This morning i got a new quote for another HJ45 with same specs but with the 4.2 diesel. The guy is from Madrid and is fully restoring it, getting rid of rust and repainting the whole deal. The big advantage is that it comes with the bigger powerplant. For a little extra cash on top of the Finnish fire truck i can get a repainted and somewhat reconditioned one. Has the same mechanical winch and all that

Any arguments for or against the 4.2?

It takes until the end of April to get her ready, but i really don't wanna let my irresponsible excitement get the best of me. Or get my head kicked in by the missus, or both

Either way, by the 1st of May we're getting some new wheels.

 

[BTG88]

Thank you very much for the feedback. This morning i got a new quote for another HJ45 with same specs but with the 4.2 diesel. The guy is from Madrid and is fully restoring it, getting rid of rust and repainting the whole deal. The big advantage is that it comes with the bigger powerplant. For a little extra cash on top of the Finnish fire truck i can get a repainted and somewhat reconditioned one. Has the same mechanical winch and all that

Any arguments for or against the 4.2?

It takes until the end of April to get her ready, but i really don't wanna let my irresponsible excitement get the best of me. Or get my head kicked in by the missus, or both

Either way, by the 1st of May we're getting some new wheels.

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Both of these engines are reliable, the diesel will be more fuel efficient. As you can imagine, not all bodywork restorations are equal. Do you have any idea about the quality of the body work that is being done on the Madrid vehicle? It might be well done, or it might be crappy. Go in with eyes wide open.

 

[Rock40]

It would really depend on the 4.2 diesel also. You might get a 1HD-T (12 valve), 1HD-FT (24 valve) or a 1HD-FTE (electronically controlled 24 valve). They are good engines but the 1HD-T has it's issues, specifically the connecting rod bearings (or BEB's) which can be in atrocious shape. The 24 valve motors don't have the bearing issues, run smoother and make quite a bit more power.

My vote, would be steering clear of one that is currently undergoing major surgery right now. That's a really RUSTY and probably fairly abused/neglected truck. Unless you completely trust the guy doing to work to doing absolutely everything right and not cut corners I'd pass. Your first option may have the 4 cylinder 3B but as I said before, that's a good little motor and the truck itself is more or less original. It'd be my pick of the two options.

 

[Living in the Past]

Both of these engines are reliable, the diesel will be more fuel efficient. As you can imagine, not all bodywork restorations are equal. Do you have any idea about the quality of the body work that is being done on the Madrid vehicle? It might be well done, or it might be crappy. Go in with eyes wide open.

Believe we are talking about a 3B and 2H both diesel engines.

It would really depend on the 4.2 diesel also. You might get a 1HD-T (12 valve), 1HD-FT (24 valve) or a 1HD-FTE (electronically controlled 24 valve). They are good engines but the 1HD-T has it's issues, specifically the connecting rod bearings (or BEB's) which can be in atrocious shape. The 24 valve motors don't have the bearing issues, run smoother and make quite a bit more power.

My vote, would be steering clear of one that is currently undergoing major surgery right now. That's a really RUSTY and probably fairly abused/neglected truck. Unless you completely trust the guy doing to work to doing absolutely everything right and not cut corners I'd pass. Your first option may have the 4 cylinder 3B but as I said before, that's a good little motor and the truck itself is more or less original. It'd be my pick of the two options.

That second looks it has a long way to go have a quality restore. Not sure if that can be done by the engine of April. It looks like it currently have large exhaust pipe dumping under the driver's seat. It only has a semi floating rear axle with spoke wheels. It also has a steering wheel that stopped being used with the 80 at least in most markets. Believe Spain is one of the places that got the poverty equipped 4X series. Things were different market to market. While Australia got the insert dash and later steering wheel it did not get the collapsible steering column or twist handle glove box on their troop carriers. The one from Finland has the twist handle glove box door and side defrost vent it doesn't appear to have a insert dash. Can't tell on the one from Madrid. Both will probably have a H41 four speed which should handle any hill climbing maybe slower with a four cylinder on that size cruiser. My big question is does the one from Finland have a fresh paint job and if so why with so low kms. I would be worried more about rust that mechanical issue. Engine goes bad you can replace it. You have hidden rust you will be finding it forever. If you looking to import have you checked the Middle East? Probably be a 2F and not a diesel but still LHD.

 

[RaduTudoroiu]

I know the guy from Madrid but it's an old truck none the less. He restores J4 trucks for a living so i am fairly convinced that he'll be doing a good job. All of this being said, from my recent reads, the 4.2 power plant is vastly different than the 3B. Ages ago i had 2.5 nonintercooled Hilux King Cab and it drove me insane with its 102hp. The connecting rod bearings seem fairly easy to change and will ask him to do it and keep me posted.

@Living in the Past The low mileage is due to it being an ex-firetruck. Only used in missions and afterwards decommissioned. It did have a fresh paintjob and it seems to me that it was done in a rush. It does have the blowers as you well noticed as well as those funky headlight squirters and Finnish people take pretty good care of their rigs. Now my question is whether i can do an engine swap and keep the gearbox (maybe change the diff ratios with this)

Thank you very much for your help and advices. At this point, all that glitters is gold and you know ... I want to make the best choice with the available funds

 

[Living in the Past]

You would need to change the transmission input shaft to change from a four cylinder to a six cylinder. I realize why the low miles just why it needed paint. New paint jobs change be hiding things. Here in the US seems all fire companies keep their equipment in a garage. They also keep good care of them including regular washing.

 

[DTSkyCop]

Great looking rig... Welcome to the club!!!

 

[FJ404345]

Maybe I'm missing something, but can't see why there would be a good comparison between the two red 45's.

The second one seems to me like a dime a dozen available and the first looks like a possibly good low mileage truck.

If the engine selection would be an issue, you can always change that on a later date. Imho Europa is full with good and cheap 40 diesel engines.

 

[Living in the Past]

Maybe I'm missing something, but can't see why there would be a good comparison between the two red 45's.

The second one seems to me like a dime a dozen available and the first looks like a possibly good low mileage truck.

If the engine selection would be an issue, you can always change that on a later date. Imho Europa is full with good and cheap 40 diesel engines.

Won't it be easier to switch to a later six cylinder with another six cylinder? The troop carrier is big vehicle for a four cylinder but never understood a 60 series with a four cylinder either. But being in the Southwest part of the US can travel long distances just to go off road. If I lived in Europe I would be searching France for a mid wheel base with a H55F five speed. Believe any market finding a long wheel base with a five is almost impossible.

 

[OverLand Cruisers]

Welcome!!!

Excited to watch the progress.

Cheers!

 

[RaduTudoroiu]

I have spent my weekend browsing Europe and the Middle East for Low Mileage trucks as well. I have seen quite a few BJ45s on the web, plowing fairly nice through mud and sand, sans power steering. Since i am stubborn enough to get her as a daily driver i should want to pick as best as i can. The one from Madrid is being rebuilt and thought that the 4.2 with its own box will be a great improvement. From my experience, an oversized engine will be less prone to breakages since its working regime will fall well within it's abilities.

I got some new rebuild pics and it looks good. The work put in is good. Since the market for them isn't great here, there's little pressure put on me I feel i have to fly to Madrid and drive the car, get a feel for it you know.

Either way, we'll be needing power steering and AC. Romania has the worst of both worlds - 20 to 20 Celsius Winters and +40 Summers which will melt the cheese in your sandwich past sundown

I gotta say your forum has been of great help, i have learned so much. I hope i don't annoy you with my undecidedness ... but i believe we've all been there.

 

[RaduTudoroiu]

Also, i have read up on a few mod threads but there are people who've changed from 3.4 to 4.2 and kept the gearbox and people who've upgraded it. Just trying to grasp the process here, since my logic clearly states that a new box should be in place, not just the transmission input shaft. The H41 is the 4 speed and the H55F is the 5 speed manual which seems to fit both Did i get this right?