Offroad-Express

Hey everyone,

Just found this site today, looks to be a lot of good advice gracing the pages.

I got into 4 wheel driving about half a year ago, i've been on a few trips, done some driving and had heaps of fun.

Now that im looking for a car of my own to drive off road, ive been looking at toyota landcruisers, the 70 series(around the 85-86 vintage). After driving a 3.4 diesel MWB 1985 model, and then a couple of 4 L petrol 1985-1986 cruisers running on LPG, one a duel fuel, the other a dedicated LPG cruiser.

The current Landcruiser im looking at and would love advice or any thoughts about this topic would be appreciated, or things to look out for on these 4wd......

Its a 1985 Toyota Lancruiser NZ new, SWB, running on LPG, dedicated. 80L tank(9 years left on pressure test). The last owner (Third owner) has had it for about 12 years, and im told changing engine oil/filters every 10,000 kms, whilst changing diff oils etc every 40,000kms. The current owner, bought it with 150,000 kms on the clock, and installed the lpg system, it has a upper end lubricating system for the valves as the LPG runs dryer im told. The current kms on the vehicle are 370,000. Current owner has had a new starter motor put in 2 years ago, had the front wheel bearings done recently.

It has a good recovery point on the rear of the vehicle, alloy bullbars on the front, spotlights, 31 inch mud tyres on original alloy wheel, with about 10mm tread left on them. There are signs of rust in the rear left panel, just behind the wheel in the form of bubbles showing paint.(Im told they tend to go there first on these 4wd).samll pocket of rust in windscreen shield seal, the screen itself has a crack, so that would have to come out anyway.

Also a concern i had was the lpg tank is mounted where the petrol tank used to be located, can this be dangerous when 4wd??with the danger of piercing the tank??

Thats about all i can remember about it, looks like a wrote a novel about it almost.

Any advice on these cruisers at that higher milage would be great.any comments at all would be great.


Sam

Cruiser.... Buy a range rover mate. Then you'll fit right in.As to the old 70 series not a bad rig alot of guys around my area are dropping in the chev 6.something diesel V8's when the old six is due for a rebuild. It sounds like a fiarly good find but you never know until you get a spanner to it or something breaks.

a range rover? there just not my style. bit out numbered round here wanting a cruiser arnt i!

Hi Cruiser
Range Rovers are alright if you want to have it sitting around for a while. You can tell Range Rover owners by the dead patches on the lawn. Parts are a major problem even in Auckland but if you break anything on a trip away, be prewarned from past experence, you will be waiting a long time. Its a great way to meet people and see the country ( the same people the same view for days and days while waiting for the part to arrive from ......)
You will also note that most Land /RangeRover repower their steads as soon as they have driven it in any type of off road situation and realised that they were made for carrying Corgy dogs, driven by the horse polo, cloth hat gentery.
pip pip ol chap.
Not well suited to the nz drivers and conditions at all, Stick with a Toyota. I could go on but then they would call me bias and I have a feelin that it could get hot here soon
cheer DJ

Sorry DJ but for the same year of biuld to have allround disc brakes,coil suspension and air con rngies win hands down The only prob is the parts but its amazing how many parts will fit . But when all sed and down cruisers do have the majority vote and are a bit cheaper to fix and modify just a bit.

Hmmmm Do I bite DJ??!!

I will give you the win for the stronger drive train, but I dont find parts or the standard engine a problem. Ive picked up 2 rangies for parts (ok if you have the room) for $400. One was a driver with a P76 ($300) and the other complete not going ($100).
Also run a Disco as a daily driver with a 3.5 efi which has enough grunt on and off the road as well as another Rangie Ive recently aquired to replace the Disco that has the Standard carbed 3.5 (rebuilt). More than enough pull.

In saying that my Zuk will still kick there arses off road but isnt road legal or have the room to travel far comfortably

Horses for courses and I guess what ever makes you happy

cheers
Rex

[quote="Athalus78" The only prob is the parts but its amazing how many parts will fit You would have found this out while talking to the locals and admiring the scenery whilst waiting for the replacement part to arrive for Pommie land?? after all they were proberly sick of the dead grass patches where the Range Rover sits as well.
mechanic :"Lets make the thing work, just get it out of here, there's too much Corgie sh-t around here"

I have been out fishing and they are bitting well
cheers DJ

no I've found this out by going"you want how much!"And as to dead grass patches why do you think I painted the drive way green

A shorty cruiser is a good truck if you don't mind the rough ride and the lack of ground clearance on 31's - but if you modify the suspension and wheen you are up for a couple of grand.

Yea i think a cruiser would do me nicely.

Im looking for a truck that i can do some beach trips on, do some forestry tracks, and i went on this 4wd trip with a club down to the Maratoto loop track, we didnt do the whole loop, we went into the bush a while and came back out the same way. Was a good day trip and ill be looking foward to doing trips like that in a cruiser.

Yea id like to save up once i get one and run with 33 inch tyres off road, that would give me a bit more ground clearence.

i defenitly wont mind the ruff ride of a shorty cruiser:)

Things are getting hot in here arnt they!!

Ive considered other options other than a cruiser, i think the suzukis will be a tad to small for what im after, and the rovers i think will be a bit costly with the parts problems etc as i have no room to buy a cheap second truck for parts. Ive been told to check pajeros out, what do you guys think about the late 80s early 90s pajeros????Cruisers just look so tuff though!!(ever seen a corgie in a cruiser ??))

Sam.

Most rover parts are cheap as chips, there are lots of wreckers about and parts are generally plentiful. New rover parts and new toyota parts tend to have a steep price tag though.

In your first post you made mention of worry's about the LPG tank being vulnerable, don't be.. They are made a hell of a lot heavyer than you think also due to it being round there is even less chance of something striking sqaure enought to puncture! The worry would be where the pick up for the tank is and where the fuel lines are as these are generally just copper line, hmmmm

As for the Mitsi as an option, in my opinion they do remarkably well offroad for an Urban 4WD the way I look at it if farmers use them as work wagons then .... stick with the cruiser its tryed and proven even if they are know for being rusty

Oh and my 10cents on the parts thing, 4 new bearing's and seals $80, two new discs $145 and pads $60 for my Rangy..... I don't see what the problem is... I've had cars that are more expensive to fix

Cheers Reece

yea, I was a bit worried about lpg tanks being mounted under the car, but yea your right, its gooing to be pretty unlucky if it gets pierced by anything, It was tucked right up in where the petrol tank used to be so it was right out of the way.

I think sticking with the cruisers is a better idea!they are definitly tryed and proven, and look so much cooler than a pajero

hmmmmmmmm that isnt to expensive at all.i guess price of parts doesnt stand in the way of rovers anymore:) (still like cruisers more)

Sam

Hi all ( even the cloth cappers)
isn't the computor age wonderful, you can cast a line out and you are sure to catch several............. on one hook.Troll for Toyota's and hook Rangi owners with multipule donor vehicals each. In defence off Rangi owners arnt you lucky you dont own a Lada. Then we could all have a laugh.
I rest my case thanks for the entertainment
wait till next time
cheers DJ
PARTING SHOT
To all range rover owners. I have changed my address To those who own more than 1 rangi.......... never mind you still haven't figgered it out yet why you need those parts and why they are so cheap

Hey everyone,

just posting to let you know i purchased!!!

i am now the proud owner of a 1987 Toyota Landcruiser SWB.

Will work out how to post some pics and show you all my new toy:)

Congratulations, always good to buy a new truck. Now you can start tinkering with it