[rutbeer]

The true no-brainer was taking the piece of crap V8 out of the solid bodied 74....I have been truly wrestling with this since I sold it and realized what I had with the two stockers. The 78 has a valve guide leak, manifold leak, and the tranny doesn't shift nearly as smooth as the fj60 I had, but it starts every time, doesn't complain, doesn't dictate a motor removal, and holds it's value as it is. You don't even see that many solid stock 40 anymore either.

You are right that the 45 brakes suck....big pita. And as cool as the column shifter is, it certainly has it's limitations.....but it's a step back in time. I've never driven anything like it.

Honestly, if the conversion was done right and made to "look" factory, I think either would hold their value pretty well. 10 years down the road, maybe not, but now, probably. Regardless, I tend to do either conversion so that it could be "undone" in the future. Everything I ever do is bolt on modification so that if I change my mind, you won't know it was there. I fabricate brackets and what not, but try not to even drill holes.....I'm kind of weird that way.