Looking at buying a HZJ77

[TandD]

I'm looking at buying an HZJ77, 199? auto. Its in good condition, has been used locally in BC as a hunting rig so not a pristine JDM import.

I've got a couple of questions since I'm not very familiar with Cruisers in general being a Jeep/Scout guy until now.

First off, what is a fair price range for this truck, it has what appears to be a good quality 4 inch lift I'm guessing OME, with a very solid looking shackle reversal on it, and is on 33's.

It has no lockers, am I correct in thinking these use the same axles as the 80's, so the factory cable lockers should be a bolt in if I can find them?

The engine..I believe its a 1HZ? how hard and expensive is it to turbo this engine and how does durability suffer? What are the mileage numbers before and after turboing?

Towing capacity?

I know a lot of this info is available by searching, I've found some, but some seems to conflict. Besides this is a chance for you guys to win me over from the Dark(Jeep)Side.

 

[roscoFJ73]

It has no lockers, am I correct in thinking these use the same axles as the 80's, so the factory cable lockers should be a bolt in if I can find them?

I dont think so.You need the whole assembly and the 80 series is wider and coil sprung all round.
Easier to buy OEM 7* lockers or get air lockers which are as strong

The engine..I believe its a 1HZ? how hard and expensive is it to turbo this engine and how does durability suffer? What are the mileage numbers before and after turboing?

Differing viewa on this. Keep the rpms and the egt and the boost down and you may have a long life
Abuse it and lose it.
Kits in oz are about $2500 depending on which kit you get
A 1HD T from a wrecked 80 series will serve you longer

Towing capacity?

Same as any other vehicle of the same weight in your area. Probably about 3500kg with trailer brakes,I would recommend less than the weight of the vehicle in good conditions though

I know a lot of this info is available by searching, I've found some, but some seems to conflict. Besides this is a chance for you guys to win me over from the Dark(Jeep)Side.

Big step up in quality and I guarantee you wont go back to jeep

 

[crushers]

1998?? in BC?

 

[TandD]

Ah, sorry, my fingers were suffering from wishfull thinking...'88 not 98

 

[crushers]

so then what is it?
the HZJ77 didn't start till 1990
the 77 series period didn't start till 90
so either you are looking at the light duty LJ78 or an early 90s 77.

if it is the LJ78 4 door then run away. if it is a 1990-1994 HZJ77 then it is a strong unit...

 

[Hulsty]

He does mention it having a shackle reversal, so good chance its on leaves and a HD model not a light duty model. Must have the years mixed up or wrong model designation

 

[crushers]

missed that point, good catch...

 

[TandD]

Sorry for the mixup guys, I'm not sure of the exact year (should be obvious by now), it is definitely an HZJ77, I saw the frame stamping today.

Also has a ladder on the rear door and a solidly built roof rack and a snorkel.

Undercarriage is very clean no scrapes, dents or leaks. Only concern is that the front slip yoke appears to be using all of its travel due to the shackle reversal.

So as to price range? the mileage is 215000km

 

[roscoFJ73]

Undercarriage is very clean no scrapes, dents or leaks. Only concern is that the front slip yoke appears to be using all of its travel due to the shackle reversal.

So as to price range? the mileage is 215000km

The 4 inch lift is probably not helping either

215000 is about halfway but there are plenty of speedo pics in oz showing 700000+

 

[TandD]

No probably not, there is a driveshaft spacer in there but I'm a little wary of the shackle reversal allowing the axle to move back too much especially with the lift springs as you pointed out. I'm thinking it would be prudent to invest in a long travel slipyoke.

Anyone have any ideas on pricing? I have no frame of reference other than the few 77's I've seen on import sites and even there the prices seem to vary considerably for what appear to be almost identical(to my untrained eye) trucks.

 

[roscoFJ73]

No probably not, there is a driveshaft spacer in there but I'm a little wary of the shackle reversal allowing the axle to move back too much especially with the lift springs as you pointed out. I'm thinking it would be prudent to invest in a long travel slipyoke.

Anyone have any ideas on pricing? I have no frame of reference other than the few 77's I've seen on import sites and even there the prices seem to vary considerably for what appear to be almost identical(to my untrained eye) trucks.

You might find these kinds of things a bit harder to find for 7* series than a Jeep.

Snake Racing in Oz do have them for 70-75 series. You would need to check they are the same as a 77(we dont have 77s in this vintage)but I think they will be.
Snake Racing

Might also be able to use something off a n american 60 series . The 1984-90' 60 and 70 series share a lot of parts and so do the 90' on 7* series to a lesser extent.
It would also be interesting to know the length of the 75 series troopy driveshaft which has longer WB


Im sure Crushers will be able to tell you why the prices vary so much on JDM imports

Dont confuse yours with the light duty models like the LJ7* ,big difference in price

 

[crushers]

post up some pics...
the vin number will reveal month and year of production

for a heavily modified HZJ77 with over 200,000 i know i wouldn't pay over $10K

 

[TandD]

10K is right in the range I was thinking for a fair price, I don't have pics of the truck, but it is your standard two tone gray, with extra wide flares, roofrack, and the lift. Bumpers definitely would be replaced, and a winch added.

I'm not set on this particular truck, would go higher in price for one with lower kms, or with factory lockers etc... Not too concerned about having extra add-ons as I'd rather be the first one to do any modifications so I know that I've screwed it up to my own standards

Since I'd likely turbo it, it would be best to get as low a mileage motor as possible I would think.

 

[crushers]

low milage HZJ77 5 speeds are huge money unless they are roll back units... and extremely hard to find.

if you do go for the higher priced unit then research your importer and the exporter from Japan...

"if it sounds too good to be true, then it is."

 

[TandD]

low milage HZJ77 5 speeds are huge money unless they are roll back units... and extremely hard to find.

if you do go for the higher priced unit then research your importer and the exporter from Japan...

"if it sounds too good to be true, then it is."

Thanks for the advice, I'd noticed a huge jump in price for the few low miles units I'd found, I think there is one '93 with 73K that is about 26 thousand landed more than I can comtemplate. What are the thoughts on a motor with 215k? Obviously prior maintenance will play a huge factor, but assuming there are no underlying issues, is it best to not stress a motor with this much mileage, or are they up to a little squeeze? In moderation and paying close attention to EGT's.

 

[crushers]

change the BEB to be safe
do a compression test
do a coolant pressure test

if you live near Vancouver get Greg or Sheldon to give it a once over

the last HZJ77 low km, extremely clean unit i sold was $29K plus mods.

 

[TandD]

Other than cool factor, what advantage if any does the 77 have over an 80 series. It seems like the selection and prices on 80 series are far better, they are avaliable with both dif locks and turbos. Is there something I'm missing?

 

[crushers]

cool factor is a biggie for me.
H55F vs the s***ty H151
leaf vs coil
utilitarian vs grocery getter
diff locks are available in both
real part time 4wd

not everyone wants what everyone else is driving, the HZJ77 is the RARE rugged big brother to the 80 series. it appeals to men, the 80 appeals to the female in all of us.

this being said, i would wheel either...

 

[TandD]

With regards to the axles. Am I correct in my understanding that the 77's use the smaller (8inch?) ring gear as compared to the 80's? Are these basically the same axle as the mini-trucks use? I know the mini's can take tremendous abuse and handle large tires especially with Longfields, but what about on a heavier truck with the torque of a turbo's 4.2?

If I'm totally off in my assumptions, I'm happy to be educated

 

[simonliew]

the 77 series use the same ringgear as the 80/81 series,8" high pinion front and 9" heavy duty rear,only the 80/81 series axle housings are wider.Same 8" as minitruck but high pinion and reverse cut,plenty strong for tires under 35".you prob break the birfield before the ring and pinion.
l like my 77 but just not enough power towing a military trailer when loaded up for camping with 33" tires compare to my HDJ81.
Simon
Winnipeg
92 HDJ81
92 HDJ81 wife
92 HZJ77
81 BJ42 rockrawler
82 BJ42 rusty