Hey everyone,
I have been struggling with the question of what to do with my 1987 FJ-60, Fix it, sell it, trail rig, etc. The history of my truck is as follows, I am the second owner; I have owned it since 2000. The original owner trashed the truck in MANY ways, body, interior, and engine, etc. If I could do it over, my truck was NOT a good starting point; however it is what it is! Now seven years later and MANY thousands of dollars later, it needs to be re-restored again. The money spent in the past 7 years was to fix the rust, which has come back, and repair the frame which now should be replaced. Also much was done in the way of mechanical issues, but the engine could you use a rebuilding and the trans as well. Over the summer I had to add up all the 60 bills, and I was sick! Also last March the truck was damaged by two punk kids, paint was keyed.
Well as a result of my gas pedal sticking I dropped the 60 at the Land Cruiser shop to be repaired.
I asked him to evaluate my truck, as far as restoration. He feels that the frame should be replaced, with a approx labor rate of $2500, about $600 for the frame, and about $500 for odds and ends. With respect to the body, he feels that it needs about $3800 worth of rust repair and paint. I do trust that the body rust repair wil be done correctly by the "Cruiser" shop. After that the interior should be "gone over" as well as the engine, and trans. I have new springs for the truck waiting to go in. So I guess for somewhere in the area of $10,000 I could have a "new" Cruiser.
I realize that I could sell my truck and start whith a better example, but then I would lose thousands of dollars in parts, OEM bumpers, OEM carb, OEM PS pump, soon to have rebuilt JIM C Dizzy, redone AC system, and I can go on. So for what I would get for the entire, would be small compared to the sum of parts.
So if I was to "restore/rebuild" my 60, what direction should I go in? What are the ways to ensure the I would have a BULLETPROOF 60? I would go any length to prevent rust. With respect to the frame, what do you think about hot dip galvinizing? What other ideas do you have to make it the best 60 that it could be? Would I end with a better product if I reworked my 60? The benefit to my 60 is that "I know my truck" Even a "rust free" 60 would not have a galvinized frame!
Any ideas, tips, feelings, etc? I know this is a long post, and thank you for reading it and giving me your ideas.
Zack
I have been struggling with the question of what to do with my 1987 FJ-60, Fix it, sell it, trail rig, etc. The history of my truck is as follows, I am the second owner; I have owned it since 2000. The original owner trashed the truck in MANY ways, body, interior, and engine, etc. If I could do it over, my truck was NOT a good starting point; however it is what it is! Now seven years later and MANY thousands of dollars later, it needs to be re-restored again. The money spent in the past 7 years was to fix the rust, which has come back, and repair the frame which now should be replaced. Also much was done in the way of mechanical issues, but the engine could you use a rebuilding and the trans as well. Over the summer I had to add up all the 60 bills, and I was sick! Also last March the truck was damaged by two punk kids, paint was keyed.
Well as a result of my gas pedal sticking I dropped the 60 at the Land Cruiser shop to be repaired.
I asked him to evaluate my truck, as far as restoration. He feels that the frame should be replaced, with a approx labor rate of $2500, about $600 for the frame, and about $500 for odds and ends. With respect to the body, he feels that it needs about $3800 worth of rust repair and paint. I do trust that the body rust repair wil be done correctly by the "Cruiser" shop. After that the interior should be "gone over" as well as the engine, and trans. I have new springs for the truck waiting to go in. So I guess for somewhere in the area of $10,000 I could have a "new" Cruiser.
I realize that I could sell my truck and start whith a better example, but then I would lose thousands of dollars in parts, OEM bumpers, OEM carb, OEM PS pump, soon to have rebuilt JIM C Dizzy, redone AC system, and I can go on. So for what I would get for the entire, would be small compared to the sum of parts.
So if I was to "restore/rebuild" my 60, what direction should I go in? What are the ways to ensure the I would have a BULLETPROOF 60? I would go any length to prevent rust. With respect to the frame, what do you think about hot dip galvinizing? What other ideas do you have to make it the best 60 that it could be? Would I end with a better product if I reworked my 60? The benefit to my 60 is that "I know my truck" Even a "rust free" 60 would not have a galvinized frame!
Any ideas, tips, feelings, etc? I know this is a long post, and thank you for reading it and giving me your ideas.
Zack