pretty cool look @ the new 300 series

[sleepydad]

are the ladder frames and bodies the same - HV vs Prado?

Unfortunately no, you can see the difference where the coil buckets and other stuff... but if your thinking you wanted to get a prado and HV and kind of melt them into something else I'm sure you could. I just don't have one of each on hand to do measurements and answer your question.

prado KZJ78W
FRAME | Toyota LAND CRUISER S/T,H/T KZJ78W-MET FJ75,LJ7#,HZJ7#,PZJ7#,KZJ7# | Parts Catalogs | PartSouq

HZJ77HV
FRAME | Toyota LAND CRUISER S/T,H/T HZJ77HV-PEU FJ75,LJ7#,HZJ7#,PZJ7#,KZJ7# | Parts Catalogs | PartSouq

HZJ76K - part of me still wants to wait another 2 years because these trucks are really interesting. I'm getting old and I don't want to die and never own of these beasts.

Used 2000 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER/HZJ76K for Sale BK456418 - BE FORWARD

I have been thinking about the options. I want the 1HZ but really am not siked about the leafs. I think in 2000(1999 model year) the changed things up a bit with leaf's in the rear and radius up front. still floaters in the rear.

 

[repo]

I have a vague knowledge of 70 series from Ronny Dahl's channel but they are all the flatbed pickup type. The Landcruiser numbers takes some figuring out. I've been looking at them and the SUV ones (77 and 76) look so good. The 77 is like is a FJ40 got a 3rd gen 4runner pregnant (or the other way around?). These would surely sell like hot cakes if Toyota just put petrol engines, emissions control and airbags in them. Seems more like what the FJ Cruiser customer actually wanted. Classic but new looking at the same time.

Those are 70 series if I recall, I'm not a LC nerd. They're here in the US, or at least there's a couple in my area (I live in a very JDM centric area so hard to tell sometimes), but in either sense they're usually very scarce and nearly impossible to find for sale, at least for a decent price. I would argue it's one of the best looking cars Toyota ever produced - they're about as big as our vehicles but styled like older G Wagons and Land Rovers. And solid axle to boot :faint:
I keep telling myself one day I'll buy one :tsk:

 

[repo]

Would you convert to left hand drive or too difficult to bother with?

HZJ77HV were JDM (japan domestic market) only, so right hand drive only. A true 77 series land crusier with the 1HZ naturally aspirated 4.2L 6-Cylinder Diesel. 24V electrics throughout.

the HV at the end of model code means full floating rear axle but is also leaf sprung all the way around. So it's old school truck ride, but they did come with suspension seats. the ZX at the end is the lux version. they are very basic trucks compared to the prado version.

the Prado version model code KZJ78 is the light duty version of the same body style but with semi-floating rear.

Both had solid front axles. But the Prado has radius arms front and back and is coil sprung.

the KZJ78 has the 1KZ-T engine smaller 3.0 L 4 cylinder. I'm not sure when (1993 I think) but the 1KZ-TE was used and that is a common rail direct inject turbo, some were intercooled.

anyways.... I really don't know anything about them

here is a nice example of a prado

Used 1995 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER PRADO/KZJ78W for Sale BH551618 - BE FORWARD

 

[sleepydad]

Would you convert to left hand drive or too difficult to bother with?

the HZJ77HV is JDM market only, never sold anyplace else, there are some 77 that are sold elsewhere and they are left hand drive.

1993 Toyota Land Cruiser LJ77 for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $32,000 on April 30, 2020 (Lot #30,862) | Bring a Trailer

I can only imagine sourcing the parts to swap them to left hand drive with OEM parts. https://t4r-1351852ontarioin.netdna-ssl.com/images/smilies/flypig.gif

I'm not saying it can't be done but your going to have to get creative.

if you have a couple of days....

Builds - Let's build a 79 Series from parts... | IH8MUD Forum

I will also add for you this is a pretty decent rundown of the Toyota catalog we will never see in the Merica.

jdm-expo.com