I've had this Cruiser for a few years now and am just now pending some more quality time with it and finally have some pictures to share. This is a JDM import (Japanese Domestic Market), it was legally imported from Japan in 2011, just as it turned 25 years-old which is the EPA/Customs requirement for import.
(Stickered up for TCT Magazine, they borrowed it for their magazine debut @ CruiserFest last year)
Basic Specs:
1986 BJ74, Auto, RHD, factory PTO, full-float rear axle & removable top. Powered by a 13BT (3.4L) Turbo-diesel. Stock suspension/drive-train.
My only projects thus far have been some minor maintenance and cleanup. Overall it is very clean particularly for it's age. It has less than 100k miles on it but it's hard to say how it was used, daily driver for a short commute or driven than parked? Either way it runs really well and the diesel just purrs down the highway. It did have a bit of body repair performed before it left Japan, the work looks clean and it was likely a pretty clean truck before they touched up some minor rust and cleaned up the frame. I found out about a bit of the body repair when a tire fell off while driving down the freeway, exactly 17 miles AFTER the safety/IM place had pulled that tire for inspection. Thankfully the damage was very minor and easily repaired and of course nobody was hurt. Shame on me for trusting a quickie safety/IM place but who re-torques their wheels after the process? I do now.
Stereo's in JDM rigs are a bit of a crapshoot. Some come with aftermarket stereo's that are workable however if it has a stock Toyota head unit, it is just about worthless here in the US as they operate on a ~76-90 MHz while the US uses more like 88-108 MHz. If you don't mind KRCL all day your set, otherwise time to swap. I installed factory Toyota head unit from a similar vintage US spec Cruiser, the only downside is the controls are opposite as they should be for a RHD vehicle, total non-issue but it would be cool to have a RHD head unit that operated on the US FM band plan. To complicate the matter, this truck is 24V throughout the entire electrical system so I had to use a small 24V->12V converter to knock the power down. My only other repair has been the horn contact in the steering column. I've had it here for 6 months and finally took the wheel off to install while paint was drying on the hubs which kept me from installing the front wheels.
Re-configuring the wiring, note the Kanji labeling the individual wires
It came from Japan with some alloy wheels, I'm sure they were pretty legit wheels for the previous owners taste but I wasn't digging them, particularly the fact they don't have a standard shraeder valve rather some funky fitting that requires a special wrench to pull out. I had some factory 80's era Land Cruiser wagon wheels that had some pretty rough chrome, they took quite a few manhours of love but they are looking quite nice. I wrapped them with some 31x10.50R15 BFG AT's, sourced on the cheap via KSL and RME classifieds. With the wheels mounted and balanced it was time to ditch the JDM alloys.
Wheel Before:
Wheel After:
With New Wheels Installed
(Horrible Night Shot)
The right-hand drive is a bit querky but honestly it takes just a few minutes to get comfortable behind the wheel. Sadly, I've spent zero time in this truck off-road. It's so clean I'm a bit hesitant to get it dirty and the bone stock suspension wouldn't be much fun off-road any how. I do plan to take it on the Retro Ramble (80's vehicle event) this year.
(Stickered up for TCT Magazine, they borrowed it for their magazine debut @ CruiserFest last year)
Basic Specs:
1986 BJ74, Auto, RHD, factory PTO, full-float rear axle & removable top. Powered by a 13BT (3.4L) Turbo-diesel. Stock suspension/drive-train.
My only projects thus far have been some minor maintenance and cleanup. Overall it is very clean particularly for it's age. It has less than 100k miles on it but it's hard to say how it was used, daily driver for a short commute or driven than parked? Either way it runs really well and the diesel just purrs down the highway. It did have a bit of body repair performed before it left Japan, the work looks clean and it was likely a pretty clean truck before they touched up some minor rust and cleaned up the frame. I found out about a bit of the body repair when a tire fell off while driving down the freeway, exactly 17 miles AFTER the safety/IM place had pulled that tire for inspection. Thankfully the damage was very minor and easily repaired and of course nobody was hurt. Shame on me for trusting a quickie safety/IM place but who re-torques their wheels after the process? I do now.
Stereo's in JDM rigs are a bit of a crapshoot. Some come with aftermarket stereo's that are workable however if it has a stock Toyota head unit, it is just about worthless here in the US as they operate on a ~76-90 MHz while the US uses more like 88-108 MHz. If you don't mind KRCL all day your set, otherwise time to swap. I installed factory Toyota head unit from a similar vintage US spec Cruiser, the only downside is the controls are opposite as they should be for a RHD vehicle, total non-issue but it would be cool to have a RHD head unit that operated on the US FM band plan. To complicate the matter, this truck is 24V throughout the entire electrical system so I had to use a small 24V->12V converter to knock the power down. My only other repair has been the horn contact in the steering column. I've had it here for 6 months and finally took the wheel off to install while paint was drying on the hubs which kept me from installing the front wheels.
Re-configuring the wiring, note the Kanji labeling the individual wires
It came from Japan with some alloy wheels, I'm sure they were pretty legit wheels for the previous owners taste but I wasn't digging them, particularly the fact they don't have a standard shraeder valve rather some funky fitting that requires a special wrench to pull out. I had some factory 80's era Land Cruiser wagon wheels that had some pretty rough chrome, they took quite a few manhours of love but they are looking quite nice. I wrapped them with some 31x10.50R15 BFG AT's, sourced on the cheap via KSL and RME classifieds. With the wheels mounted and balanced it was time to ditch the JDM alloys.
Wheel Before:
Wheel After:
With New Wheels Installed
(Horrible Night Shot)
The right-hand drive is a bit querky but honestly it takes just a few minutes to get comfortable behind the wheel. Sadly, I've spent zero time in this truck off-road. It's so clean I'm a bit hesitant to get it dirty and the bone stock suspension wouldn't be much fun off-road any how. I do plan to take it on the Retro Ramble (80's vehicle event) this year.
