"Under Pressure" - 1991 Toyota Land Cruiser VX - HDJ81

up-n-over

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2008
Location
Clover, SC
Last November I bought a 1991 HDJ81 Land Cruiser VX with the legendary 1HDT 4.2 liter turbo Diesel engine and A442F automatic transmission. It had recently been fitted with brand new 35" Dick Cepek tires on Lodiodrive wheels, had a 5" lift, a roof rack, and aluminum front bumper, but was otherwise stock.

Since buying the truck I have completed/added the following:
  • Fabricated and installed an intercooler system
  • 12K winch
  • Transmission cooler with thermostatically controlled fan
  • TJM air lockers - front and rear with TJM air compressor
  • Twin Viair 485C compressors (for on-boar-air system)
  • 5 gallon on-board-air tank
  • Installed bumper mounted quick connect for OBA
  • Cobra 29LX CB radio
  • Pyrometer, Transmission temp, Boost gages
  • 7" LED spot lights
  • 4" amber LED fog lights
  • Snorkel
  • Rebuilt steering knuckles
  • Poly sway bar bushings
  • Rancho RS900XL front shocks
  • Power steering pump
  • Full synthetic transmission fluid
  • Kenwood double DIN
The truck is full time four wheel drive and has a factory locking center diff. It had an open front diff, and a limited slip rear diff. When I installed the TJM air lockers I kept the 4.10 gears.

I chose to install the TJM compressor to activate the lockers, and installed the Viair compressors for the On-Board-Air system. If there is a problem with the TJM compressor I can easily swap over to the Viair system.
 

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Here are some pics of the truck as it sits today:
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The next steps are:
  1. Replace big-end-rod-bearings. (The truck runs great, but they are apparently the weak point on the 1HDT engine, so I am going to replace them as preventive maintenance.)
  2. Purchase and install rear tire carrier bumper
 
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This truck is a JDM version of the 80 series Land Cruiser that came to the USA via JDM importers near Columbia, South Carolina. It is right-hand-drive. This took a little getting used to, but is natural now. The only funky thing about driving a RHD truck is that the turn signal switch is on the right side of the column, and the windshield wiper is on the left. This means my wipers got a good workout the first few weeks of driving. I had the same problem with my Autozam Scrum mini truck.
 
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Way cool, i see that JDM company out of columbia listing some sweet rigs time to time on the CL
 
Way cool, i see that JDM company out of columbia listing some sweet rigs time to time on the CL
They are great guys. They took me to the DOT and had the title in my hand before I started home. Easiest transaction ever.
 
This past weekend I installed my new GTurbo Grunter Extreme turbocharger. The factory turbo was boosting around 10 PSI and the GTurbo is boosting 22PSI post intercooler. I altered the aneroid pin to give it a better fueling profile, adjusted the aneroid spring, and set the fuel flow screws. I get a puff of smoke when I take off, but it clears off quickly. I also get something that I never though I would hear... Tires barking on launch!!!

This GTurbo is great!!!
 

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My 4x4Labs bumper finally came in. Great quality product. I got it test fitted, and now I need to pull it off and prep and paint it.
 

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This truck is a JDM version of the 80 series Land Cruiser that came to the USA via JDM importers near Columbia, South Carolina. It is right-hand-drive. This took a little getting used to, but is natural now. The only funky thing about driving a RHD truck is that the turn signal switch is on the right side of the column, and the windshield wiper is on the left. This means my wipers got a good workout the first few weeks of driving. I had the same problem with my Autozam Scrum mini truck.
What do you do in a drive-thru? Back in? ;-)
 
IMG_2289.jpeg IMG_2293.jpeg Got the Spyder out one last time. I am probably trading it on Monday for a 1983 Mercedes 380SL convertible
 
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Within the last couple of weeks I got the 4x4Labs bumper installed, redesigned/rebuilt my on-board-air tank mounting system, installed a 3" exhaust system and I painted the front bumper
 

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Traded the Spyder for a very nice 1983 Mercedes 380SL
 

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