Some help for a possible Nissan convert

[kiwi666]

I’m a Kiwi who’s in the process of moving to Sydney and I’m looking for some help/advice. First thing, can we please get the bad, sheep-related jokes out of the way now?

In NZ I have had a highly modded Y60 Nissan Safari SWB diesel (GQ Patrol to you). I won’t offend by posting a pic in this forum. I want to do a lot of long distance touring in Oz, particularly Cape York, and even if I could be bothered jumping through the hoops to try to bring it from NZ, the Safari is still not the right vehicle. So, I’ve come down to either a Y61 Patrol or a Cruiser. It has to be diesel and I want live axles all round for obvious reasons. This seems simple but I want auto transmission because my left knee is knackered. However, I haven’t yet seen an auto, diesel Patrol in trawling through used cars on the web and most Cruisers seem to be manual.

I don’t have to research Nissans but I do need some help with the Cruiser. My options seem to be either a late 80 Series or a 105 Series. Although I have great respect for the Nissan TD42 engine, it’s pretty primitive but I know all the variations, which in the Y61 are simply turbo diesel or turbo diesel intercooled. Cruiser engines are a lot more technically advanced but variations seem more complicated. I’ve figured out the basic differences between the HD-FT, HD-FTE and HZ but I’m still a bit confused as to which model has which engine and the question of intercooling.

I believe the 105 only comes with the HZ which is12-valve and naturally asthmatic. The HD-FTE goes into the 100 and is 24-v, intercooled and has electronic injection. What about the HD-FT, however? It’s 24-v and has mechanical injection. Initially I assumed that the HD-FT is turbo but non-intercooled but I have seen reference to factory fitted intercoolers and have seen a couple advertised.

If I’m correct that the 105 doesn’t have a turbo I would be most interested in a late model 80 IF I can get an auto with turbo and intercooler as I’m not interested in buying a 105 and then trying to fit another engine and box. So, general advice would be appreciated and I’m happy to be corrected on my assumptions.

Finally, if I can find a decent 97-98 80 Series with auto, turbo and intercooler, what would be a reasonable price? Sorry for the length of my first post but I have got as far as this by doing a lot of searches through this and other sources and I really need some help to get the right truck.

[ledgend80]

how much are you looking to spend

[TheBigBoy]

The old patrol vs cruiser debate...
You will get different opinions from different people based on their experiences.. But heres mine.

I had a GU patrol I spent mega bucks on...

I made my decission based on a few main points.

Value for money - You cant go passed an 80 series
Easier to work on than my patrol.
More forgiving and drives better with lift. (GU has 80kph shimmy, and shakes without drop box's)
The cruiser 4.2td is way quicker than the patrol 4.2td, and just as reliable.
You will have to fix a few things due to the age of the 80 series. But once you have they just keep on going...

All around a great 4x4 for very little $$$

[GeneralFubashi]

All the local models are 12volt here, only some imports came 24v afaik. Indeed, you may be searching for a while for a td42-t auto in a Gq, i cant say ive ever seen or heard of one either. The 105 did only come with the 1Hz and the petrol equivalent, no turbo, but there are kits for the 1Hz everywhere. The factory turbo cruiser engines are fantastic and you probably couldnt go past a factory turbo late 80. But the price can be a bit high sometimes. Seems people have heard they are an alright bit of kit.

Having said that, an 80 in the local club with a standard 1Hz fully loaded with family has no trouble beating me down the road in my td42-t Y61.

[110county]

The 80s came out with the 1HDFT from 95-98, they are definitely the ones to get but demand for them is high and so is the price. There have been a few on carsales lately that would be a good place to start. They did come out with an auto so you should be able to get what you want just depends how much you want to spend. Expect to pay up to $30k for a very good 80 with 1HDFT, they do rarely come up cheaper but you have to be looking, I got mine for $15k about 18mths ago (95 with 250km). They are not factory intercooled but can be done although is not necessary, safari make a kit but its exxy (>$2k). If you want to look up local prices etc try ebay, carsales.com.au or the trading post

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Toyota-Landcruis ... 1e58e4d65d
this is an example of a good one.

Good luck not going to get into the whole cruiser vs patrol debate we all know the pros and cons for each. I chose my 80 after looking at heaps of cars and thought they were far more comfortable than a gq for long distance driving and quicker/more fuel efficient in stock form.

[TheBigBoy]

30k sheeesh, who would pay that. I just got a td 80 for 12k and got my petrol 1 for 6k

[kiwi666]

how much are you looking to spend

I'd spend up to $30k for something really, really good. From what I've seen, there's a very wide price range. I've seen a 97 80 Series with 200k on the clock, auto tran and HD-FT with factory intercooler and diff locks for which they're asking $29k. It seems to fit the bill but I don't enough about the market to know whether this is value. I could spend more if there were a more modern truck, but there isn't. If I want live axles I have no current choice other than a ZD30 Patrol or a JK Wrangler Unlimited. And don't even mention Land Rovers.

I don't mind doing a suspension lift, fitting a winch/bar, lockers, a snorkel etc but I don't want to get into motor swaps. So, I keep coming back to a 96-98 80 Series, given that I want an auto. I suppose this begs the question, which has probably been often asked, why the hell didn't Toyota put the HD-FT or HD-FTE into the 105?

[bj on roids]

Hey, a guy at my work is selling an auto non turbo 1HZ for $15k 1998 model, GXL with some goodies. I just got rid of a 1998 DX pov pack, but it had airbags. I drive a 1997 for work and its fantastic, far better than the psatrol, in terms of comfort and steering/brakes on the long haul.. The front diff could use a airlocker and solid crush spacer for some additional strength if you are going to be up it big time.

[bj on roids]

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/pri ... 340CB68990

100 series, but methinks no solid axle, could be being 2001, but that high a spec

Make sure you get a "WOVR" search too. The country up around cape york aint so bad, some of the tracks are a little gnarly, but most cars get through no worries, IFS or not. One of the hardest things is the shear distance you need to travel to get there and back, the actual tracks themselves I did in a brand new hilux.

[kiwi666]

Thanks for all your info. This isn't a Cruiser vs Patrol debate as I know the goods and bads of the Patrol and I can't get an auto anyway. So, I'm looking for a late model auto Cruiser with the 1HD-FT and they seem to be few and far between and those that do exist are not cheap. Still cheaper than a 100 Series however. I've got time so I'll keep looking.

Just by the way, how much of a PITA would it be to get, say, a WA truck registered in NSW?

[thrashlux]

shame u did not have a year to own a vx in nz before u came back
then u would have had 1hdft with auto and all the fruit

[bj on roids]

Thanks for all your info. This isn't a Cruiser vs Patrol debate as I know the goods and bads of the Patrol and I can't get an auto anyway. So, I'm looking for a late model auto Cruiser with the 1HD-FT and they seem to be few and far between and those that do exist are not cheap. Still cheaper than a 100 Series however. I've got time so I'll keep looking.

Just by the way, how much of a PITA would it be to get, say, a WA truck registered in NSW?

If it is all stock standard and tyres etc are legal, then not a real lot of hassle. Modifications are where it starts to become difficult.

[bj on roids]

shame u did not have a year to own a vx in nz before u came back
then u would have had 1hdft with auto and all the fruit

Have you considered bringing a 80 wagon from Japan?

[kiwi666]

Thanks again for all your input. Given what's been said about buying a car interstate, how does one go about buying a Jap import? I also take the point about about owning onevfor a year in NZ. I've already come up against this nonsense with another vehicle I wanted to bring with me. I guess I'll just have to keep an eye on the various websites as I'm not really in any hurry.

110 County, I was interested in the one you flagged up on ebay but it's gone already.