Serious Cruiser-head input needed!

[Hovenator]

So, I've seen this truck in Portland and think that it's a fantastic deal.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/vehicles-trailers-sale-wanted/568812-isuzu-4bd1t-powered-1987-fj60.html

Problem is that family requirements dictate a few more "options" than this Cruiser has. The most important being the ability to seat 6 people! What are you guys' thoughts on the feasibility of adding a 3rd row for the few times that we need it?
I did a quick search in the 60 section and found that there were some Aussie spec trucks with a third row. I'd be happy enough though just to bolt some 80 series seats in if that would be doable. I've never had a 60 so I don't know if they would even fit an 80 3rd row.

Also, the Isuzu eng thing. I believe it's a great eng but I'm a little leery about finding some one qualified to work on it if I can't. I understand that parts availability in North America is great though.

Let me have it with opinions!!

Hopefully "Wheelinnoob" hasn't bought it already!

 

[Wheelingnoob]

So, I've seen this truck in Portland and think that it's a fantastic deal.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/vehicles-trailers-sale-wanted/568812-isuzu-4bd1t-powered-1987-fj60.html

Problem is that family requirements dictate a few more "options" than this Cruiser has. The most important being the ability to seat 6 people! What are you guys' thoughts on the feasibility of adding a 3rd row for the few times that we need it?
I did a quick search in the 60 section and found that there were some Aussie spec trucks with a third row. I'd be happy enough though just to bolt some 80 series seats in if that would be doable. I've never had a 60 so I don't know if they would even fit an 80 3rd row.

Also, the Isuzu eng thing. I believe it's a great eng but I'm a little leery about finding some one qualified to work on it if I can't. I understand that parts availability in North America is great though.

Let me have it with opinions!!

Hopefully "Wheelinnoob" hasn't bought it already!

HAHA yeah as much as I want it, its not in the cards at all. It looks like a fanatastic truck though for sure.

3rd row may be a bit of a challenge, I would look at addopting a jeep rear seat, they are narrow (good for between the wheel wells) fold up small and are easy to addapt (cheap too). One thing to be consiouse of is that there is less floor to cealing hight in the back of a 60 so the 3rd row riders would need to be small.

Those Isuzu morotos are fantastic power plants, they last a long time and are very very common in medium duty trucks. I do not think you would have any issue finding a place to do work on that engine. You could always call around and find a shop that specializes in Isuze service and see. They are also very easy systems to work on, you can make them run with 1-2 wires and fuel.

 

[Hovenator]

Ya, the seats would be for the rug rats and their friends. The jeep seat idea is a good one but I don't think they have head rests. I'm thinking that it would take a fair bit of work to get something in there that is safe.

I guess I'll keep saving some $ so I can put an Isuzu eng in my 80. Would love to have a 5 speed too.

 

[canucksafari]

The dickie seat out of a Y60 Patrol/Safari will fit. Dickie seats are a dime a dozen in Australia. Everyone gets rid of them if they don't have kids or if their kids are older. One of the Safari guys had the Dickie seat out of his for sale a while ago. I can ask if he still wants to sell it. This seat also flips forward or lays flat. It has head rests and uses two shoulder belts. The mounts are simple with two bolts on either side at the front and at the rear it locks down on a broad ubolt type clamp. Having seen your fab skills, it should be easy for you to install.

To add seating to any vehicle requires that it goes through a full out of province vehicle inspection and that the registration gets changed. If you go this route, best to ask what is specifically required. I was going to move the Dickie seat from my Safari into my wife's Safari. All the bolt holes are there but for me it isn't worth having to go through the cost of another vehicle inspection plus the cost of changing the registration. It will stay with my 5 spd for now.

 

[Hovenator]

I'm thinking that the liability/ insurance issues may be the biggest pain of the whole endeavour. If I could just get the wife to give up her Corolla S for a mini-van Not going to happen though.

 

[kim]

I put 60 series third row seats in my old 60. They were the factory ones from Australia that I bought through SOR. No head rests and only good for the little ones. I still have them but they are in rough shape. Hell, they were rough when I bought them 12 years ago for 500 bucks!

They worked ok. they are a split rear bench that flipped up so that the cargo space became available.

 

[Wheelingnoob]

I put 60 series third row seats in my old 60. They were the factory ones from Australia that I bought through SOR. No head rests and only good for the little ones. I still have them but they are in rough shape. Hell, they were rough when I bought them 12 years ago for 500 bucks!

They worked ok. they are a split rear bench that flipped up so that the cargo space became available.

That sounds like the best option if you are going with a 60 and need the seats. Especially if its not an everyday thing.

 

[BC40]

Very nice 60. It looks like he does good work. My biggest concern would be with importing and getting papers for a truck that is soa on 37's.

 

[ForealBoreal]

Put a diesel in your 80 and you have third row

Your wife probably won't like going to a 60 after having an 81

 

[Wheelingnoob]

Put a diesel in your 80 and you have third row

Your wife probably won't like going to a 60 after having an 81

That's the same way I plan to go, love the look of the 60's but sure like the way a 80 drives and rides.

 

[Deny]

love the look of the 40's as they are kick ass, 60's are no 55's, a little bit more mall, but I sure like the bling, bling of an 80 as I like being a hommey G.

Fixed if for you!

 

[Hovenator]

We really love our 80. My best guess is that it would take 12-15k to have a diesel put in. Obviously switching is not an economics thing! It's just the awesomeness of a turbo diesel

For now I'll just continue to buy gas in the States and be thankful that I live so close.

 

[Wheelingnoob]

Fixed if for you!

Yes yes......you are right! I would honestly take any and all of those. Need to throw in a HZJ75 Troopie as well though.

We really love our 80. My best guess is that it would take 12-15k to have a diesel put in. Obviously switching is not an economics thing! It's just the awesomeness of a turbo diesel

For now I'll just continue to buy gas in the States and be thankful that I live so close.

Yeah I'm in the same boat, I would just buy one of the cheap HDJ81's popping up and swap from that then part the rest out. Figure I can get a HDJ81 for 7-9000 when the time comes, then sell off the rest of the parts for a few bucks. I would really like to do this some day but for now like you I live 10min from the border so cheap gas is easy to get.