Help with build direction/switching to a HDJ81 (1 Viewer)

[KingKong]

That is odd, I have yet to see, one grenade a drive train, yes it could happen, if you turn it up way beyond what, it is intended for, its a SUV for off road expeditions not hot rod driving

Funny I've seen them blow up Dana 70s with nothing more than a boost elbow and basic pump mods, which is a far cry from being "turned up beyond what it is intended for." I just personally think unless you're gonna go big on trans t-case and axles, stick with a V8. I talked with Brian and Mike from ACC a lot when I worked there about doing a Cummins swap ant they're the ones who steered me into a Gen 3/4 Chevy swap instead .

 

[shocktower]

Funny I've seen them blow up Dana 70s with nothing more than a boost elbow and basic pump mods, which is a far cry from being "turned up beyond what it is intended for." I just personally think unless you're gonna go big on trans t-case and axles, stick with a V8. I talked with Brian and Mike from ACC a lot when I worked there about doing a Cummins swap ant they're the ones who steered me into a Gen 3/4 Chevy swap instead .

That is really odd, I been involved in 4 swaps, and none of them have died yet, but what do I know, having hands on it, it not hearsay from, people who have never done it correctly . I appreciate your opinion, but knowing and doing goes a long way

 

[dirtfinder]

I know this is an old thread but what did the OP do? JDM diesel, swap, nothing... is he on the road now? Inquiring minds want to know

 

[Douglas S]

I know this is an old thread but what did the OP do? JDM diesel, swap, nothing... is he on the road now? Inquiring minds want to know

He bought a HDJ81.

 

[DancesWithMutts]

I know this is an old thread but what did the OP do? JDM diesel, swap, nothing... is he on the road now? Inquiring minds want to know

I have my diesel, and life happened, and I am not going to hit the road by this September like I had hoped. But I am getting closer all the time.

Edit: My half assed start of a build thread HDJ-81 Build thread

 

[jurassic cruiser]

Even though the trucks LCD brings in are very clean, I wouldn't consider them baselined for a trip like the one you are planning.

At a minimum I would replace all the rubber hoses, suspension bushings, radiator, front axle/rear axle hub service, big end bearings, timing belt, water pump, maybe even injector/IP service, starter motor service, add a trans cooler, etc.

My injector pulp cost 5k with injectors landcruisers direct sold me a truck with a fuel pump that was about to self destruct and rusted out quarter panels I could not see from the pics he showed me. Seat bolt was missing from a seat and I also had to replace all the parts he suggested. Steve did give me 4K off the sticker price but yeah that was all spend on having the pump rebuilt. For me finding parts was easy Until Beno disappeared not it’s a pain in the rear

 

[jurassic cruiser]

I personally have an H Dj 81 and I only could get it because I totaled my other truck and my heart was smashed and there was no way I was going to spend five years rebuilding the exact same truck that just got totaled. It is true you don’t need a front bumper and the rear bumper when you have a gas truck if you need to replace the bumpers. However they’re just so many new wants details in terms of building out the visa Land Cruiser that it’s really hard until you get in there to know exactly what you’re up against me personally I found that without the heavy duty front bumper the truck just doesn’t drive properly on the Old Man emu four inch springs. I also don’t really think the powers that much more crazy when you re-gear a gas Land Cruiser and pretty much has a similar amount of torque. If you look on them he is much better that is not deniable in anyway shape or form especially when you were off road that is when you really noticed that you are not using 10 miles per gallon all in all I don’t regret having my diesel truck I love it it’s really fine and it’s interesting and it’s a lot more exciting then rebuilding the truck I had already done before . But I personally have dropped 3040 K total into the project so far and I probably have dropped 50 K into my other truck so I just don’t think it’s for somebody’s trying to save a bunch of money on gas you’re not really gonna save any money because you’re gonna spend all the money you save on gas on the cost of the truck in the extra parts and getting a truck up to speed that’s over 25 years old and hasn’t really been driven muchpier

 

[dirtfinder]

I have my diesel, and life happened, and I am not going to hit the road by this September like I had hoped. But I am getting closer all the time.

Edit: My half assed start of a build thread HDJ-81 Build thread

Thanks for the update. I'm in the process of searching an HDJ81, we'll long in the process...I hope you get the chance to head on your trip soon. I've got many of the same objectives with the HDJ. No matter what anybody says, the 12mpg I get with both my FZJ80 and UZJ100 sucks for expo.

 

[DancesWithMutts]

Thanks for the update. I'm in the process of searching an HDJ81, we'll long in the process...I hope you get the chance to head on your trip soon. I've got many of the same objectives with the HDJ. No matter what anybody says, the 12mpg I get with both my FZJ80 and UZJ100 sucks for expo.

Ok, I have had mine for a year now, Taken multiple trips including a trip from Colorado to Portland last summer.

Pros:
11 MPG on trails
15 mpg in town
18-21 mpg on the highway
Drives at 75 nicer than my gasser did, great passing power without downshifting
Very simple engine. No vacuum lines, no emissions equipment, no electronics
JDM goodies, like the console fridge, power folding mirrors, compass, altimeter ect.
Swing out tire carrier (even though I removed mine for a Labs bumper)
Factory Dual batteries, Factory "power panel" under the hood with fused taps for constant and switched power.


Cons:

Smelly/smoky exhaust
Some parts might be hard to get
Stock alternator is weak
Tuning is a whole new thing you HAVE to learn if you want to get the most power and reliability. YOU have to be the expert, no shop in the states knows these things (other than LCD maybe)
The hydraulic A442 is pretty lame. No 3rd lockup, no ECT switch. It's the biggest weakness in this drive-train.
Metric speedo is annoying, you get used to it, but it's still annoying.
The Fuel saving, while great, will never add up to offset the cost of the truck.

RHD. The novelty wears off and it's just a little annoying to live with. Drive throughs, ATM's, Paid parking lots, passing on a two lane road with a semi in front of you, it all sucks. I'd trade mine for a LHD in similar condition.

THE TURN SIGNAL STALK IS ON THE WRONG SIDE. No one ever mentions this, and it's a big deal if you have a couple cars that you are always switching between. Your muscle memory from every car you have ever had will make you turn the wipers on all the freaking time when you meant to signal.

There are some "necessary" mods that everyone who owns one of these should do for longevity and reliability.
Intercooler
Bigger Exhaust
Wholesale automatics valve body
Trans cooler
12v starter conversion
EGT/Boost guage
BeB's

^That is a lot of money, even if you do the work yourself.


All that said, I still love my HDJ81 and would buy it again. My truck is super clean, only has 77000 miles on it, runs like new and does everything I need it to. I could have LS swaped my other 80, and it would have been cheaper, but I would have spent all last year working on it, instead of taking all the fun trips I took last year.

 

[IanB]

THE TURN SIGNAL STALK IS ON THE WRONG SIDE. No one ever mentions this, and it's a big deal if you have a couple cars that you are always switching between. Your muscle memory from every car you have ever had will make you turn the wipers on all the freaking time when you meant to signal.

This is a real thing, and is the one things that still messes with me after driving RHD for 7+ years, lol. Turn signal is always closest to driver's side window, just gotta remember that when switching from vehicle to vehicle. My wife never misses an opportunity to bug me when I screw it up and hit the wipers.

 

[Lumpskie]

This is a really interesting read for me. I'd love to see my 1HDT swapped FZJ next to a "real" HDJ some time to compare.

 

[dirtfinder]

Its always good to hear experiences from someone that has had the gasser and diesel versions. I'm surprised you didn't also mention brakes, as most pre-93 owners list that as a necessary upgrade.

For me the cost of fuel is not so much the issue as it is range once fueled. At your stated fuel figures a diesel could have a range that is twice that of a similarly equipped gasser. That's a real benefit if you want to venture into the wildness or undertake a long range trip that offers limited opportunity to refuel. Its also why 90% of the expo vehicles chosen in AUS, Africa, Europe are diesel. Its hard for most in North America to realize this benefit then they have a gas station on every corner and most trips are not more than a long weekend.

 

[DancesWithMutts]

Its always good to hear experiences from someone that has had the gasser and diesel versions. I'm surprised you didn't also mention brakes, as most pre-93 owners list that as a necessary upgrade.

For me the cost of fuel is not so much the issue as it is range once fueled. At your stated fuel figures a diesel could have a range that is twice that of a similarly equipped gasser. That's a real benefit if you want to venture into the wildness or undertake a long range trip that offers limited opportunity to refuel. Its also why 90% of the expo vehicles chosen in AUS, Africa, Europe are diesel. Its hard for most in North America to realize this benefit then they have a gas station on every corner and most trips are not more than a long weekend.

I am doing the brake upgrade, but I haven't found the 1990 brakes to be as bad as people say. They aren't great, but I don't feel unsafe.

The range is really nice. With 2 Jerry cans, I should be able to cover 600 miles on the road. Easily 300 offroad.

 

[sailor]

Agree- the only tangible benefit is un refuelled range.

 

[mudgudgeon]

This is a real thing, and is the one things that still messes with me after driving RHD for 7+ years, lol. Turn signal is always closest to driver's side window, just gotta remember that when switching from vehicle to vehicle. My wife never misses an opportunity to bug me when I screw it up and hit the wipers.

I'd imagine a handful of parts from a native 80 from a wrecking yard would take care of that, and be plug and play.

I found swapping from European, to Aus market cars where the indicator stalk is on the opposite sides, I quickly got used to seamlessly stepping from one to the other. But, on the other hand 20years after teaching myself to refer to my right as LEFT, and my left as RIGHT while teaching snowboarding, i still don't know my left and right!