1986 Toyota Landcruiser Wagon 4.2 2f from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

Bulletproof

Faults:

Replaced engine and gearbox at 353000 km. Had rebuilt the engine previously and used it in my other FJ60 and did 150000 km beforehand, then removed and placed in my FJ62.

Rebuilt head at 426000 km. Put in an electronic dizzy and the 4wd ran amazingly.

The body is starting to rust in the roof.

Now have an ignition problem, but will fix that and be running again. Have done numerous trips on all sorts of roads.

Best vehicle ever owned. Just guzzles since the head rebuild.

Put a 4 inch lift kit in, have rebuilt hubs numerous times and the rear brakes.

1 set of shocks in 8 years.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 11th April, 2016

1986 Toyota Landcruiser HJ60 4.0 diesel (2H) from North America

Summary:

You can't beat a diesel Cruiser. Like an old rusty, trusty friend

Faults:

Leak in the radiator - steams now and then - $1200 for a replacement part because it is one of the old trusty all-brass rads. Still driving with the leak. This is the original part and lasted 500,000km!! No complaints.

Horn stopped working.

Rusty exhaust replaced.

No other problems.

General Comments:

Excellent, excellent vehicle, full of rusty character. The RUST on body and frame is by far the biggest (only?) problem with these vehicles.

I have the 6 cylinder diesel. Runs on dino-diesel, runs better on veggie oil, bio-blends.

AMAZING off-road performance.

Can move your entire house (60 inch plasma screen, couch, you name it). Slower than a city bus, but goes forever.

MOST of the parts on this truck are ORIGINAL - including the drive-train, diffs, rear drums, radiator, fuel and braking system etc at 500,000 km!!! If that is not amazing, I don't know what is.

I use it as a daily driver, I use it to get groceries, I use it for camping, I use it for skiing, and I offroad -- and it has not let me down once!

On a nice flat open highway it'll push 30 MPG - which is not bad at all for a 5000lb vehicle when loaded, driven by a 4 litre 1980s engine, on 33 inch offroad tires!

I would rather drive this than 90% of the new vehicles out there, and when the rust finally breaks its back at 1 million km, I will buy a new frame and do it all over again.

Out of 9 vehicles I have owned, including 2 brand new ones - this is the best one by a long-shot.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 15th February, 2010

22nd Mar 2010, 10:37

You can use a fj62 rad in your HJ. Just turn the tube housing 45 degrees,(right on top of the thermostat), and reuse the HJ fan shroud.

23rd Mar 2011, 12:04

Great review about this great car!

I drove my 1987 HJ61 turbo-diesel 12.000 kilometers from Amsterdam to Beijing in 1 month, through Europe, Russia, Mongolia and China. It always performed great and I started to grow more and more respect for the quality and philosophy behind it: what you don't have (computer etc.), will not break down. And the things you have on a HJ61 are based on the "concept-simple", and what is simple can be fixed easily. Whether you are in a workshop or in the middle of Gobi-Desert. And then you'll see: nothing breaks down!

So after a while I decided to keep driving this one and to add another HJ60 (4.0 diesel without turbo) that is under restoration right now. In Europe driving a diesel is more common, but the engine quality appears to you as well. For the radiator it is also possible to have it "rebuilt" in a cheaper way then replacing it (I did, and had the capacity enlarged as well because I like to drive into far-away places and deserts and so on).

Have a long lasting joy! (You are not alone).

In reply to 23rd Mar 2011, 12:04

6th Jan 2013, 17:37

Could you please help me with your route and experience from AMS to BJ? As we are planning the same trip, with a Toyota or G class. Many thanks!

Van7allen@yahoo.com.