KZJ78 prado Auto vs Manual

[Rbnutz]

Hi, new to the site

Am looking to buy a 94ish lwb prado with the solid front beam and 1KZ. The question is auto or manual?? Ill be using it mostly for getting up the ski field but wouldn't mind giving a bit of off road the nudge at some stage.

How do people feel about both options?

Is the auto an easer option and more convenience? better economy? But boring?

Is the dual mass flywheel something that should be replaced when brought to ensure it doesn't fail?

Do either of them preform better on or off road?


Thanks for any help

[coxsy]

this one is a 98 prado but goes well

[Rbnutz]

Looks good. But i thought they changed in 96 to the independent front, rounder shape???

[lilpigzuk]

they did go to IFS in 96 so no idea what coxsy is on about. I had a 94 auto briefly then got a 93 manual soon after - personal preference. Auto cruised at lower revs at 100kph by about 400rpm so theoretically will give better economy pending on your driving style.
Havent off roaded either so someone else will have to tell you the difference there. My manual came with solid flywheel (changed by previous owner), the main difference is price of replacement clutch between the two is huge. Also came with factory rear locker which is an added bonus, manuals are hard too find in NZ, let alone with the locker.

[rowinz]

I have an auto as a club truck. First auto after FJ40 & FJ70 manuals. The auto is great for doddling along - very easy drive. Only thing with auto is descents - torque lockup is not controlled without mods, and low box is not low enough. Overdrive (leftfoot) breaking suffices, but can't beat direct drive connection of manuals.
My 2c

[IcedJohnno]

I love my KZJ-71 (manual), as seen in my avatar, working hard on a ski-field prior to season opening.
My preference is for the manual, for tricky and steep mountain descents, however generally the Auto version will work fine even for serious off-roading.
You will find the manual harder to find as Lilpig says. Go for the two battery option and the rear locker as well. The other thing if you are in Kea country is to get one without the sunroof. Good for when you fall over too!

The manuals do eat their dual mass flywheels, expect it to happen by about 80k and replacing with the solid mass version will set you back about 2k. Don't replace it with the dual-mass one, they are smoother if you lug the motor but it will just let go again. Just don't lug them, this cracks heads.
Yes they crack heads like all 4cyl Toyotas. Buy a Exhaust temp pyrometer and drive off this. Get rid of the exhaust gas reticulation at the same time and upgrade to a 2 & 1/2 or bigger exhaust as well.
I thrash mine, have been all sorts of places in it and replaced the head after 150k indicated. It has now done 200k and I will be keeping it for many years yet.
Although they do not have a huge amount of suspension travel and I have not bothered with any of the taller aftermarket stuff, they do go well off-road and they handle really well on-road.
Just do it, you know you want to!
Cheers John

[Jerry]

having a manual and auto prado currently , my personal preference is the manual for offroad and the auto for onroad, you can mod the auto for a torque converter lockup. fit a secondary temp guage to it as well.....if the coolant is brown when u look at it walk away (or there no service history). if its an auto and you are doing lots of towing consider fitting an at cooler thingy. electric hubs on them can be a problem however these can be modified.

[Rbnutz]

Thanks for all of your replys

Loving your pic IcedJohnno, that's going to be me!

I had a test drive of a auto a few weeks ago, i thought the 4low wasn't low enough then and your comments confirm this. Would prefer the manual just because i like them and i feel you have more control over the vehicle. 2k for the flywheel conversion is a fair whack to add to the purchase price so i best take this in to consideration.

There is a manual i know of, its got over 200k on the clock so in keeping with the 80k limit of a dual mass it should have had to be done already. Is there anyway of telling if has been replaced with a solid one without taking the box off to have a look? as the current owner doesn't know.

Would love one with a locker, haha but like you say, they are like hens teeth. I did see a swb manual with a locker go for 7k last week. Was tidy too but I need the space of the lwb unfortunately.

How hard is the auto mod?? Im not a mechanic but have spent a bit of time under cars (tits or wheels)

Two battery option? what is the main benefit of two? Is this a mod that's easily done? i assume they are in parallel and still 12v? The auto i looked at had two but haven't seen any since.

Tanks again, pretty sure i'll go for the manual even if it drinks a bit more on the open road.

[Jerry]

if you can't find one with dual batteries then just keep an eye out for one that has the 2nd tray ...the bolt holes are already there.....depends on your requirements......can setup a dual charging system and use the 2nd batt to run a winch, fridge etc

[Rbnutz]

if you can't find one with dual batteries then just keep an eye out for one that has the 2nd tray ...the bolt holes are already there.....depends on your requirements......can setup a dual charging system and use the 2nd batt to run a winch, fridge etc

Cool thanks Jerry,

obviously the more options the better but wont get to worried about the battery's since it can be done easily at a late date.

[Jerry]

yeah you do that when you put the lexus in it

[mudmike]

Look out for one with a rear locker in it, some had them put in as factory option, they go great, they will take 33's with standard springs, but there are a few options for a lift on the market now. you can mod a pto winch to go on but needs some custom work done, the transfer case is a big pin 70 one.
either auto or manual will do you well, but I like my manual, but know a few guys with autos that would not swap to manual.
good luck

[IcedJohnno]

Thanks for all of your replys

Loving your pic IcedJohnno, that's going to be me!
Thats 4 heavyduty Icebreaker chains spinning through both lockers, 4k in 3rd low. Sometimes I am pushing snow up my bonnet or dragging a trailer too. Pays to be bloody careful though as lower down where it's much steeper, the drop off is over 1000 ft
,
I had a test drive of a auto a few weeks ago, i thought the 4low wasn't low enough then and your comments confirm this. Would prefer the manual just because i like them and i feel you have more control over the vehicle. 2k for the flywheel conversion is a fair whack to add to the purchase price so i best take this in to consideration.
Possibly do it for less than that but the previous owner, an asian who did not know it was stuffed until the next warrant paid that to get it done


There is a manual i know of, its got over 200k on the clock so in keeping with the 80k limit of a dual mass it should have had to be done already. Is there anyway of telling if has been replaced with a solid one without taking the box off to have a look? as the current owner doesn't know.
Find one that definitely has a two piece flywheel, drive it, then go and drive your one. You will feel the difference, slightly harsher at lugging revs.

Would love one with a locker, haha but like you say, they are like hens teeth. I did see a swb manual with a locker go for 7k last week. Was tidy too but I need the space of the lwb unfortunately.

How hard is the auto mod?? Im not a mechanic but have spent a bit of time under cars (tits or wheels)
Yeah they're both trouble! Try 15 vehicles!

Two battery option? what is the main benefit of two? Is this a mod that's easily done? i assume they are in parallel and still 12v? The auto i looked at had two but haven't seen any since.
Definitely still a 12v system,. Bill (WJW) will tell you more as no doubt others can too. I think the factory setup uses both batteries together, just extra capacity. I may be wrong though. Where there is smoke, there is wires, I say

Tanks again, pretty sure i'll go for the manual even if it drinks a bit more on the open road.

Doubt this, yes the revs may be lower but the drag is higher, i.e. less efficient unless they lock up in most gears.

[Rbnutz]

[quote="IcedJohnno"][quote="Rbnutz"]Thanks for all of your replys


Thats 4 heavyduty Icebreaker chains spinning through both lockers, 4k in 3rd low. Sometimes I am pushing snow up my bonnet or dragging a trailer too. Pays to be bloody careful though as lower down where it's much steeper, the drop off is over 1000 ft

Is that 2 factory lockers? electric? Maybe that wont be me, one locker is looking unlikely, 2 ha. But it sure looks like fun

Possibly do it for less than that but the previous owner, an asian who did not know it was stuffed until the next warrant paid that to get it done

I heard its about $1200 for the flywheel and cluch setup from a local guy here in chch. So with labour on that it would be about right.

Find one that definitely has a two piece flywheel, drive it, then go and drive your one. You will feel the difference, slightly harsher at lugging revs.


Cool, will definitely do this. (looks around for manual with dual mass setup still)

Is there anyone that knows if the lwb ever came with the factory locker? Or have even seen one?

[IcedJohnno]

Thanks for all of your replys


Thats 4 heavyduty Icebreaker chains spinning through both lockers, 4k in 3rd low. Sometimes I am pushing snow up my bonnet or dragging a trailer too. Pays to be bloody careful though as lower down where it's much steeper, the drop off is over 1000 ft

Is that 2 factory lockers? electric? Maybe that wont be me, one locker is looking unlikely, 2 ha. But it sure looks like fun

Factory electric rear and a Lock-Right 4 pin (normally rear) in the front, that I fitted for just this kind of driving. Does not alter the lock at all, whatever others say.

Possibly do it for less than that but the previous owner, an asian who did not know it was stuffed until the next warrant paid that to get it done

I heard its about $1200 for the flywheel and cluch setup from a local guy here in chch. So with labour on that it would be about right.

Find one that definitely has a two piece flywheel, drive it, then go and drive your one. You will feel the difference, slightly harsher at lugging revs.


Cool, will definitely do this. (looks around for manual with dual mass setup still)

Is there anyone that knows if the lwb ever came with the factory locker? Or have even seen one?

Yes I have a mate who used to have the factory leccy rear in his 78 series. He took it out after about 5 years and swapped for another L-R auto-unlocker, though I don't know why you would want too.
A better option would be the new Powertrax locker that Hosehustler has just fitted. See this thread viewtopic.php?f=18&t=13066&p=172724#p172724

[Rbnutz]

Finally got one, only took me 4 months and 500+kms.

Ended up with a 95 lwb manual, one careful lady owner



Was only 1 week later and a lwb 5spd with factory locker showed up. and yet another last week!! Them's the breaks i guess. Just have to save up for a air locker.

Anyway am happy with it and am pleased to have a manual and looking forward to finding some mud to play around in (and get stuck no doubt)

thanks guys for help in deciding.

[wjw]

If you planning on offroading, take the bumpers, wheel arches and side steps off and replace them with bars. On the second hand market if your timing's right you'll get 2K for that lot. As Jono will tell you those flares are expensive...

[Rbnutz]

I would like to look at offroading more in the future but am not sure about taking apart my baby just yet.

Tho if it means that it will make me money rather than cost it, this sounds like something i should look at before getting too adventurous

Just lined up a set of A/T tires, bridgestone D694s for daily driving and general use as the current set are almost spent. Would like them to be good enough offroad but am unsure if they will get me very far Have to wait for the wallet to recover before i look at anything else.