OK...the details:
I bought the 60 in Slidell,LA in late 2002. It was 100% intact but the owner "figgered" he could part it out at the salvage yard, so i bought the whole thing.
The truck had water over the seat bottoms in 2002 but did not get into the dash(I kept the water marks to prove it). There was water in the front axle, trans/transfer, and exhaust. Some water did get into the oilpan through the dipstick tube. When i checked the oil, there was indication of water on the bottom of the dipstick and oil above, so it had not been started. Water did not go in through the intake or exhaust. The truck had a salvage title, but it is not stamped "flood". My 60 has a rebuilt MS title.....sadly.
I changed all fluids and spark plugs, charged the battery, starter, and got her running. I removed the carpet and seats, completely removed the insulation under the carpet, simple greened the floors, pressure washed the carpet and scrubbed the interior before reinstalling everything. My first drive was over 100 miles from Hammond,LA to Ocean Springs! The truck had seen use as a local weekend beach truck for the fam until moving back to LA in 2004 where it didn't see as much use due to my commute. I drove it back again to Ocean Springs Dec 2008 when we returned to the MS Gulf Coast. I've only put 3000 miles on it, mostly around town, but it has never stranded me. I've only been off-road enough to keep the 4WD system lubed. I've never taken it into the mud.
Over 8 years, I've replaced the following:
Starter,
air pump,
clutch slave cyl,
fuel pump,
alternator ($150 NAPA Gold),
battery,
radio antenna,
2" Ironman suspension (springs/shocks/bushings) (steering damper still to be installed)
choke cable from cruiserparts,
hood latch cable,
hood insulation pad,
changed mudflaps,
replaced the ac/radio panel surround,
replaced the head rests with brown 85-era parts
added the console cupholder.
replaced the sunvisors,
rear washer bag and the radiator overflow bottle.
No tool bag but has jack and rods.
4X4 system works flawlessly in all modes; the dash light works accordingly (see pics).
I have an extra hood latch, two closeable dash vents to replace the non-closeable center vents, a repro tail lense, and an extra turn sugnal assembly.
The AC had a 134 retrofit kit on it, so I added some freon/seal/conditioner and it blew 40F air, but that eventually leaked out.
Interior is OEM with exception to a Sanyo cassette deck; speakers work fine and are the ones that were there when I bought the FJ, no holes cut anywhere in it. The fabric is in great shape, the vinyl on side and driver seat foam are worn from entry/exit. There are two spots of rust, one behind each rear wheel that I covered in rust neutralizer 6 years ago. There are dents and scratches, but it's not a rust bucket. I went under the truck after installing the lift and painted the frame with rustoleum and cleaned up the spare tire mechanism full of dirt/sand. No underbody rust or cancer.
The front driveshaft has been worked on at some time as it has a colorado drivetrain sticker on it. The greaseable u-joints have added layers of grease to the undercarriage and skid plate, so that was removed to be cleaned off. Ever since the lift, there is a vibration going through 30mph but is silent before/after. The steering wheel is also cocked to the 2 o'clock position rather than being centered.
When I bought the truck, it already had a new toyota radiator, new manifold gasket, and paint marks on some of the vacuum lines. The engine was very clean, and the oil pan was spotless in contrast to the truck itself (
pics). The idle solenoid had the added ground wire mod. It doesn't smoke or leak oil, but it does run rich. IMO, the carb needs rebuilding or replacing as it loses its prime after extended periods of inactivity. Was gonna desmog it as all emissions stuff still there which is probably hurting it as well.
The exhaust is OEM Toyota and and in great shape, the manifold has a small leak in the back. The rear washer works but the tube that goes from inside to the rear window dryrotted and leaks. When I bought the truck, it had received an oil change less than 500 miles before being flooded and the michelin tires were almost new (still on it).
I'll pull her out of the garage and add more pics this weekend. It's been a fun truck, lots of great pics with the kids, lots of memories, but the off-base-commander (wife) won't allow me to take up the rest of the garage with another toy until this one sells!! I'd really like my FJ to go to someone who appreciates them and knows about them as well, but it'll sell to the first decent offer (even if I have to see it around town with blue sparco racing seats).
One day, we'll both wish we didn't though.