So I happened across this bj garaged since new with only 25,000 miles. Yes- only 25,000! And it's for sale.....
A little background on my situation. I have a bj44 with 120,000 miles. The truck was poorly maintained but not too bad. Rust wise the rear is very clean but the rockers are shot. Bib, fenders, doors and hood all need to be replaced. I already have a set of factory fenders. The roof needs to come off and get the channel replaced. Needs all new rubber seals. Mechanically it is good. There are little things like an air leak n the injection system etc that need attention but most of the stuff that has needed to be taken care of has been done. The only looming issue is blowby- the engine will need some internal attention at some point- or just a replacement. Other things.... Needs springs and shock along with new bushings. Needs a new radiator or a recorded one. The biggie really is the rockers and paint. The whole thing is a mix of Freebrn and red oxide primer. Oddly it works but the primer is not a good long term solution. The remaining freeborn paint is base clear and the clear is peeling. So with that all in mind I've been planning on doing a full body restore. This has al lead me in the direction of making it into my dream truck. I like the older trucks and I'm been dreaming of restoring this as an older truck but with all the good later stuff that it came with. but the list of things to do/ mods is not lacking in detail. That is to say I have tons of ideas for how I'd like it to be.
The catch is that with 2 small kids and my own business I barely have time to touch the truck. Regular maintenance gets completed but barely. Nor do i want to spend the very little time I could be camping with the kids working on the truck. And honestly I really can't do a full restore as I need the truck daily.
The bj for sale is very cool but aside from being in like new condition it is not as classic as a 60's or early 70's truck. The fender flares, mirrors, blinkers, seats as well as the digital clock and dash are not exemplary of the era that I really love. All the details of the early truck- man they just rock! Plus those early colors- freakin cool. This truck is not a color I would choose if I could.
But the chance to have "new" bj46.... One that won't need any of the stuff tht my truck needs or will need in the next 5 years for another 25. One that I can maintain from the beginning as the factory prescribed. I mean it's still a 40 series truck.
So their u have it- go for the dream truck build of get the one that is ready to go for the long haul and call it good( for the time being). In the end they will cost the same. In fact in the end the low mile truck may prove to be cheaper. Especially so if I factor in my own time. Just so u know I've already calculated how many mile I'll put on the truck by the time I'm 80 (and I'm only 42 now.)
Why say Ye mud?
Pete
A little background on my situation. I have a bj44 with 120,000 miles. The truck was poorly maintained but not too bad. Rust wise the rear is very clean but the rockers are shot. Bib, fenders, doors and hood all need to be replaced. I already have a set of factory fenders. The roof needs to come off and get the channel replaced. Needs all new rubber seals. Mechanically it is good. There are little things like an air leak n the injection system etc that need attention but most of the stuff that has needed to be taken care of has been done. The only looming issue is blowby- the engine will need some internal attention at some point- or just a replacement. Other things.... Needs springs and shock along with new bushings. Needs a new radiator or a recorded one. The biggie really is the rockers and paint. The whole thing is a mix of Freebrn and red oxide primer. Oddly it works but the primer is not a good long term solution. The remaining freeborn paint is base clear and the clear is peeling. So with that all in mind I've been planning on doing a full body restore. This has al lead me in the direction of making it into my dream truck. I like the older trucks and I'm been dreaming of restoring this as an older truck but with all the good later stuff that it came with. but the list of things to do/ mods is not lacking in detail. That is to say I have tons of ideas for how I'd like it to be.
The catch is that with 2 small kids and my own business I barely have time to touch the truck. Regular maintenance gets completed but barely. Nor do i want to spend the very little time I could be camping with the kids working on the truck. And honestly I really can't do a full restore as I need the truck daily.
The bj for sale is very cool but aside from being in like new condition it is not as classic as a 60's or early 70's truck. The fender flares, mirrors, blinkers, seats as well as the digital clock and dash are not exemplary of the era that I really love. All the details of the early truck- man they just rock! Plus those early colors- freakin cool. This truck is not a color I would choose if I could.
But the chance to have "new" bj46.... One that won't need any of the stuff tht my truck needs or will need in the next 5 years for another 25. One that I can maintain from the beginning as the factory prescribed. I mean it's still a 40 series truck.
So their u have it- go for the dream truck build of get the one that is ready to go for the long haul and call it good( for the time being). In the end they will cost the same. In fact in the end the low mile truck may prove to be cheaper. Especially so if I factor in my own time. Just so u know I've already calculated how many mile I'll put on the truck by the time I'm 80 (and I'm only 42 now.)
Why say Ye mud?
Pete
as the kids are saying these days, You Only Live Once 
