SOLD HZJ79 (1 Viewer)

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Location
United States
SOLD


HZJ79, built from parts.

79atbellsmall.jpg


79driveway.jpg


Titled and registered in Michigan. Clear title.

This truck was built by Proffitt’s Cruisers. I started a build thread back in 2010, where you can read the entire saga: Custom HZJ79 from parts, built in the US! There are lots of photos and good information about the truck in that thread; I've gone through the the entire thread and tried to fix all the broken photo links but I couldn't find all of them.

Since the end of the situations in that thread, I’ve installed a brand new Toyota 1HZ long block, rebuilt many of the components that went back in, notably the injection pump, and replaced the turbo with a GTurbo Grunter. The drivetrain on this truck is bombproof and the engine has about 1500 miles on it.


The basics:

The chassis is from an HZJ79 mine truck from Canada, probably about a 1999 model.

79 series axles. The rear axle is a full floater.

ARB rear locker, the compressor is mounted in the engine bay.

Aisin locking hubs in the front axle, installed by me.

The body was brand new, imported by Proffitt’s from I think Saudi Arabia. Probably 2009 model year.

The frame was stripped completely, sandblasted, armor welded on, galvanized, and painted.

The underside of the body was cleaned, blasted, and bedliner applied.

The bed was also bedlined.

Proffitt’s had custom upholstery, overhead console, bed rack, and soft top made. Most of this stuff was very nicely done. The seats are among the most comfortable I have ever used. I'm not real happy with the build quality of the rack - it is rusting because it was poorly made and poorly finished; It needs to be repainted and the rear door rebuilt from scratch.

Proffitt’s built the nicest rear bumper with quarter panel protection I’ve ever seen - it’s a masterpiece. It has a built in hitch receiver. It’s welded to the frame, as are the sliders under the doors and this stuff can take the full weight of the truck no problem.

ARB bullbar with Warn XD9000 winch and IPF driving lights.

There are dual batteries with a National Luna isolator system, with a remote control box in the glove box.

There is a Kenwood DNX 9960 double-DIN stereo system with Nav/Bluetooth/other modern stuff, Polk 6x9 speakers in custom enclosures behind the seats and tweeters in the overhead console corners.

Cobra 75 WXST (CB) and Yaesu FT-7900R/E (2M) radios installed in the overhead console. Antennae are mounted high on the ARB bar on the passenger side.

4 extra 12V power points in the overhead console and one in the bed

Power for a radar detector with an RJ-11 plug (Escort, Valentine, etc) in the overhead console.

Tekonsha trailer brake controller on lower dash, with 7 pin connector in the rear bumper.

Boost, EGT, and oil temp gauges in a Toyota gauge pod on top of the dash.

Turbo timer with voltage gauge.

Dual fuel tanks with a selector switch on the dash to choose between them.

50W halogen work light mounted to the bed rack

Two full sets of wheels and tires. Summer tires are BFG M/T KM2 255/85x16 on Toyota steel wheels. Winter tires are Nokian Hakkapeliitta LT 235/85x16 on Toyota split rim wheels.

Spare KM2 mounted in the front of the bed. High Lift jack mount also on front wall of bed.

Lots of work done to the truck since I’ve owned it.

  • The engine Proffitt’s installed (a random mine truck engine that they cleaned, painted, and bolted a turbo to) blew up twice, before and after two head gasket replacements and a rebuild, so I replaced it with a new Toyota 1HZ long block.
  • We replaced the undersized turbo that Proffitt’s chose with a GTurbo Grunter and a new manifold because the one Proffitt's installed was cracked. I think the new manifold came from GTurbo as well.
  • The injection pump was rebuilt by Diesel Fuel Injection Service in Oregon.
  • We installed a boost compensator.
  • Most of the truck was rewired, chasing down a dozen electrical gremlins that Proffitt’s created, and solving most of them. A few remain, listed below, and new ones crop up occasionally.
  • There is a new, independent fuse box for the second battery and only accessories and the winch are attached to it.
  • I replaced several switches with better quality ones.
  • We installed caster correction plates, welded to the frame, solving several problems
  • We upgraded all of the steering linkage with heavier duty parts.
  • I installed oil pan and battery heaters. I have a fuel filter heater for it too but haven’t installed it yet.
  • Removed and repaired the rear fuel cell, which was leaking due to poor installation by Proffitt’s. Also replaced the fuel filler hose as it was badly kinked, making for very slow fueling.
  • Replaced both batteries because all the electrical gremlins killed the originals.

Bad stuff:

- The fuel tank selection switching system doesn’t work. I’m currently using just the front tank. It might just be the switch.

- There is a very small fuel leak from a hard line on the driver’s side frame. A few drips, maybe a teaspoon, immediately after parking. I’ll probably fix this.

- There is an electrical gremlin regarding the EGT gauge - it does not read reliably if the headlights or heater fan are on. I don’t know if the interference is with the power to the gauge or the sensor wire.

- The turn signal relay is failing - about half the time it just buzzes and no lights come on.

- The front differential leaks slowly from the pinion, but only when engaged.

- Two of the windows in soft top cracked this winter so they have ragged holes in them.

- The fuel cutoff solenoid randomly shuts off the fuel. It takes one minute to fix this by disconnecting it and plugging it back in, but it’s a bit disconcerting when the engine shuts off while driving!

- There is occasional death wobble when decelerating with the brakes engaged down through about 35mph.

- The rear camera (uses the stereo/nav screen) has been intermittently not working.

- The oil pressure gauge has been intermittently not working.

- I think it needs a new starter solenoid, or at least new contacts. It occasionally just clicks even with a fully charged battery. Usually some extra voltage from a jump works, or tapping on the solenoid with a hammer. I suspect it is the original mine truck part.

- There are two rips in the soft top windows that happened last winter when it was below zero and they were brittle. Photos below.

- The roof rack in the photos above is not currently installed. My plan was to cut it up and reformat it as cross bars instead of a halo shape. I don't think it's been cut up yet and can probably be easily bolted back on.

I’m happy to take more photographs of anything you want. The photos above are several years old. It doesn't look quite that good any more, but pretty close.


I paid Proffitt’s $68,000 for this truck. I have a total of about $80,000 - $85,000 invested; I stopped keeping track a while ago.

Even with its problems this is one of the coolest LandCruisers in the US. If you are willing to tackle all the little issues it will make you happy.


My asking price is $50,000. You arrange shipping or come and get it. It will probably drive anywhere without a problem other than those noted above.
 
Last edited:
This truck was not imported. It was not built in a Toyota factory. It never existed outside the U.S.
Technically it is a home built vehicle, built in Colorado. Anyone who bothered to read about its history (I invite all prospective buyers to read the build thread, already linked in the first post), or even thought about the title of this for sale thread for a minute, would realize this.

We are so lucky to have new members looking out for us as a community by exposing our nonconformities to the authorities.
 
Last edited:
Bud, I tell you what, just let it be and quit being the information sharer. We all know how to go to the bathroom by ourselves. We are all big boys and girls and have Internet.
You have no idea about truck and you are calling it non conforming? There are many ways to register and title these trucks. Maybe go look at importation rules and check out the one that has an exemption for 75 series trucks. Do you know of that one? The one that was created for the dept of agriculture for the state of Georgia to bring in 75 series trucks in 1990? There are still a few of those trucks around. I personally brought a lhd troopy with that excemtion in 1998. So, if you have any questions ask him directly in a pm. Do you have any of these 70 series trucks or are you s perspective buyer? Or maybe just dreaming to get one?
 
I am sure that any prospective buyer will carefully review all of the information that this thread provides.
 
I have been offered some very nice vehicles in trade. I very much appreciate the offers but I'm not interested in any trades at this time, thanks! I'm actually trying to trim the size of my Cruiser fleet a bit.
 
I am sure that any prospective buyer will carefully review all of the information that this thread provides.
Perhaps this should have been your first and only post but again you were simply "protecting the community".
 
I am sure that any prospective buyer will carefully review all of the information that this thread provides.

I call Idiot .... If you have something to ask or say then PM the seller I am sure he will clarify. This is not a chat thread about what you "think" be respectful of his thread and quit posting in here unless you have cash and are serious about purchasing. Move along NEWBIE.
 
"If you don't have something nice to say....don't say it all all" comes to mind. (Courtesy the nuns that beat sense into me as a child)

Now, there are some shady characters with questionable 70 series trucks around but this is most assuredly not one of them.
Most people resort to VIN tampering, state specific loopholes or outright lies to cheat the system. This guy actually did it the only real way and spent countless dollars and hours to get it to this point.

Good luck with the sale Yooper, it's been a treat and tragedy to watch the build. :beer:
 
To the damn newbie: This is not a race circuit and we don't need technical rules compiance scrutineers up in here flinging poo on licensed, titled, and registered LandCruisers.

To yoop: GLWS. :cheers:
 
hi, i have experienced the same torture from profitt's cruiser 5 years ago on the same built(hzj79). After waiting 1 1/2 years of excuses and 100k later, i got back my truck in Canada and oh boy was it a mess!! i ended up reviwing/correcting 80% of their work...i wouldn't recommend proffit to anybody, they are nothing close to be professionals. this being said, i am fortunate i own a tuning company so i went over the denco turbo system i sent down there for installation during the built and tuned it to perfection 10 psi making 234 bwhp and 430 ft/lb torque with boost compensator. 20 000km later all go smooth.

one question for you: where did you purchase the boost compensator?? i went through all my paperwork and couldn't find where i purchased it....i remeber i got it from a europeen company but can't find it, if you can help me on this one it would be great since i have 2 hzj79 sitting here in Canada and i am going to turbo them soon.

thanks(couldn't private message you for whatever reason)
 
one question for you: where did you purchase the boost compensator?? i went through all my paperwork and couldn't find where i purchased it....i remeber i got it from a europeen company but can't find it, if you can help me on this one it would be great since i have 2 hzj79 sitting here in Canada and i am going to turbo them soon.

I didn't source that part myself, the shop that did all my engine work found it, and I don't recall off hand where we got it.

I'm away from home for the long weekend. I'll see if I can find that info when I get home and will post it here within the next week. :cheers:
 
Last edited:
It's not huge, and there isn't much room behind the seat to move it back more. I am 5' 7" with shortish legs and am very comfy in there with the seat just a bit forward of its middle position.

You might be at the edge of too tall to be comfortable. Really the only way to find out is to sit in one.

Excellent. Thank you.
Cool rig. GLWS.
 
Very interested, but my home state is a VIN stickler, I know this from an old trailer I had and I couldn't get a home built without tons of receipts. Is this the 1999 VIN or a new state issued number. It needs to be the latter.

Thanks!

Great Truck!
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom