Pete.
For what you have said you want to do with it, yes I would buy it if it is
nice condition. Personally I like the 78 series trucks, yes the 2.4TD engine
has it's issues, but as long as you get it cheap or put aside =A3500 for a new
head just in case, then the rest of them is well built and strong. With the
head working OK the 2.4TD can go as long as an 80 series diesel without any
work, the bottom end is bombproof. It's basically a Turbo'd Hilux engine and
they go on for ever, abused by Builders and the like and very rarely
complain.
Yes the Heavy Duty 1HZ engined &X trucks are stronger but to be honest it is
a Land Cruiser after all. I know of people using them in Canada in
ridiculously cold conditions, doing real challenging off-road work and they
are perfectly capable of anything you throw at them.
However, and this is a big one, don't pay too much for it, it shouldn't be
worth what an 80 series is.
Cheers
Andy
Cheltenham, UK
From: "Peter Browning" <[Email address removed]>
Subject: RE: [ELCO] LJ78 2.4
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 2008 09:26:23 -0000
Reply-To: [Email address removed]
Would you buy one?
Pete
-----Original Message-----
From: [Email address removed] [mailto:[Email address removed]] On
Behalf Of Andy Harvey
Sent: 09 March 2008 07:36
To: [Email address removed]
Subject: [ELCO] LJ78 2.4
Pete.
A bit gutless, but the bottom end of the engine is bulletproof. However the
top end is a different story. The 2LT (UK) or 2LTE (import) suffer from
cracked heads very often, lots of potential reasons and a new head at around
450 pounds is the only solution. Timing belt is a PITA to change unlike the
80 diesel.
They are easy to work on apart from that though. Not as good a vehicle as a
heavy duty 7x model or an 80 but still beat the pants off most 4x4s.
As has been said, post 94 with the 1KZT or 1KZTE engine is better, however
these are also now cracking heads however less so than the 2LT. Easier to
work on the engine too- apart from the turbo.
Cheers
Andy
Cheltenham, UK