Toyota prado advice

mroffroader · Post by **mroffroader** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 9:25 am

Hey I have a mate thats looking to buy a prado SWB what things should he look out for when buying one? Is the 3L turbo deisel better than the 2.4L? eg. do they still go through head gaskets like the 2.4L's? Is there anything else he should look out for??

also are they easy to mod. and what do they go like offroad?

Cheers
James

oldblue · Post by **oldblue** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 10:36 am

If Its still got electric hubs, make sure they are still working.
A few guys have brought trucks from dealers, only to find out that the 4WD system was never checked.

Steve_t647 · Post by **Steve_t647** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 10:39 am

The 3l is definatley the better motor, the 2l is slightly underpowered for the prado. If you lift it remember to lower the swaybar otherwise they are a bit of a handfull if you don't.

They are easy to mod and go well offroad (from what I have seen and driven) but I don't own one so someone else will be better informed.

wjw · Post by **wjw** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 11:16 am

If it was me, I would get the motor compression and leakdown tested before I bought it. Its well worth the $150...

Check the service history carefully, how long has it been in NZ? the jap imports that aren;t serviced properly will most likey crack the head within a couple of years of being here.

Thats all I can think of off the top of my head ;-)

Hope that doesn't put him off, I'd certainly buy another one...

SupraLux · Post by **SupraLux** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 12:16 pm

Also check which 3 litre its got... I've seen a SWB 70-series shape prado bodyshell one with a 5L (3 litre upgraded version of the old 2.4 diesel found in lots of Hiluxes)... If I had a choice of this or a 1KZ I'd take the 5L for reliability...

They are a nice wee truck, comfy on coils and not to shabby offroad...

Steve

albundy · Post by **albundy** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 12:37 pm

My only comment is that once that get up around the 300,00k mark they tend to do major damage inside as the big end bearings go. I have had several mates have this problem with them.
Al

viper · Post by **viper** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 12:57 pm

1KZ(KZJ) engine better than 2LTE(LJ).
Especialy `94 '95 better.They are Improvemented Aluminum engine head
from first 1KZ engine.
And check auto hab.
If not working it is difficulty to fix.

Reference

This is my 70prado member site for fix to hab.
(sorry they are japanes langage you can see photo)
http://kiri78.fc2web.com/habu.htm

oldblue · Post by **oldblue** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 1:37 pm

Interesting! Have you got the main forum address to this site?

My first hub repair job was done this way. then i thought, there's got to be a better way.

SupraLux · Post by **SupraLux** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 3:13 pm

OB, I don't read japanese, but I followed some pics and ended up here:
http://kiri78.fc2web.com/7878.html

Stick that into http://www.altavista.com/babelfish and choose japanese to english and you're away

I agree, a 1KZ is far better than a 2LTE...

Steve

mroffroader · Post by **mroffroader** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:09 pm

so let me get this right, the 1kz is the 3L turbo deisel? and check that 4x4 works properly. Theres no common place that they rust is there? are they reasonably cheap to run???

Cheers

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:42 pm

Yes the 2.4 is underpowered but it revs higher that the 3.0, the 3.0 is not as economical either.

mroffroader · Post by **mroffroader** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:44 pm

Jerry wrote:Yes the 2.4 is underpowered but it revs higher that the 3.0, the 3.0 is not as economical either.

what sort of km's do you get for your $$$ jerry?

cheers

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:47 pm

Not sure tank to tank....the previous rallywoods trip about a 3rd of a tank of diesel and that was the 1st day and then the aka's trip, has a 70L tank

rowinz · Post by **rowinz** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 8:20 pm

I get around 11-13l/100km from my 1KZ, light footed, unladen or lightly loaded, both open rd and round town.

I have heard that the 1KZs also do heads, but thats more a factor of the alloy head and a turbo diesel. Cooling is paramount, as is maintenance.

viper · Post by **viper** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 12:12 pm

oldblue wrote:Interesting! Have you got the main forum address to this site?

My first hub repair job was done this way. then i thought, there's got to be a better way.

*Sorry late reply. Supralux written main web page.
We are 70prado owners club japan.
If you wont see a some photo please go to this link.
YOu can see lot of 70prado.

http://prado.plala.jp/michinoku/1-3off.html
http://prado.plala.jp/michinoku/5thoff.html

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 3:37 pm

You could ask MarkR very nicely to pop in and show you his 3L when he is in the Hutt next, you can have a look at mine when the brakes are sorted :lol:

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 3:38 pm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 81.htm?p=2

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 12.htm?p=2

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 9.htm?p=22

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 1.htm?p=27

This may be worth a look... looks like a CCVC Truck
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 19.htm?p=2

WACKO · Post by **WACKO** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 11:59 pm

Jerry wrote:This may be worth a look... looks like a CCVC Truck
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 19.htm?p=2

hahahhha... LVV Compliant Certificate for: Rubber Flares, Running Boards and PTO Winch

must be a ccvc wagon... :lol:

Clint · Post by **Clint** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 1:11 pm

mroffroader wrote:so let me get this right, the 1kz is the 3L turbo deisel? and check that 4x4 works properly. Theres no common place that they rust is there? are they reasonably cheap to run???

Cheers

Mine had a bit of rust under the tail lights. The 2.4 used around 12L/100km. Gutless POS that it was. Get the KZJ71 with the 1KZ 3.0 turbo diesel if you can. Also go for a manual, apparently the extra load of the trans cooler on the autos makes the overheating-head cracking problem worse.

Have a look at my buildup thread in the projects section, it covers a lot of the basics of getting one trail ready.

Cheers
Clint

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 5:59 pm

hahahhha... LVV Compliant Certificate for: Rubber Flares, Running Boards and PTO Winch

Yeah I was wondering that myself.......was panicking that I might need one for all of my stickers :lol:

markr · Post by **markr** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 6:07 pm

Jerry wrote:You could ask MarkR very nicely to pop in and show you his 3L when he is in the Hutt next, you can have a look at mine when the brakes are sorted

I own one.. You can't go wrong... Very capable truck....

Check the hubs work... Thye can be repaired.... I've done it.

You really need to get the 3l turbo....

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 6:13 pm

Cough.......towed up a hill by a V8 powered 70 Series on Sat I heard :lol:

..... see your difflocks were no use....better give them to me :lol:

curly12 · Post by **curly12** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 7:23 pm

Yeah I was wondering that myself.......was panicking that I might need one for all of my stickers :lol:

[/quote]

And also your rated tow hooks :lol:

markr · Post by **markr** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 9:09 pm

Jerry wrote:Cough.......towed up a hill by a V8 powered 70 Series on Sat I heard ..... see your difflocks were no use....better give them to me

It doesn't count if "I'm" not driving it.....
I was at the top watching... Sorry

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 6:42 pm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 60.htm?p=4