Ok, BJ74 is going to be my next truck. May be a couple or three years but Im having one. Where do I learn what to look for and stay away from and where to buy?
Ih8mud has a lot of info on these cruisers. Quick overview:
BJ74, Japan, Australia or Europe only. 1986 - 1990.
All right hand drive
FRP removable hard top or soft top. most were FRP. Windshield folds down on all of them.
MOST are 24v, Australia were 12v.
Engine 13BT turbo diesel 4 cylinder, 5 speed or auto
Some options:
Cable lockers
Suspension seats
A/C
Interior trims
Roll bar/rear belts
16" rims
Chrome package
PTO winch/bumpers
power window/locks
rear heat
What to look for:
RUST - 70 series are prone to fender rust but the fold down windshield is almost always rusted out. OEM replacement HARD to find, there are fiberglass replacements people use with good results.
The front end is the same as other 70 series in that time so you can use some of those parts.
You can pretty much find all the parts to rebuild the whole drivetrain easily on the BJ74. There are a few no longer available parts on the engine, but generally you could find used at that point.
The "BEST" BJ74 to find would be a 5 speed, cable locked, 12v loaded version...but that has proven to be REALLY hard to find.
Japan seems to be where most have been imported from. The Aussie spec ones usually stay there until they are beat into submission.
I also have heard good things about Land Cruisers Direct. There are a few for sale right now on ih8mud.
I would try and find the most SOLID frame and body BJ74 you can find. You can always swap a 1HZ or other toyota diesel into that drivetrain. Another option would be the BJ/HZJ/FZJ73.
The BJ73 was around the same time and longer. It comes with a 3B (non-turbo) diesel but the body is the same. An HZJ73 would be body-wise the same thing, just different motor. FZJ73, same body with a gasser engine.
I'm not sure how loaded the 73's came as opposed to the BJ74. Most BJ74's I've seen have been pretty loaded/up-spec'd especially from Japan.