Beware of bondo filler and cancer hiding under that new paint.
1962 FJ40 questions (7 Viewers)
- Thread starter TexasHusker
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- Thread starter
- #22
I won't have it until around next Friday, so right now, I have very little info. I bought it on a whim. My brother in law called me and said his friend was cleaning out his dad's house and needed to get rid of everything. I first told him "Yeah I'm not interested, those are expensive." And then he called me and said "well is $2,000 expensive?" So I called the guy and just said yeah I'll give you $2K for it. Check's in the mail. My BIL is going to trailer it to me. It's about 100 miles away. The owner's son said he had it repainted, had new tires, and some other updates. So it was some sort of project for him, too.
- Thread starter
- #23
Yeah could be. But I know since at least 1983 it has been in the Texas panhandle, a very dry climate.
EDIT: Just got more photos. Looks rusty to me, but won't know much more until I actually see it.
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if you want full restoration to original condition to me there is only 3 shops out there I would even consider and your talking 150k and 5 years. Early cruisers are there own animal, the knowledge of them is hard to find and all the parts are hard to track down if you want it oem original. If you just wanted it restored to look original with some nice “modern”upgrades that list of shops goes up a few as parts are interchangeable and easier to get. I’m 60k into one of my rigs and if I could get 30 out I would walk away today. If you want the best bang for your buck you may consider just flipping it. Make a profit off it and do nothing to it but walking away before you start down the rabbit hole. On the early cruisers they look very close to the later cruisers at a glance but it’s all in the details. And what yours has and is missing. Does your bezel have the correct Land Cruiser imprinted wording in it or has someone swapped that out? If it has it and it’s in good clean shape that stupid piece of metal around your headlights is half of what you paid for the truck.
brian
SILVER Star
s*** I'm interested in that
Living in the Past
SILVER Star
Look for the thread about a $250K FJ40. Plenty of common about costing over $100k paying someone to restore an FJ40. The 62 would have a stamped bezel with LAND CRUISER around the grill and headlights like already mentioned. Turn signals had lenses front and back sides. Amber on the front and red on the back. Front and back seats are rare and hard to find if there aren't already there. This would have a side shift three speed transmission. It's a column shift but the shift rod come out the side of the transmission. That ended some time in 1963. A lot of other little things that changed by 9/67 when the 68 model started. I have a late 62 factory hard top and an early 62 factory soft top tub. I have many of the parts needed to restore it as a soft top or hard top. I just don't have the time or the space. Could afford to pay someone to restore it but it wouldn't be financially worth it. Reading $250K thread was posted a vendor had a 1000 hours I to aftermarket tub to make it fit correctly and painted. I've never been lucky to gamble I could pay someone to do the work and even break even. If you do not have the skills or desire to restore it I would think long and hard before going down the path where you turn it over to someone else with a hard contract of would will be done and how much it will cost up front. There will always be unexpected things turn. Have the vendor figure that in and see where you are at. If a vendors knows the vehicle a quote shouldn't be that hard. Should not really be that many surprises. For a $100 an hour I expect to pay someone know what he is doing and learn at my expense.
EWheeler
GOLD Star
My counsel is….you have no attachment to a 40 series. The venture of paying a shop multiple tens of thousands to restore it is not going to change that, other than the financial attachment. You will not make out financially on a restoration, just like buying a new car, the second that last payment leaves your hand the value of the vehicle will be a fraction of what you've just spent. 40 series are just not rare enough……the value in them is usually an emotional attachment IMO.
Now, if you just enjoy the process of curating a build and have the disposable income, i 100% get that. Based on what youve told us, i would sell the ‘62, and find one that is built how you envision, and let someone else take the massive depreciation hit. Save you tons of time and money.
I dont think you’re getting out of a true restoration for under $100k?
One of my favorite restorations documented on this site is Jason Reeds, here is some reading and viewing pleasure:
If you aren't going to do the work, then paying to have it done will never work out in your favor. If gramps rig has has no meaning to you, then sell it and use the money for things that have meaning for you. If it has sound bones, it could/should be brought back to stock as there aren't many of them left. Its only money and you are not taking that with you when you get your ticket home.
- Thread starter
- #30
Here are more pics.
Looks glorious! Maintain and drive for now..
- Thread starter
- #32
Is that not a bunch of rust in the fender well?
pb4ugo
SILVER Star
Its been repainted, so there's no telling what was done to it. It looks good and pretty straight. You can see the original color. Stk Toyota fenders are available but not inexpensive. Typically the rear 1/4's and the rear sill can be problem areas. When you get, we need more pics inside and out.
- Thread starter
- #34
Cool! where are you seeing the original color?
pb4ugo
SILVER Star
The inner fender apron on the passenger side, if it hasn't been replaced. The engine pic. When you get you'll be able to look under the dash.
brian
SILVER Star
Or at the dash
Has some original things and is missing some. The stamped bezel and early grille mesh without Toyota are original, horns. Wiper motors are correct
Lots going on under the hood that not original but has kept it alive so that’s a plus. See if the engine matches the plate number. Back passenger side bottom of the block will have the engine number, tag on the firewall will have the original number that was put in it. The offenhauser valve cover isn’t original but it’s been on there a long time.
Lots going on under the hood that not original but has kept it alive so that’s a plus. See if the engine matches the plate number. Back passenger side bottom of the block will have the engine number, tag on the firewall will have the original number that was put in it. The offenhauser valve cover isn’t original but it’s been on there a long time.
- Thread starter
- #38
So did it used to be the off white color, matching the dash?
Looks like Lilly white. T1276 should be paint code.
pb4ugo
SILVER Star
It appears to be a 2 piece hood, but they filled the seam. Theres probably more bondo under that paint. Hopefully the repaired the metal 1st.
