1986 Toyota Land Cruiser

BJ74 LX MWB Convertible

4 - Cyl.

Automatic

00000000000000000

Diesel

Low mileage 1986 BJ74 LX Land Cruiser w/13B-T turbo diesel      Up for auction is a beautiful example of a rare 1986 Toyota Land Cruiser BJ74 LX with factory turbo diesel engine. This truck is fun to drive, super clean and reliable mechanically. The BJ74 is the limited edition of the 70-series medium wheelbase (MWB) Land Cruisers (with the 'LX' being the better equipped model, too), the only one to have a factory turbo, and with better on-road handling, more cargo room and comfort than the SWB trucks like BJ70s. I am the second owner of this very low mileage Land Cruiser. VIN BJ740000201, built January 1986. Loaded with all the original factory items—13B-T turbo diesel engine, power steering, front disc brakes, rear limited slip differential, air conditioning, digital clock with alarm and stopwatch(!), roll bar, factory suspension seats, uber-cool removable FRP top, seats five, power windows and rear door lock, and rust free. She’s a beauty, runs like a top and is essentially unmolested, ready for fuel efficient daily driving or as a base for a serious offroad rock crawling or expedition build.       The BJ74 LX is powered by a factory turbocharged four-cylinder 3.4L 13B-T diesel engine. It starts immediately when cold, with only a brief puff of white smoke that immediately clears. The Land Cruiser has 193,000 kilometers, which translates to only 119,923 miles since 1986—only 4800 miles per year since new. That is literally barely broken in for a 13B-T, an engine that routinely goes 600,000km with only basic oil changes and maintenance. The turbo diesel engine idles smoothly and quietly, and uses a factory 12V electrical system.       I am getting approximately 30-32 MPG, a tank of fuel lasts forever. Not to mention the superb turbo diesel torque works wonders on and off-road. You can run two types of fuel in it: regular diesel, or with the various required modifications, biodiesel or even veggie oil. I subscribe to 4WD Toyota Owner Magazine for info like this on Land Cruisers. Consider where gas prices are headed and it doesn’t take long to figure out a 4-cylinder diesel is what you want to be driving in the coming years.       For California residents with smog and registration questions: the Land Cruiser has a clear Washington state title and registration, plus all US Customs documents. It can be owned and driven in any state. For California, per CARB rules on diesels, any 1998 or later diesel vehicle must be smog checked, BUT THIS 1986 LAND CRUISER WILL NEVER HAVE TO BE SMOGGED! Therefore registering and licensing the Toyota in California requires nothing more than the Washington title and registration to be given to the CA DMV, and new California documents will be issued to you. The CA DMV Special Processing Unit phone # for diesel questions is 916-657-8035, give 'em a call and confirm any questions.      The factory CT-26 turbo is in great condition and really helps while going up mountain grades or passing on the freeway. Has a 3" down pipe and catback exhaust for quick, no-lag spooling of the turbo. Stock diameter was a strangling 1-7/8 inch. Sometimes the larger 3" exhaust tubing rattles against the body. For heavy use, like trailering, the Land Cruiser is also equipped with a professional turbo timer. A turbo timer is an extremely important piece of equipment for a turbo-equipped vehicle. It keeps the engine running for a pre-specified period of time in order to automatically execute the cool-down period required to prevent premature turbo wear and failure. After a period of driving when a turbo has been working hard, it is important to let the engine run at idle speed for a period of time, allowing the compressor assembly to cool. At the same time the oil from the engine is able to circulate properly so the turbine won't burn the oil that would otherwise be trapped within the charger. This turbo timer keeps the engine running for x-amount of minutes (you set the time) and allows the turbo to cool properly. It also has a cutoff switch so you can manually stop the engine before the allotted time is up. Tachometer is wonky, it works intermittently. The green dashboard turbo light also works to tell you when you’re in boost. There’s also a red light to warn of overboost. The diffs, engine, t-case and tranny do not drip oil! All seals are good.       Transmission is the classic A440F automatic with an overdrive top gear. All gears work smoothly with zero problems. Power steering is factory and works great.       The BJ74 LX has factory front disc brakes that work well. Rears are drum, also good shape. The rear axle is the rugged full floater that Australia and some other countries got on their Cruisers, but not the USA—we got semi-floaters here. Diff ratio is 4.11. The full floater is designed to take more weight and load. If you were to break an axle shaft on a semi-floater, the wheel will fall off. On a full floater, you can keep driving, although without power to that wheel. Full floaters are the way to go, being much stronger and far more reliable when offroad.       The Land Cruiser comes equipped with the factory Toyota limited slip differential in the rear for superior traction on pavement or offroad. The BJ74 is also factory equipped with a button that will put the truck into H4 automatically. Four-wheel drive Low Range is looooow for great crawling, and works great. The manual front hubs are factory Aisin units.       Springs, shocks, steering stabilizer and urethane bushings are Australian-made Pedders Suspension units at a mild 2" lift configuration, designed to accommodate up to a 33" tire. Tires are brand new 31x10.5x15 Bridgestone Duelers M+S mounted on unobtainium-in-the-States Aussie ROH-brand Black Trak wheels. The spare, also on a ROH Black Trak wheel, hangs on the OEM spare tire carrier.       Rust: the BJ74 LX is 99.99% rust free! Absolutely zero rot on this truck! The frame, floorboards, body and tub present essentially as new. Surface rust on frame/springs only. Minor dent (6” tall, 1”wide) on front right side, also minor bush rash with corresponding minor surface rust right side—extremely minor. The small black circles over the wheel wells are rubber plugs that fill and seal the holes where the original flares went. They look a bit weird, but they do a great job. Want new flares? Check Pacer Performance’s products. This Land Cruiser is as close to rust free as is possible for a truck that was built in January of 1986! Paint is original and amazingly good. Some flaking of clear coat on lower windshield frame, a few faded spots, some light scuffs and scratches, all pretty normal for a vehicle of this vintage.      How cool are the factory suspension seats with “TURBO” stitching?! The seats have an adjusting handle to dial in your weight. Underneath is a shock absorber and a coil spring that then adjust to your weight for a super smooth ride. The driver seat has a tear in it about 5” by 4”. One plastic attachment clip in the driver interior door panel has snapped, so one corner of the panel does not snap shut against the door. It is barely noticeable. Passenger seat and rear bench are excellent, as are the floorboards and carpets. Power windows and rear door lock came standard on the LX model.     The removable FRP top has never been removed and the weather seals are good, no leaks. Removal is ten bolts and then it's a convertible. Windshield also drops down for air-in-the-face wheeling. The factory roll bar is in great condition—only ever been in the “up” position :-). All filters replaced with new and all belts are good. It’s equipped with a Clarion stereo and excellent 6x9 Kenwood speakers. Has air conditioning, doesn’t work presently. JDM Koito-brand H4 headlights. The roof headliner is perfect. Two 6” Hella spotlights are mounted on the front bumper. LX-spec chrome bezel. Original running boards. Also have lots of helpful spares: fan, power steering and A/C belts, two extra 6” spotlights, oil seals, turbo timer instructions, transmission filter kit, slimmer radiator fan shroud for future use with an intercooler, two wide trailering mirrors, and the best part: a full, brand-new Australian-made Airflow snorkel system.       Check out 4WD Toyota Owner magazine for more on these Land Cruisers.       As my Aussie friend Rodney calls it, “She’s pure Land Cruiser gold, mate!” A good 70-series Land Cruiser is hard to find stateside. The turbo diesel BJ74 LX is supremely rare in the US, even more so in a low mileage, stock condition that isn't banged up and rusted out. It has all of the original features of the LX and the interior is great. The reliable 13B-T turbo diesel engine, 12-volt electrical system, transmission top gear overdrive and room for five all make this a Land Cruiser you can drive to Cruise Moab, TTORA Takeover, Marlin Crawler Roundup, Surf N Turf or Rubithon with no worries. I would not hesitate to drive this cross-country or across the globe tomorrow. Mechanically she is sound and the body of the vehicle is in great condition. Diesel fuel economy is awesome. There aren't many BJ74’s in existence like this one and with such low mileage. Has a clear Washington state title, and as mentioned this truck does NOT have to be smogged in California--ever! Sold as is with no implied or stated warranty. Bidders with zero feedback please email me first. Sorry, no PayPal. Certified check or cash only. If paying by check, I will release the title and vehicle upon bank clearing of the check to insure the check and transaction will clear, so if paying by this method I would suggest sending the check prior to vehicle pickup. Check my feedback and bid with confidence. The Land Cruiser is located in Gig Harbor, WA. I will gladly drive the Land Cruiser to a shipping depot in Tacoma, or you can fly into SeaTac and the Kitsap Airporter will take you right into town and I’ll meet you at the hotel it drops you at! Please feel free to email me questions. I love this truck and have owned it long enough to be able to give detailed answers. I truly hope it goes to a Cruiser enthusiast who can enjoy it for the rarity that it is, yet a truck that can conquer off-road in a heartbeat. Good luck, and thank you! Cheers!