Buying a Paj

[dassaw]

Hey guys, need some help with info regarding buying a Paj.

My brother is currently looking at a 89 model swb 2.5 Turbo Diesel, just wondering what you guys thought of this vehicle and what we should be looking at when we have a look at it. Any known problems etc.

Cheers

Darren

[J Top]

Engine blowby, cam belt due, oil leaks, turbo condition, front pulley loose, worn g/box- weak in that model

[simmo404]

Hi everyone, Ive just joined up but have been utilising the knowledge in these forums for a little while in my search to hopefully join the paj club. My brother started this post for me so thanks mate.

I had a look at the vehicle mentioned above and was impressed. A japanese import model with intercooler, so possibly its a 90 model? 130,000k's on the clock which is a bit suss for a 89 model and you do hear about k's getting winded back... But the car was in great condition inside and out, elec windows,AC, CDplayer, good 31inch A/T, bullbar, immobilizer,etc.

Drove well, more power than i expected. A bit of freeplay in the steering, should that be expected in an 89 model or is that an easy fix?

Regarding engaging 4wd, I had heard about reversing a few metres to do it, but was still a bit shocked though. What about from 4H to 4L? The same procedure?
Anyhow I left an offer of $6500 pending a mechanical inpection, his getting back to me. The timing belt had been replaced, no oil leaks. Had heard turbos should be replaced every 100000k's, is this the case? Oh yeah its an auto, couldn't find a decent manual diesel swb for the life of me.
Any help would be greatly appreciated and I look forward to learning and modding the paj.

[4wd26]

Mate, I have a SWB import and I have only 60000kms on it, so those kms are probably fair.
The price sound right, I run 33" tyres with the auto 2.5 itd combo, it is a bit slow off the mark but its ok, and the auto offroad is great.

Never heard about the turbo needing to be replaced!
Don't need to reverse out of low range, just stop and move the lever.

Mine has a bit of movement in the steering, not so much free play as big steering wheel leverage with the tall tyres.

I have a lot of info on this model I have picked up over the 18 months I have owned my vehicle. only had the top radiator tank split (after 600km dirt roads) and general servicing.

I did have the vehicle fully serviced by a 4wd mechanic after purchase, replaced a lot of the suspension bushes that had never been looked at.

There are some cheep suspension mods to get 50mm lift (use 4door coils from a gen 2 wagon.

I find it a great vehicle, a bit thirsty (uncorrected 13lt/100km)with the 33" tyres and auto.

Cheers

[dassaw]

Thanks for the reply, thats exactly the type of stuff we wanted to know. Cheers mate.

Anyone else own one of these turbo diesel swb imports?

[j-top paj]

cam belt due

definately worth looking at before buying it.
not just removing the top cover and having a look, but also timing belt "b" thats down the bottom and hard to see
until it breaks and you have to get towed home

[simmo404]

Just an update, did purchase the SWB mentioned above. Very happy withit so far.
Finished the 2inch lift today all went well except for a few gremlins. As expected (researched) the auto transmission selector is about one click out, park is reverse, drive is 2, etc. But how do i get first gear locked?? Or reallign the gear indicators?? Does console require some cutting?

Anyhow test drive went well. Then later on the way back to the city the windy roads and a bit of engine movement ended up sounding like there was a large whipper snipper under the bonnet. On inspection the fan was hitting the bottom radiator hose and hose clamp. Rotated the clamp, this minimised the fans haircut and i limped home checking the radiator hose every 20min & temp gauge.

Who has resolved these issues and how? I can either lower the radiator, however i thinks theres only about 10mm until it hits the A/C condenser pipes. Or smaller fan.

Thanks for your help

P.S. 33's on wednesday