Hzj80 / Hdj80

[Ocelot]

Hello

Just joined the forum here, I have been looking at purchasing an FZJ80 for a while now, and was just waiting for the right one, when I started reading on this great froum of yours.

I came across a couple of threads talking about diesel 80 series and I'm now thinking if its possible I'd rather import one of those. I did a search for HZJ80 and HDJ80 but didn't come up with many threads. I've read the two threads posted on here just recently and got some good information from those.

What I'm wondering is if there were any LHD, Diesel, 5-Speed, Full-Time 4WD 80s series vehicles made, and if so if they were avaliable with F/R Diff Locks. The threads I've read allude to 5-Speed Diesel 80s, but I was unable to determine if they came with Full-Time 4WD. I very much dislike automatic transmissions but I was willing to put up with one since I really want Full-Time 4WD. So if such a combo was made (with a diesel too boot!) I would do almost anything to get my grubby little hands on one... the perfect vehicle in my opinion.

I'm guessing the diesel in the 80s series would be the 1H-DT? 4.2L I6 - 268ft-lbs @ 2000rpm?

So where were these vehicles exported too (i.e. where could I import a LHD one from)? Whats the difference between HZJ80 / HDJ80?

Thanks for reading my long first post! Hope its in the right forum, wasn't sure if I should choose this or the international forum.

Cheers

 

[cruiser_guy]

Well I'm in Guatemala and I looked at a '96 model today! It has full time 4WD, which doesn't excite me quite like it does you (I'd prefer a manual hub part time 4WD setup which from what I've read was only available on the lowest trim level).
There were two versions of diesel engines in the '80 series, as best as I've been able to determine. Both are very similar inline 6 cylinder turbo models. A 12 valve one that was pre '94 or so and a 24 valve one that came out later. Earlier models had issues with the main bearings that seem to have got sorted out with the later engines.
The one I looked at was a whisper quiet unit. I had to look to see if it was running! It was trimmed like the '80's I've seen stateside (VX trim level). This truck also had a 5 speed which is much preferred to the automatic.
There is a guy in SanDiego who has an HDJ80. You may want to see what he says about getting one in stateside.
From what I've read on FZJ80 prices, expect to pay considerably more for the diesel model.

 

[Ocelot]

Awesome.

Are the vehicles there Left Hand Drive?

The full-time case still has a part-time mode though correct (center diff lock)?

For where I live full-time 4WD is invaluable as our roads consist of packed snow and ice and alternate between extreemly low traction surfaces and high traction surfaces where they bother to plow, so running in part-time mode is impractical. A center diff lock is also crucial for obvious reasons.

Do they have front/rear lockers?

I live in Canada so I'm not sure what the importing rules are, but from what I've heard they are even more slack than in the states.

Thanks again!

 

[CDN_Cruiser]

Post the same question in the international forum - you'll get a better result. There are a number of form members that import diesel 80s into Canada (and they tend to hang in the international section). From what I've seen, most are low mile 80s from Japan with no rust, but are RHD.

I've been pondering replacing my DD with a turbo diesel 70...

Where are you in Canada?

Cheers, Hugh

 

[Ocelot]

I'm up in northern ontario right now.

Thanks for the advice I'll repost this in the international forum

 

[cruiser_guy]

Are the vehicles there Left Hand Drive?

The full-time case still has a part-time mode though correct (center diff lock)?

For where I live full-time 4WD is invaluable as our roads consist of packed snow and ice and alternate between extreemly low traction surfaces and high traction surfaces where they bother to plow, so running in part-time mode is impractical. A center diff lock is also crucial for obvious reasons.

Do they have front/rear lockers?

I live in Canada so I'm not sure what the importing rules are, but from what I've heard they are even more slack than in the states.

Thanks again!

All of the America's are normal left hand drive. This one was also left hand drive! Importing rules are 15 years old or older.

 

[Beowulf]

The full-time case still has a part-time mode though correct (center diff lock)?

Not exactly. FT 4wd is unlike a PT because the front hubs are always engaged. Locking the center diff makes a FT 4wd like an engaged PT 4wd. FT 4wd is one of the strong points of the 80 series and that's one of the reasons the high-end models got FT 4wd in other markets. Unfortunately for some, we did not get a 5spd option or diesel engines in NA.

-B-

 

[Ocelot]

Cool thanks for the info.

Looks like I'll have to wait untill 2009 to import a central american 1994 then... 5 more years Oh well it'll be worth the wait

Edit... looks like the HDJ-80 might be on the RIVs list of approved importable vehicles, so that might be a lead, who knows.

 

[Jim_Chow]

All of the America's are normal left hand drive. This one was also left hand drive! Importing rules are 15 years old or older.

I thought it was 15 yrs for Canada, 25 yrs for the US?

I thought about importing an international spec HZJ105 before, but there are just too many hoops to jump through. It would cost like $10K just to ship it here and get it up to US specs. BTW, I have a 1995 4wd mag I got from a used bookstore in Sapporo and it says the FZJ80/HDJ80 (actually, HDJ81) cost under $30K back then for the basic 5spd manual turbo diesel cruiser. In fact, the list price is only $3K more than a medium to upper end Hilux surf! Also, the HZJ76, which was sold in Japan through 2004, was only $26K USD for the 5spd 1HZ diesel, and this was in 2004...lotta car for the money.

 

[Ocelot]

Wow sounds like we north americans really got screwed over!

I've been doing some research on importing one to Canada, and it looks like the HDJ-80 might be able to be imported no matter how old it is. Unfortunately they just list the vehicles we are not allowed to import, not the ones we are allowed to import. I'll have to look into it further.

 

[neowulf]

hi

I got an 1991 hzj 80 full time/part-time 4wd
senterdiff locked in 4 low range
factory lockers front and rear
1HZ 4,2 litre normaly aspirated diesel engine
LHD
5 speed manual transmition.

I have added a safari turbo/intercooler system .(225 hp)
about to make an introduktion of my self soon , will be posted in 80 forum.

sounds like i have the type youre loking for.

 

[Poriomania]

If you look for the user name Drexx he had his HDJ that was already kitted out with lift etc for sale in CA. Somewhere around $35K I think. May still have it, may not.

 

[robbie]

Drexx's old diesel cruiser was from Progue. So some of the euro cruisers are LHD and can be had if you do it right. It was brought over by a gentleman that lives in Santa fe NM. His brother owns a mercedes shop (not dealer) in Santa fe. He drove it for a year here in the US on a special visa and then took it back and inported it. (so the story goes). Any how turbo diesel, 5sp, lockers VX trim. A very sweet truck. What he needed to do for DOT was the lights and basically that was it(I talked to him before it was sold to Ben). Any how most all the rest was OK with DOT. Emissions maybe a different thing depending on the state. As for legal I can not speak to that, but it must be some what as it is in California(some one that know what state it is titled in can speak to that). Thats about as much as I know. later robbie

 

[aamiggia]

I was in the same boat as you 6 months ago. I'm from Toronto and this applies to Canada, this is what I found out:

- The import laws are 15 years or older
- It is legal to drive a RHD vehicle
- The Landcruiser diesels stopped being imported in 1988 (BJ42, BJ70, HJ60, and BJ60)
- There are a few importers on the internatioanl site, all importing from Japan
- Japanese auto market is setup to make them buy cars every few years. That is why there are so many imports of complete cars and parts
- There is no use of road salt (because it doesn't snow, well probably in the mountains) in Japan
- If you see a LHD diesel Cruiser it probably came from Europe. They are very rare in Canada and very expensive if you happen to find one.
- A good to mint condition JDM HDJ80 (RHD, 4.2 TD 12 vavle) will sell for no less than $20,000 CDN. That is already imported and registered. Buying one from Japan would be $7,000 - $12,000 CDN, but then you must do the importing leg work and certification.
- If you are buying a diesel to save gas money (so nieve) like I was, you'll never make up the money you could get the same year gasser cruiser.
- If you don't want to drive RHD then get ready to pay BIG $$$ for a Euro import. Trust me I know. Appearntly you easily get used to driving a RHD vehicle on our roads.

Did I miss something? PM me if you want more info.

 

[Ocelot]

Great stuff, I'm learning a ton! Thanks again.