Things to look out for in an HJ45 (5 Viewers)

[NismoR32]

Hi all,

Brand new to the land cruiser world (not new to imported vehicles). I'm interested in the BaT Auction of the HJ45 truck being sold by Griots Motors.

What are the issues you have experienced with HJs? Is part sourcing significantly harder than its FJ counterpart? Common problem areas to check for when going in person to look at it....

Or, talk me out from bidding on it if these are notoriously a PITA owning.

1984 Toyota Land Cruiser HJ47 Pickup 5-Speed

Bid for the chance to own a 1984 Toyota Land Cruiser HJ47 Pickup 5-Speed at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #202,055.

bringatrailer.com

TIA

 

[Devils Paw 80]

Looks pretty good. I'd be curious about that electric power steering. These are underpowered rigs, for sure, and the lack of legroom rules them out for a long legged person such as myself.

 

[mattressking]

I believe Elite Land Cruisers ships truck to South America to restore which is a big question mark and a hard pass for most these days.

Do your homework and find out where the restoration was actually performed. Since you aren't sure what you're looking at, get someone to do a PPI locally, I see too many folks get burned on BAT with those types of purchases.

Land cruisers are without a doubt the easiest vehicles to own and maintain when talking about something 25+ years old. Whether you possess the capability to maintain or outsource the labor and supply the funds to maintain - is only a question you can answer. Most folks buy, realize it isn't for them and sell within a couple years at most.

EDIT: If you actually own a BNR32, FJ40s are exponentially easier to maintain than your Skyline, I only partially miss my GTR.

 

[NismoR32]

I believe Elite Land Cruisers ships truck to South America to restore which is a big question mark and a hard pass for most these days.

Do your homework and find out where the restoration was actually performed. Since you aren't sure what you're looking at, get someone to do a PPI locally, I see too many folks get burned on BAT with those types of purchases.

Land cruisers are without a doubt the easiest vehicles to own and maintain when talking about something 25+ years old. Whether you possess the capability to maintain or outsource the labor and supply the funds to maintain - is only a question you can answer. Most folks buy, realize it isn't for them and sell within a couple years at most.

EDIT: If you actually own a BNR32, FJ40s are exponentially easier to maintain than your Skyline, I only partially miss my GTR.

Thank you! Hopefully I can find someone in the PNW (shouldn't be hard) that could help out.

Yes, I owned a BNR32 GT-R for a few years, the sourcing of basic parts (non performance) was a PITA! Also owned a Datsun 521 in high school, and miss the sounds of old rigs, just want something semi reliable!

 

[45Dougal]

Well, it's a 2H rather than the H that I have, so you'll find parts much easier..
Also the 2H is a bit more lively and slightly more resilient to adding a turbo...
Everything looks very shiny and nice, and tbh for that price you can't really complain.
Diesel is clearly the better option, although you'll find a lot of fear here on this topic
Might take you longer to ship parts from Australia, but you won't have to stop for gas every 2 minutes.

 

[NismoR32]

Well, it's a 2H rather than the H that I have, so you'll find parts much easier..
Also the 2H is a bit more lively and slightly more resilient to adding a turbo...
Everything looks very shiny and nice, and tbh for that price you can't really complain.
Diesel is clearly the better option, although you'll find a lot of fear here on this topic
Might take you longer to ship parts from Australia, but you won't have to stop for gas every 2 minutes.

Im very used to having to wait months for parts, my worry was the availability of them. Good to hear

 

[45Dougal]

Full engine gasket set for a 2H is still available outside UAE so that's a win.
Check the brakes and electrics actually work as advertised

 

[Michael B]

With just a cursory glance, who ever “rebuilt” this truck knows very little about Land Cruisers. First of all there is an extra “body panel” below the drivers running board. That’s not factory. Green leather, not factory. Bed liner on the frame, they are covering rust pitting. In my experience “rebuilding” an engine consists of more than gaskets and a valve adjustment. Also the heater they mentioned, isn’t stock.

Just my 2 cents worth

 

[45Dougal]

I assume the extra panel was added to hide the non-standard exhaust box that can hang down and look messy.
Green leather(ette) maybe not standard but definitely contemporary, right,?

I was lucky to pick up a heater in florida for my South African safari truck - no heater as standard from the factory...

 

[NismoR32]

I believe Elite Land Cruisers ships truck to South America to restore which is a big question mark and a hard pass for most these days.

Do your homework and find out where the restoration was actually performed. Since you aren't sure what you're looking at, get someone to do a PPI locally, I see too many folks get burned on BAT with those types of purchases.

Land cruisers are without a doubt the easiest vehicles to own and maintain when talking about something 25+ years old. Whether you possess the capability to maintain or outsource the labor and supply the funds to maintain - is only a question you can answer. Most folks buy, realize it isn't for them and sell within a couple years at most.

EDIT: If you actually own a BNR32, FJ40s are exponentially easier to maintain than your Skyline, I only partially miss my GTR.

Griots responded, resto’d in Costa Rica…

 

[cruisermatt]

We get a lot of these through my shop..
Typical things I always look for right away.
Rear driveshaft joints are out of phase. Usually a good indicator of the rest of the work done. Additionally, the front shackle bushings are the smaller pre-79 version which is indicator that chassis (which is a +80 chassis) lived a hard life. The front shackle hangers were mostly likely replaced becuase they probably ripped off the frame at some point. Very common on South A. 43's and 45's. Also look for chassis cracks behind the front motor mounts and fixed spring hangers.
It is extrememly uncommon to find a South american 43/45 that wasn't worked HARD for it's first 30 years of life.

 

[45Kevin]

I'm sure it is a well running and reliable truck.
But it is far from stock.

Pretty sure the rear springs and semi-floating rear end didn't come with the truck from the factory and are unlike what came from the factory.
45s are rated at 1 ton IIRC.
Heater is not Toyota, electric steering is not Toyota.
No heater indicates it was originally sold in a hot climate. Middle east (maybe good), south/central America (iffy at best)?
Exhaust is not routed properly.
The extra panel and step on the DS look horrendous and are not stock.
I doubt the front springs are stock as they only have 3 leaves, mine has 8..
The dash padding looks like it was fabbed up in an upholstery shop and is not stock.
U-bolts have not been trimmed as an example of shoddy work.

While never owning a 2H I have lots of friends that do/did.
Underpowered but get about twice the fuel mileage as the gas burning 2F.
If you plan on wheeling it the heater, exhaust and the extra panel will be gone in short order.
I've never seen a 1984 45 but a radio should be where the ash tray is and the ash tray spot has a delete plate on it. Strange.

 

[Devils Paw 80]

Excellent catches in the two posts above. After review, that extra panel and step on DS do indeed look horrendous.
Only three leaf springs in the front packs? I don't like that. Also notice in photos 10 and 11 that the shackle angles are not the same from one side to the other, for what that's worth. And the rusty spring centering pins hanging way down are unusual...

 

[NOSAJ]

I own a 1980 HJ45. I imported it from Honduras. My build is in the 45 section and it might be helpful for you to look through some builds there to get some ideas. I replaced the H with a 2H. I would highly recommend proceeding with caution and echo everything @cruisermatt said. Mine has about 1/4” of bondo on it. My frame was bent, cracked, and had to be straightened. I literally fought that truck on every nut and bolt I turned. I would order parts for a 1980 and find out the axle was switched or something weird and my parts wouldn’t fit. I do enjoy the diesel but I will never import one again from SA.

Hope that helps

Jason