My 1988 HJ61 4.2 T Diesel

[rydz]

Hi Guys

I found your site yesterday,and between then and tonight I must have spent 4 hours cruising through it>

What an excellent forum,I only wish we had something similar to this up here near Montreal

I wanted to get your opinion on my new Toy,its a 1988 HJ61 I imported from Japan,it comes with the big turbo diesel 6 cyl,5 speed,factory front and rear lockers,factory installed PTO winch (which i got working this past sunday),the rear area has a sleeping "cot" and underneath on a set of sliders is a 1 burner butane stove(very trick)with a lid,that sets up just nice when you open the tailgate.

My main concern,I bought this truck with the intent of eventually going on some expedition type drives and not actually going to play in the mud for no reason,but to go explore some of the more interesting areas of Canada when time permits.

Its in absolutely perfect shape,no rust,no accidents ever,the frame looks like the day it was made,but I am unsure about the hight and the wheel/tire combo. so what do you think,is this a little over the top for suspension and tire,?

the truck has a very well done SOA conversion,and the tires actually are not a problem when driving on the road,but looking over many of your rigs here,we see most are on a skinny and tall type tire,not my ballon type affair.

I will leave you with a couple of pictures,feel free to pick it apart or comment on what you would do different.

Looking forward to your replies


Paulo

Montreal Canada

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[HongerVenture]

:drool:
I think that is about all you'll get out of us around here Paulo... what a rig!
Turbodiesel... PTO winch... Land Cruiser... Very nice indeed.

Scott with Expedition's West wrote a great white paper on tire selection that may give you more food for thought and guidance on choosing different tires. From the sound of it though, you are pretty much ready to venture forth on some vehicle dependent trips and explore Canada. You have a VERY capable rig that is ready to roll. Changing up your tires is a small detail that you can take care of after you gain some experience and learn the ins and outs of your rig and current setup.

Again, sweet rig!

Joel

 

[bigreen505]

I wanted to get your opinion on my new Toy,its a 1988 HJ61 I imported from Japan,it comes with the big turbo diesel 6 cyl,5 speed,factory front and rear lockers,factory installed PTO winch (which i got working this past sunday),the rear area has a sleeping "cot" and underneath on a set of sliders is a 1 burner butane stove(very trick)with a lid,that sets up just nice when you open the tailgate.

:drool: :bowdown: :drool:

That is as close to an honest assesment as you will get from me. I would say that is about as close to perfect as you get for an expedition vehicle. Though I would prefer skinnier tires and probably less lift, but that is just a personal opinion. Sweet ride! And welcome to ExPo :wavey:

 

[Scott Brady]

I would recommend taking a little lift out of it and installing 35x12.5 tires. It will still give you great clearance and good size tires, but your economy will go up and you will be able to make better progress in the mud.

Any pictures of the inside?

Welcome to the forum

 

[chet]

hey there. I almost bought an hj61 last month but decided it is too big for the wheelin around my area. Great for an expo rig though!

It looks like it has lift springs on top of the SPOA. I would see if you can trade with someone and get some stock springs to put under it. That would get it down.

The Cepek fun countries are pretty crappy tires in the rain so watch out! :smiley_drive:

 

[Doin_It]

Hey Paulo the truck looks good. I see they are bringing them into the east the same way they are flooding BC and Alberta. I wonder why they don't bring them in from Germany, Holland ect., it'd be closer as well they woud be LHD. Though I doubt the mileage would be as low as the Japenesse one's I've seen 15 year old trucks in Calgary with less the 80,000 on the old mileage meter. Have fun. Were all the other LC's by yours just off the boat too?

 

[Grim Reaper]

Other then sitting a little high there is not much not to like about that rig. Sweet score.

Lets see some pictures of the interrior and the set up in the back

 

[Maddmatt]

First and Foremost: :smiley_drive: :Wow1: :clapsmile:
Nice rig would be too much of an understatement.

Secondly, I don't know anything about anything, but my opinion is that it sits too high. For what you've said you planned to do, I doubt if you'll get any benefit from all that height and I'm sure there's some rock crawlers around who would love to swap you suspension parts. But at the end of the day, if it looks and feels right to you, its your truck - enjoy it.

ps: I love the front bumper. Be careful about leaving things on there, all that flat surface is calling out for coffee cups, sunglasses, gloves, etc.....

 

[Diesel Joe]

Hey RYDZ, no offence but that 12HT in your truck is 3980CC. 4.0 liter. Not 4.2 liters. Nice truck.

TB

 

[rydz]

Hi Diesel Joe

Yep your right,I get confused sometimes,I was finishing off importing a 1991 80 series with a 4.2 for a client and probably got overexcited!

I love your rig as well,very nicely done!

Put in a bid today for a Canadian M101 Trailer,we'll see how that goes,if I get that then I will install my car top tent on the trailer and put a Rack on the cruiser.

Paulo

 

[ChuckB]

Paulo,

Sounds awesome! For some reason I can't see the picts :littlefriend:

Just for reference where are you located? (edit: nevermind just saw that it said Montreal in the first post)

 

[eleblanc]

Paulo,

I've seen this truck when it was for sale in Japan, Awesome rig. But you need those tire out and get a Old Man Emu suspension kit, with 33" tire and you are all set. I'm sure you do not like the way it handles. Or maybe shorter shackle and flat springs.

Hi Guys

I found your site yesterday,and between then and tonight I must have spent 4 hours cruising through it>

What an excellent forum,I only wish we had something similar to this up here near Montreal

I wanted to get your opinion on my new Toy,its a 1988 HJ61 I imported from Japan,it comes with the big turbo diesel 6 cyl,5 speed,factory front and rear lockers,factory installed PTO winch (which i got working this past sunday),the rear area has a sleeping "cot" and underneath on a set of sliders is a 1 burner butane stove(very trick)with a lid,that sets up just nice when you open the tailgate.

My main concern,I bought this truck with the intent of eventually going on some expedition type drives and not actually going to play in the mud for no reason,but to go explore some of the more interesting areas of Canada when time permits.

Its in absolutely perfect shape,no rust,no accidents ever,the frame looks like the day it was made,but I am unsure about the hight and the wheel/tire combo. so what do you think,is this a little over the top for suspension and tire,?

the truck has a very well done SOA conversion,and the tires actually are not a problem when driving on the road,but looking over many of your rigs here,we see most are on a skinny and tall type tire,not my ballon type affair.

I will leave you with a couple of pictures,feel free to pick it apart or comment on what you would do different.

Looking forward to your replies


Paulo

Montreal Canada

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[roscoFJ73]

Nice and clean ,but for long distance travel,they are best left close to stock IMO.
Long trips are mainly on roads,however bad they maybe,and a low centre of gravity improves the high speed handling.

 

[hieronymus]

I have a 4" lift on my 80vx and almost landed on my roof last week when taking an exit from the motorway a little too fast....be careful with this white monster dude!