1977 fj40 lost and then found.

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This would be like, " I got a hammer from my dad, I had to replace the handle and the head so I could use it."
 
I have a car my dad bought new in 1966. It has a lot of sentimental value but being that it has spent it's entire life in the Midwest the rust repairs have been significant and costly. I'd have been much better off buying a better example in a Western state. It's a double edged sword. It's cool that it was my Dad's but sucks in that I know all the problems with the car and would ultimately be better off with a better example.
 
My dad couldn't drive and I got his 1999 dodge 1500 sport in 2011. I drove it for a few months and then a car turned in front of me and it got totaled. I got 1500 scrap for it. I could have fixed it for $4500. Instead I bought a 2012 tundra. My dad died in 2014. I loved the tundra but I wish I had fixed my dad's truck. I miss being able to ride in the truck he enjoyed driving. Buying another 1500 sport woukd never giver me the same feeling as driving my dad's truck.
 
Move on and find a drivable 40. I would offer to haul it off for him if he paid me $100 for my trouble.
 
Way too many headaches with that truck - I get that it was your father's (I still have my fathers 66 Mustang that he used as a "train car"). If you buy it you will end up hating it for what it will put you through - years of torment. Thank the guy for letting you see the truck and start looking for something that need a lot less work. Buy it, drive the crap out of it, and remember the times you had with your dad. JMHO
 
Its been two weeks today. I had a buddy of mine who is a real haggler and wheeler dealer call the CO. He graciously lowered his offer to 4500 and said he would load it on a trailer and deliver it. All 8 miles of it. Just really pisses me off how someone could try and rip another person like that. I am not a saint by any means but I couldn't sleep at night after a deal like this.
 
Its been two weeks today. I had a buddy of mine who is a real haggler and wheeler dealer call the CO. He graciously lowered his offer to 4500 and said he would load it on a trailer and deliver it. All 8 miles of it. Just really pisses me off how someone could try and rip another person like that. I am not a saint by any means but I couldn't sleep at night after a deal like this.
I think most dad's would be extremely proud of the fact that you wanted to drive the model of vehicle he did.I think he'd be even more proud of the fact that you had grown up to be smart enough not to waste your money on something that has unfortunately seen it's best days,not to mention giving money to a scum bag! Just my opinion.
 
He is gonna call you in a week and say he will take the 2k then you say nah ill give a 1k and leave it at that.

I hope you did this!!!!!!!!

And to take that on you have to be VERY MECHANICAL! I mean handy as hell or you would spend 30k or more to make that close to good and thats working on a lot of it yourself. 10K you can get a very solid FJ and not need 1/3 of what that needs. I shuttered at the pictures.
 
Its been two weeks today. I had a buddy of mine who is a real haggler and wheeler dealer call the CO. He graciously lowered his offer to 4500 and said he would load it on a trailer and deliver it. All 8 miles of it. Just really pisses me off how someone could try and rip another person like that. I am not a saint by any means but I couldn't sleep at night after a deal like this.

maybe you need to send a different buddy, one with a very special set of skills acquired over a very long career, skills that make him a nightmare for people like...
 
Just really pisses me off how someone could try and rip another person like that. I am not a saint by any means but I couldn't sleep at night after a deal like this.

Welcome to reality. Keep in mind that there are flippers everywhere that will do the exact same thing.
 
I'd meet face to face, and remind him that you had already talked to the PO and and you pretty much know how he got the 40. Ask how he likes his Ford ranger. If he's stuck on $4500, then explain to him that nobody is going to pay that for a rusty, non running 40, and then try to work out a reasonable deal. Leave your emotions at home, you might mention that it would be cool if you could restore your dad's old 40, but you're not going to overpay. You need to be able to walk away. Be sure to leave him your number if you walk.
What the guy SHOULD do is just give it back to you--maybe re-emberse him for the $ it cost him to remove the thing in the first place---moral character is sadly missing in this day and age
 
IMG_2015.webp IMG_2016.webp I couldn't take it any more. He did come down some. I'd rather not say exactly how much. I couldn't get it off my mind. I whined and pouted until my wife gave in and arranged my ole 40 to be delivered to the house. It's sitting in my garage as we speak.

IMG_2017.webp
 
Well, you've completed the first mission. Whatever the amount paid, you got it back 'home'.


Now on to the next mission....
 
Take this from a guy that put way too much money into a resto-mod: I had neither a plan, nor a budget. Nor a definitive time frame for completion.

Have a plan, a budget, and a time frame. Desperately try to stick to them all. Costs have a way to escalate out of control. And the deeper you get into a project, the more MAW's (might as well) break the budget.
 
Take from a guy that put way too much money into a resto-mod: I had neither a plan, nor a budget. Nor a definitive time frame for completion.

To add to what Hack said. It can spiral out of control very quickly. I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel after 3 years. 40 parts are expensive. Plan what you want and research as much as possible. Buying parts twice because of change of direction or in "kits" will blow your budget fairly quickly. Put cruiser outfitters number into your phone and use them for quality aftermarket parts.
 
Buying parts twice because of change of direction or in "kits" will blow your budget fairly quickly.
That's the problem when you don't have a time frame. It took me 20 years. I can't tell you the amount of money (actually, I can, but won't) I spent buying new parts, then ten years later replacing them with new parts.
 
The first thing you need to buy is a Tub! Not sure I've ever seen a pre 79 that was that bad. Good luck with this!
 

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