65 FJ40- Good year or not?

[offroadkid]

I found a 65 Fj40, original owner for sale. I don't know much about the different years of 40's. I've always wanted a 73 for the year I was born, but the 65 is here now, and at a good price. Can you tell me the pro's and con's of owning a 65? Thanks!

 

[G-Cat]

http://jtoutfitters.zoovy.com/product/GOODANDBADFJ40

I'd say the original owner part (assuming good maintenance) is the biggest plus. I s'pose it depends on how you feel about keeping it stock vs. some modern (i.e.mid-1970s) upgrades and your intended use for the Cruiser.

Good luck.

 

[Gumby]

65 is a pretty neat year, but has a few drawbacks. Drum brakes, dogbone axles, F motor, 3 speed on the column, etc. The only thing you would really gain with a 73 is the birfeild joints and those would be course spline anyway. 78 is probably the best straight out of the box 40 series if you want to keep it stock and wheel it. Everything is swappable to an extent, so it really doesn't matter a whole lot what you start with. A good price on a good 65 is worth finding a 2F, 4 speed and 76-8 front axle to put under it.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Josh, If I could correct one thing Gumby said-'78 differentials would be the ones to get, but a '79 and up axle would be preferable due to the more standard Birfield, and the large steering arm bolt pattern. Both are significantly stronger.

You will also need a vacuum booster and a way to adapt it to the firewall. I think Mark at Mark's Offraod (65SWB45) is the expert on the early Cruisers. There are a few other odd ball things on 65's, like smaller studs holding the diffferentials in place etc. He would have all the details. You should buy it though, it sounds like fun. With your skills as a tech, it would be no big deal to swap in a 4 speed. By the way-I have a good 4 speed tranny/transfer in my garage.

 

[albee]

I waited a long time and passed on a bunch of nice cruisers, because I wanted a 67' . Like you, I wanted one that was made the year I was born. Now I am very happy and plan to keep it till my kids say you are too old to drive. Then I will give it to one of them, just like my grandpa did with his Model T. Good luck

 

[nuclearlemon]

i've got two 65's and love them both, but then i tend to swap in what i like also. i just prefer the early tub look and the better steel.

 

[65swb45]

i've got two 65's and love them both, but then i tend to swap in what i like also. i just prefer the early tub look and the better steel.

AMEN on the better steel. Much thicker and durable than a 73.

 

[IDave]

In my humble opinion, the ONLY significant thing on the early 60s trucks that might give you TROUBLE (besides finding some parts) is the dogbone axle. Unless your plan is to wheel it beyond what it was intended. NonBoosted drum brakes just means you have to adjust them, but then they are great. A 1 Barrel carb has a lot to be said for it. As for the column shift? Send me your extra parts because I am converting my 65 back to column. I like it in my 71. There may be some better improvements on oiling with the 2F engine, but unless your F is trashed, it would take me some convincing as to why you should trade out and thus devalue your 65 by making it non-stock. If it is power you need, forget it and go to a V8. (And send me your old parts). 4 speeds come in handy in some situations, but I know there are many of us who have fun with our 3 speeds, and the top end ratio is just the same. If you need lower lows, maybe throw an Orion aftermarket transfer case behind it.

And really, if you have to make all of those changes that others have mentioned, just get a later truck: you'll save far more money that way, and spare the 1 owner for someone who appreciates it for what it is.

 

[65swb45]

Joshua, some of us, myself included, get a little preachy, when it comes to leaving what we percieve as the few remaining unmolested vehicles intact. So you have to take what we say with a grain of salt.

We have seen so many pristine rigs, ones that WE wouldn't dream of molesting, go thru the buggy ringer because of some extreme-sport-watching poser with a sawsall and a welder [now there's a stereotype for ya] that we just wanna puke. We can't buy them all to save them, so we just hope to slow the process down by preaching when and where we can.

I am especially fond of 1965s, as I have two of them. Dave tells me one of mine is a 64, so I have to start getting used to that! Anyways, my point is there are a lot of guys on this board that can help with getting a 65 back up to speed and keeping it there, if you are so inclined.

I could go either way on the 4spd vs 3 on the tree, and on the manual vs power steering, but other than that, I am a proponent of leaving the rest of the truck basically stock. 2" lift and 235x85x16s. That's my DD and light-duty wheeler for 10 years now.

And I think the dividing line for me between encouraging stock vs building a wheeler is whether you are looking at a straight , solid body with uncut wheelwells.

 

[Radd Cruisers]

Could someone post up a pic of a 1965 landcruiser, thats my year and I sure would not mind owning a piece of history.

Common Mark, you can`t drive them all at once?

 

[65swb45]

It looks like my avitar, without the shortbed! [place flipoff smilie here]

 

[offroadkid]

Thanks for all the replies everyone!! I think that if I got it I would like to keep it stock. I like the look of stock 40', with the skinny tires and hubcaps!!. I would want to stick with the Toyota motor, and clean the truck up a bit. Going to look at it tomorrow.

Here's the ad:

1965 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 34K orig. mi. - $2950

Original owner family; bought new in Palo Alto by Dr. Russel Lee. California ranch vehicle needs some TLC but not a lot of money.
- Orig. 6 cyl. engine rebuilt by Toyota dealer; runs well
- 3 sp. on column.
- Body dinged and scratched, orig. tan paint; surface rust only.
- Drive train fine.
- Interior needs upholstery.
- Was soft top; hard top included.
- Needs doors; some glass, lights, brake & minor elect. parts.

 

[nuclearlemon]

Could someone post up a pic of a 1965 landcruiser, thats my year and I sure would not mind owning a piece of history.

here's one of mine...can't see too much of what makes them unique lookswise except for the bib lights and the w/s frame. i do have the round turn signals for the fenders, but they're in a box. inside, i like the corrugated dash, no dash pad option, flip levers for teh w/s frame, and underseat tool box. also, note that the tranny tunnel cuts off shorter than later, making it a little easier to deal with.

 

[65swb45]

here's one of mine...can't see too much of what makes them unique lookswise except for the bib lights and the w/s frame. i do have the round turn signals for the fenders, but they're in a box. inside, i like the corrugated dash, no dash pad option, flip levers for teh w/s frame, and underseat tool box. also, note that the tranny tunnel cuts off shorter than later, making it a little easier to deal with.

And there's the diagonal fan inlet cover that changed to horizontal in 66. I was just telling Treerootco how much I wanted to keep the one on his LV. Those are way cool.

 

[wngrog]

I am about to go pick up the '65 FJ-40 that I found in N Arkansas. It is completly stock and has been unregistered since it was registered to Dean martin's lesbian daughter in 1974. She used it on a horse ranch

The engine has had the head removed of all things, but the rest is intact.

It will make someone a wonderful resto project, and like Mark, I hate seeing these guys molested when they are so very nice!

Disk brakes and a 4 speed though sure make them much, much nicer to drive!

 

[orangefj45]

that's the one o ncraigslist, right?! if you want, i can go check it out with you one night next week. i already contacted the seller and they said it'd be cool to come by and look at it. if you're serious about buying it, i'll back off but will take a look at it with you.

 

[offroadkid]

Go ahead orange, I talked it over with the wife, and I need to keep my money a 300D. I've been waiting for "the right one." I just got a crazy idea I'd buy that 40 series!! I hope you get it!!