[trekker]

If you had a 1968, rust free, 94.5% stock FJ-40 that had a thrown a rod, what would you do?

A. Fix the engine assuming that it is indeed “fixable”?
B. Drop in a snappy reconditioned 1F that has been built by a mechanic with a solid background in Toyota engines with all new Toyota fixin’s?
C. Replace the 1F with squeaky clean rebuilt 2F from MAF?
D. Other?

What would you do if you had a $3k budget? I’ll pull and install the engine no matter what route I choose. I have a pile of stuff on my plate right now and don’t really feel like piddlin’ around and doing a DIY job of rebuilding so I’ll farm out the rebuilding work of option “A” above.

I’m a “purist” or hover around “purist” status. I’d like to retain that snapshot in time look of the ’68. However I do have realist tendencies and acknowledge the plusses by dropping in a 2F. After all it was the lack-o-lube of the F that started this all in the first place imo.

I plan on keeping the 40 for a while. If I do sell it, would the fact that the engine was replaced with a 2F matter for a collector? This won’t be a trail rig for a long time…

Thank you all in advance for your pearls of wisdom. Here's a pic of my junk to refresh memories.

[D'Animal]

You forgot to add the poll.

After seeing GreenFox's 1F in his rig wind up to 6,000 and bark the tires hitting second, I'm a believer.

I would go with "B".

[tucker74]

Drop in a later model 2F and be done with it, it's stock enough for all but the most anal purest and it will be much nicer to drive.

My $.02

Tucker

[Landpimp]

I'd stick with the same model motor that it came with, so rebuild yours or go wtih the rebuild F but also don't have a issue with installing a 2F, better motor all the way around really, but down the road the 2f "might" effect value somewhat depending on the buyer.

not much help eh?

thats a sweet 40 you got

[greytandy]

Originally Posted by tucker74

Drop in a later model 2F and be done with it, it's stock enough for all but the most anal purest and it will be much nicer to drive.

My $.02

Tucker

Why would a 2F be nicer to drive? I tend to "B".

[Coolerman]

Beautiful Cruiser! Keep it original. A or B

[mikealeus]

Haven't seen that one before , what a beauty. I'd probably go with the 2F. Toyota changed from the 1F for a reason, more power and better oiling system. Off the subject, what are those black pieces bolted to the front bumper?

[D'Animal]

Originally Posted by mikealeus

Off the subject, what are those black pieces bolted to the front bumper?

They are for a Stowmaster tow bar.

[FJBen]

How purist are ya?


I'd go for a sweet 1F stroker build!

[LI FJ40]

beautiful truck.

I might be in the minority here, but to an absolute collector or"purist"

the vechicle should be "numbers matching" or as close to original as

possible, that is why I think you should stay with the 1F

[timbercruiser]

People who buy 40s use them off-road, so resale *shouldn't* change much-if at all. Besides, you need to keep it forever. Do what will best suit your needs.

[yotamotive]

The solution is obvious, use the mechanic in B to fix option A, the original engine. There are plenty of hack job 40s out there for modifying. All original is getting harder and harder to find. Good luck!!

[MDH33]

Stick with the F. You'll be able to reuse a lot of your F parts on a newly rebuilt F block while keeping it original.

[79fj40moneypit]

A and B is the only solution for a original! Very nice 40!

[tucker74]

Originally Posted by greytandy

Why would a 2F be nicer to drive? I tend to "B".

See post #7 - it's just an all around better engine, I'd even go with a '79+

Originally Posted by LI FJ40

beautiful truck.

I might be in the minority here, but to an absolute collector or"purist"

the vechicle should be "numbers matching" or as close to original as

possible, that is why I think you should stay with the 1F

No such thing with Cruisers - it would have the correct "year" engine if it was original, but there is no such number "matching" like domestics. Keep in mind Toyota refined and improved on these engines every year or two for 30 years.

I also made my initial comment having owned and driven many miles with both a F155 and a 2F -

My opinion of course

Tucker

[tucker74]

Originally Posted by Landpimp

I'd stick with the same model motor that it came with, so rebuild yours or go wtih the rebuild F but also don't have a issue with installing a 2F, better motor all the way around really, but down the road the 2f "might" effect value somewhat depending on the buyer.

not much help eh?

thats a sweet 40 you got

I believe you went with a 2F in your 45lwb didn't you? Even though you kept the original large window single barrel for that uber-cool retro touch

Tucker

[Zekester]

I had a similar dilemma with '66 Fairlane, mildy damaged 289...

I put in a triple two barrel 390, and oiled and bagged the old 289, when I sold it, the new owner was quite happy that he had the original engine, albiet in a bag,

So put in the new 2F for your enjoyment, keep the old engine for the new owner (if and when you sell)

[Rigger]

Trekker, what a nice rig you have there! You certainly have high-class problems!

I suggest you drop in the motor of choice and keep the old one in a crate in your shed. Then, if you sell the truck, you can haul out the crate and say here's the original motor, complete with the original thrown rod and it goes with the truck.

[trekker]

Thanks all for your pearls of wisdom. I'm not gonna do anything until Junk posts up though.

Good idea setting the engine aside. It's got a couple of cool features like the early California emissions controls.

[1973Guppie]

Originally Posted by timbercruiser

People who buy 40s use them off-road, so resale *shouldn't* change much-if at all. Besides, you need to keep it forever. Do what will best suit your needs.

I disagree, I see 40's off road less and less nowadays, more and more they are being turned into museum pieces, rightly so, as their resale value has gone WAY up in the past 10 years.

That is a beautiful truck, if it were me I would have the engine that is in there rebuilt. That way you can take pics of how things are connected etc and it will be an easy swap to do.

Noah

[DallasFJ40]

You could sell it to me. It can't be worth much with a thrown rod.....





Hybrid A + B

[blueticker17]

replace with same kind.'
That rig is too perfect to change things now.
Repair it if you can.
It is your truck though and you should do what makes you happy.

[hks3sgte]

Drop in a 2F and rebuild your F.... If you ever need to sell it, you can include the original F engine... that would be over $3K, huh?

[Ziffdaddy]

Originally Posted by Mszekely

I had a similar dilemma with '66 Fairlane, mildy damaged 289...

I put in a triple two barrel 390, and oiled and bagged the old 289, when I sold it, the new owner was quite happy that he had the original engine, albiet in a bag,

So put in the new 2F for your enjoyment, keep the old engine for the new owner (if and when you sell)

I second that idea...sounds like a plan.

[066wally]

First B, then A. Do em both if you can. Never know when you might find another cruiser that needs a good F.
If mine was that nice when it needed a new motor, I woulda stayed with the F. I went to a 2F since I had one laying around that needed slightly less work than the F did. If I had it to do over I woulda still put the 2F in but I would have also hung on the the F and had it rebuilt. I would have kept the 3 speed too. Being in college at the time put a real damper on those plans though.

[Basserine]

Welllllllllll.

If the engine is the original I would pick option A. If it has been replaced already, then option B.

If I was a collector I think I would want it as close to factor original as I could get it.

[REZARF]

On a rig that nice, I would vote to keep the #'s matching.

[shelfboy1]

i put a 2f in my 69 ragtop and used all the parts from the f engine dist, manifold ect so nothing really changed much except the block .as far as collector value how long is this going to last so as mentioned save the old block just in case good luck

[apeterson]

keep it stock!!!!

[fj40z]

I'd keep it stock, Man I wish I was fortunate enough to have to make that decision, thats a nice looking truck.