Advice for a future owner?

[jtoro]

My 2 cents: I bought my first car when I was 17, a 1948 Ford Pickup. I started doing the resto and got stuck and bored of not having a car I could use. If your budget is close to 10k, buy a cheap rice burner that works ok and the FJ40. That way you will have something you own to drive around and you also get the pleasure of the FJ.

Having a car to move around will allow you to have the patience required to learn and experiment with the FJ and when you get on a tight budget, you will not go out and sell the truck for peanuts.

 

[AARP]

Can anyone in So Cal recommend a place to start schooling to become a grease monkey? I'll be looking at some college courses over the summer and see what that option holds. Any suggestions would be great. I can't wait to get my feet wet in this stuff.

 

[BDSeff1fitty]

How much do you think PS and disc brakes would cost together?

i have no clue, mine already came with both upgrades almost done. it all depends if you buy new or used, how patient you are collecting the parts, who does the work, etc

 

[fjbum]

yeah, i always wanted a 40 as well, finally got mine when i was in my 30's. my first car was a 911 porsche, yeah i know, one of those guys, but it was older when i got it as well.drove it for 15 years. now i still have both. and enjoy them thuroughly. these guys are right be prepared to spent money on your rig. 40 are fun there is nothing like poppin the top off and cruisin down the road.ahhhh just the thought.

 

[mustardfj40]

First, I'm glad to see a young man your age into something as cool as cruiser! FJ40 is simple and is great flatform to learn automotive skills which could be a nice way to make money later. Check your local colleges, they may offer some automotive degree or glasses. Also check for admission requirements being 15 and still in high school and depends on the college, you may have some issues getting enroll in the classes. But if you really want to learn just pick up a book from your local book store/library on basic automotive theory where you learn about carburator, alternator, starter, transmission, brake, clutch,.... That what I did, my dad gave me a book that he bought in the early '80.

You probably want the truck ASAP, but get to know some local cruiser heads or attend local cruiser meetings, talk to the cruiser owners and learn from them. As for buying the truck, buy the best truck you can afford, for $10,000 the truck should be in good stock condition and solid enough to drive around daily. Economy is slow so if you have money, it's great time to go shopping for cruiser. Also visit Spector Off-road in Chatsworth, you'll get to see a bunch of beautiful FJ40s and get a perspective on how costly it takes to maintain an old Land Cruiser.

Avoid buying an inexpensive projects that requires lots of works to get back on the road, you may loose your interest quickly especially at your age ( I was at those wonder years once and have a son too so I know)

Good luck and have fun.

Btw, my son wants my cruiser since all his friends especially the girls think it's so cool

 

[schlaker]

This kids got style! If it s what you want, then look at plenty of them, pick one that drives well, dive in head first and buy it.

Like most things in life. You have to jump in, do what needs to be done, learn what needs to be learned, fix what needs to be fixed, grow and gain the knowledge as you go. Look at every obstacle as an opportunity. Enjoy the process!

 

[amaurer]

I'm really amazed with the direction this thread has taken. Ih8mud is awesome for the fact that its FAR more inclusive than any of the other 4x4 forums out there... but I think the 40-love has gotten in the way of common sense. Maybe its cuz this kid is young, or maybe its a full moon or something, but someone has to say it; this is a terrible idea.

We have:

• 15 years old (which I take to mean: low cash flow)
• In school, and AP classes to boot
• First car
• No mechanical ability

I realize this isn't very charitable, but that translates to poor, busy, and inexperienced - the trifecta of "NO".

On a forum that goes bugeyed every time someone tries to put a car seat in a cruiser, we're really going to recommend a truck without airbags and with 30 year old brakes to a new driver?? Especially a driver without the mechanical ability to know when something is starting to go pear-shaped, much less fix it?

I was in the same place as you once, but my dad talked some sense into me, and instead of my dream car I bought several beaters to learn on and beat up (AMC Eagles,... yes I realize that admission completely undermines my ability to give advice). Parts were cheap and if things went REALLY bad a new car was $500. Plus, after working on an AMC a Toyota will feel like it was designed by Jesus himself.

If you had infinite time and another vehicle to drive, you could handle a 40 on a low budget. But (warning, generalization coming, don't flame me!) generally speaking you have to be doing well financially and mechanically inclined in order to drive a 40 daily. The only alternative would be to do VERY well financially.

Honestly it'd be awesome if you ignored me and got one anyway - I'd help you myself if you were local.... but its still a bad idea.

 

[FJ40_owner]

My first car was a 40. I drove it to high school in SoCal. It was a girl magnet but foremost it was a money pit. There was always something to spend money on and I ended up taking some short cuts on it.
There was no Internet to go to for help. I was on my own. But in the end I learned alot about patience and wrenching on cars.

Like others have said they get very poor fuel mileage, are loud, drafty and for the most part cannot get out of their own way.

Best wishes and good luck to you.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

, but someone has to say it; this is a terrible idea.



I realize this isn't very charitable, but that translates to poor, busy, and inexperienced - the trifecta of "NO".

. but its still a bad idea.

I agree.

LOL-- trifecta of NO

Having an interest and Land Cruisers and two kids who have recently started driving, old Land Cruisers are just not good for highschoolers. The only exception would be if your dad had a good running FJ40 he let you drive. My son (18) drives an FJ62. It's all the things 40s are not-large, fuel injected, automatic, decent soundproofing, waterproof, robust electrical, low to the ground etc. Very different from a vintage FJ40.

He too had starry eyed dreams of a vintage muscle car, but the hard and cold realities of needing reliable transport ended that.

Find yourself the best 5-8 year old Honda or Toyota CAR you can fit in your budget. Your girlfriend will like it better, it won't break down, it won't need to be worked on, and it won't use much fuel.

Dude-You can't even drive a stick shift. You don't own tools, you and your family members don't work on cars. You have no business looking at FJ40s It's the wrong truck for you at this point in your life. I don't want to rain on your parade either, but at your age there is a lot to be said for reliable transportation in place of a hobby car.

Here is some truth-If you do manage to buy an FJ40, you will walk to high school most days.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

My first car was a 40. I drove it to high school in SoCal. It was a girl magnet but foremost it was a money pit. There was always something to spend money on and I ended up taking some short cuts on it.
There was no Internet to go to for help. I was on my own. But in the end I learned alot about patience and wrenching on cars.

Like others have said they get very poor fuel mileage, are loud, drafty and for the most part cannot get out of their own way.

Best wishes and good luck to you.

But Jim-When you had your FJ40 in high school, they were still in current production. That's a totally different thing then an in-experienced youngster trying to drive a 40 year old heavily used and abused Land Cruiser.

 

[AARP]

I get your guy's point and will definitely look into getting the cheapest beater I can find as a point A to point B car and then start looking at a cruiser. And my high school is literally a block a way so walking is no biggie but work might be another problem. I will also look into getting a younger cruiser (80's-90s's?) for a first car. Thanks guys, but I'm still determined to get that FJ40 rather sooner than later.

 

[FJ40_owner]

But Jim-When you had your FJ40 in high school, they were still in current production. That's a totally different thing then an in-experienced youngster trying to drive a 40 year old heavily used and abused Land Cruiser.

True about 40's in production. My point was there were/are better vehicles for a high school kid to become involved in. I also had a CB450 motorcycle at the time.

 

[rchandler]

Oh... To be young and dumb again and have some money

 

[mustardfj40]

but I'm still determined to get that FJ40 rather sooner than later.

Once you get that truck (could be months, years from now) take pictures and come back report here!

Actually, this reminded me about 4 years ago, a kid rode his BMX to my home and knocked on my door asking about my FJ40, he was about 15-16 still in high school. I could tell the kid was in love with the cruiser, I showed him around the cruiser, told him how I got it and what I did to the truck...Clearly I was seeding a future cruiser head. If he couldn't not afford cruiser he would find out soon enough, the last thing I wanted to say was "Sorry kid, I am making good money but still can barely afford for my truck, don't think about cruiser until you have 20 grands and a stable job". About 2 years ago the kid came back, told me he graduated from high school and was working to save money for a cruiser, he asked what I think of another cruiser which he wanted to make an offer.

I have seen many kids took the wrong path into drugs, gangs,...To me when a kid trying to get a first car to be a first project, he will learn to make money, learn the skill, learn how to solve problems..., all of these will be applicable for his future. Sure he will make mistakes but that's a part of life.

 

[AARP]

I think I'm going to buy this book to get started and then start going to classes once I get my feet wet. Any opinions? Automotive Technology: A Systems Approach