Body rust question

[pepsifantacola]

So my relative moved back to his country and left me his 1985 FJ60. By the way this was about 5 years ago. He'd go off-roading when he was here and all but I don't really know much about land cruisers. Anyway, the truck's been sitting in front of my garage for a while now and it's got quite a bit of rust on the sides of the roof. I don't know if it's bad or if I should just leave it. I live in SoCal by the way. The rust has looked like this for years now and it hasn't really spread anywhere.
(or if I'm unable to see it). So what do you guy's think? Is it fine to leave it or should I just sell it? (note: I do not have money for body repairs) If not selling then I plan to drive it to college.


The rust goes all the way to the other end

Cracking?

There's holes in that rust...

Honestly I don't mind the rust, but I'm just wondering if it's safe to drive with the rust. The truck look really cool, and I would want to drive it around with my friends.

PS: If I were to attach a roof rack, would it make the rust worse?

 

[gregnash]

You have a few spots of cancer there that will eventually need to be replaced. Safety is all what you determine to do with the vehicle. If there are other places, especially in the frame, that look like that then it is better to pass it on to someone that can repair it. It doesn't look incredibly bad but bad enough that you will want to take some prohibitive measures to stop/slow the spread.

Question to ask yourself is do you want the truck or not. This is not your average vehicle, this is a lifestyle. You will need to do wrenching to make her run well and you will need to take care of her.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Sorry, dude, but you probably need to get rid of it. That cancer in the driver's a-pillar scares the piss out of me. That's a major structural component in a rollover and an important one at any other time. As someone who's dealt with more than his fair share of rust in older vehicles, I can tell you that now is the time to get on that before it gets any worse. Forgive the cliche, but rust is like an iceberg - you can only see a small part. I hate to tell you to get rid of it, but if you don't have the money to fix it then it's best that you cut your losses. Sell it to someone who will hopefully give it some TLC and buy yourself a nicer one after college.

Or...you could buy the body that arcteryx is selling and put it on yours. Do NOT do this unless 1) your mechanicals are good and 2) you have someone who is competent with vehicles and willing to help you do the swap. Not trying to be a dick, but I've seen too many people get in over their head and ruin two vehicles, and that body's too good to waste on a dead project.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/sale-parts/613441-fj60-body-99-rust-free.html

That said, good luck!

 

[Ridge Runner]

Just saw the pic of the passenger a-pillar (dial-up sucks). Yeah, you definitely need to 86 this one.

 

[dmjay]

Sorry to tell you but that is some of the worst rust i have seen in a sixty series roof.
Thats a major job mate.

1987 VX 12H-T A440F

 

[Max.Powerzz]

Sadly I think you would have a very difficult time selling your cruiser; that rust is pretty bad, especially for CA. Maybe you could sell it if it has an awesome drive train, but I don't think you would get much for it. I would not put a roof rack on, it seems pretty unsafe. Chop the top, put a roll cage in, and wheel it.

 

[darthvincor]

Such a shame, all that rust.
You'd think the 60 series was toyota's first ever car with a roof...
Either that, or some disgruntled toyota employee in the 80s sprinkled salt into the roof insulation of every one of them.

 

[MBcruiser]

I just picked up my first cruiser fj62 this week. I have some small rust holes in several spots on the roof line too, but nothing as serious as this FJ though. Any suggestions on repairing these issues would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[Estancio]

So my relative moved back to his country and left me his 1985 FJ60. By the way this was about 5 years ago. He'd go off-roading when he was here and all but I don't really know much about land cruisers. Anyway, the truck's been sitting in front of my garage for a while now and it's got quite a bit of rust on the sides of the roof. I don't know if it's bad or if I should just leave it. I live in SoCal by the way. The rust has looked like this for years now and it hasn't really spread anywhere.
(or if I'm unable to see it). So what do you guy's think? Is it fine to leave it or should I just sell it? (note: I do not have money for body repairs) If not selling then I plan to drive it to college.

PS: If I were to attach a roof rack, would it make the rust worse?

Hey, if it runs, then drive it! Rusty or not, it's a vehicle. And if you have no money to repair this one, I suspect you don't have the money to buy anything else. I drove a 60 series for a decade in worse shape than yours. Drive it! ... but do not add a roof rack...

 

[hj 60]

Grind it out, spray it, make cardboard examples of the weld in parts and ducktape it.

Roofrack might be to much for the structure, is the fueltank recall done?
I suppose that the rearwheel arches, chassis and shocktube are brandnew

 

[Ridge Runner]

Grind it out, spray it, make cardboard examples of the weld in parts and ducktape it.

Yeah, don't do this. You're just going to make a bigger mess than you already have. Best thing to do for yourself and possibly whoever gets it from you is just to leave it alone.

 

[alaska60]

I just picked up my first cruiser fj62 this week. I have some small rust holes in several spots on the roof line too, but nothing as serious as this FJ though. Any suggestions on repairing these issues would be appreciated, thanks.

Heres what I did on the roof.

Fixing the roof rust link click here!

 

[MBcruiser]

Heres what I did on the roof.

Fixing the roof rust link click here!

Thanks alaska60, I read your entire thread last night after doing a search! Wow I feel a little overwhelmed at the prospect of the work ahead of me!