New J78 Owner: What Maintenance Do I Get While the Car's Still in Japan?

[Obey]

Hey everyone,

Former FJ62 owner here. I just won a J78 Wide (KD-KZJ78W) on the USS Tokyo auction. It's got 99k km (62k miles) on the 3000cc turbo diesel. I paid for an in person inspection and the car looks great. Minor surface rust on the undercarriage, exterior and interior look near new. I'm stoked, and it's in my favorite color combo, 26Z - emerald and oyster. All I have are crappy auction house pics (and pics of the engine, door jambs, etc. from the inspection).

I've been reading all of the threads about the 78 and it seems to be more maintenance intensive than the 60-series. The car is still in Tokyo. I'm thinking it might be prudent to have some work performed on it in Japan where these cars are more common. I'm having routine maintenance done before it gets on the boat. I have an agent helping me who knows a good shop that he has used before.

Is there any other work I should have done on the car while it's in Japan?

And is there anything else I need to know about this car? Any good general threads on it? Are there any other J78 brothers out there reading this who want to tell me how they like theirs?

Bonus question: What's the optimal, subtle lift/tire combo for a lean, mean, aggressive grocery getter? Just something a little bit more exciting than standard. Not a loud "I'm going crawling this weekend" but more tasteful "I better give this guy the parking spot at Publix".

Thanks in advance, everyone.

 

[misterclean]

Congrats on the auction win! Are you having the timing belt serviced at the shop in Japan? That is something I would have done there if you do not want to do the job yourself stateside.

I would run 235/85R16 on the stock wheels. A tire that is a “tall and skinny” works well on the J78s in terms of performance and aesthetics.

As for the lift, I just saw this video on YT and it reminded me of my reaction after I lifted my LJ78. I installed the ARB/OME lift on mine and while I enjoyed it, I was not a fan of the front rake once the springs settled. I also considered the lift to be “too high” for a street cruising LJ78.

Here’s the video that may help you make a decision on going for a less aggressive lift:


On my second and current build (LJ71), I opted to order the “stock height restoration kit” from Dobinsons. Your auction photos look similar to mine - it looks like the OEM suspension has sagged quite a lot. Restoring to stock height may be the right move for you. If you plan to load up the rear or do want the car to sit taller, perhaps the 45mm dobinsons lift would be better for you! Lead time is long, but should arrive by the time your KZJ78 lands at a US port.

 

[Obey]

Congrats on the auction win! Are you having the timing belt serviced at the shop in Japan? That is something I would have done there if you do not want to do the job yourself stateside.

I would run 235/85R16 on the stock wheels. A tire that is a “tall and skinny” works well on the J78s in terms of performance and aesthetics.

As for the lift, I just saw this video on YT and it reminded me of my reaction after I lifted my LJ78. I installed the ARB/OME lift on mine and while I enjoyed it, I was not a fan of the front rake once the springs settled. I also considered the lift to be “too high” for a street cruising LJ78.

View attachment 3256914

Here’s the video that may help you make a decision on going for a less aggressive lift:


On my second and current build (LJ71), I opted to order the “stock height restoration kit” from Dobinsons. Your auction photos look similar to mine - it looks like the OEM suspension has sagged quite a lot. Restoring to stock height may be the right move for you. If you plan to load up the rear or do want the car to sit taller, perhaps the 45mm dobinsons lift would be better for you! Lead time is long, but should arrive by the time your KZJ78 lands at a US port.

Stuff I'm definitely having done:

Battery checked and if old, replaced
Engine oil + filter
Air filter
Coolant
Fuel filter
ATF
Transfer oil
Brake oil
Replace timing belt / water pump / tensioners
Check Thermostat
Check Wiper blades
Check AC charge

Seems like you and I are of the same mind. I lifted my 62 and it did the same rake and I hated it. I think maybe the stock lift would be the way to go. Do I do that in the US or Japan?

I think the 235/85R16 suggestion's a good one.

Thanks for the reply-

 

[misterclean]

Stuff I'm definitely having done:

Battery checked and if old, replaced
Engine oil + filter
Air filter
Coolant
Fuel filter
ATF
Transfer oil
Brake oil
Replace timing belt / water pump / tensioners
Check Thermostat
Check Wiper blades
Check AC charge

Seems like you and I are of the same mind. I lifted my 62 and it did the same rake and I hated it. I think maybe the stock lift would be the way to go. Do I do that in the US or Japan?

I think the 235/85R16 suggestion's a good one.

Thanks for the reply-

I would just order the Dobinsons Stock Height Restoration Kit and have it installed in the US. As far as I know, there are no similar kits offered by JDM companies. Every JDM lift I have seen is an unrecognizable brand. Other shops in Japan will build using the same kits we would order in the US.

On the topic of a stock height kit, I am unaware of any other brand (ARB, Ironman) that offers a kit specific to the J78. For me, the decision was easy since I had no other option. I ordered a few weeks ago from Dobinsons USA and was quoted a 3 month lead time on the stock heigh springs. I hoping to get those in before summer.

 

[kgrove]

Personally, I'd save maintenance for home and instead focus on items that make it easier to receiving the car at port. Stuff like having batteries with enough charge to start the car, enough fuel in the tank to make it to the closest gas station, etc. This is especially important if you don't live near the port and are traveling to pick the car up yourself. If you're having it picked up, it will save you the cost of needing to have the car towed out of the port because they can't drive it onto the car carrier.

For tires... those stock rims look like the 15" OEM wheels, so if you're keeping them, you'll need something else. Yours has fender flares, so you have more options without the tires sticking out awkwardly. The Prado's without fender flares I think most people would think look better with skinny tires, but the ones with fender flares can look good with skinny or wide tires depending on what look you're shooting for.

 

[African]

Congrats

Is it that much cheaper to get that work done over there?
If the shop was very reputable and price was right and you have someone in person keeping an eye on it...makes sense
Have them use OEM parts

Some of that work would be nice to do yourself just to learn the rig, no exactly whats going in and find any niggly bits you need to fix or replace

Has anyone put a box full of spare parts and service parts in a truck shipped over from Japan or does it complicate customs or mess with the import process?
If you had a contact there that could fill you up a box of oem spares it might be nice

 

[misterclean]

If the car is shipping via roro, it can’t come with loose items in the cabin. The box of spares would have to be shipped separately.

I agree on the maintainence points- personally I would only get work done on the Japan-side for items where parts are easily available there but hard to find or expensive to ship here. For me, that would be a timing belt service using OEM parts. Fluids and all the other stuff can be done here, but like many, I like doing these small things myself.

I’d have the front knuckles rebuilt if I had a Land Cruiser/4x4 specialist in Japan. It has taken me some time to hunt down all those seals, and the ones specific to the 70 series Prado locking hubs are only available from Japan.

Re: wheels, there are 15” and 16” diameter wheels that are the same design as the one in the auction photos. They are also found on USDM 4Runners of the same vintage. Hard to tell from the auction photos if they are 15 or 16, but most are 16”. The auction condition report you got from your exporter should detail tire condition and size, that should help you know what’s currently on the truck.

 

[Obey]

Congrats

Is it that much cheaper to get that work done over there?
If the shop was very reputable and price was right and you have someone in person keeping an eye on it...makes sense
Have them use OEM parts

Some of that work would be nice to do yourself just to learn the rig, no exactly whats going in and find any niggly bits you need to fix or replace

Has anyone put a box full of spare parts and service parts in a truck shipped over from Japan or does it complicate customs or mess with the import process?
If you had a contact there that could fill you up a box of oem spares it might be nice

I don't know if it's cheaper or not, all I know is that I don't feel like driving 2 hours round trip to bring it to the nearest place I trust with a Cruiser plus the wait. If there's a shop that the agent trusts who presumably sees these all the time and has ready access to OEM parts, that'll work.

Plus the yen is almost a 5 year low to the dollar and the exchange rate is wonderful.

 

[Rigster]

If you have not done so yet, wait until you have the cruiser here before you purchase new batter(ies) as they will die on the way over. Especially in winter time, if your battery gets drained and freezes, it gets damaged and is never the same again... Congrats on the purchase!