yotaduck

I'd say that's a pretty good upgrade over the 4runner once the frame is fixed and it's sitting a bit higher.

Nice work!

Matt16

I've always wanted a diesel Cruiser, but the 4Runner was a great truck for me while I had it. That said, here are several benefits of the HJ60 over the 4Runner i've noticed so far.

• gas tank it tucked away up high
• stock solid axle (not that the 4Runner IFS proved to be weak or that much of an impediment IMO)
• more space for longer trips with more people
• transfer case crossmember isn't a boat anchor on the HJ60
• 2H diesel torque>>>> 22RE torque
• there will always be 4Runners if I decide the HJ60 isn't for me, but only ~500 HJ60s were ever sold as new in Canada and they're rusting out fast
• can tow up to 3K apparently (we'll see)

aviator

Sweet matt... there's an HJ60 I've been seeing a lot off around town here the last few weeks... dark gray met. like yours looks like he's running on 33's with no lift... thing is sweet... you need to turbo that diesel though to really unleash it's potential...
I'll try to snap a pic of it if I get the chance...

Matt16

I'm gonna see how the power is for a while before I consider turbo-ing it. I was fine with the my 4Runner's 22RE power loaded with 1K lbs of camping/fishing junk.

In an ideal world where tuition cost next to nothing, I would:

• add a rear Aussie locker
• OME Dakar heavy duty springs and shocks
• 33x10.5r15 BFG TA/KOs
• cargo box just like my last truck
• front swaybar discos
• York on board air (I kept the compressor from my last truck)
• some sort of headlight upgrade
• add a radio (the one in the cruiser is smashed to bits)
• waterproof front seat covers
• build a reasonable non-winch bumper (not anticipating a winch for my needs)
  
  Seeing as most of driving time outside of commuting is fishing, I don't need a truck that's uber-modified. The 4Runner I had worked well in that department- it was very reliable and did just about everything I wanted it to short of carrying lots of stuff and people.

4mydogs

That's a great looking 60. Would love to get a Cruiser, but the dogs are used to a roll-down rear window.

aviator

Headlight upgrade you say?

Well I can suggest the Bosch H4 conversion kit... they have them at Canadian Tire (may be a special order not all stores stock it)... beam is a euro spec spread pattern which is more efficient than NA DOT spec... cost is @90 cdn kit includes a pair of 60/55 halogens but you can swap in any H4 type including HIDs...
There are two kits one with round lens and one with rect. make sure you get the right one ordered...

Here's a link for you http://www.boschlightsandmore.com/pr...rsion_kits.htm

CT has them for sale cheaper than the price noted there.

Hellas are also an option but they cost twice as much roughly and don't come with bulbs.

FlyingLow

Welllll..... not exactly, its factory low springs...

Define cheap. Done right can cost close to $1000 with the right highsteer setup, drive shaft mods, ubolts, brake lines etc. $2000 to have it done right at a shop.

Matt16

Alright, first things first. The guy at the Cruiser shop (RaddCruisers/Radd4wd in Duncan, BC) said the frame is only patchable for use on-road, no off-road until the frame is swapped. That means I need to swap frame pronto. Bummer. But, for a $3500 HJ60 Landcruiser, I knew this was coming within a couple years. Might as well get it over with.

yotaman85

I have a few friends that build fj's for a living and a hobby. my advice is do a spring over and loosen the spring clamps. the compression travel will be a bit short but your droop will surprise everybody, trust me. and if you want to get some custom work going, flip the rear springs around and graph the rear fender back to fit the new wheel position, its allot of body work but the rear departure angle is improved a significant amount.

also, I may find out where you live and rob you. I've been dying for a dino cruiser...

Trail_Banger

Go springs over axle!!!!

iselloil

I dont know about them red pants, but the 50 cal is cool,but the chop top has to go.

Matt16

Any suspension mods are literally years away. Fuggedabudit for a while. I'm gonna do a frame swap, then an Aussie Locker, maybe later I'll get 4.11 diffs and some 33x10.5 or 33x9.5s. I will likely never go SOA. Some day (waaay down the road), I'd like to pick up a set of OME mediums and run those.

The truck is to be build for backroads camping, a little wheeling into lakes with rough roads, a lot of highway driving and some commuting. If I ever get into hardcore wheeling, I'm picking up a shortbed, single cab pickup and swap in a Mercedes OM617 diesel into it.

I bought the HJ60 to be better at this kind of stuff, as this is the kind of stuff i need my truck to do, not heavy rock crawling.

BigBluePile

iTrader: (3)

Matt it's gonna be awesome! Can't wait to see the expedition pics!!

aviator

FWIW theres an 88 gas HJ60 in the yard out here... I have'nt looked at it closely but the frame appears to be solid... I already acquired the mint condition spare tire carrier (chain lift SCORE!)... I could take a closer look if you're interested... shipping the hulk out to BC would be a pain though...

FlyingLow

Never say never... I did and 12 years later I'm SOA...

Get that frame swapped, John and Jay at Radd Cruisers are really good guys, you can count on an honest answer from them. You'll be happy with an Aussie, but I don't know if 4.11 diffs are worth it with your tranny and only 33's. Don't get 33x9.5s, I have heard they can be scetchy on a such a heavy vehicle. Go to Cedar tire and get some pro-comps, cheep when they are on sale!

Theres an Island based cruiser club too if your interested: http://forum.ih8mud.com/ca-bc-vancou...land-cruisers/

Matt16

Where are you on the Island? I was at UVic a year, now I'm in the LML but I head over to Nanaimo once in a while. Radd is great- had my frame patched there while I prep up my new one. John and Kayla are really nice people. JOhn knows his stuff. I haven't met anyone else there, though I'll be picking up my truck next week from them as well as a knuckle rebuild kit. She's definitely a project.

Aviator, thanks but I've got a new frame lined up with a tire carrier in decent condition. The HJ60s were all 4.0 straight six diesel (2H), the BJ60s were 3.4L i-4 diesel (3B) and the FJ60s were 4.2L carbed straight 6 gas (2F), FJ62 were 4.0 high(er) compression fuel injected straight 6 (2FE) and finally, the HJ61 were a JDM truck with a turbo version of the 2H in it (12HT)... so, the gas HJ60 was probably a FJ60.


As a side note, comparing the HJ60 with stock-height springs and the 4Runner with OME suspension, BJ spacers and t-bars relaxed, I have to say that the HJ60 rides better and is more stable. The acceleration and hill-climbing with the 2H motor is pretty low, even compared to the 22RE. I have 31s and to bring it back to stock would be pairing the 31s with 4.11 gears (I have 3.70s now). I've only driven the truck briefly (~100km) so far because it stayed at Radd while I went back home. I left it with radd because they, from what I was able to tell online, did good work, and JOhn has been really helpful in figuring out Cruiser stuff so far. Back to the comparison, Cruiser frames seem to rust worse than 4Runner frames, but the bodies are more rust-resistant and the metal thicker. The cruiser feels more solid and more of a no-compromise vehicle. It does not feel like they made any concessions for soccer moms on this one, its a tank. That's not to diminish the 4Runner, because I think the concessions Toyota may have made on the 4Runner didn't detract too much from it (solid axle aside). Also, what's this bunk about solid axle being rougher than IFS??? The solid axle cruiser rides like its hydroplaning on a layer of double cream, at least on small bumps (haven't tried large bumps yet). I think solid axle gets a bad rep from people who screw it up by trying to put seriously arched-springs or have terrible shackle-angles. At stock height, the ride differences are negligible.

toyota4x4907

Should be 3fe, not 2fe.

FlyingLow

I'm in Ladysmith.

aviator

HJ60/FJ60 only real difference is the engine lol...

Matt16

Probably be flying through there next week on the way to the ferry. Gunmetal HJ60 with a snowplow of a bumper.