Help finding Diesel Cruisers.

[RoddQLD]

I have the 12h-t direct injection turbo diesel engine and h55 5 speed manual. I like the idea of fitting the intercooler. I have seen them on ebay here for fairly cheap. My 12h-t is a little sensitive on the throttle while slow 4WDriving. I had my engine checked over by a diesel specialist at 420,000 km's and he said that other than slightly adjust a tappet and an injector everything else was fine (including the turbo). The only thing that I have replaced on the engine is the water pump (at nearly 500,000 km's). I get about 25 mpg (imperial gallons) loaded on a trip. It doesn't drop all that much around town or 4WDriving. Great engine. It's the body that is starting to let it down as it has rust starting in the roof. I am currently testing it on 100% biodiesel and it is running really well.

 

[fitchik]

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.

Stone is correct. The 12HT 5 Speed and Automatic do tend to Lurch. Greg @ www.gscruiserparts.com/ put in an Extreme Valve Body, and this has changed the gearing dramatically - NO LURCH... ( My truck is an Auto) He ordered the Valve Body from Rodney in Australia. I let a few guys test drive my HJ61 at Cruiser Daze and they too noticed a smoother transition between gears. i have a Transmission Cooler as well.

The right hand drive would complicate the drive thrus though...

This used to be a concern for me, however I got used to it. I have my dog order for me now, after all he does sit in the passengers seat....

I bought my truck from Marko at Outback Imports. The process was smooth and I got myself a beautiful truck that will last me a very long time.
There are many import companys around. You can always pick up an engine from www.gscruiserparts.com

Good Luck in your search.

 

[fitchik]

Stone is correct. The 12HT 5 Speed and Automatic do tend to Lurch. Greg @ www.gscruiserparts.com/ put in an Extreme Valve Body, and this has changed the gearing dramatically - NO LURCH... ( My truck is an Auto) He ordered the Valve Body from Rodney in Australia. I let a few guys test drive my HJ61 at Cruiser Daze and they too noticed a smoother transition between gears. i have a Transmission Cooler as well.

I stand corrected: this is the story: thanks gb

The auto in your truck cushions the bottom end bounce that occures in the 12HT/Manual tranny. When idling around, and going over bumps, a harmonic builds between the fuel pedal and engine...causing quite a lurch pattern to set up. The only way to stop it is to put your foot into it, or push in the clutch.
Nope...no lurch in an auto/12HT

 

[fj803fe]

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.

Imperial or US Gallons??

 

[paulj]

KYBishop;
If you really want a diesel Cruiser head down to Central America. They're all over the place. Just buy one more than 25 years old, and there's no problem bringing it in to the country. They obviously live a pretty hard life down there, but they're Cruisers, so they can take it.

 

[84Bruiser]

There's a Belize import Diesel Cruiser in CO, don't know anything about it, other than the price tag: $11000.

http://denver.craigslist.org/car/104959599.html

 

[kybishop]

Central american truck...

I really would like to find a 60 cruiser diesel, BJ or HJ. I have a 1978 Dodge Ramcharger that was imported back to the US from Guatemala. It has very little rust with some bubbling starting on the rear quarters. All the rest and undercarriage is nice. Thesa have the full removeable top and are heavy duty tanks. Plan to put a cummins turbo from a 91 - 93 Dodge in it. Bolt in from those years. Mileage on the BJ is what I am looking for, something to take the family, camping gear and canoe on extended trips. With a turbo, I would think it would be a great rig for this type of thing.