1986 Toyota Landcruiser HJ60 4.0 diesel (2H)
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
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).
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.
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.