1989 FJ62 Barn Find - Guidance, Advice, Recommendations

[EMD12645]

Hey All. So this is my first one. I didn't plan it, it popped up in front of me and before I knew what was happening it it was in my driveway. Here's the story on the vehicle. It's been off the road and stored inside since July of 2003. It has 200,631 miles. The body is almost totally rust free, the frame, wheel wheels appear to be as well. Interior for the most part looks pretty good. The person I bought it from told me it wasn't running and that 'someone' put sugar in the oil and that it lost all oil pressure while he was driving it. The transmission supposedly has less than 1k miles since a rebuild, dipstick shows perfect ATF to the hashmark on it. I found paperwork that indicates that previous owner was having overheating and random shutdown issues and had it at the dealership multiple times to trouble shoot. Comments on that said 'couldn't duplicate'. This jives with what the seller told me, that the owner he got it from kept taking it in and they couldn't figure out and they got rid of it. He said he isolated the problem to a 'brake relay'. The title is clean, the whole of the story seems to check out as far as I can tell.

Here is a link to photos. 1989 FJ62 - Photos by muddytugboat

So do I:

1. Rebuild?
2. Re-engine?
3. Runaway?

Open to any and all input. TIA. Be gentle.

 

[Godwin]

Hope you got it cheap. I would first check to see if the oil galley plug blew out resulting in the loss of oil pressure.

 

[Richfj60]

Looks pretty nice. Can I ask what you paid for it? Got a great excuse to put an LS in it! Worst case is you put an engine in it that someone is swapping out for an LS. Just glanced through the pictures and body looks straight and the frame isn't rusted out. So, if you got it reasonably, its a no brainer.

 

[Ocho77]

Is there oil in it? If so, drain it and see what it looks like.
Looks like a super clean truck! Even spending for a rebuilt engine, you may be way ahead in the end. Difficult to find them that clean.

Easiest would be to buy a running 3fe from someone on here and slap it in and drive it. Nice find!

 

[kbfj621989]

Agree with checking the oil situation. Also check the oil pressure sender unit wire, it may have come off. It also looks like you need an airbox and to reconnect your vacuum lines.

 

[Big Timber]

drop an LS in it and while the engine and tranny are out, clean up the underside.

 

[onemanarmy]

Have you changed all fluids and checked wiring and see if it will run/drive?

Whats all the talk about rebuild and engine swaps?
Small steps.

 

[FJACS]

I would gloss over whatever narrative the seller told you.

It’s been parked a long time. Go through it. There’s stuff obviously missing or at least removed - battery tray, air box, etc. Put it back together, change the fluids and start checking the systems.
Or gut the 3fe and don’t look back.

 

[adrestrepomd]

1-Start with Re-engine with a 3f replacement and check the Transmission, axles and suspension.
2-New paint with anticorrosive treatment in body and frame.
3-Enjoy that car for the rest of your life

 

[SteveH]

I would remove and inspect the gas tank and fuel pump, get that in order, then see if the truck can be made to run. You could also learn a lot by pulling the oil pan an inspecting a few bearing shells for wear or major damage. Compression test the engine at some point, too. You could also crank it (with fresh oil in the pan) and see if oil pressure comes up. I would not do that until you put some ATF in the cylinders and poured some oil over the valve train. Lots to think about here.

Your fixes won't be as easy as mine, but maybe this will be inspiring- my barn find story: https://tlca.org/wp-content/uploads/restoring-budget.pdf

 

[88red]

For your first barn find LC I would keep things simple. The fuel tank and lines should be cleaned, but new gas and a fresh fuel filter might do the trick , the entire brake system should be checked and overhauled, fresh fluids in the motor and get it to crank. Check oil pressure and compression and asses. A new battery is also in order. See what you have before you start pulling engines and dreaming of v8’s. Get it driving and put some miles down the road.

 

[onemanarmy]

^exactly.

why a new motor? Have we even seen if the current one will run?

Don't take the oil pan off....thats a bitch of a job. Drain the oil and coolant, refill, put a bit of ATF in the cylinders and let it sit overnight, then see if it'll run on a gas can.

 

[tmxmotorsports]

^exactly.

why a new motor? Have we even seen if the current one will run?

Don't take the oil pan off....thats a bitch of a job. Drain the oil and coolant, refill, put a bit of ATF in the cylinders and let it sit overnight, then see if it'll run on a gas can.

Wont run on just a gas can its fuel injected fj62

 

[onemanarmy]

Good catch. Some starting fluid then.

 

[islndr01]

I just got my lower mileage 1989 FJ62 up and running approx. 1-2 weeks ago...it had been sitting in a home garage not started/driven since early 2015 when it was parked. Not as rough an environment as your barn find, but likely you’ll face some similar challenges.

Here’s what it took (or I ensured was done) to get her fired back up safely with a standard mechanic providing services (classics land cruiser expert mechanic assessment to follow).Did not attempt starting until All below was completed.

1) New Battery
2) New Plugs (wires and ignition were in good shape)
3) Drained ALL fluids and replaced (except for transfer cases): Gallons of Fuel, Engine oil, ATF, Coolant, Power Steering, Brake, hell even the Window Washer fluid etc.
4) Filters: Air, Fuel, Oil, Left the Transmission Screen Filter in place.
5) Radiator cap (New thermostat was on hand but not needed)
6) Front brake pads and freshly bleed brake lines
7) Inspect all hoses, belts and vacuum lines for soundness

At the point we added 4 gallons of gas, and attempted to start.....No start. Troubleshot electrical, which eliminates everything but the fuel pump.

Accessed the fuel tank from the top under the carpet in the rear, the fuel sending unit (was a corroded mess and rusted stuck!) explained the no fuel level, but led us to believe that we need to drop the tank the fuel filter would like be in similar condition.

DAMMIT....should’ve just replaced that Fuel Pump before fueling it back up, and would’ve saved myself some labor expense and time.

The pump was shot, a corroded mess...needed a new pump and strainer. Once that was in..she fired up got some new shoes, monitored for leaks, and now has approximately 100 road test miles on her so far. Next stop Murdrak in Sonoma for Gary’s keen eye and experience to assess and the body shop for some OEM panel replacement and paint to repair some front end damage that occurred before she was locked away in the garage for 5-6 years.

Moral of the story...Change all fluids, filters, parts to keep the engine cool, make it stop, and anything left in a fuel tank not drained is dead due to corrosion and constant condensation, so replace it because dropping the tank should only be done once if you can help it.

Good luck!