Lack of 70 series Land Cruisers.

[zimm]

How hard is it to convert a RHD 70 series to LHD?

With all the mine trucks without titles, I would assume the parts can be had.

On a defender it is pretty darn easy, but the dash parts will set you back 3k.

i think locating the parts is more problematic. i bet with the hvac there are more parts than you think. then again, ive read where some people have paid proffits 70g+ for a refurbed 7x pickup, but i noticed the wheel was still on the right. ******? if youre gonna waste that much to stoke your fantasy, whats a another 5g in new OEM parts to make it correct? you'd think it would pay for itself come resale time. its kinda like having a 50,000 dollar bathroom job and installing a fiberglass tub surround.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

How hard is it to convert a RHD 70 series to LHD?

With all the mine trucks without titles, I would assume the parts can be had.

On a defender it is pretty darn easy, but the dash parts will set you back 3k.

It is completely doable and there are folks doing it as we speak. Assuming you are paying a shop to do the conversion and assuming they run into a standard amount of hurdles, I'd guess $5-7k to convert properly in a 70 Series w/AC, PS, etc. DIY and I bet you could squeak by for under $2-3k in parts, perhaps less if you get a killer score on the LHS setup. Far from outright prohibitive but I don't think the RHD qwerks (admittedly there are some but all easily dealt with imo) will warrant the 50% premium on the cost of the vehicle for most. Totally shooting from the hip but I'd suspect there are 40-50 RHD Land Cruisers in the greater Utah area alone, 10-15 of those being daily drivers for folks I see on a semi-regular basis. Can't say I've ever heard a customer tell me they are going to sell or park because the RHD is a pain. I have a customer that literally drives backwards through the coffee shop drive-thru. Sure he gets some funny looks but who cares?

Recent collection of 70's here in Utah (CruiserFest 2013). My stocker 74 to the far left:

 

[graynomad]

drives backwards through the coffee shop drive-thru

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Admittedly I was about to try it the other day but at the bank. However the drive through lanes were clear enough that I just went in backwards

 

[Douglas S.]

I have yet to go through a drive-thru where I couldn't just lean over the passenger seat.

 

[Flagster]

I have yet to go through a drive-thru where I couldn't just lean over the passenger seat.

I think I would just go inside...

 

[graynomad]

Use your long-handled shovel and poke it out through the passenger's window (open it first) with the money, get a burger in return.

 

[Flagster]

are there wendys in AUS?

 

[graynomad]

Not sure, I don't remember seeing any, maybe in the cities.

We have a "Wendy's" in town, but that's a service station and stock food store, I guess the owner's name is Wendy

 

[Flagster]

Not sure, I don't remember seeing any, maybe in the cities.

We have a "Wendy's" in town, but that's a service station and stock food store, I guess the owner's name is Wendy

thanks:ylsmoke:

 

[RMP&O]

As has been said, converting from RHD to LHD is not to hard but you certainly needs a fair amount of fab skills, tools and a few other things. I thought about doing it to a high roof JDM 60-series. Then decided if I really want a high roof it would be easier to simply cut off the roof and weld it on a LHD truck. Wiring, fuel lines, brake lines are the tough parts to deal with. I was also thinking have both the RHD JDM along with a good LHD 60 and it wouldn't be to much trouble. Buying all the LHD stuff for the 70 would get expensive fast.


On the driving a RHD vs LHD, done a fair share of it. Off-road it wasn't an issue for me at all. I did however jump in my buddy's wife's car in Sydney Aus. once. Had only been in the country a few days. I jump in the small car (Suzuki of some sort) and drive across Sydney with no GPS, co-pilot or any help to find the RNP. That was tricky for sure and was something I won't forget for a long time.

If I am going to own a truck and spend money on it, I want LHD. To me RHD makes the truck worth considerably less cash.

Cheers

 

[Douglas S.]

If I am going to own a truck and spend money on it, I want LHD. To me RHD makes the truck worth considerably less cash.

Cheers

It's worth less when you buy it too.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

It's worth less when you buy it too.

Right, that is just it. The premium that LHD imports demand could often be more than the cost to convert, both of which are out of the realm for some potential buyers and a must for others. I'll be driving to the bank in my RHD momentarily, backwards attempt likely

 

[Flagster]

Correct me if I am wrong but the only 70 series suvs/trucks that are importable ('88 and earlier) to the US are leaf sprung, underpowered diesels...
Other than joining the cool kids 70 series body club is their any benefit over a RHD US spec 60 series...other than maybe a bit more room (and for once I am not being sarcastic)...

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Correct me if I am wrong but the only 70 series suvs/trucks that are importable ('88 and earlier) to the US are leaf sprung, underpowered diesels...
Other than joining the cool kids 70 series body club is their any benefit over a RHD US spec 60 series...other than maybe a bit more room (and for once I am not being sarcastic)...

Not sure what you mean by a RHD US spec 60? Assuming your asking what the advantage is over a standard US FJ60?

Turbo'ed 4 cylinder, motors it around just fine. I'd say similar to the 2F albeit far better economy in the meantime. The killer thing for me is the removable top option on some 7x models, not a remote selling point for some but I like it. Beyond that the non-US stuff is often 5 speed manual trans equipped, full-float rear axles, factory winch and locker options, power windows/doors before they appeared in the US, etc. If someone consulted me about going around the globe in a RHD 7x versus a US spec FJ60... I'd simply tell them to choose the one that is the cleanest and most maintained, either is going to do the trick. 7x parts are going to be easier to find around the globe but a good chunk of the FJ60 stuff (drive train wise) is the same including axle parts, suspension parts, trans/t-case parts, etc. Either will suffice.