Climb under that thing a check out the body! Looks to be a pretty solid rig, but we need more pics.
good luck
Ryan
good luck
Ryan
Can I get your opinions on the rust on this FJ40 I'm looking at?
- Thread starter dammitjim
- Start date
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LOL!
I have seen east coast "normal rust" and it scared me.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/chit-chat-section/127024-jb-weld-foam-frame.html
I have seen east coast "normal rust" and it scared me.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/chit-chat-section/127024-jb-weld-foam-frame.html
Now I understand why the seller said minor rust. You are both from the midwest. "Minor rust" where you are from means the engine and transmission are still somewhat securly mounted, the frame is not sagging from structural damage, and the body is not likely to fall off within the next 6 to 12 months.
I would only pay half of that all the rust in the pics can be cut and replaced but it will add up.
The cowl below the kick vent is a easy cut and patch .
The seam line behind the door also is a easy fix it is a lap joint which is spot welded.
The rear qaurter and sill is the more difficult and will be the most of your cost.
Bib is easier to replace than mend but is fixable.
Then you will need to paint this will cost depending if you DIY or profesional painter.
You will probably find more rust areas that will need attention.
The cowl below the kick vent is a easy cut and patch .
The seam line behind the door also is a easy fix it is a lap joint which is spot welded.
The rear qaurter and sill is the more difficult and will be the most of your cost.
Bib is easier to replace than mend but is fixable.
Then you will need to paint this will cost depending if you DIY or profesional painter.
You will probably find more rust areas that will need attention.
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Best option is to pay $10,000 max and get one in great shape. The amount of work here is at least $5,000.
So I get the feeling you guys think I should be buying these rigs rust free FJ 40 rigs that I run across at a smoking price? I run across deals all the time and post several of them up, no buyers. I'm not collecting FJ 40's for my 401 plan. I had 21 vehicles last Thanksgiving. A few have been for sale for over a year so they were cut up and sold for scrap. I'm down to 15 rigs now.
Looking at the above pictures and if the rig had all the emmission items on it and ran and passed smog. That is a $1,200 to $1,500 rig to me. It may be worth $10k to some but I see the work that needs to be done. I agree with Dieseler that it can all be fixed. But in the end, you spend more than you bought it for and have over $10k in it if you want to restore it.
Mcwinery posted up just spend $10k and get the right one. That is fine as well since someone already spend $17k on it.
Looking at the above pictures and if the rig had all the emmission items on it and ran and passed smog. That is a $1,200 to $1,500 rig to me. It may be worth $10k to some but I see the work that needs to be done. I agree with Dieseler that it can all be fixed. But in the end, you spend more than you bought it for and have over $10k in it if you want to restore it.
Mcwinery posted up just spend $10k and get the right one. That is fine as well since someone already spend $17k on it.
- Thread starter
- #27
Unfortunately I don't have $10k to drop on a LC now or in the near future. My goal is to buy something that works and looks halfway decent and keep it on the road. I'd like to buy one for a reasonable price so I don't lose a ton of money if I sell it a few years down the line
What ever you buy, make sure you can afford the upkeep on it. Both time and money.
These old crew cab tractors take a lot of maintenance. You will probably have to replace the axle seals, change the fluids, fix the brakes, adjust the valves, replace the tie rod ends, want power steering, points, etc. Each of these is not expensive if you do the work yourself, you just have to have the time to do it.
These old crew cab tractors take a lot of maintenance. You will probably have to replace the axle seals, change the fluids, fix the brakes, adjust the valves, replace the tie rod ends, want power steering, points, etc. Each of these is not expensive if you do the work yourself, you just have to have the time to do it.
You said a great condition rig with no rust is worth $4-$5K. Good condition and no rust to me means it's an automatic $10K+ truck, but I live in the Northeast.
- Thread starter
- #31
You should buy them and drive them out here and sell them. You could make a living touring the country in FJs
- Thread starter
- #32
Well I just talked to the seller it's not available to test drive till Friday. I was the the first buyer to contact him and show real interest so he said he'd give me the first option to buy it. Going to show up with cash and see if he's got some room on his asking price of $5k
Some more pics:
Some more pics:
Last edited:
Nice looking rig,
check the frame as Miker memtioned.
check the frame as Miker memtioned.
And bring a magnet.
- Thread starter
- #36
It does look pretty good from those new pics. Its the right color too to be original paint for that era. I always think they are worth a little more if they are unmolested by previous owners, me (as a previous owner) included.
Give it a good inspection so you know for sure what you are buying then decide. Its your money and its going to be your cruiser.
I've seen worse for more than 5k and I've seen better for less. If it turns out that it's solid other than the body sections we've seen, then I bet you would not be the only person to pay 4 to 5k for it. If it were a "no rust" '81 I'm sure someone on this board would pay 10k or more for it. Those are just my opinions, obviously.
I felt good about it. 82 runs great but a few bad spots. This was on here for a while and no one wanted it. I paid $3200 for it and thought that was decent. Cleaned it up abit but thats it so far. I'm getting some goodies together on top of working on my 69's lid. I figured I would be pushing it to get a later 40 with little or no rust. My 69 had less rust than this but it's a 69. What ever, like I said this floated around in the classifieds forever untill it got down to $3200 and I bit.PO did some weird stuff nut whats new. Painted interior olive?
I have said it before, NICE FJ40's are one of the very few things nearly unaffected by the s***ty economy, still more ppl looking for nice rigs than the availability of nice rigs. V8, re-painted other colors, or wrongfully molested in any other way trucks, are not worth much more than scrap weight now. If that is the orig. paint and the pics you posted were the worst spots, it is a NICE 40 and worth every bit of 5K running.
