How much crosses over from a BJ70 to 60 series?

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nickw

nickw

Joined
Jul 26, 2005
Threads
86
Messages
1,357
Location
Cranbrook BC
The reason I ask:
I am selling my BJ74.
Found someone with a built (but rusty) 85 (12v) BJ70.
OME lift, 4.56 gears, ARB air lockers, and 3B/H55
He would like to trade plus cash.

He also has stuff like and ARB bumper, stereo, winch etc... but he is taking that with him. So it would be a more base truck.

Anyways, I was thinking of getting a FJ60 with high miles from the US, and doing a drivetrain swap and making it a BJ60. :)

What would move over. The 3B/H55 would.
What about the 4.56 and lockers? Would the 3rd member move over between the 60 and 70 axles? Are the spline counts the same? I know I would have to drill holes and run new air lines.

What about the lift. I doubt the 60 and 70 springs are the same, but does anyone know?

The main goal for me here is project downsize.
The ONLY reason I am selling the 74 is to save money.

Cheers,
Nick
 
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that sounds like a good option Nick. It may be rusty but you could drive it till you saved up for a rust free 60. Good plan. Just take your aluminum bull bar, he can have his ARB.

At least a BJ70 is roomy enough. The LJ suzuki looks too small, but would fun :)
 
brownbear said:
that sounds like a good option Nick. It may be rusty but you could drive it till you saved up for a rust free 60. Good plan. Just take your aluminum bull bar, he can have his ARB.

At least a BJ70 is roomy enough. The LJ suzuki looks too small, but would fun :)
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Thats is kinda what I am thinking. But I would get a rust free 60 first.
The 70 would need to much work to be safe offroad. The suzuki is fun and cheap, but can only be a primary vehicle for so long. I am thinking, maybe I will spend a bit more, and get a nice 60 again.

The 70 is available and has good stuff. Not the ideal base to work from. But it would be good. Just have to come up with a price that works for both. The plan would be, use what I can from the 70, part the FJ60 drivetrain engine/tranny (if its worth anything), and part everthing else from the 70. Try to make it as cheap as possible.

I know of some rusty BJ60's around here I could get for $500-1500 probably.
So it might be a better base to work from. If I use the 70, I will still need some dash parts.
Not quite sure yet. It will come down to cost.

Plan is to downsize, finish the last of my debt (been doing well in paying it down). And then save up some money and try to get a >100K condo (then rent it). I live super cheap where I am at. That would get me back into a better spot financial and into something that can go up with the real estate market. A Sub 100K condo should still rent for around the mortgage payment.

Then build it slowly over the next few years as good deals come up (in cash :) ). Then I can still do both.

Cheers,
N.
 
61ihc said:
there's a 55 in elko, why not a bj55? :)
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I also found a 55 here in Cranbrook in okay shape as well.
My girl friend just sold her turbo 3B BJ55 to her dad (cruiser_guy).
They resorted it from the ground up. They are nice trucks.
But I think I prefer the 60's.

Cheers,
Nick.
 
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nick-

remember now, you will go from the best engine (the 1HD-T) in a wagon, to a moderate 13B-T in a mid wheel base, to a 3B in an even older wagon.

you want to go slower and back in time?

HD-T convert your 74 (sell off the 13B-T). A little better fuel mileage, better hill climbing, and much, much faster.

think more about your needs and goals. I run 3 kids (ages 5-12) around in my 70 series and even have taken them (sans wife) week long camping. I know when the boys are older in another 4-5 years size issues may play up- but now its great.

While I like 60 series, their time may have come and gone. parts are shrinking (trim especially) and the ride is no better than a 74.

the 55 series are a parts nightmare- resolve any and all issues before purchase.
 
Yeah Rick, I know what you are saying.
The 80 was a beautiful rig. Loved it.
I also loved my 60 a lot, and I love the 74 (more).

The 74 is probably my favorite rig (but it's so hard to pick).
Fun to drive (5speed with a 13BT). and little more clearnce, and a hair narrower.
For offroad, both the 81 and 74 takes me where I want to go.
NO issues there. A 60 would as well. I would also build a 60 over the next few years as well (turbo and lift etc..).

If I had an unlimited budget I would get a 105.
But right now I am in debt. Paying it off fast, but at the current rate I have about 2.5-3 years left. If I downsize, I can haopfully build a 60, and be paid of in just over 1 year. I like that idea. Then I can save up some money and try to buy a sub 100K condo and rent it (should still be able to cover the mortgage). So thats the idea. Selling the cruiser and downsizing would put me about 2 years ahead.

Thats the plan anyways. If I don't do a 60, I will buy another suzuki for the time being. Then look at another cruiser in a few years. Maybe pick up a cheap 81 again? Who knows.

Sorry for the long reply.
Cheers,
N.
 
If you're downsizing for debt relief then downsize COMPLETELY to the cheapest possible option with NO ongoing maintenance other than regular servicing. I'd be looking squarely at the zook because those things are next to impossible to break stuff on. I think they're even more spartan/minimal than a 7x-series.

Still, if I had another option, i'd never have parted with my FJ73 for the world, hindsight sucks though. I've dropped over 30k just to have a pickup in a HZJ75... could've had an absolutely AWESOME 73 for that price.
 
seriously, go with a civic and save your money for now. co-pilot with buddies till you can afford EXACTLY what you want...
but then who ever listens to us old guys...
 
Entaran said:
If you're downsizing for debt relief then downsize COMPLETELY to the cheapest possible option with NO ongoing maintenance other than regular servicing. I'd be looking squarely at the zook because those things are next to impossible to break stuff on.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I know I used to have one.
Miss it a lot. Like it tons.

crushers said:
seriously, go with a civic and save your money for now. co-pilot with buddies till you can afford EXACTLY what you want...
but then who ever listens to us old guys...
Click to expand...

I would really like a BJ60 with a lift and turbo. A BJ60 was my first cruiser and I loved it. No problem getting/building one.
I can save lots of money, and still have something I like.
Co-politing is okay. But I like to go hiking and camping and I can't use a car to get to lots of the trail heads. I would need to go zuk over civic. But both are cheap. :)

We will see what happens.

Cheers,
Nick
 
that bj70 was on our trip great guy, but its your call i kind of agree with crushers
it would be nice if you could keep your 74
aaron
 
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