Hey guys (and gals),
I am currently living in Paraguay, South America. There are many asian cars driving around here. Speaking of Toyota 4x4’s, there are lots of Toyota Hilux, Hilux Surf, Land Cruisers (of all models from the early J45’s to the new 200).
I haven’t quite decided yet, whether for me it will be a Land Cruiser 60/61/62 or 80. Other models do not interest me. If possible, I want to have an automatic transmission, because my wife will drive the car as well and she does not like stickshift. Car should have at least one differential locker, of course 3 would be best. Only Diesel versions interest me. I do not need a lot of luxury, as I will be upgrading to the luxury I personally prefer (radio, seats, tuffy box, etc.)
As I already did in my homecountry, I also want to do some offroading (mostly sand, mud, little bit of stones - but not a lot of rock-crawling), but more into the overlanding stuff over here.
So the plan is to buy a Land Cruiser in a fairly good condition, do some basic work if necessary (interior parts missing, paint, change all fluids, etc.) and later the fun stuff like offroad modifications (suspension, tires, snorkel, etc.) and overland build for sleeping inside the Cruiser, setup for solar power or 2nd battery, 12v and usb plugs, lights and so on. I do not necessarily need to do a big restauration project, because I do not know, how easily parts are available. I want to keep most parts original if possible.
Unfortunately the car market here is quite difficult, lots of frauds going on, many cars look awesome, because the detailing and cleaning of cars is cheaply available, also the Kilometers/Miles are often faked. Repairs are done in a bad way and with bad parts. Once I buy a Cruiser, the plan is to take a mechanic with me or let it check by a mechanic, but I want to know, what to look out for as well. I have some very basic experience with cars and hope to learn more, due to the (to me as a novice), seemingly fairly simple technic of the 60/80 Cruiser.
Now to my questions, what speaks for the 60/61/62 Land Cruiser? Is it quite safe in a crash situation? Obviously there aren’t any airbags, etc. available. Beginning in 1982 they had an automatic transmission, am I correct? Which motor should I look for? The 12 HT probably is a lot better compared to the 2 H, right? (Speaking of acceleration - of course it is not a race car, but probably in acceleration between the 2 motor versions a big difference or not?) How do I identify the motors? I am afraid, they will swap motors and parts here, so I cannot trust the car dealer/seller here and need to check for originality etc. myself. What are „problems“ I should look out for and avoid? How do I check if the differentials and 4 wheel drive work properly? Which build-year is best? What is a simple way to identify the model year of the 60/61/62? I am also afraid if part availability will be a problem, as sometimes it seems parts will be getting rare for the 60s models. Are all Land Cruisers 24 V models? I read it is better to start on 24 V in cold climate, but many cars here are imported, so how do I find out whether it is running on 12 V or 24 V and should I change it to 12 V if it is running on 24 V?
What speaks for the 80? Beginning in which year did they have airbags? Is there a lot of difference in the motor versions in reference to acceleration and durability? I am afraid, they will swap motors and parts here, so I cannot trust the car dealer/seller here and need to check for originality etc. myself. What are „problems“ I should look out for and avoid? How do I check if the differentials and 4 wheel drive work properly? Which build-year is best? What is a simple way to identify the model year of the 80? Are all Land Cruisers 24 V models? I read it is better to start on 24 V in cold climate, but many cars here are imported, so how do I find out whether it is running on 12 V or 24 V and should I change it to 12 V if it is running on 24 V?
What else should I look out for? Maybe there is even a fellow IH8MUD member in the area, who would be willing to accompany me to check out some Cruisers, as I read before here, of some members having lived in Paraguay as well.
Anyways, hope to receive some help here, as I already read a lot of interesting stuff, builds, restauration processes on here.
Thanks for your help in advance and cheers!
I am currently living in Paraguay, South America. There are many asian cars driving around here. Speaking of Toyota 4x4’s, there are lots of Toyota Hilux, Hilux Surf, Land Cruisers (of all models from the early J45’s to the new 200).
I haven’t quite decided yet, whether for me it will be a Land Cruiser 60/61/62 or 80. Other models do not interest me. If possible, I want to have an automatic transmission, because my wife will drive the car as well and she does not like stickshift. Car should have at least one differential locker, of course 3 would be best. Only Diesel versions interest me. I do not need a lot of luxury, as I will be upgrading to the luxury I personally prefer (radio, seats, tuffy box, etc.)
As I already did in my homecountry, I also want to do some offroading (mostly sand, mud, little bit of stones - but not a lot of rock-crawling), but more into the overlanding stuff over here.
So the plan is to buy a Land Cruiser in a fairly good condition, do some basic work if necessary (interior parts missing, paint, change all fluids, etc.) and later the fun stuff like offroad modifications (suspension, tires, snorkel, etc.) and overland build for sleeping inside the Cruiser, setup for solar power or 2nd battery, 12v and usb plugs, lights and so on. I do not necessarily need to do a big restauration project, because I do not know, how easily parts are available. I want to keep most parts original if possible.
Unfortunately the car market here is quite difficult, lots of frauds going on, many cars look awesome, because the detailing and cleaning of cars is cheaply available, also the Kilometers/Miles are often faked. Repairs are done in a bad way and with bad parts. Once I buy a Cruiser, the plan is to take a mechanic with me or let it check by a mechanic, but I want to know, what to look out for as well. I have some very basic experience with cars and hope to learn more, due to the (to me as a novice), seemingly fairly simple technic of the 60/80 Cruiser.
Now to my questions, what speaks for the 60/61/62 Land Cruiser? Is it quite safe in a crash situation? Obviously there aren’t any airbags, etc. available. Beginning in 1982 they had an automatic transmission, am I correct? Which motor should I look for? The 12 HT probably is a lot better compared to the 2 H, right? (Speaking of acceleration - of course it is not a race car, but probably in acceleration between the 2 motor versions a big difference or not?) How do I identify the motors? I am afraid, they will swap motors and parts here, so I cannot trust the car dealer/seller here and need to check for originality etc. myself. What are „problems“ I should look out for and avoid? How do I check if the differentials and 4 wheel drive work properly? Which build-year is best? What is a simple way to identify the model year of the 60/61/62? I am also afraid if part availability will be a problem, as sometimes it seems parts will be getting rare for the 60s models. Are all Land Cruisers 24 V models? I read it is better to start on 24 V in cold climate, but many cars here are imported, so how do I find out whether it is running on 12 V or 24 V and should I change it to 12 V if it is running on 24 V?
What speaks for the 80? Beginning in which year did they have airbags? Is there a lot of difference in the motor versions in reference to acceleration and durability? I am afraid, they will swap motors and parts here, so I cannot trust the car dealer/seller here and need to check for originality etc. myself. What are „problems“ I should look out for and avoid? How do I check if the differentials and 4 wheel drive work properly? Which build-year is best? What is a simple way to identify the model year of the 80? Are all Land Cruisers 24 V models? I read it is better to start on 24 V in cold climate, but many cars here are imported, so how do I find out whether it is running on 12 V or 24 V and should I change it to 12 V if it is running on 24 V?
What else should I look out for? Maybe there is even a fellow IH8MUD member in the area, who would be willing to accompany me to check out some Cruisers, as I read before here, of some members having lived in Paraguay as well.
Anyways, hope to receive some help here, as I already read a lot of interesting stuff, builds, restauration processes on here.
Thanks for your help in advance and cheers!
