Howdy! - 1981 New Zealand BJ42

[Walkman]

I just finalized the purchase of a BJ42 that is being shipped to me here in Austin Texas from New Zealand!
You can check out pictures here:
http://www.austinalternativemotors.com/photo_player_flash.html

I just wanted to get some feedback from folks on what I can expect as far as:
1. What rusts?
2. What on the engine should I expect to work on?
3. What is it like to drive a RHD vehicle in the US?
4. Where can I find resources for SVO Duel Fuel conversions?

Thanks in advance!
Walkman

 

[Garry]

Hey Walkman, that has got to be one of the tidiest BJ42s I have seen for a long time!! If the engine is as sound as the rest of the truck looks, you shouldn't have any problems. Just keep up regular maintainence at correct intervals. My old BJ40 gave me almost 150000km without any problems (already had 130000km on the clock when I bought it). The places to watch for rust is the bottom of the doors (front and rear) and the rear corners (around the tail lights) Being in NZ myself, We dont get salt on the roads in winter, so rust in the chassis is not an issue. (unless it has been used on the beach alot) As for the LH/RH drive thing, we drive on the proper side of the road down here (left side) so I can't comment!

 

[roscoFJ73]

Well Walkman it looks like you have a nice cruiser on the way.
Most of them rust in the lower sections under the front and rear door,windscreen frame .
They will rust anywhere if its not kept clean especially where the wheels can flick dirt up and and get trapped around the wheel arches.

If a diesel starts easy cold and idles smoothly straight away you can be 99.9% sure you dont have a compression,pump pressure or injector problem.

If it is like that then it is just oil and filter changes and a grease up on the front steering and suspension and drive shaft ,universal joints.

I would leave the fuel as it is,its not going to use much.

 

[Aussie]

Just wanted to say a big Welcome aboard!!!

 

[beaker152]

I just finalized the purchase of a BJ42 that is being shipped to me here in Austin Texas from New Zealand!
You can check out pictures here:
http://www.austinalternativemotors.com/photo_player_flash.html

I just wanted to get some feedback from folks on what I can expect as far as:
1. What rusts?
2. What on the engine should I expect to work on?
3. What is it like to drive a RHD vehicle in the US?
4. Where can I find resources for SVO Duel Fuel conversions?

Thanks in advance!
Walkman

very nice! a couple of weeks ago i got an '81 hj47 that made its way to Austin from Australia and love it--haven't noticed anything weird about the RHD except for my passengers trying to get in on my side. its easy enough to shift left-handed, but be careful passing people on 2-lane roads.

i also plan to do an SVO conversion down the road--here's a site from a gal in australia doing a conversion on her hj47 that i found informative:
http://www.vegengine.blogspot.com/
Oh, and if you're going to run bio-diesel, the word is be prepared to change your fuel filter after a bit because it will clean out some gunk.

-steve