SOLD HZJ79 (1 Viewer)

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Location
United States
SOLD


HZJ79, built from parts.

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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.
 
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Photos taken today of the soft top windows. The driver's side ones are fine. The passenger side and rear are yellowed and frosted. The canvas cover is rolled down behind the rear passenger's side one to let rain just drip down straight and then drain out the back.

The stains by the hinges on the rear canopy door are rust stains from the incredibly crappy hinges that Proffitt's built, with no rust protection whatsoever, just bare metal. One of the hinge pins was a nail! That door needs to be trashed and rebuilt from scratch.

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Wow!! Followed you're thread during the build can't believe you're selling it!
Glws, wish I had the cash what a truck! :steer:
 
I'm interested. Send me a message or forward a way to contact you. I have been fooling around with a 4BT LX450 that profits did. I'm just crazy enough to give this a whirl, L.
 
Nice truck. I am sure it will sell quickly.
 
HOLY CRAP.

Good luck with your sale. I'd black market a kidney for that.
 
Very nice truck.
How is this cab for leg room? I am 6'2" with longish legs. Cheers.
 
Very nice truck.
How is this cab for leg room? I am 6'2" with longish legs. Cheers.

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.
 
How's it titled?

Nice looking truck.........:cheers:

As stated in the first line of the description, it's titled and registered in Michigan, with a clear title. Proffitt's used a tltle service company in Maine to get that accomplished.
 
As stated in the first line of the description, it's titled and registered in Michigan, with a clear title. Proffitt's used a tltle service company in Maine to get that accomplished.

The better question is now how it was titled but what it is titled as. What is it titled as, and does the VIN on the title match the VIN on the chassis? From what I understand, Maine is one state where it is possible to title vehicles that are too young to be exempt from DOT/NHTSA requirements (25 year rule). From the standpoint of compliance with federal law, it would have been legal for the vehicle to have been built upon a DOT/NHTSA compliant chassis. This chassis is not compliant, from what the original poster says.

Regardless of how this vehicle is titled, I personally would not spend money on a vehicle that could be confiscated by federal authorities for not complying with DOT/NHTSA regulations.

Cool truck, no less.
 
I am very happy to discuss the title details in private with any prospective buyer. Thanks so much for putting me at risk of confiscation of my $80,000+ investment by bringing it up in a public forum.

Only you put yourself at risk for buying it and listing it, not me. I just pointed out the obvious. Good luck with your "investment".
 
Dekra, not cool dude. If you know so much, why the comments.
Probably, why you will ever own one of these.

The reason I bring it up is because nonconforming vehicles sold by a select few can and have historically blacklisted certain models for extra scrutiny by DOT/NHTSA upon importation. This extra scrutiny makes it difficult for a given vehicle community to import. Look at the Defender, Skyline, and even G Wagen community. Not only do a few nonconforming vehicles from a few sellers make it harder for everyone else to import them and enjoy them without unnecessary scrutiny, but they also distort the market for both sellers and buyers.

I stand by all of my comments. Very cool truck, but it appears to be nonconforming, and hence, may cause trouble for the buyer, seller -- and if federal authorities find out about it -- for the entire community.
 

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