Preffered years for bj60's?

[dmede808]

I live in the SF Bay Area and am gearing up to sell my '87 fj60 and import a bj60 via Vancouver BC (or whever I can find one). I'm curious about the best years to look for, or the model differences between years. I know to avoid anything older than about '87 or with RHD as these will be Japanese imports to Canada, but what else should I be looking for? What are the prefferd years for bj60s?

Also, does anybody know a RI in Vancouver who will act as a broker betyween the buyer and seller, holding the cash and title so I don't get screwed sending payment out of the country and then getting taken.

And finally... anbody here got a bj60 they want to trade fro a nice great running fj60?

thanks,
dave

 

[cruiser_guy]

You'd like a BJ60 from '85, the last year they were imported into Canada. That gives you a chance at A/C, a 5 bearing cam, an H55 tranny and hopefully lower miles. For '86 and '87 we got HJ60's in Canada.

You'd like to find one with an AXT turbo installed as well but whatever you do have a diesel mechanic check it out well.

As for vehicle purchase, in B.C. all you do is go to the nearest insurance agent with the seller, run a lein check for about $20 and transfer title if the lein check comes up clean. There is no waiting for 6 weeks for title it happens right away!

I'd just head up when you find the right truck with the cash in your pocket. When I bought an '84 BJ60 about 4-5 years ago I showed up at the sellers at 5:00PM and had title to the truck at 6:30! That included negotiations, test drive etc etc.

 

[dmede808]

Thanks. What are the major differences between the BJ60's and the HJ60's besides the change from a 4 to 6 cylinder diesel?

 

[dmede808]

Parts availability in US for Canadian bj60's?

I'm looking into importing a Canadian BJ60 to California but I'm concerned about getting repair parts. How much scrounging do you have to do to get parts and is it hard to find mechanics who can work on them?

Thanks,
Dave

 

[cruiser_guy]

That's about it!! Personally I think the 3B is a better motor than the 2H but that's just my opinion.

 

[cruiser_guy]

You won't find a mechanic who is familiar with them, heck finding a mechanic who is familiar with a 2F is hard! All parts but the engine related ones cross over to an FJ60 and all Canadian parts come through Torrance, CA first anyways!

 

[ivanhoe]

Thanks. What are the major differences between the BJ60's and the HJ60's besides the change from a 4 to 6 cylinder diesel?

you had a choice of automatic or manual transmission & 24volt system!
hth,
ivanhoe

 

[cruiser_guy]

I know some folks love the 24v system but when you're out away from parts support it might not be something to get all excited about. As for the auto, I HATE auto trannies!!

 

[dmede808]

I know some folks love the 24v system but when you're out away from parts support it might not be something to get all excited about. As for the auto, I HATE auto trannies!!

I'm with you, I want easy to get parts. And manual is the main reason I got the '87 fj60 and not anything newer - last year for stick on a US cruiser.

 

[chambers60]

as far as repairs and parts the bj60 3b engines are the same as the refrigeration engines in truck trailers or in toyota fork lifts. Just follow them as industrial engines and you should be ok for parts down there.... parts up here aren't that hard to find parts places in Vancouver, and over in edmonton come to mind right away. I also had suces getting new parts from Australia for a reasonable price.
My 2 cents worth.
Bob

 

[crushers]

talk to TLCRUISERMAN ( www.westcoastcruisers.org ), he is in SanDeigo and is starting up a cruiser shop there, he has numerous 3B powered units and has worked on the 2H...
HTHs
cheers

 

[David*BJ70]

http://www.birfield.com/modules.php?name=TLCFAQ&p=/~ramullen/FAQ/TEXT/18-01.html

that can help..... without showing our preference !




but for me, anything between 1983 and 1985.

 

[Greg_B]

I'm looking into importing a Canadian BJ60 to California but I'm concerned about getting repair parts. How much scrounging do you have to do to get parts and is it hard to find mechanics who can work on them?

Thanks,
Dave

Download EPC, learn how to use it, and call C-dan with the factory part numbers for your parts. Plug into the LC community that love diesels in your neck of the woods. Michael would be a good connection in your area. Learn the Denso numbers, and many times you can access through that. The sky is not falling as some would suggest. The "B"s are getting dated, however there are so many around the world that I think parts are not a problem for a while yet...especially in Oz with aftermarket.

Why not keep your rust free 60, and bring down a Cdn BJ60 and swap it over? You will be buying a rust problem with most Cdn trucks...unless they have been maintained very well.

1985 would be the best B series, followed by 1984, then 1983.

Why not buy a diesel engine/tranny combo and transfer it into your FJ60? 13BT, 12HT, 1HZ, 1HD-T...all have been done into 6* series. Again, if it is in good shape, you have the history...yada yada yada...

hth's

gb

 

[dmede808]

Good info, thanks everybody.

Greg, I'd be into a swap (done properly by a good mechanic) but with my truck being required to pass smog in CA it would never get registered once the swap was in.

Better to just try and find a reasonably clean bj60. I prefer stock setups anyway.

 

[cruiser_guy]

I thought diesel was exempt from smog testing in California?

 

[dmede808]

I thought diesel was exempt from smog testing in California?

It is but my current LC is a gas fj60 so I have to pass smog. Converting it to Diesel doesn't get me out of that, it's considered a non-stock alteration and is an automatic smog fail, no registration. On my last smog check I was missing the little metal tube from under the intake horn that pulls hot air up to the intake while warming up the truck - pretty useless part - and they would not pass me, even though I passed the actual test itself.

You can register vehicles that are originally diesel but you can't convert, unless it's already so old that it doesn't need to be tested anyway.

 

[cruiser_guy]

It is but my current LC is a gas fj60 so I have to pass smog. Converting it to Diesel doesn't get me out of that, it's considered a non-stock alteration and is an automatic smog fail, no registration. On my last smog check I was missing the little metal tube from under the intake horn that pulls hot air up to the intake while warming up the truck - pretty useless part - and they would not pass me, even though I passed the actual test itself.

You can register vehicles that are originally diesel but you can't convert, unless it's already so old that it doesn't need to be tested anyway.

Gotcha, up in B.C. they test diesels too so when you convert they simply test as if it's a diesel (at least that's what happened to my daughters FJ55.

 

[brownbear]

Gotcha, up in B.C. they test diesels too so when you convert they simply test as if it's a diesel (at least that's what happened to my daughters FJ55.

Only in Lower Mainland. Up in Northern BC we don't have the smog checks.

 

[cruiser_guy]

Only in Lower Mainland. Up in Northern BC we don't have the smog checks.

I know!! My truck is currently registered in Chilliwack which has AirCare but I will be changing that to Cranbrook which doesn't have AirCare. Not because the truck doesn't pass but because we are not always in B.C. when it's time to renew and without a current AirCare check that can be a pain.

 

[rick_d]

dave-

What is it you are looking for?

mileage?

diesel 'cool' factor?

mechanical simplicity?

A 3B is downright dangerous on California freeways because I believe a vw bus will beat a bj60 off the line. You might get to 80 mph but not under 30 seconds from a dead stop. Also, US miles per US gallon WILL NEVER EXCEED 25 mpg unless on the longest downhill in North America. All canadian trucks will be train wrecks relative to a rust free fj60 (sorry my northern bretheran) and often a patched up 200,000 mile plus oil burner.

In my opinion, you must only search out a factory turbo 6 cylinder or a HZ conversion (non turbo, but turbo-able late model engine). A donor HJ61 would also be a good fit, although I prefer the 80 series 1HD-T STRONGLY over pre 1990 engines. Non Toyota options are available as well, but I will defer questions to those w/ converted trucks (ala Henry Cubillan dba "exiled" on this board).

Thence, if you wish to go the diesel route, I would investigate a conversion to your existing rig. G&S in B.C. has engines as does Marv Specter in LA. Some other venders like Wayne get them in as well.

I drive a HD-T converted 7x series here in AZ and get 18-22.5 mpg and can do easily in excess of 110 miles per hour. 0-60 clocked about 13 seconds with the fuel turned up (now turned down for summer). And, since it is a mechanical engine I can adjust most things with a few common wrenches on the side of the road.