picking up an hdj81

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shibubba

shibubba

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Location
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Was trying to find a clean 60 series to get back into after I sold my hj61....but could not find something that met my standards... Im a bitch

Went and looked at a 5spd hdj81 this afternoon and am going to pick it up monday after work. Wasn't as nice as I was expecting but negotiated a fair price and it comes with a lot of extras.

Questions for you 80 guys
1) what types of things can I check for before purchasing that may not be obvious to a 60 series guy
2) what are you opinions on the 5spd? My plans are to get some 35"s under it as I know about the gearing issues.
3) 1hdt improvements you can name? I have been reading up on the power rod etc. Don't want to kill then engine either want it to maintain its fuel efficiency
4) what kind of fuel efficiency can I expect?
5) anything you want to add.

Thanks guys!

Chris
 
1) If its full time 4wd find out if the front end has had work. Birfs and drive plates wear excessively. Look into a part time kit.

2) I hear its a tough 5 speed but feels notchy. Your low range might suffer a little with 35s but will probably be manageable. I am sure I could handle it.

3) Gturbo, air to air intercooler, 3 inch exhaust and a power rod mod. The truck will go like a raped ape. You can safely boost 22psi easy.

4) I would think 12L/100km range. A stock auto got in the 10L/100km range if you drove nice.

5) The coil suspension is nice. Get a part time kit for it to save on fuel and front end wear. They are good trucks but it really depends what you want in the end. If your happy go for it.
 
BEB's, if they haven't been done already, is priority numero uno.

If you have money to blow on some upgrades right away, the 3" exhaust is a good 'un.

It will be fine with 35's and the 5 speed. I have 35's (well 315's) and an auto on stock gears.
 
Look for cracks around the steering box/panhard mount and radius arm brackets. I've found if you lock the center diff (or hubs and 4wd button) and drive a tight circle both directions a worn clicking birf will click. I get 19/19.5 mpg with an auto, 4.88s, 35s and armour. I would install a pyrometer and tranny temp guage. Good luck!
 
the beb's are done, has new injectors and a new pump... needs a t-belt already talked to john and am getting it done tuesday, I'm a mechanic at cummins , but the last thing I want to do is work on another engine when I get home.

I checked out the frame and it is super clean, not a speck of rust.

I am hoping to get a lift going in the near future as it needs new tires...any suggestions?
 
Mine was pretty rust free too, the japanese do a pretty good with their wax spray coatings. Around the steering box, it's an 80 series thing:
IMG_1924.jpg


I'm pretty happy with my 4" slee heavy coils.
 
Congrats of all goes well, is this the one out in the wack?

Not as important but if you windows go up/down very slow change the window runs, it's a night and day difference, esp. In the winter

Post pics when she's home!
 
it is the one out in the wack,not as nice as some of the ones I have seen on here for sale for a few grand more. but they are getting a bit rarer... especially 5spd.

Has had a butt load of work done recently as well.

I will post pics on tuesday....

Has anyone on here gone to look at that one way up the hill in chilliwak?
 
IMHO that one is not badly priced, if you look at the ones around the 20g mark they have been sitting around for ages.... My dad went to go look at the one at silk road autos (1995, 100k...) as he was close by and the paint doesn't match on a lot of the surfaces... Makes you wonder for that price. What makes it better is that it used to have a roof rack and the next time the add came up it was not in the photos and the price was still the same.....

Now if you wanted to get one out of Japan for 15k I don't think it's possible anymore.
 
don't bother with the trans temp gauge, its not needed for the manual. Just run a high quality synthetic like amsoil mtg.
Bottom end bearings should be done for piece of mind if they haven't already.
Slee 4in lift of F.O.R. Gen II lift if you want 35s.
Pyrometer, boost gauge (tuning purposes), oil pressure (or something else you want to monitor)
3 inch exhaust, gturbo, ateb pump mod.
 
For 35's there is no need to go big lift. You can easly fit the 35" tires with a 2.5" lift I have tht set up and it works great, slight rubbing but nice stable handling. I have a slight rub under full rear flex but that is fixed with a 2" drop of the rear bump stops.
 
Yeah, I seen one 5 spd at ATEB with AISIN front locking hubs, so it had the partime in it from the factory. It had a different swith instead of the CDL. I wouldn't touch the the gearing yet until you try it with the 35's on it, the manuals are geared low enough, and it should give you better Hwy RPMs, with the rubber O/D.

The ACSD has been an issue, sometime the wax module sticks and there is a pin that governs your RPMs on cold starts, that could jam and break off inside the pump, but there is a cheap fix with a blanking plate for around $25. Not sure on the mileage of when it could fail, but mine started to fail around 174,000kms, could be more? My pin didn't break, but it was leaving metal shavings around the ACSD opening, whe we removed it.
 
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