HZJ78 - broken transmission in Canada (Halifax)

[DanP]

Hi Everyone,
we are Steffi and Daniel from Austria and Germany.
We just started our Roadtrip with our 2001 Toyota Land Cruiser HZJ78 (109.000 km) through the Americas in Halifax (Canada) and are already stuck with a broken transmission.
We planned to go to the West Coast of Canada, afterwards up North to Alaska and after that more or less all the way south to Chile/Argentinia.
Two days ago we were able to pick up our car in Halifax and were just on our way south Nova Scotia and stopping at a Supermarket, when the Gear Shift wouldn't come out of the reverse gear. Luckily we met some guy at the parking lot driving a Toyota Land Cruiser as well .He recommended us a mechanic in Darmouth, who knows Toyotas this age.
Today we just got the message we were fearing from that mechanic. Just 70 Kilometers into our Roadtrip and we already need a new transmission (R151F).
According to the mechanic he couldn't find any transmission in stock at any of his contacts in Canada and recommended us to get one shipped and imported from Germany.
Does anyone know a place where we could get the transmission in North America, or has already imported parts from Germany?

Thanks
Steffi and Daniel
www.wir-sind-dann-mal-weg.com

 

[Douglas S]

@Akella might be able to help you

ENS Toyota in Saskatoon should have them as well.

 

[Malahki]

Sorry to hear about your trouble. Both the above suggestions are good. Akella can often source new parts that others can not and ENS Toyota stocks parts for the mining trucks that are otherwise not available in Canada.

Also have you seen this section? Try everyome one it. Never know who might have a good used one frome a truck they parted out or a project they have planned. Someone correct me if I am wrong but I believe the HDJ80 also uses that tranny but with possible diferences??
70 SERIES -- SHOPS & PARTS SOURCES-- NORTH AMERICA MARKET

 

[Malahki]

I sent you a message with more Canadian Contacts

 

[DanP]

Hi guys, thanks for the feedback. Also for the list of canadian contacts!! We will contact them aus soon as possible.
We keep you updated.

 

[DamoPeru]

Hi Steffi and Daniel,
Sorry to hear about you misfortune, however I'm afraid the R151F transmission in the HZJ78 was one of Toyota's few mistakes. The tranny in the early models especially (1999-2003) was flawed, and while it is essentially still a hilux tranny under a LC, they fixed a few of the main problems post 2003.

Have you recently put a turbo on? The increase in power often brings the problem to the surface fairly quickly.

Mine also failed, a couple of times, and eventually I transplanted a H151F. If money is no object, and you are thinking of importing a whole new transmission, I would put in a H150F. It can be done without any modifications if you get that box from a HDJ78, but you'll also need a HDJ78 bellhousing, and a FZJ75 clutch. It will bolt straight up. There's a couple of german videos on youtube showing the process, it is done frequently in germany to HZJ78s before expeditions because of the known issues.

If you are going to repair, there are a few places in Australia that specialise in repairs to that flawed box, with improved parts so it won't happen again soon. So I wouldn't rexommend repairing with stock parts for your year: if you have a turbo and are about to be on the road for years, it will probably fail again.

Best of luck and reach out if you need any information about the H150F transplant.

Cheers,
Damien

 

[DamoPeru]

Someone correct me if I am wrong but I believe the HDJ80 also uses that tranny but with possible diferences??
70 SERIES -- SHOPS & PARTS SOURCES-- NORTH AMERICA MARKET

No other previous landcruiser ever had a R151F, only hiluxes

The HZJ105, also did, same engine/era, same problems encontered. The australia forums are littered with woeful tales

 

[Delancy]

Any Toyota dealer should be able to source new for ~$3k USD. There were several in the NA system a month back.

Yan can probably beat that, but don't think he'd have sitting on a shelf. Worth messaging him, since he's wired in up nort'.

ENS may have, but its better to cash and carry, and don't know how far from them you are.

Edited again: Georg has, if memory serves. @orangefj45

Edited: if considering an H15X/HF1A transplant, I've all you need sitting here, half the continent away and, according to Mud, I paid WAY too much for it, so if you gotta ask....

 

[DamoPeru]

Just beware you'll need to cut holes and reposition the gear sticks if you add a H151F from FZJ105 (as opposed to H150F), also gearing isn't as ideal if the 1HZ isn't turboed, as 1st and 2nd are longer.

 

[Delancy]

I have both that are 7X specific, both with mechanical HF1As.

Let me clarify.

They're not for sale, nor do I want to sell, but would before stranding someone half the world away from home.

It'd be cheaper and more logical to buy a new R151F or rebuild that one, in my opinion.

 

[rick_d]

Guys, replace the transmission with a take out "as new" mine transmission if you can find one for a good price.
Brandon Caron [mailto:bcaron@mobileparts.com] in Val Caron,Ontario may be able to source a transmission and as noted James Valley at cruiserparts.net may have one as well.
HZJ 5 Speed Transmission [HZJTRASNSMISSION] - $800.00 : CruiserParts.net, Toyota Landcruiser Parts
confirm this is a new take out transmission.
The conversion to the larger transmission is a cumbersome process for a new trip and you would spends weeks not moving around vs a few days.

 

[Delancy]

Difficult to justify even an H55F rebuild with new r151fs at that price.

 

[renago]

hi Steffi and Daniel

sorry to hear such bad news .
if this can confort you I was in the same situation 1 year ago .
in vacation with HZJ 78 , with the gear box blocked.

this is how I solved my problem , which is probably same as yours :
you have broken the support of a the ball bearing of the 5 gear ,at the end of the gearbox , that goes towards the transfer case .
your gear box is blocked because some small pieces of aluminum case are flying around .

solution A , change the gearbox with a new one , 4200 € aprox plus work.

solution B , you can upgrade the gearbox and also the transfer to H55 , but even more expensive , but will be the final solution .

Solution C , which I recommend in your situation ( i did the same , a put 10.000 km on the broken gearbox.)
you must take down the gearbox and transfer .
open both of them , you can't open only the gear box, this will take maximum 1 day.
take out all broken pieces of aluminium, don't worry no damage to the rest of the gearbox ,aluminium is a very soft metal.
close the gearbox and transfer without changing anything else, trust me .
of course change oil .
and have a nice ride ,
it will work ,don't worry.
the whole process will take maximum 1,5 day of good work.
but you need a mechanic with a lift for the toyota and all metric tools.
it looks complicated , but very similar to any gearbox.

if you need there are some pdf with all details of your gearbox.
if you need some more info don't esitate to ask .

good luck
Renago

 

[DanP]

@damienperu
no turbo in it, still standard engine

@rick_d
Thanks for the link! That would be a great price. Although i dont know if that is an H55F or a R151F, because it's listed unser Hzj75. I will give them a call right away monday morning.

The mechanic had a look at the transmission. Just through the gear shift opening ( we didnt take it off yet ). He thinks it might only be a worn out gear fork (5th, or reverse). If we find spare parts, his reommendation would be to repair the transmission.
I would prefer repairing with improved parts as well. They sell them in germany (terrain tamer), but i'm gonna try Marlin Crawler on monday as well. Still gotta look into Oz suppliers for improved parts.

Thanks for the great support so far!
Daniel

 

[renago]

Hi Daniel
your car has also another problem at the gearbox ,
hzj from 1999 till end of 2002 , has the shaft from gearbox to transfer in 2 pieces .
this part normally wears out on the spline .
later Toyota has modified the part in 1 whole piece .
if you have to open the gearbox , check it .
in case change it , with the new part.

Renago

 

[DanP]

Hi Renago,
I'm aware of that. So was the pre-owner, who luckily changed the shaft to the stronger one-piece shaft.
So that one shouldn't give us any problems
But we'll check all parts anyway, when the transmission is out and apart.
Thanks
Daniel

 

[cruiserpilot]

Call John @ Radd Cruisers Contact
In Canada, and might very well have a rebuild kit and parts in stock.

 

[Yellowknifer]

There are a bunch of used mining vehicles in Yellowknife with that transmission. Could be had for fairly cheap, but unsure of condition and shipping would be very expensive. Still an option if you become stuck. Let me know and I can provide contact info.

 

[rick_d]

That will not be a h55, last used in 1998 models. Cruiserparts would have an r series.

 

[DanP]

Short update:
the mechanic is very busy right now, but will hopefully have time to take the transmisson out beginning next week.
Thanks to you guys we already got in contact with many of your contacts and now have options for spare parts, new and used transmissions.
Cheers
Daniel