Anyone in the Los Angeles area that could look at a 55 for me?

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mtnmort

mtnmort

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Mar 23, 2007
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Location
Moab Utah
Is there anyone here in the Redondo beach, Los Angeles area that could look at the banana Cruiser for me. I'd pay you for your time. Also, if it turns out good I was wondering if I could send you the bank check for the vehicle and you could buy it for me and either put it in storage or hold onto it for a month or two. I know it's a lot to ask. Let me know if you're interested or if you know anyone that could do a prebuy. Or even if you've seen this in person.

1971 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER
 
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I might be able to go check it out this weekend. I was trying to hook up with the guy selling the Green 74 FJ55 in Long Beach but he suddenly went incommunicado. His iphone even shows when he has read the message he was sent. Called him 3x, no answer either.

So if I can line up the FJ55 in LB, I'll go a bit further north to check out the banana flavored FJ55 :)
 
I offered him $10k for it. He said he had to have $13k for it and if I wanted something for $10k that I should look at the yellow cruiser or another one in LA. I sent him a message saying that if he changes his mind to let me know. This was his response. "Dude I know what I have!"
 
I politely asked about the roof rail blowing bubbles. It's hard enough to find these pigs so when a seller goes AWOL it makes it even harder.

I would have paid him his asking on Sunday but he flaked. That 55 needs to have the hood resprayed too since the clear is peeling. $2k (?) to fix the roof and it would seem like it's a driver right away. Hell maybe the roof doesn't need to be fixed right away either, doesn't seem like anyone has actually seen it in person other than someone in 2008.
 
Sorry for the thread hijack. I can 90% go this Saturday to check it out. I'll send you a PM.
 
It's not the one I wanted checked out anyway. It was the yellow banana colored fj55 in Redondo beach. I don't need it any more though. I made a deal with the lady in Sacramento and my brother is going to pick it up this week. Too many sketchy sellers. The guy from Tijuana that had to have CASH. The guy with the 74 that got defensive every time I asked about the rust and said there is no rust just bubbling paint. And the guy with the Banana cruiser that wasn't willing to go to his ex-wife's place to get more pictures of the cruiser, wouldn't take it to a shop for me to get inspected even though I told him I would pay for it, and told me it was perfect except the turn signal.

I'll take pictures of the one I bought when I get back from work in a month. She sent me a ton of other pictures and it really does look clean. There's only one place that it is rusting through and that's the drivers side door jam a dime size hole. Is there something you guys use, like fluid film or Corrosion X, that you guys use to keep the bodies from getting worse or stop the rust before you can tackle it?

Also, now I have a decision to make. The engine in it has a spun bearing. What do I do about an engine. Rebuild the one in it and maybe TBI it? I had a really bad experience with the last 2F I had rebuilt and constantly had issues. Chevy 350, diesel, or another option? I owned a 40 with a 327 and is was a lot of fun and good on the highway. I want something I can drive the 2000 miles from Alabama to Utah and Idaho a couple times a year with some camping in between. I want to do the trans-American trail in it, so mostly overlanding and light off roading. I don't wheel and don't like to break things.
 
mtnmort said:
diesel, or another option? I want something I can drive the 2000 miles from Alabama to Utah and Idaho a couple times a year with some camping in between. I want to do the trans-American trail in it, so mostly overlanding and light off roading. I don't wheel and don't like to break things.
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I put a Cummins 4BT in mine and get very good mileage and have more power than the 55 frame likes so I doubt more is needed, if I keep it under 85 MPH I get mid 20’s and if I keep it under 70 I get mid to high 20’ for mileage, with a fuel tank that's nearly 50 gallons I have a good cruising range for long trips, the down side is the 4BT is tall and it’s difficult to fit unless you’re willing to SOA, I see some Mercedes-Benz OM617 Diesel Conversions and this looks like a good fit for the 55 and something I would consider if I were going to do it again.



Good luck and post lots of pictures when you get your 55..
 
Congrats on the purchase! I can't remember which was the Sacramento one other than the $45k one.

For the diesel conversion, I'm potentially doing the exact same thing. The OM617a isn't super fuel efficient but should net you low 20s for MPG. The 4BT and 4BD from the Isuzu trucks seem like it's too much to deal with fabrication wise for me.
 
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I'm seriously thinking this. My brother can ship it with the cruiser. It's been sitting for 10 or more years. That's my only concern. It comes with the ram horn exhaust the carb front motor mount and a bunch of other stuff. I wonder about the seals sitting for that long. He says it turns easily, and has been stored inside in a dry climate.
 
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mtnmort said:
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I'm seriously thinking this..
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I had a first gen SBC in my 55 when I bought it and hated it for anything other than driving around town.

Now that the generation III/IV SBC are readily available and several guys here on Mud have paved the way for a 55 transplant that’s the only SBC I would consider, I would not remove a Toyota engine for the engine you listed.
 
J Mack said:
I had a first gen SBC in my 55 when I bought it and hated it for anything other than driving around town.

Now that the generation III/IV SBC are readily available and several guys here on Mud have paved the way for a 55 transplant that’s the only SBC I would consider, I would not remove a Toyota engine for the engine you listed.
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Why didn't you like the first gen SBC? I've seen the vortec engines, but it seems like there are issues with the oil pan and having to lift it to clear them, also a height issue because they are tall. Did I read that right? That's the issue I have with the 4BT. I didn't want a big lift on it.
 
mtnmort said:
Why didn't you like the first gen SBC? I've seen the vortec engines, but it seems like there are issues with the oil pan and having to lift it to clear them, also a height issue because they are tall. Did I read that right? That's the issue I have with the 4BT. I didn't want a big lift on it.
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The gen III/IV SBC’s are so much more efficient at everything that the first gen SBC are almost obsolete and not worth spending the money to retrofit, I would keep one running if I bought a car that had one but I would not put one in a 4X4 over a gen III/IV SBC.

Look at some of the build threads or maybe some of the guys with the later SBC will chime in but it’s possible to keep SUA with the gen III/IV SBC. FWIW my 55 with the 4BT is also SUA with about a 3 1/2 “ total lift but knowing what I know now I would have linked it with coil overs and saved some money.
 
I've been curious about the fj80 coil suspension on a 55. I think the axles are too narrow for it and you would have to at least go with 60 axles, but the ride would be nice. Is the 4BT pretty loud in the cab of your 55? What size tires are you running to get the mileage you are getting? If the 2F was running I would just keep it, but with having to replace it there are a lot of options. Ive always wanted a toyota diesel, but they are too expensive and not really practical for a lot of long distance travel. It would be nice to just go down to the parts store and get the part you need. The last time my 2F had issues I was in Idaho over Christmas and had to special order the parts from toyota and it took a few days to get them. I finally got rid of the 60 because of all the engine problems I was having. I was sick of dumping money into that particular money pit.
 
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