ExPo Project: 1991 Land Cruiser Prado SX (LJ78)

[Scott Brady]

The team was busy this last week preparing the LJ78 for Cruiser Fest. I like the end result. Look for a complete article on the installation, the parts selected, etc. in the next few weeks.

[sailor]

Prado is really coming along! The guys here at ATEB in Burnaby BC just picked up a second LJ78 (Twin to the first one) which they wheel locally. The first one now has a 3LT in it, with the 2LT going to the second one, both bodies are pretty mint as well. Reported that the head issue can be controlled with sane driving habits and careful maintenance but it is truly a weak spot in the whole program. The 3LT Prado now has an 80 series elocker in front, intercooler and custom turbo, air actuated PTO winch, compressor, and gets wheeled aggressively. The power of the winch on that rig is staggering!

http://youtu.be/iKLuKzMPySo

[shredwagon]

Never thought of a Prado as a Land Cruiser..... until I saw John's. Man, that's one bad-*** 78. ATEB is next level!

Any plans for an intercooler?

[kfgk14]

How do you get a LC Prado in the US, exactly? Very nice build, very clean!

[n_maher]

.

How do you get a LC Prado in the US, exactly? Very nice build, very clean!

The truck is registered to our Canadian office. We will be able to import it to the US in three years.

[Scott Brady]

The 3LT Prado now has an 80 series elocker in front, intercooler and custom turbo, air actuated PTO winch, compressor, and gets wheeled aggressively. The power of the winch on that rig is staggering!

http://youtu.be/iKLuKzMPySo

Cool video!

We are really enjoying the LJ78, especially with the recent modifications. The OME suspension was a night/day improvement over stock. It rides better, handles better and actually has some compression travel now!

We don't have much more planned for it. We are installing the Air Lockers in the next month or two and are doing a full cooling system rebuild to keep the little turbo diesel happy.

We did pull out the awful double-din stereo/nav thingy from the dash and install factory cubby and block-off plate. Much better!

[behemoth60]

Hey im new here. I just bought and registered a 1991 landcruiser prado turbo deisel.

I am very sorry to hear that.

It has 137 000km on it. Second day after i insured it it blew the head gasket going up the malahat

That's the normal story we hear around these parts. I live in Calgary, the Golden land of 70 series cruisers, and the head-death central for Prado's. Seems that the high speed prairie highways and the steep mountain passes are the perfect combination to kill 2L Heads.

No-one in the know would EVER recommend this vehicle to anyone, ever, I am afraid to say. The Prado, being mini truck based is too light to be good expo material. All the good guts of the Land Cruiser are missing... the strong diesels, the HD drivelines, the full size diffs. Everythng that makes the Land Cruiser a legend. This, coupled with the curse of the 2LT head, Prado is a cuss word in these parts.

A highly recommended modification if you are serious about driving a Prado is a big military ammo can with some springs in the bottom. Fill with heads. The springs will pop-out a new head each time you open the ammo-can alla the venerable Pez dispesner. [imagine a smiley here]

Indeed... 70 series ARE the ultimate expo platform for all the right reasons. You just have to start with the right model, like a BJ74. Now that's a machine!
IMG_0014.jpg
Spent 30 days living in this machine this summer, including 2 weeks through the back roads of Utah. There's not to many places a well equipped 70 series cannot go. This unit has been to the arctic, up the Canol as far as you can reasonably go, Rubicon, Moab, Black Hills....

Peter Straub

[Scott Brady]

Nearly all of the modifications are complete and the Land Cruiser is ready for the SEMA show in Las Vegas. After that, time to explore! We will post all of the project details in the coming weeks.

[NM-Frontier]

That is a beauty!

[94SRUNNER]

Scott...how are those Coopers holding up on the 78?