Introduction

[bigring911]

Morning All,

Thanks for taking the time out of your day to read…… been a long time listener, first time caller so to speak. Been lurking around for a few years from time to time as a “guest” and have really enjoyed what I’ve seen and I’ve learned a metric ton (I’m from Canada - lol). So thank you all who contribute your knowledge & experiences! I figured it was time I join, post up a quick introduction as I am getting ready to pull the trigger on my first cruiser.

My love for the 40, 43, and 45 started when I lived in New Zealand while in my early-mid 20’s from 1997-2000 - they’re everywhere there and used like trucks should be. To be honest, I don’t think I had ever seen one on the east coast of Canada where I grew up. I fell immediately in love with the vehicle which still holds true today in my early 50’s.

For the past five years I’ve been watching the market, the for sale ads, Kijiji, Auto Trader, etc. The past year or so I’ve been getting ready to purchase but haven’t found the one that calls to me until last week. It might be the one.

If I can ask, as I’ve seen some post here ads they’re looking at and ask for advice and thoughts on a potential purchase…..is that proper etiquette? Was hoping to get some opinions on the ‘77 Bj40 I located.

Thanks again fellas - happy to be here.

Cheers,
Craig

 

[Green Bean]

The great thing about this Forum is you will get a lot of honest and sincere advice from folks who are quite knowledgeable and have extensive experience with these old rigs. Ask away!

 

[JohnnyC]

 

[bigring911]

Ha! Thanks fellas!
The seller provided many excellent photos via Dropbox (will link below for anyone interested in taking a closer look), so I snagged a couple to post here.

He also provided an excellent video doing a walk around, start up and very good look at it. Again, I’ll provide the link below for those interested in watching it.

Looking at the photos it looks a bit rough - but the seller greased the outside in the usual places to protect it from rust. He’s a land surveyor and used her to go to some pretty remote places for work. He also used it to haul wood.

Issues that I can see:
1) he said it was imported from Brazil in mid-2000s to early 2010’s. I believe the Brazilian built Bj/Fj 40s had Mercede engines. This has a 2B

2) it appears its original colour was/is capri blue (could be wrong with the name) - you can see it on the firewall, under the hood, and a couple more places in the truck

3) the roof has mounts for windshield wipers, yet has bottom mount wipers and motor - it could have been rolled or the roof replaced at one time?

4) located the frame number: Bj40-01-1977. This means that it rolled off the line in January 1977 - correct? I could not match the number on the serial number plate (see photos in Dropbox). This could be due to an engine swap if this indeed was built in Brazil?

5) I closely inspected the frame - no patches, could not see any cracks or repairs made. It has surface rust but no holes and no weak spots.

6) it’s got the original pto winch that works - the shift lever inside the cab does not engage - it feels, appears, and the seller states that a bolt sheered off and is an easy fix.


Might be a few more things that I was considering….will have a think and post any other issues

The seller is asking $15k o.b.o. (Cdn $)

So…..thoughts?

Video:

Dropbox photos: Dropbox - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/1ucxn8vyblyizxynokf48/AGdkK8SObxZMvqppI2NZ_EM?rlkey=2faenu1q089ey12jtijvsbcaf&e=2&dl=0

Thanks again guys!

 

[Greek Cruiserhead]

View attachment 3643226

These guys are Aussies, Lol!

 

[bigring911]

Plate and frame number:

 

[peesalot]

Welcome, the patina on that 40 is priceless, usually when they have that natural finish they are way gone mechanically but that looks like a runner.
Except the earthquake exhaust.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

I love the patina on this one! I would love a b series diesel in mine.

 

[Green Bean]

Very nice original truck. Congrats.

 

[JohnnyC]

Definitly not from a brazil plant... those are the bandeirante trucks and this is not one of them

your frame number does not match your vin plate.... with the BJ40-011977 it does put it around the 76-77 time frame... the 1977 is just coincidence

the vin plate is missing info that would have come from factory also...
you vin plate.... Z12 is costa rica and would explain alot... not matching vin to frame is an issue IMHO

 

[bigring911]

Thanks Johnny for the information. I was pretty certain that it wasn’t built in Brazil. It was imported to British Columbia and had two owners before the seller.
Forgot to mention that the heater had been installed by the previous owner to the seller.

Is there a reason why the other numbers on the plate are not visible - shouldn’t that all have been stamped in? This makes discovering more of the truck’s history difficult.

Is it a deal breaker?

 

[JohnnyC]

Looked thru your other pics at the Dropbox… Since it has the BC tag on the door pillar it looks like whoever imported it worked out the vin issue as the door tag is stamped with the frame vin

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Be sure to let us know if you go for it! this one seems really cool! I am jellous. If I had run across it 2 years ago in the states I would have bought it.

 

[JohnnyC]

The model should have read…

BJ40LV-KC

B = B engine Diesel
J = Land Cruiser type aka jeep
40 = body series
L = left hand drive
V = Van
K = 4 speed tranny (H41)
C = swing out rear doors... C type rear doors ... Aka ambi door configured

 

[JohnnyC]

Btw you got the nice doors that have the vent… us USA guys only got the single piece large window

Your floors have been replaced at least on the drivers side … should have ribs stamped in the floor

That’s all I can look over now … getting my wife’s highlander serviced lol

 

[45Kevin]

Nice looking rig.
The locking hubs are after market, but not surprising.
Many markets did not get the locking hubs and got a drive flange instead.
Dash pad is not original either. Well, I've never seen one like that.
The wipers went from the top to the bottom sometime in the '70s I think, but the roof did not change, only the windshield frame.
My '78 has that roof front as well.
The PTO has a shear pin that fails if the winch is over worked. Easy to change and common to fail when you over load it.

Gotta love Bubbles. What part of the East Coast are you in?

 

[bigring911]

Johnny, thank you so much! Invaluable information and it is greatly appreciated.

 

[bigring911]

Hey Kevin, thanks for taking the time to respond and pass along the info.
As per the wipers, did the roof have the openings/ports (lack of proper term I am sure) on pre-77 and after too? To me it looks as though the roof had original wipers mounted -

 

[bigring911]

Forgot to add - originally grew up in Cape Breton (Nova Scotia) but after school and travel have been residing in Ontario. Go home most ever summer - can’t wait for this year!

 

[Living in the Past]

Wipers on the top of the windshield ended 1/75. Possibly the hard top or just the cap came from an earlier model.