Hzj77 vs hzj76

[Darmin]

Looking into getting a 1980-1999 70 series. I started looking at 90s american models (mostly 80 series) and was disappointed to find almost no manuals. I had started looking at 80 series because I just assumed an import would be at least $40k. Eventually I stumbled into JDM imports. I have no qualms about the right hand steering, I lived in Japan for a few years and drove manuals and it never bothered me.

I know I want
- hz engine
- manual transmission
- 4 (technically 5 counting the rear) doors to fit 4 people
- disc brakes (which I believe are stock in the 70s)
- hand lever e-brake (again I believe this is common on all 70s)

Lesser wants
- ability to turbo it

I don't see a whole lot of after market support/parts for the 77 series, most sites will list the 76. I know there's some cross compatibility between the two because of their similarities.

I like that older 76's barely have an ECU if at all, I know basically all 77's just run without it. I like the idea of front and rear leaf springs, but I also own an old pick up with the same set up and it feels like a beast to drive but worry about getting a TBI when I hit a bump cause man does it rock me around the cabin. I love the ruggedness of leaf spring suspensions, but know coils are much more comfortable.

I also know that both are generally "under powered" and would like to eventually turbo it. While I know you can turbo anything with enough money, I've read that the 77 series has a smaller engine bay and doesn't have any(that I've seen) turbo kits. Plus with the need to have a cooler for the turbo I want to check all my bases before I spend 20k+ on a vehicle.

Any help making the decision would be much appreciated! I mostly worry about getting a 77 and seeing a cool upgrade and buying it only to find it doesn't fit and having wasted money, or spending more money and time to make it fit.

 

[FlCruiser5]

I love my 77. It's cheap to own (as long as you are not having to repair rust) and easy to work on the mechanicals. I actually find it to be a joy to work on compared to any other vehicle I've had to restore or repair. The 24v system gives lots of starting power. I have had 5 adults in it without excessive complaining from the back seat. It climbs anything I point it at. It gather attention from those in the know and blends in with old SUVs to those you wouldn't want to talk to anyway. Iuse it as a daily family hauler.

They have a ton of character and are a unique solution to the family van need without turning over your dignity to a mini van.

Here are the hard truths:

Parts are available, but you have to search the globe. They are not excessively expensive but you have to wait. If you need it to get to work tomorrow, you'll still need to wait three weeks for the part you need to arrive. And occasionally it's the wrong part and you have to order it again.

You can't be easily jumped by any vehicle in town if you leave your headlights on.

These trucks don't end up in the US until they have been SEVERELY neglected overseas. Maintenance is cheap once you've addressed all the neglect but going through a truck's vitals is costly and time consuming.

They ride rough. Not like old one ton dually rough, but slow down for the railroad tracks rough.

They are slow. Trying to make them fast is an exercise in futility. Just accept it.

Having owned an fj40, this is an upgrade. Good breaks, good fuel milage, good reliability, AC, heat, a sun roof, power windows, and no speeding tickets. That's all I need.

Just buy one. You won't regret it. If you do, someone else in the know will happily take it off your hands.

 

[creekfinder]

I've had my HZJ76 for about a week, but drove a BJ74 for many years. The ride difference with the coils in front is noticeable, and a worthwhile upgrade. A 12V truck is also a major benefit to me; even though putting in a converter on my 74 wasn't a big project, it's still a project. And if you ever need to jump the 24V truck, it's a pain. 24V parts are more difficult to source whereas 12V parts will probably be available without much trouble for 20-30 years and beyond. 76s will be driven in Africa and the Middle East for many more decades. That long-term serviceability is huge.

Unless you have your own shop, I think it's worth buying a truck for more money up front if you can verify that the seller or dealer has actually baselined it. Get a compression test, drive the truck for a long time, get a shop to do a full PPI. Importing yourself will *maybe* save some money. But it will take a lot of your time. And there are certainly trucks that have not been severely neglected -- but they're harder to find. You'll need either luck or patience.

My 74 was in good shape when I got it and was cheap to own as it hardly needed anything other than normal maintenance.

 

[Guyute]

<SNIP> I have had 5 adults in it without excessive complaining from the back seat. It climbs anything I point it at. It gather attention from those in the know and blends in with old SUVs to those you wouldn't want to talk to anyway. Iuse it as a daily family hauler.

<SNIP

Those three in the back were being polite and/or short kings and queens. It's for real tight back there especially if you're coming from any sort of modern SUV in the US.

 

[FJ73Texas]

Yes. I can’t imagine 3 adults in the back of my HZJ77, at least not for long trips.

 

[JDM Journeys]

I think the main points have been properly covered. I'll just emphasize the maintenance baseline. A 1HZ will run theoretically forever, but that doesn't mean it's running great. If somebody tells you it's supposed to smoke or be hard to start, etc. then they haven't really dialed it in. That's where the cost comes in. Getting it from 75% to optimal running condition takes time and money. And many of these come into North America with mileage that would've already worn out the average vehicle.

It can start smoke free in the really cold. And it doesn't have to blow black away from every intersection. But it's never going to be "quick". And it will struggle at altitude. (Less air = richer mixture). After it has been dialed, you might achieve 12L/100kms when fully stock (and worse once it has been modded). Not terrible for what it is, IMHO.

If you buy it in order to turbo it, perhaps it might be prudent to look long and hard at whether its the right choice to begin with? And if you do go down that road, I'd say wait and do a very thorough baseline first, put some miles on it, and then revisit. Intercooling it is tricky because of the limited room of the (aesthetically superior ) narrow nose, exacerbated by a cooling system that won't be as happy with you once you start feeding (hotter) compressed air. I eventually turboed mine, but mainly for altitude compensation. It's still slow, and requires a disciplined right pedal, but is now much more usable where I live, in the foothills of the Rockies. A 1HDT is still my dream engine for this platform...

 

[Gun Runner 5]

When I bought my 77 Series (1HZ / Auto Transmission), I drove it for 6 months with an aftermarket EGT and water temp gauge to determine the health of the engine prior to any mods. After I determined the engines overall health, I installed a Garrett Turbo and an air-water Intercooler. (10-12psi of boost). Even with the Intercooler and mild boost, you still needed a disciplined right foot.

 

[joekatana]

I've had my HZJ76 for about a week, but drove a BJ74 for many years. The ride difference with the coils in front is noticeable, and a worthwhile upgrade. A 12V truck is also a major benefit to me; even though putting in a converter on my 74 wasn't a big project, it's still a project. And if you ever need to jump the 24V truck, it's a pain. 24V parts are more difficult to source whereas 12V parts will probably be available without much trouble for 20-30 years and beyond. 76s will be driven in Africa and the Middle East for many more decades. That long-term serviceability is huge.

Unless you have your own shop, I think it's worth buying a truck for more money up front if you can verify that the seller or dealer has actually baselined it. Get a compression test, drive the truck for a long time, get a shop to do a full PPI. Importing yourself will *maybe* save some money. But it will take a lot of your time. And there are certainly trucks that have not been severely neglected -- but they're harder to find. You'll need either luck or patience.

My 74 was in good shape when I got it and was cheap to own as it hardly needed anything other than normal maintenance.

You can't compare the swb 74 ride quality to a lwb 76 because most of the added comfort is wheelbase not those front coils . In any HD 7x cruisers the rear springs are to stiff and heavy unless you are constantly loading 500 lb in the back , the front coild or leafs though have the engine weight on it and therefore there isn't much difference between the 2 . I own a HZj73 and HZJ74 and used to own a hzj75 and a hzj78 and in neither those configurations I felt that the front coils made a big difference . Now on my kzj73 that has coild front and rear I do feel the difference mostly because the rear isn't trying to break my lower back .