Help finding Diesel Cruisers.

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kybishop

kybishop

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Joined
Nov 3, 2004
Threads
144
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921
Location
Frankfort, Kentucky
In my search for a Land Cruiser, I think I would really prefer a Diesel if I could find one. Does anyone no of any or where to look for one of these. They are the HJ or BJ 60 series. I have found some but they are right hand drive. I could possibly import if I could find some to look at. Thanks for any direction on where to look. I would prefer a 5 speed turbo diesel. Thanks.
 
Rumor has it ... diesels only sold in Canada and gassers only sold in lower 48 States ...

Cahil
 
Here's a quick search result for Land Cruisers in our BC Buy & Sell online list: Land Cruisers on Buy & Sell.

There's some diesels in there, some look fairly reasonable too. Good luck. There's also Buy & Sell listings for other provinces in Canada that might yield some good finds. Cheers.
 
kybishop said:
In my search for a Land Cruiser, I think I would really prefer a Diesel if I could find one. Does anyone no of any or where to look for one of these. They are the HJ or BJ 60 series. I have found some but they are right hand drive. I could possibly import if I could find some to look at. Thanks for any direction on where to look. I would prefer a 5 speed turbo diesel. Thanks.
Click to expand...

In Canada all official Toyota imported 'Cruisers were non-turbo. You can add an aftermarket turbo like the AXT which I have added to my '82 BJ60. The 5 speed was not available before 1983 but can be retrofitted easily to an older truck as I have done with my '82. The BJ60 is a 3B, 4 cylinder indirect injection naturally aspirated diesel available from 1980 through 1985. They had a 4 speed from 1980 through 1982 and a 5 speed after that. The HJ60 is a 2H, 6 cylinder indirect injection naturally aspirated diesel available from 1986 through 1987 I think. If I'm not mistaken they came with both the 5 speed and the automatic.
The HJ61's are all Japanese imports done within the last couple of years and will be right hand drive.
 
Hello.

This is my first posting on this site.

I (live in Norway) and have a HJ60 that I am converting to a HJ61 at the moment. First of all I have to say that the soul of the TLC is the diesel engine. All real Cruisers have diesels. I am sorry that you people from the USA have so little experience with them. They are the best and never breaks down.

Anyway, the 2H (4000cc, inline 6) and the 3B (3500cc, inline four) are about the same HP and torque. BUT if you are getting a diesel it is worth noticing that the 3B has the all-important piston skirt cooling. This is a spray of oil that cools the underside of the piston. The 2H does not have this feature that is very important if you are planning on fitting a turbo to it.

The 2H has been known to crack head when turbocharged. This is not due to compression increasing but due to increased heat when burning more fuel. The enigine is strong and handles the compression fine. On a 3B this is no problem the cooling system is the same as the original turbo 3B, the 13B-T engine.

If you really want to do the job right, get the 12H-T (got mine from Germany.) This is the 2H turbo version. Mean setup comparable to V8 conversions but with low-grunt and close to 30 mpg mileage cruising on highway. :bounce:

And yes: put a snorkle on a diesel and it runs just as well below water as above (ref submarines.)

12H-T pictured below:
12H-T_4.webp
 
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This is my first post as well. My BJ60 has a 4 cylinder diesel and a 4 speed tranny as well as 300,000km. The engine and the drive train seem extremely solid and I am well over 25 mpg on the highway. This truck has sold me on the diesels. I see numerous BJ60s advertised here in BC, many (of course) rusted out, but these diesels go forever. Picking up one of these cancered trucks and swapping into an American gas FJ60 with a reasonable body might be a viable option that would allow you to avoid a right hand drive.
 
Thanks.

Thanks to all, it's been of much help. I am located in central Kentucky. There seems to be a good bit of nice solid fj60's around, mostly out west and on the coast, then out in the New England states and Florida. Not many in central US. I will keep on looking and maybe find a good solid FJ60 and then do a swap in of a diesel in time. Again, thanks and the information is very helpful. Keep me posted on diesel finds!
 
Well...I wouldn't go as far as caliming that diesels NEVER break down...but I do love them also. For wheeling, my friends and I have noticed that the 12HT is touchy on the throttle at low speeds and tends to "lurch" more than the 13BT. But the 12HT have incredible power and smoothness, and even better fuel consumption that the 13BT. Good luck.
 
Welcome to the new guys!

I was lucky to find an already imported HJ60 here in the US.

I was unlucky in that BROTHER was she rusty.

I am having RADD Cruisers on Vancouver Island restore her. I hope to have her back soon.

You might consider buying an FJ60 here in the states and then contacting Sheldon
or Greg-man up at G&S Cruiser parts in the Vancouver area of BC for a diesel engine.

They sold me a 1HZ engine, trans and tcase to put in my HJ60. Those guys are great and will definately help you out.

http://gscruiserparts.com/contactus.html


TB
 
BJ60 found in Canada.

I found a BJ60 in Canada that has been completely redone inside and out. I am in central Kentucky and it is in Canada only about a 9 - 10 hour drive from me. I have heard that it is not too difficult or expensive to import. I was going to see about driving it back. Is there any information on the import process and the steps and cost to this? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Kevin
 
I would recommend that with any truck you consider, you have a diesel mechanic inspect the engine and give it a compression check and/or leak down test. If the engine is weak it won't be worth buying as a proper rebuild will be $3-4000 as a minimum assuming you do some of the work as well.
 
Good advice.

Sounds like a good idea. This truck has 80,000 miles on it with a new 5 speed and new Ramsey 10,000 lb worm drive winch. It has new interior and had all rust cut out and new metal welded in 2 years ago. He is sending me pictures this evening. I will talk to him about compression and engine condition. Thanks.

Kevin
 
Get it checked out really well. Post on here and get someone local )A cruiser person!) to look it over. If rust was cut out 2 years ago and it has been driven in canada for those 2 years then the rust is back more than likely. I have considered getting cars that far away several times and made a trip of 11hrs. (1 way)once and didnt buy the truck :( I rushed things, take your time and dont think its the deal of the century etc.

Also, check really well about the import, i have read alot on here. But dont know alot of import info. Guys here are invaluable when it comes to this kind of stuff.
 
89s rule said:
If rust was cut out 2 years ago and it has been driven in canada for those 2 years then the rust is back more than likely.
Click to expand...

I don't totally agree with this statement. I had the rust cut out of my '82 BJ60 back in about '93 or '94 in British Columbia and since then I have had the truck rust proofed each fall with "Crown" treatment. It's not meant to be a "Crown" ad but it certainly has kept the rust under control. To be sure there have been minor recurrences but nothing like the initial work. The only on going rust issue for me has been the frame since it tends to collect crap in the channels which cannot be totally cleaned out without standing the frame on end (not real practical with the rest of the truck still attached!). I'm overcoming the frame rust issue next month with a complete frame swap down here in Central America.
 
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