What would you pay for a clean left hand drive HDJ81?

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Mandrake

Mandrake

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As the title says... clean, bone stock sub- 175k mile left hand drive '95 HDJ81 with a manual and factory lockers, no body rust, minimal undercarriage rust (nothing rust converter can't cure), no leaks, no grinds, no unusual noises, and a clean interior without any cracks in the plastic or leather....

What's it worth to ya?
 
Not much. But I live on the border & don't have a 'thing' for glowplugs. RHD versions are commonplace on CL here & importation will be easy in a couple yrs.
With the exchange rate & once the 25 yr rule kicks, you can buy a HDJ for slightly more than a 1/2 cut. At least to here ~50miles S of the British Columbia border.

I'd be far more inclined to pay a certain member with a Nighthawk Blue 80 whatever ransom he wants for his built version, it would be in nicer shape & smarter longterm money.
 
Where is this loveable fuel sipping, 24v starter unit.
I would entertain selling my Supercharged 97
 
Look what J Howard Marshall spent on Anna Nicole Smith.
Value no doubt varies from Person to Person.
 
If it was legal as far as the 25 year rule goes, I'd be willing to pay a premium for a low mileage diesel. I bought my converted 80 for more than any gasser goes for. But, it puts a smile on my face and, in 3 months, I've put over 5,000 happy miles on it. The diesel torque is awesome and, with hand throttle, my rig is a lot of fun to drive over rocks. Since I'm getting about 10mpg better than a gasser, I've already saved about $600 in fuel too!
 
I've recently got a very clean, CA titled, RHD HDJ-81. I've got two other 80 gassers too. I'm now used to the RHD, and many people will not mind it, but LHD is always going to be more marketable/valuable here. The $20K-$30 range for that LHD makes sense to me. It also depends on which diesel is in it, and if it's a factory vehicle or conversion. I still love my gassers but I filled up the HDJ-81 yesterday, did my math, and yielded 21 mpg. The power is more useable on the road actually. The turbo provides a midrange that allows me to accelerate on hills without the tranny even downshifting. Go figure!
 
Well, the HDJ81 are all JDM RHD, so $0. HDJ80 or HZJ80 diesels can be both RHD and LHD.

Damn, Doug beat me by 30 seconds. Same message, different words.
 
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Pardon my lack of knowledge of models re: HDJ81/80.

As for the legality... Any 80 series through '96 (why not '97 is a mystery) is legal because it's on the NHTSA's exemption list. I made some calls and did some digging online and apparently if the model (not submodel) is sold here in the states and is similar enough in construction elsewhere in the world, it's as legal as a 25 year old rig.

Federal Register, Volume 62 Issue 179 (Tuesday, September 16, 1997)

I'm asking because I've discovered a source for these rigs, know a few people I trust in a major metropolitan area in the country they'd be sourced from, and am considering bringing a few over as a test run to see how it works.
 
What ever someone will pay, then there is the people like me, who don't want a LHD and did the 6bt swap the crap out of any stock HDJ80, and it can be done for about the price of a LHD
 
Mandrake said:
Pardon my lack of knowledge of models re: HDJ81/80.

As for the legality... Any 80 series through '96 (why not '97 is a mystery) is legal because it's on the NHTSA's exemption list. I made some calls and did some digging online and apparently if the model (not submodel) is sold here in the states and is similar enough in construction elsewhere in the world, it's as legal as a 25 year old rig.

Federal Register, Volume 62 Issue 179 (Tuesday, September 16, 1997)

I'm asking because I've discovered a source for these rigs, know a few people I trust in a major metropolitan area in the country they'd be sourced from, and am considering bringing a few over as a test run to see how it works.
Click to expand...

Not out to character assassinate you, but I live right damn near the CA (meaning Canada, not California)-border, and I've done a pair of VW synchro pans for Rallye Golfs from wrecked Passats, a Euro S50 before a Chicago doc beat my margins on wrecker yards, beyond that --- 've been watching the prices a 1/2 cut -worthy rig goes & I'm still @ $12K++ to get a a real turbo glowplug landed on my doorstep.

Then beyond that, what are you going to do for parts & service? --
Yes, I've talked to a fellow in a dealership in CA, but will that be a reliable source in 5-7-10 yrs?

I can get the initial parts for a ton of guys, but hell if I'd really do it since support is marginal at best. I'm not willing to change that view unless Onur himself wants to sell parts for the glowpluggers. @beno - what you say?

I'm betting he's like me where this is a uphill road. If not, we can start thinking about bringing in 1HD-T(FE) like freaks. But I doubt it.

I live right near the border & cam haul a ton of motors. If you can make it worth it, I'll start importing them.

Beyond that, I don't see Toyota really supporting glowplugs North ot the Panama Canal. If you see it different, I'm all ears.
 
LINUS said:
Not out to character assassinate you, but I live right damn near the CA (meaning Canada, not California)-border, and I've done a pair of VW synchro pans for Rallye Golfs from wrecked Passats, a Euro S50 before a Chicago doc beat my margins on wrecker yards, beyond that --- 've been watching the prices a 1/2 cut -worthy rig goes & I'm still @ $12K++ to get a a real turbo glowplug landed on my doorstep.

Then beyond that, what are you going to do for parts & service? --
Yes, I've talked to a fellow in a dealership in CA, but will that be a reliable source in 5-7-10 yrs?

I can get the initial parts for a ton of guys, but hell if I'd really do it since support is marginal at best. I'm not willing to change that view unless Onur himself wants to sell parts for the glowpluggers. @beno - what you say?

I'm betting he's like me where this is a uphill road. If not, we can start thinking about bringing in 1HD-T(FE) like freaks. But I doubt it.

I live right near the border & cam haul a ton of motors. If you can make it worth it, I'll start importing them.

Beyond that, I don't see Toyota really supporting glowplugs North ot the Panama Canal. If you see it different, I'm all ears.
Click to expand...

I would say that 50% or more of the parts I procure are non-US diesel parts. So no issues on my end. :)
 
LINUS said:
Not out to character assassinate you, but I live right damn near the CA (meaning Canada, not California)-border, and I've done a pair of VW synchro pans for Rallye Golfs from wrecked Passats, a Euro S50 before a Chicago doc beat my margins on wrecker yards, beyond that --- 've been watching the prices a 1/2 cut -worthy rig goes & I'm still @ $12K++ to get a a real turbo glowplug landed on my doorstep.

Then beyond that, what are you going to do for parts & service? --
Yes, I've talked to a fellow in a dealership in CA, but will that be a reliable source in 5-7-10 yrs?

I can get the initial parts for a ton of guys, but hell if I'd really do it since support is marginal at best. I'm not willing to change that view unless Onur himself wants to sell parts for the glowpluggers. @beno - what you say?

I'm betting he's like me where this is a uphill road. If not, we can start thinking about bringing in 1HD-T(FE) like freaks. But I doubt it.

I live right near the border & cam haul a ton of motors. If you can make it worth it, I'll start importing them.

Beyond that, I don't see Toyota really supporting glowplugs North ot the Panama Canal. If you see it different, I'm all ears.
Click to expand...

No character assassination at all, my man. I'm here to get insight and opinions, even if they're not favorable; I'd rather be told and shown it's a poor decision than spend the money to bring one or two here and face down that "oh s***" moment of clarity. I've never imported a vehicle, so I have a lot to learn before- and if- it happens. Initially it sounded like a good idea, and I know the parts availability isn't an issue, as the two gentlemen above have pointed out.

So, thank you for your input. If you have anything else you'd like to share, I'm more than willing to listen.
 
Mandrake said:
As for the legality... Any 80 series through '96 (why not '97 is a mystery) is legal because it's on the NHTSA's exemption list. I made some calls and did some digging online and apparently if the model (not submodel) is sold here in the states and is similar enough in construction elsewhere in the world, it's as legal as a 25 year old rig.
Click to expand...

The truck still has to be modified by a registered importer. The modifications are documented and fairly easy compared to other models that weren't sold in the states. Obviously all the change-over parts can be sourced from a US parts truck.
 
First guy to answer the question? 10K.

For that price I could import a diesel engine and swap it into mine (I think, based on what I've looked at) or could buy a sweet gas model for the same price.

Most of my driving is actually pretty short distances, and at least coming from marine diesels they're not really designed to be used that way so I worry about the short trips a bit and wonder if I'm not better off with gasoline.

Also, I'd worry about exactly how much "support" there is for them in the states. It's probably fine, but with the 1fz engine I can essentially take a picture of any bolt/nut/screw/tube/hose/thing and have thirty explanations on ih8mud within a few minutes.

So for me, 10K.
 
DirtScaresMe said:
Also, I'd worry about exactly how much "support" there is for them in the states. It's probably fine, but with the 1fz engine I can essentially take a picture of any bolt/nut/screw/tube/hose/thing and have thirty explanations on ih8mud within a few minutes.

So for me, 10K.
Click to expand...

Well, it's been my personal experience that Toyota dealers are happy to get non- us spec oem parts. It might take longer than otherwise, but the parts guys I've dealt with are more than willing to get the stuff if you come correct with part numbers and/or are willing to work with them on the search. Additionally, there's a couple fellows that have previously posted in this thread with first hand experience getting parts for these engines without any difficulty.

Moreover, thi's is Toyota we're talking here. I'd speculate that there are more diesel cruisers in the wild than 1FZ, but someone could very well correct me. It's not like these are some Cold War- era Uaz s***heaps on their last legs, where the only parts available need to be dug out of some farmers field in Azerbaijan. :)
 
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