Howdy Mud,
I'm back in the cruiser world!
Around 2008 I bought a 69FJ40 out of a barn for 6k in Placerville. I got it running with a lot of advice from here (could not locate my old account to resurrect) some parts from @orangefj45, @Pighead in Sacramento, & username Luddite something? Put about 4k into it, Drove that thing for a year and sold it sometime around 2010 for 10k to get something I could daily on the highway.
Oh... Regrets.
Long story short, I've missed tinkering on these things. I searched for a while to find a decent version of an 80, couldn't find anything I liked. Started looking at 60's, found a lot of very rusty examples & found this 1983 down in Bakersfield, CA a couple weeks ago. It isn't perfect but the price was decent, the previous owner was friendly, he used it as a daily & I was able to convince my girlfriends dad to make the 5 hour trip from Sacramento to pick it up w/me.
We were initially planning on trailering it back but the PO said "I'm not just saying this, but, you could drive it back no problem" so... I did.
Enter the 83Landy, Christa (gf) had it named before I went to pick it up. I told her I wasn't sure "The Landy" was appropriate due to the even rustier counterpart but it stuck.
Existing:
Suspension: Going into this I knew the suspension was sleepy, it has a shackle lift w/what I think are stock springs. Front end Linkage is... "loose"
Rust: It's got a little rust around the rain gutters and a little on the A pillars & couple spots around the windshield which need to be addressed as soon as possible. The rockers are solid.
Body: typical dings and some unfortunate small dents but nothing that can't be massaged. Needs bumpers.
Interior: blown out. Needs new carpet, seats need to be redone, center console is broken, steering wheel needs repaired or replaced, headliner is toast. Dash is not cracked though...
Engine: original 2F is in it w/265k on the odo, it's been rebuilt approx. 30k miles ago... it runs strong.
Trans: original 4spd manual, h42? PO says it was rebuilt w/the 2f about 30k ago.
Carb: has an aftermarket carb but PO gave me the stock one.
Exhaust: it has some... unfortunately it has the dump under the drivers seat missing muffler mod.
Smog: mostly intact.
AC: Seems present, needs checked and charged.
Glass: Windshield is cracked and drivers rear cargo window as well.
Wheels/Tires: 30x9.5 - no comment.
Plans:
I want this to be a clean safe daily I can use around town and also load up and take it camping/mountain biking... I'll DIY what I can and get help w/whatever I can't.
Going to start w/easy stuff:
1) Maintenance: New fluids everywhere, visit to the muffler shop.
2) More Maintenance: Check ignition, rebuild stock carb.
3) Even More Maintenance: Investigate & address Power Steering fluid leak.
4) Rust & Body: Tom, GFs dad, has a buddy who has a body shop who is known for doing great work "but he's slow" - working on getting on his waiting list to address the rust, dents & dings but knowing "he's slow" will work on what I can in the meantime. I tentatively plan to address the major issues, have him blend the repairs into the original paint use the truck & wait to see if anything else pops up and if not do a full spray later down the road.
5) Suspension: Trying to decide on suspension, I want to lift it but trying to decipher the options: Light, Medium, Heavy? I want it to sit mostly level, don't mind a the rear a tiny bit higher when empty to be level when loaded but also don't want the stinkbug. Don't mind a firm ride, I'm used to driving a giant heavy 4wd Van.
5a) Wheel/Tire: Tentative goal is to fit 33x10.5 on a 40 replica steelie - maybe a similar aluminum version...
6) Interior: Start acquiring interior pieces, carpet from @dnp, need to find decent seats fabric/foam, headliner, repair some panels if possible, etc. but want to get the bodywork/rust sorted...
6a) Glass: repair as needed
7) Expected unexpected things...
8) Repeat 7
9) What else?
For what's on the market, I really couldn't find anything under 10k. Units under 15k were in varying degrees of quality and the fine specimens were near or over 20k+ as you know.
I probably still overpaid for this unit but, it's a start & it's not too bad according to the market.
Paid $8,800
Here's a pic - Will add more pics as soon as I can get away from work for a few mins during the day.
I'm back in the cruiser world!
Around 2008 I bought a 69FJ40 out of a barn for 6k in Placerville. I got it running with a lot of advice from here (could not locate my old account to resurrect) some parts from @orangefj45, @Pighead in Sacramento, & username Luddite something? Put about 4k into it, Drove that thing for a year and sold it sometime around 2010 for 10k to get something I could daily on the highway.
Oh... Regrets.
Long story short, I've missed tinkering on these things. I searched for a while to find a decent version of an 80, couldn't find anything I liked. Started looking at 60's, found a lot of very rusty examples & found this 1983 down in Bakersfield, CA a couple weeks ago. It isn't perfect but the price was decent, the previous owner was friendly, he used it as a daily & I was able to convince my girlfriends dad to make the 5 hour trip from Sacramento to pick it up w/me.
We were initially planning on trailering it back but the PO said "I'm not just saying this, but, you could drive it back no problem" so... I did.
Enter the 83Landy, Christa (gf) had it named before I went to pick it up. I told her I wasn't sure "The Landy" was appropriate due to the even rustier counterpart but it stuck.
Existing:
Suspension: Going into this I knew the suspension was sleepy, it has a shackle lift w/what I think are stock springs. Front end Linkage is... "loose"
Rust: It's got a little rust around the rain gutters and a little on the A pillars & couple spots around the windshield which need to be addressed as soon as possible. The rockers are solid.
Body: typical dings and some unfortunate small dents but nothing that can't be massaged. Needs bumpers.
Interior: blown out. Needs new carpet, seats need to be redone, center console is broken, steering wheel needs repaired or replaced, headliner is toast. Dash is not cracked though...
Engine: original 2F is in it w/265k on the odo, it's been rebuilt approx. 30k miles ago... it runs strong.
Trans: original 4spd manual, h42? PO says it was rebuilt w/the 2f about 30k ago.
Carb: has an aftermarket carb but PO gave me the stock one.
Exhaust: it has some... unfortunately it has the dump under the drivers seat missing muffler mod.
Smog: mostly intact.
AC: Seems present, needs checked and charged.
Glass: Windshield is cracked and drivers rear cargo window as well.
Wheels/Tires: 30x9.5 - no comment.
Plans:
I want this to be a clean safe daily I can use around town and also load up and take it camping/mountain biking... I'll DIY what I can and get help w/whatever I can't.
Going to start w/easy stuff:
1) Maintenance: New fluids everywhere, visit to the muffler shop.
2) More Maintenance: Check ignition, rebuild stock carb.
3) Even More Maintenance: Investigate & address Power Steering fluid leak.
4) Rust & Body: Tom, GFs dad, has a buddy who has a body shop who is known for doing great work "but he's slow" - working on getting on his waiting list to address the rust, dents & dings but knowing "he's slow" will work on what I can in the meantime. I tentatively plan to address the major issues, have him blend the repairs into the original paint use the truck & wait to see if anything else pops up and if not do a full spray later down the road.
5) Suspension: Trying to decide on suspension, I want to lift it but trying to decipher the options: Light, Medium, Heavy? I want it to sit mostly level, don't mind a the rear a tiny bit higher when empty to be level when loaded but also don't want the stinkbug. Don't mind a firm ride, I'm used to driving a giant heavy 4wd Van.
5a) Wheel/Tire: Tentative goal is to fit 33x10.5 on a 40 replica steelie - maybe a similar aluminum version...
6) Interior: Start acquiring interior pieces, carpet from @dnp, need to find decent seats fabric/foam, headliner, repair some panels if possible, etc. but want to get the bodywork/rust sorted...
6a) Glass: repair as needed
7) Expected unexpected things...
8) Repeat 7
9) What else?
For what's on the market, I really couldn't find anything under 10k. Units under 15k were in varying degrees of quality and the fine specimens were near or over 20k+ as you know.
I probably still overpaid for this unit but, it's a start & it's not too bad according to the market.
Paid $8,800
Here's a pic - Will add more pics as soon as I can get away from work for a few mins during the day.