Looking at an '89 BJ73 - what to look for?

[IronGazelle]

Hi,

I'm looking at buying an '89 BJ73 for a daily driver and eventually for taking down some woods roads for fishing/hunting/light towing. My main motivation for buying is reliability and the longevity i could squeeze out of the 3B.

I want to know if there are some typical things that i should check for specific to this land cruiser.

It has less than 100k kms and was originally imported by outback imports (now owned by raddcruisers i think). It seems to be in great shape and the seller is asking 13,000.

I was also considering just having it inspected, but if i knew about some quick easy checks when i go to see it i could save myself the trouble. Things to look for under the hood/vehicle that a layman could easily spot.

Thank-You!

 

[Young Blood]

Outback imported nice cruisers. I have had the pleasure of seeing 2 bj73's they imported. ATEB in Burnaby B.C. did work on lots of their cruisers. If you can get the frame and the vin # you should call ATEB (604-438-7537)and they might be able to tell you what work was done to it prior to it being sold.

Rust would be one of my concerns. The rocker panels, windshield frame (look at it from inside the cab and out), and wheel wells are all places these cruisers like to rust. Its nice to look under the carpet in the front passenger and drivers side. The rear bed is also a good place to look under the carpet. A screwdriver is all that is needed to unscrew screws that hold down the carpet. Take a good look under the cruiser and look for signs of rust. Look for signs of leaks in the drivetrain too.

 

[IronGazelle]

Some great tips! I guess it looks like its mainly rust that i'm watching for. I would have never known about ATEB, so i will be sure to give them a call.

For drivetrain leaks, would i just check for fluid at the bottoms of the axle housing?

 

[Gun Runner 5]

Do a test drive and make sure you drive it far enough to verify the cooling system is working properly. Depending on the Cruiser's past, the radiator may not be operating efficiently. Keep in mind that Toyota's factory water temp. gauges can simply make belated suggestions and are known to be inaccurate in many cases.
Good luck with your search......