I have done a bit of reseach lately trying to get brake pads!
I found a local Toyota dealer who was very helpful, and didn't baulk at the mention of 'Jap import'.
Mine is a CR30 MasterAce Surf (4X4).
He said many servicable parts are directly interchangable with the YR31 which was the Aussie market 4X4 Tarago.
Obviously not engine and fuel, as Aussie market was petrol only. Only a small number or 2C motors, and not in 4X4.
I don't know if the 4X4 version was sold in the UK as new, but it may help to ask for part to suit YR31 - especially if in Aust.
The 2WD version was coded as YR21, so if you have a 2WD Townie, it may pay to ask with that reference.
Personally I then let them know it is a jap import, and they cross it anyway to see if they ahve a listing, but you avoid the 'Jap tax'.
The Toyota bloke was happy to confirm for me that the part numbers were the same.
NOTE OF CAUTION: He did say most - and there will be differences in some cases, so find a way to double check.
Dave.
- (#9760) DaveW, 1 Apr 04 18:37
Yup, we know this. C= diesel, Y= petrol. 30, 31 are 4x4, all the 20s are 2wd. The UK never got a 4x4 Spacecruiser, but some parts cross-reference books mention a YR31- eg Brakeworld/ Lockheed. It's really only running gear that'll transfer, although many body and trim items should be the same as a pre-90 townie.
- (#9760) david miller, 1 Apr 04 23:37
Dave
here in the UK we only had the 2WD petrol version of your Tarago, called the SpaceCruiser. The first incarnation was the 1800cc 2Y engine from 1982 to about 1985 (oh happy days, I had an 83 model) when it was revamped with a 2 litre 3Y engine and discontinued in 1990. Some of the parts can be used on the Townie such as brakepads plus engine parts for the petrol Townie.
- (#9760) Ian Dunse (Derbs), 1 Apr 04 23:43
Yep, I figured you may have had some of this info already, but it can't hurt to re-state.
The bloke at the Toyota place here simply said "Much of the consumeables are the same" without going further into it.
I assumed it would be basically running gear, but at least the brakes are the same! (Of course we know that the filters etc are different!)
I know that my Auto Trans is the same number as the US auto, and the diffs are the same also.
Do you know if the suspension components are the same rating etc (springs and the like?) for often diesels have heavier spring rates to compensate for the heavier engine.
We have a "JAP Tax" over here - as soon as you say it is a jap import the price of anything seems to double, so where I can I ask for the Aussie market equivalent.
- (#9760) DaveW, 4 Apr 04 19:45