new to list - BJ75 Found!

[2rivers]

Howdy All! This is pretty fancy stuff here! new to this forum and first post so here goes... I found my dream truck a month ago. a 1988 ex-mine truck BJ75!! WOOHOO! I was speechless when I rolled into this guys yard and saw it there. Owner says it hasnt been truned over/driven for 2 years now (maybe longer?). I was so excited that I forgot too look to find a VIN number....dumb in hindsight. Also didnt look at odomter or hour meter....to darned excited. It is all there, no unlockable hubs, indutrial box, 3B /4spd, yellow/gray industrial paint, fenders have been bondoed though and probably hood/doors and more. Owner says when he drove it home (didnt say where) it was a little rough - now that is a wide-open statment!! I have never met this guy until I did a project at his house. Looks to be asbestos in frame rails I think. He will part with it for $4K Can... !!! Sure it will be a money pit BUT:

Dreamin of swapping in 13BT from jap spec BJ74 - will fenders doors windshield frame etc fit/swap on this beast too? wiring harness? How about the cable locking rear diifs? drool....Wouldnt be a one ton though I suppose.

Reality altough 4K is piddly-assd price it could be a real thtrashed rig. I saw no obvious leaks underneath. tips what to look for? 3rd member trashed? u-joints? body mounts?
Cant tell if frame is bent..I guess you just have to look at body lines/mounts carefully?
Hear some bad stories about these ex-mine trucks.

If I were to try and turn it over would it be best to take glow plugs out then spray some wd40 first, turn it over, and re-assess?? - got no compression gauge

BJ75 is 24V right?

adivce from other than my wife who will ensure I sleep in it if I go ahead and buy it!! ??
Can I get it insured with out gettin dicked around by insurance co (ICBC) being ex-mine?

Looking forward to hearing from you gurus. That HZJ45 project sure fueled the fire.....

new guy brings the beer

Johnny
Smithers, BC

 

[beanz2]

Congrats!

Look for body rust on where the body mounts to the chassis, rust on doors where the window frames meet the door, on floor/firewall where the heater drain is and around the windshield area. Look for chassis rust also near the rear spring mounts.

No idea what BC registration requirements are, but if there is a VIN plate on the left door frame and/or top of the dash, things would be easier. CAD$4K is a steal if the body and frame are clean.

If you are looking for a donor, a whole BJ74 would fit the bill nicely. The windshield frame and doors should fit, the engine, trans and transfer would, ahem, transfer over easily etc. Mine trucks are usually 12V however, so of the 3B accesories may hae to be reused with the 13BT.

If you are sure you are the only one who knows of its being in the market, take your time and have friends you trust inspect it, etc.

Pics?

Dave

 

[cruiser_guy]

Mike M in Surrey has a newer one insured so it should not be a problem with ICBC.

I think the main problems with the ex-mine trucks is corrosion.

 

[crushers]

the FF rear in the back of the 74s are one ton diffs...same diff you have in your mine rig. the actuator cable will need modifying.
congrates.

 

[2rivers]

Thanks guys! I am very excited, especailly with your comments so far. I dint know the diff would be the same as BJ74 thanks. I hear you Dave, a swap like that is basically frame-off, start from scrath. I will post some pics for sure when I lay down the cash and i attempt to drive it home. The truck is a few hours away from me and it is not on the market - he isnt trying to sell it, but when I pestered him, he said the price above. I nearly cr@pped my pants when he said that price, but I feel sort of bad too casue he said he wanted to fix it up for his son. So maybe he wont sell it, all I kow is next time I see him I will have a money order in hand, and go over it pretty thoroghly. Daydreaming away here....

Johnny

 

[crushers]

a word of caution:
if the frame has rust then pass. if it is rusted then the entire truck is in question. if the cab and frame are solid, like Dave mentioned, then it probably is a good deal.
hope it is then i would like to see pics of the frame off...
this one is mine...
http://www.crushersrule.com/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=album02
cheers
and good luck
Wayne

 

[Landpimp]

Wayne, what the bed on yours? looks like a later modle 45LPB bed, not a 70 bed or one of the gross mine truck beds.

a word of caution:
if the frame has rust then pass. if it is rusted then the entire truck is in question. if the cab and frame are solid, like Dave mentioned, then it probably is a good deal.
hope it is then i would like to see pics of the frame off...
this one is mine...
http://www.crushersrule.com/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=album02

cheers
and good luck
Wayne

 

[beanz2]

the FF rear in the back of the 74s are one ton diffs...same diff you have in your mine rig. the actuator cable will need modifying.
congrates.

Finding the rear OEM locker cable for the 75 series would be a challenge. First it is non-US (meaning even Ens can't get it from Toyota's PDC), second, it is disco for LHD vehicles.

Better send me the cable locker

Dave

 

[beanz2]

I feel sort of bad too casue he said he wanted to fix it up for his son. So maybe he wont sell it, all I kow is next time I see him I will have a money order in hand, and go over it pretty thoroghly. Daydreaming away here....

Johnny

Better get all the cash on hand. Waving cash tends to have a very powerful effect on sellers.



Yeah, we hear it all the time, some old coot "saving" a vehicle for his son someday. 95% of the time it will never happen and the vehicle goes to the scrapyard...

Dave

 

[Landpimp]

as for the 1 ton, even old 1960's 45LPB with semi float rear axles were 1ton rated, think it was 2200lbs. Rating did not change with the FF rear axle. Even 45 short beds and 45LV had a 1 ton rating

 

[crushers]

Landpimp.
now that is news to me, i thought all 45 pickups had the FF...
the bed on mine is a 45 box raised 1 1/2 to match the body lines. i shaved 2000 lbs off the truck by loosing the old mine box.... and probably added 500 back on with the cage and tarp...

 

[crushers]

Better get all the cash on hand. Waving cash tends to have a very powerful effect on sellers.



Yeah, we hear it all the time, some old coot "saving" a vehicle for his son someday. 95% of the time it will never happen and the vehicle goes to the scrapyard...

Dave

cash and repect, nothing worse than a "know it all kid" showing up trying to get a truck. respect goes a long way to softening an old geezers heart...

 

[Landpimp]

75 was I believe the 1st year of the FF in any cruiser.

I like the box on the 45......looks good

Landpimp.
now that is news to me, i thought all 45 pickups had the FF...
the bed on mine is a 45 box raised 1 1/2 to match the body lines. i shaved 2000 lbs off the truck by loosing the old mine box.... and probably added 500 back on with the cage and tarp...

 

[beanz2]

c respect goes a long way to softening an old geezers heart...

How true. Been on the other side, Wayne?

Dave

 

[2rivers]

I hear you Wayne, and yes, he is attached to it, as would any Cruiserhead. I have to agree that box on the back of yours kicks butt over the mine box. Sorry Dave, I dont have a Bj74 yet - no locker I would like to focus on just gettin the thing home with no serious "issues". I need 2 batts, was thinking maybe basic tools with full set o wrenches, hammer, bailing wire etc, oils and antifreeze - and a backup truck with tow rope!! What about it sitting for 2 + yrs outside? any issues here with seezed parts? I would be tempted just to try and fire it up but that might be a big misdtake.?

 

[crushers]

75 was I believe the 1st year of the FF in any cruiser.

I like the box on the 45......looks good

Landpimp, all the 45s that came to canada had FF rears. maybe that is why the state boys covet our 45s, eh?
;^)
thanks guys for the compliment, i thought it turned out quite well but then when you are the one doing the work you can get a bit biased...
cheers
Wayne

 

[Radd Cruisers]

I have designed and building a canopy just like yours Wayne and I never have seen yours until today. Well I saw your truck but not the canopy.

Does yours slide forward on tracks and secure to the headache rack??

We plan on having ours do just that.

Rob

 

[Radd Cruisers]

Landpimp, all the 45s that came to canada had FF rears. maybe that is why the state boys covet our 45s, eh?
;^)
thanks guys for the compliment, i thought it turned out quite well but then when you are the one doing the work you can get a bit biased...
cheers
Wayne

Did you build that box???

 

[crushers]

nope mine is a true cage made from 2" tube, i built mine so the dogs would be safe in the back. if you could see it with the tarp off you would be able to see the other 1" bars that go between the roll cage so i can run it with the sides rolled up and the mutts still are safe in the back. far enough apart to get their heads through for the old "eye lids flappin gin the wind" but not wide enough for hem EVER to be able to fall out. i am also designing the same for the rear but with it parted in the cneter and slider tubes to lock in place when the top is rolled up...
man's best friend and all that...
8 bolts and the entire cage and tarp lifts off. 15 inutes and i have a regular truck again. this works fine for me since i very seldom use this as a real truck. this is more for long distance drivng/tow rig.
all i had to go with was 2 45 box sides about 6" high and an old 45 bed front section... i moved the wheel well openings back 2" to match the 75 wheel base... looks pretty stock except for the heavy duty tail gate...

 

[beanz2]

I hear you Wayne, and yes, he is attached to it, as would any Cruiserhead. I have to agree that box on the back of yours kicks butt over the mine box. Sorry Dave, I dont have a Bj74 yet - no locker I would like to focus on just gettin the thing home with no serious "issues". I need 2 batts, was thinking maybe basic tools with full set o wrenches, hammer, bailing wire etc, oils and antifreeze - and a backup truck with tow rope!! What about it sitting for 2 + yrs outside? any issues here with seezed parts? I would be tempted just to try and fire it up but that might be a big misdtake.?

LOL, I'm just kidding about the lockers, I got all I need.

I once drove home a vehicle that had been sitting for years, it drove fine for an hour, then when in the middle of nowhere, the brakes locked and I was stuck! If you have a long distance to go, maybe consider just trailering it home if you have access to a truck and trailer. Too many things can go wrong and that might spoil your honeymoon with the new vehicle.

Dave