Buying an FJ60...maybe

[hunterc4]

I am considering buying my first Land Cruiser, an FJ60. I don't know much about the engines, so I figured I would post a picture on here to see if you guys noticed any major issues. It seemed like a part was missing and another burnt/broken. If there is anything specific I should check for, let me know.

Thanks!

 

[dbleon]

Looks like the heat riser thing is baked ... The coolant overflow bottle is relocated to the fire wall. Does it have dual batteries?

Looks to be smogged still... Ugh what a mess

 

[Output Shaft]

Nothing of importance can be gleaned from those pics.
The most important thing is to have done is a compression check of the engine. Pay for it if you are serious about the car.

The parts missing in your pictures are not mission critical.
Picture 2:
The cool air intake hose that connects to the Air Cleaner is missing because the owner was too lazy to retrofit a workaround for the dual battery setup. It should be replaced. A good replacement can be found at an auto parts store for pretty cheap. The original Toyota duct wont work with dual batteries. As it is now, the carb is sucking the hot air inside the engine compartment when the engine is warm, instead of the cooler air outside. Easy fix.

Picture 3:
Shows the missing hot air intake heat insulator. These are no longer available and most have rotted off of FJ60's by now. Fine as it is unless you wanted to fabricate something. No big deal.

As dbleon mentioned, the radiator overflow tank is in kind of an unusual location, but it can be re-positioned to a better place.

Engine is a little dusty. No big deal.

Just know that FJ60's are getting near 30 years old now.... and a lot of parts are no longer available new.. Namely all smog parts and some ignition parts... along with a lot of other stuff.

It comes down to miles on the car, how well the engine runs and tests, and how good you are at doing your own maintenance/repairs... Whatever you end up buying it for, will be only a small percentage of what you will eventually have to spend on it.

 

[hunterc4]

Thanks for the info. It has 163k miles on it. I'm not too worried about tinkering with it. My father-in-law recently restored a 40 (frame off and put in a 350), and he is excited to work on this one with me. I took the 60 for the afternoon and it rode great -- compared to a 62 I recently test drove.

 

[DFXR]

In the first pic the power steering pump looks kinda leaky/nasty. Look just beyond and below the upper radiator hose. It's common for them to leak, esp at this age, but the leaking can kill the smog pump, which lives just below the PS pump. When the smog pump dies it can sieze, which is no good b/c of its shared belt.

Are you somewhere with strict emissions testing?

 

[hunterc4]

I'm in Louisiana -- so no strict emissions.

 

[hunterc4]

And I should mention that yes, he is running dual batteries. On that note: the battery charge light remains on, and the voltage indicator hangs ~8v, but the battery is clearly charged. When you start the vehicle, it has no problems. I'm not too worried about it, but hope it's an easy fix.

 

[iwishiwasme67]

Best thing I can say (not related to the pictures) is that you have to keep in mind one thing. They are very archaic. They require you to love and cherish them. Just like a good woman, if you give it the attention and respect she deserves she will be by your side no matter what comes down the road.
These things are tanks. Rock solid go anywhere do anything tanks. Love her and she will love you back. It really is that simple.

 

[hunterc4]

Best thing I can say (not related to the pictures) is that you have to keep in mind one thing. They are very archaic. They require you to love and cherish them. Just like a good woman, if you give it the attention and respect she deserves she will be by your side no matter what comes down the road.
These things are tanks. Rock solid go anywhere do anything tanks. Love her and she will love you back. It really is that simple.

Very poetic.

 

[Output Shaft]

... They require you to love and cherish them...

Then abuse them like nobody's business... Then love and cherish them... Then abuse them... etc. etc.

 

[gregnash]

And I should mention that yes, he is running dual batteries. On that note: the battery charge light remains on, and the voltage indicator hangs ~8v, but the battery is clearly charged. When you start the vehicle, it has no problems. I'm not too worried about it, but hope it's an easy fix.

Batteries are probably not setup properly to read the stock gauge. Might want to ask him where/how he had the dual setup done because that could be more headaches for you than you want.

Check for normal rust areas and like that others said, take it for a test drive and see how she runs. You will know it if she has other issues. Make sure you use 4H to ensure that hubs lock properly and what not.

 

[mongoose2231]

Buy and don't look back. These things are so awesome...

 

[stayalert]

Based on post #4 - I agree 100% with post #12!

Never wrenched cruisers with my FIL (my thing more than his) but whenever we got together on any sort of project it was always GREAT!!

 

[hunterc4]

Thanks for the advice. I'm still hoping things work out with this 60, but I have to sell my current truck first. No bites yet from Craigslist.