Build "Jenny" build thread - 1989 BJ74

[cruiseroutfit]

This little BJ74 is still one of my favorite go-to’s, particularly for mountain trails or medium technical trails. Our local volunteer 4x4 recovery/assistance team (Utah Off Road Recovery Team) has been busier than ever this past year and the BJ74 has been getting a ton of trail time and winch time

Only updates/upgrades as of late are a Yaesu 2M radio mounted. I’ve had a CB installed for years and have been relying on handheld 2M radios for events where they are being used. No more, finally mounted.

Some pics of the last few months:

The pre-production KM3 tires I was given to do testing with are getting pretty flogged, I’ve got a new set of slightly taller KM3’s awaiting install. They are the same size as the KM2’s I was running previously and I think I’ll want to do a 3:1 low range gear set to help keep them moving.

 

[reddog90]

The people need some updates.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

This little BJ74 is still one of my favorite go-to’s, particularly for mountain trails or medium technical trails. Our local volunteer 4x4 recovery/assistance team (Utah Off Road Recovery Team) has been busier than ever this past year and the BJ74 has been getting a ton of trail time and winch time

Only updates/upgrades as of late are a Yaesu 2M radio mounted. I’ve had a CB installed for years and have been relying on handheld 2M radios for events where they are being used. No more, finally mounted.

Some pics of the last few months:

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The pre-production KM3 tires I was given to do testing with are getting pretty flogged, I’ve got a new set of slightly taller KM3’s awaiting install. They are the same size as the KM2’s I was running previously and I think I’ll want to do a 3:1 low range gear set to help keep them moving.

Which Yaesu?

 

[fireball]

Hi Kurt I had the 3:1 gears we bought from you installed before our trip to HITR. The low range gears made a huge difference! Great little truck.

I ran this trip with the 255/85/16 km2s. I’ve got a set of 35x10.5 kenda klever rts that I’m planning to install for more local harder wheeling trips.

 

[FJBen]

Hi Kurt I had the 3:1 gears we bought from you installed before our trip to HITR. The low range gears made a huge difference! Great little truck.

I ran this trip with the 255/85/16 km2s. I’ve got a set of 35x10.5 kenda klever rts that I’m planning to install for more local harder wheeling trips.

The 3:1 doesn't change the Hi-range at all correct? I've heard noise complaints, but not with the 3:1. How did you clearance the case?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Which Yaesu?

Sorry, I have Yaesu in a different rig that I was setting up about the same time. My BJ74 is running an Kenwood TM-281A. I mounted it to the back of the center console and used a fender lip NMO antenna mount. Worked out great!

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Hi Kurt I had the 3:1 gears we bought from you installed before our trip to HITR. The low range gears made a huge difference! Great little truck.

I ran this trip with the 255/85/16 km2s. I’ve got a set of 35x10.5 kenda klever rts that I’m planning to install for more local harder wheeling trips.

Glad to hear

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Home on post-op bed rest with a goal of cleaning some pics off my old iPad. No better place to start than with Jenny.

The fender/apron/hood refresh in spring 2020

More recent use

 

[bj70_guy]

This update made me go back and read through the whole thread. The wheeling shots, and the fun you're obviously having with it made me nostalgic for my old 74...

... which I still own, but haven't wheeled once since getting an HDJ81 8 years ago!
I need to change that this summer.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

This update made me go back and read through the whole thread. The wheeling shots, and the fun you're obviously having with it made me nostalgic for my old 74...

... which I still own, but haven't wheeled once since getting an HDJ81 8 years ago!
I need to change that this summer.

Get it going!

 

[cruiseroutfit]

This thread (like all of my vehicle threads) has been quite neglected. Jenny just keeps jamming along. I had some fantastic adventures with it last year, Cruise Moab, American Fork Canyon and many trips up a trail called Cardiff Fork just outside of the SL Valley.

Cruiser Outfitters team member run up Forest Lake in AFC

San Rafael Swell Overnighter @ Cruise Moab 2025

And like my neglected threads, the vehicle itself deserved some attention. I’m very religious about oil changes and maintenance but other items and upgrades often get put on the back-burner unless it’s mission critical. We’ve had some dangerously unseasonable spring-like weather here in SLC and I love to tinker on Cruisers at home with the overhead doors up, the tunes blasting and no deadlines.

I’ve had a post-it note of ‘To Do’s’ on the windshield for oh, 1 or 3 years now. All minor tinker stuff and the list grows faster than it shrinks. One of those was replacing the room ventilators in the rear cargo area. Mine were both broken and brittle and given everything else being it overall good condition inside, these were just annoying. The original ‘Shadow Grey’ (62821-90K01-03) supersedes to a bid different ‘Slate Grey’ (62821-90K01-B0). As this Cruiser isn’t a museum piece and has many aftermarket things going on, I don’t mind the shade difference and didn’t bother trying to source originals or paint these.

If you’re doing these, make sure to grab spare 4mm push nuts, part# 90183-04046. There are 4 per side and while easy to reuse, I found I was missing one. There is strip of foam along the top edge of the ventilator that keeps the plastic from rattling against the body. That wasn’t included in the new OEM piece so I cut some think strips of closed cell adhesive backed foam to replicate. I hate rattles so I keep a bunch of different thickness’s of foam tape around.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

More tinkering

My dash panel (INT90K00/55413-90K00) was cracked and I had a 24V green cap (83119-36020) bulb out on the dash. Perfect time to pull it apart, blow out a few years worth of trail dust and clean up with some new OE hardware. Also tossed a new center console door latch (58976-20010) on. I have neanderthal friends that don't realize there is a 'release' to open the lid and I've had to replace a few. It's the little things

Some needs some proper detailing but it's muuuuuch cleaner.

 

[JDM Journeys]

Looking really good, and at 37 years old too!

I also have neanderthal buddies. I try to make sure they stay in their own rigs.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Looking really good, and at 37 years old too!

I also have neanderthal buddies. I try to make sure they stay in their own rigs.

This vehicle gets used quite a bit for our local non-profit off-road recovery team (albeit I've not had as much time to get out with them this winter). As such I often have a passenger I don't personally know and one has to remind them this is a 37 year old Cruiser, Doors don't need to be slammed off their hinges, they shut quite nicely with a gentle pull. The seats don't have power (though heated seats are on my to-do list) and you don't need to aggesivelyu slide or recline them. Perhaps instructions on the dash are in order?

 

[JDM Journeys]

And the the existing instructions on the glove box are probably unnecessary for you at this point in your cruiser tenure?

Just have them grab the dash bar. That'll hold up to their ham fists.

At least having the ham radio behind the console keeps it safe. Did you put a remote speaker on it or do you find you hear it okay from there? I have mine back there as well but am debating adding a speaker (my remote head on the dash doesn't have one - FTM300).

 

[cruiseroutfit]

At least having the ham radio behind the console keeps it safe. Did you put a remote speaker on it or do you find you hear it okay from there? I have mine back there as well but am debating adding a speaker (my remote head on the dash doesn't have one - FTM300).

It works out quite well audio wise. I run external speakers in several other Cruisers and I do like the ability to really hear things, even outside with the doors open. I've not run across that need with this Cruiser yet but an external speaker mounted above the rear view mirror would really broadcast well.