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Thread: Purchasing 500,000+ km County with 4BD1? Too many miles?

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    Purchasing 500,000+ km County with 4BD1? Too many miles?

    Hi. I'm looking at a 1989 Country with a 4DB1 motor in the USA that was imported from Australia. It has some mods, but is mostly a clean country. Starts up quickly, no smoke. No visible rust. She's a beauty.

    My concern is that is has more than 500,000 km / 300,000 miles. I know these engines are supposed to have ridiculous longevity ("run forever"), but what do I need to watch out for? Would you consider purchasing at that high mileage if the price was right? What should I be considering with this high of miles on the motor?

    Prices in the US for these trucks are absurd compared to UK and Aussie trucks. This is a rare find in the US, so it's temping. But should I wait for one with lower millage? I know fewer of these vehicles exist every year, especially in the US.

    Thank you!

  2. #2
    Bearman's Avatar
    Bearman is offline TopicToaster Gold Subscriber
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    Welcome to AULRO and I can tell you that 500K is nothing for one of these vehicles if it has been maintained properly. Sounds like the engine is fine but if in doubt you could do a compression check. Each cylinder should be around 400 - 440 psi. The gearboxwill be an LT85 5 speed if unchanged from new and is the only item that can give you problems. 5th gear fails eventually behind the Isuzu engine and then damages the rest of the gearbox also the mainshaft splines wear under the transfer input gear from lack of lubrication. There is a modification to fix that. If it gives a clunk in the gearbox area when you put the foot down or back off it will most likely be that. Everything is fixable - good luck.
    Cheers......Brian
    1985 110 V8 County
    1998 110 Perentie GS Cargo 6X6 ARN 202516 (Brutus)

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    Quote Originally Posted by Bearman View Post
    Welcome to AULRO and I can tell you that 500K is nothing for one of these vehicles if it has been maintained properly. Sounds like the engine is fine but if in doubt you could do a compression check. Each cylinder should be around 400 - 440 psi. The gearboxwill be an LT85 5 speed if unchanged from new and is the only item that can give you problems. 5th gear fails eventually behind the Isuzu engine and then damages the rest of the gearbox also the mainshaft splines wear under the transfer input gear from lack of lubrication. There is a modification to fix that. If it gives a clunk in the gearbox area when you put the foot down or back off it will most likely be that. Everything is fixable - good luck.
    Thanks for the reply. According to the seller, it has solid compression. It's a 4 speed transmission though.

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    Purchasing 500,000+ km Country with 4BD1? Too many miles?

    A 1989 County with a LT95 4 speed is not usual so was probably fitted to replace a worn 5 speed gearbox. The LT95 box is stronger and I find it good in my current 110, having previously owned a 1986 with 5 speed LT85.
    L322 tdv8 poverty pack - wow
    Perentie 110 wagon ARN 49-107 (probably selling) turbo, p/steer, RFSV front axle/trutrack, HF, gullwing windows, double jerrys etc.
    Perentie 110 wagon ARN 48-699 another project
    Track Trailer ARN 200-117
    REMLR # 137

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    Homestar's Avatar
    Homestar is offline Super Moderator & CA manager Gold Subscriber
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    4DB1 and LT95 are a good combo and should be fine as stated if looked after. Engine is easy to work on and parts are readily available so no dramas there.
    If you need to contact me please email homestarrunnerau@gmail.com - thanks - Gav.

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    Welcome to the forums. Youve alrewdy heard from the best regarding 4bd1's and the differences between the lt85 and lt95, so all I have to add is encouragement, having now been through this myself in the US a few times, I can tell you to do as outlined to check the engine and, if for any reason you eventuslly run into trouble, they're easy to rebuild (relatively) and will then go another 500k+ miles (yes miles, 500k kms is just getting warmed up if properly cared for). I've had the pleasure of owning 3 (1 county and 2 perenties), have rebuilt one engine (thanks to the guidance of those here) and am in the process of rebuilding a spare I also acquired for ten years from now when I might need another.

    I've driven them all over the country from florida to the great lakes to Yellowstone and back to Appalachia and have had nearly no issues, and expect you will too so long as properly maintained.

    Again, welcome to the forum.
    Scratching my teenage itch now that I'm in my midlife crisis...
    '87 110 County 4BD1+T+LP (Godzilla)
    '88 110 Perentie Cargo 4BD1+T+LP (Thing1)
    '91 110 Perentie Cargo 4BD1+T+LP (Thing2)

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    Im Confused, did you need some advice about how to do the post run in service?
    Dave

    "In a Landrover the other vehicle is your crumple zone."

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    JDNSW is offline RoverLord Silver Subscriber
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    Mine has done 660,00km, and is in good shape. Only things done on the engine itself have been some gaskets (sump and manifold), injectors, and crankshaft seals, plus multiple thermostats. Alternator and starter have not been trouble free.

    The LT95 is the preferable box with this engine, as it stands up to it better.
    John

    JDNSW
    1986 110 County 3.9 diesel
    1970 2a 109 2.25 petrol

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    I consider the LT85 is the better combination with the 4BD1. The overdrive 5th. gear makes it a far superior tourer. You do not use overdrive below 80 km/h or towing. As with all 4BD1's the rough idle destroys the input shaft and bearing so turn up the idle speed to a smooth idle on a warm engine. It is important to have a good thermostat as this engine is thirsty and does not perform well unless at operating temperature.
    URSUSMAJOR

  10. #10
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    But 5th in the LT85 and 4th with the LT95 are almost exactly the same gear ratio in stock form.

    0.948 versus 0.996 I can’t see how that is enough to even notice.

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