Rabbi, should I get a 70?

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Tennessee Jed

Tennessee Jed

I can quit any time I want...
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I'm at something of a crossroads. I have a Honda Civic daily driver, and a 03 Tacoma that I really like plus there is the 80 that I share with my daughter, and I used to own a 60, but for years now I've had 70 fever, ever since I spent some time in Kenya. I'm sure you all know that gnawing 70 hunger.

I'm at a place where I can sell the Taco and throw in a little money and get my dream 70. But I want it to make sense. My goal vehicle is a 4 door pickup. Which engines should I seek out, and which should I avoid? What is parts availability like across the different models? A secondary choice would be a 4 door troopy.

Vehicle use will be long distance wilderness travel from Alaska to South America, not technical wheeling or rock crawling. Should I just stick with the Tacoma? Is the extra cost and lesser availability of diesel a major issue outside of the US? I'm madly in love with 70's but I don't want to buy in to a fantasy vehicle that will actually not be as practical as something I already have, as I really do intend to use it hard and travel, not just to get groceries and bring home the Christmas tree.

Thanks for any advice. Consider this a "what I would do if I had it to do all over" kind of thread.
 
It is my understanding that N. America is pretty much the only place in the world where 70 series diesel parts (especially the 1HZ powered versions) are not so easy to obtain. It seems that most of the world's less developed countries rely heavily on 70 series Cruisers for transportation.
 
Tennessee Jed said:
I'm at something of a crossroads. I have a Honda Civic daily driver, and a 03 Tacoma that I really like plus there is the 80 that I share with my daughter, and I used to own a 60, but for years now I've had 70 fever, ever since I spent some time in Kenya. I'm sure you all know that gnawing 70 hunger.

I'm at a place where I can sell the Taco and throw in a little money and get my dream 70. But I want it to make sense. My goal vehicle is a 4 door pickup. Which engines should I seek out, and which should I avoid? What is parts availability like across the different models? A secondary choice would be a 4 door troopy.

Vehicle use will be long distance wilderness travel from Alaska to South America, not technical wheeling or rock crawling. Should I just stick with the Tacoma? Is the extra cost and lesser availability of diesel a major issue outside of the US? I'm madly in love with 70's but I don't want to buy in to a fantasy vehicle that will actually not be as practical as something I already have, as I really do intend to use it hard and travel, not just to get groceries and bring home the Christmas tree.

Thanks for any advice. Consider this a "what I would do if I had it to do all over" kind of thread.
Click to expand...


keep the taco.
 
coldtaco said:
probably most/all 4 door troopies are after market. 4 door pick ups are also aftermarket modded. There are new Toyota built 4 door pickups now, but you will not get them leagally in the US. Potential problems with these is potential rust problems from the mods.
how many are traveling?
Click to expand...

Fascinating - I had no idea. I thought everything I was seeing at the import sites was the real deal. You mean 4 door trucks are built up aftermarket? Maybe I should rethink this.

It'll be 2 - 4 adults, probably 2 mostly.
 
Tennessee Jed said:
I'm madly in love with 70's but I don't want to buy in to a fantasy vehicle that will actually not be as practical as something I already have, as I really do intend to use it hard and travel, not just to get groceries and bring home the Christmas tree.

.
Click to expand...

You need a US market 80 series for a drive like that. Probably cheaper to run it on petrol than to do a diesel conversion. Its not that the 75 series is impractical ,its just not available in 4 dr or diesel in NA.
You would be $10k ahead sticking with an 80 series over trying to find a decent 7* series.
Or keep the Taco.
You need to decide if its the trip that's more important or the vehicle its done in.
 
roscoFJ73 said:
Its not that the 75 series is impractical ,its just not available in 4 dr or diesel in NA.
You would be $10k ahead sticking with an 80 series over trying to find a decent 7* series.
Or keep the Taco.
You need to decide if its the trip that's more important or the vehicle its done in.
Click to expand...

Not available, even if over 25 years old? I'm seeing 92- and older vehicles in several places available for import. But apparently some of them aren't really factory Toyota but are built aftermarket vehicles?

Thanks - and it's absolutely the trip, not the vehicle. I think the Taco, built and outfitted, may be the ticket. Can't beat 16 - 18 mpg with lift and bumpers, with gas $1.89. (For now...)
 
Tennessee Jed said:
Fascinating - I had no idea. I thought everything I was seeing at the import sites was the real deal. You mean 4 door trucks are built up aftermarket? Maybe I should rethink this.

It'll be 2 - 4 adults, probably 2 mostly.
Click to expand...

Factory Troopcarriers are all 2 door AFAIK. Most common 70 series 4 doors will be either a PZJ77 / HZJ77, light duty LJ78 / KZJ78 or the newish 79 series wagons (not troopy) & double cab pickups. There are some other rare weird 4 door 70 series wagon variants around in Japan too I think.

Cheers
Clint
 
Tennessee Jed said:
Fascinating - I had no idea. I thought everything I was seeing at the import sites was the real deal. You mean 4 door trucks are built up aftermarket? Maybe I should rethink this.

It'll be 2 - 4 adults, probably 2 mostly.
Click to expand...


Are you confusing 4 door 77s with Troopies? There is a double cab ute available but not import ready for a while
 
clintnz said:
Factory Troopcarriers are all 2 door AFAIK. Most common 70 series 4 doors will be either a PZJ77 / HZJ77, light duty LJ78 / KZJ78 or the newish 79 series wagons (not troopy) & double cab pickups. There are some other rare weird 4 door 70 series wagon variants around in Japan too I think.

Cheers
Clint
Click to expand...
Ya beat me to it
 
@mr natural ....... "adults, probably 2 mostly."

The MWB Cruisers can handle 4 adults if you put the short ones in the rear seats. :)
The 77 Series is probably a better bet.
 
Tennessee Jed said:
.. I think the Taco, built and outfitted, may be the ticket.
Click to expand...

For long distance travel, I would not "build" the truck. Outfitted, OK, but a lift with bigger tires would be unnecessary and somewhat counter productive-for sure on the Alaska end. You like it the way it is, so why mess with a good thing?

Jack up the 80, if you want that look. It already gets terrible MPG and eats brake pads rapidly, so no big loss there.

Or, for a 70 series with your wants, I'd go with the HZJ77.
 
Devils Paw 80 said:
For long distance travel, I would not "build" the truck. Outfitted, OK, but a lift with bigger tires would be unnecessary and somewhat counter productive-for sure on the Alaska end. You like it the way it is, so why mess with a good thing?

Jack up the 80, if you want that look. It already gets terrible MPG and eats brake pads rapidly, so no big loss there.

Or, for a 70 series with your wants, I'd go with the HZJ77.
Click to expand...

Thanks I agree about the lift. But it needs a new suspension so that's sort of what I meant. I'll check in to the HZJ you mentioned.

What are the good/great Diesel engines? Which ones are best avoided for whatever reason?

Thanks
 
Tennessee Jed said:
What are the good/great Diesel engines? Which ones are best avoided for whatever reason?

Thanks
Click to expand...

The best Toyota diesels:
- Direct injection turbo diesel:
1HDT, 1HDFT, 1HDFTE
13BT
12HT
1KDFTV, 1VDFTV

Second best:
- Indirect Injection normally aspirated diesel:
1HZ
3B
2H

Least desirable (without modifications):
- Indirect Injection turbo diesel (found in light duty 70 series cruisers):
2LT-II, 2LTE
1KZT, 1KZTE

Basically Toyota's indirect injection turbo diesels have the potential to overheat and have cylinder head problems. This can be somewhat alleviated by intercooling them and a few other tuning/upgrading items.

If you take Toyota's normally aspirated indirect injection diesels and turbo them, you will again have potential for heat problems (it's a function of the IDI design). Again, the can be alleviated with the correct tuning and upgrades.

Direct injection is hands down the best, but not necessarily available in the models you are looking at.
 
Hello,

For the long distance trip, either the Tacoma or the 80 Series.

75 Series/Troopie Land Cruiser were built with two doors. Four door conversions are available but not recommended.

As mentioned above, you should look for an HZJ77 or PZJ77. Both are four door models.

If you decide for a 75 Series, look for an HJ75 or an HZJ75. If you find one, you can get a gas-powered FJ75.

The 25 year old rule limits available engines to the 2H, 1PZ and 1HZ. All are very reliable but some maintenance will be required to set them up before use. Remember, it is a used car with an engine that may or may not have been abused.

You will certainly enjoy a 70 Series.

My two cents. Hope this helps.





Juan
 
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