Considering buying this FJ62 with engine swap (1 Viewer)

[pmw42069]

Hello, new to the world of trucks and I have finally settled on a 60 series LC.

I would love to get some thoughts and advice on this 1988 FJ62. The owner has had it since 1993 and says he has all receipts since the truck was purchased.

The owner says It has a Vortec 5300 from a 2000 gmc sierra and matching transmission swapped in by a professional shop. Old Man Emu Lift, headers, new exhaust system, Optima battery, winter & summer wheels/tires. 105,000 on GMC engine & trans 238,000 on Toyota body.

The interior is good, seat covers on the front. There is some rust (in the photos) but it doesnt look like a deal breaker. Is it?

Do you think $10k a fair price?

I live about six hours away and am thinking that this is worth making the trek out to test drive it next week but wanted to run it by you guys first.

If I go out there what else should I look for/ask? Given the swap would a local mechanic even be able to do a good PPI? I'm not a mechanic myself so any and all insight is very much appreciated!

 

[pmw42069]

 

[cruiserpilot]

Holes right through the rockers. Body shop special. It might be sound mechanically, but too
rusty for that price. Don’t pay extra for the engine conversion. I’d say too high $$$.
If he pulls back the carpets and there aren’t holes through the floor under the back seat,
I’d be surprised

 

[Seth S]

I always cringe when I see a plow mounted up to a truck. It means the truck got worked hard in the winter and on older trucks it’s an immediate hit on value in my mind.

 

[Scro]

Hard pass. Rust is expensive to deal with and the snow plow is concerning.

 

[MoaByte]

Better have a closer look at the underneath. $10k isn't outrageous. The rust issues could add $20K, but it's worth saving. People spend $20k on LS conversions all the time, but was it done well? This is a truck that will require you to have mechanical skills and time. Those wheels are butt-ugly too.

 

[dbleon]

Looks like a mini truck rear axle. Probably some hideous rust. Not a great year for the 5.3. frame looks fairly decent in the pics though. May be worth saving

 

[tmxmotorsports]

Nah

 

[WSOPgold2012]

Run

 

[MarkBC]

They boxed in the frame c channels for some reason

 

[dbleon]

They boxed in the frame c channels for some reason

Good eye

 

[MarkBC]

Ask me how I know. What was I doing this week...

 

[CruisingSned]

That respray maybe hiding a multitude of sins

 

[FJACS]

Rear quarter on the drivers side has been poorly patched with sheet metal. The lower body line is mostly gone and the bumper indents aren’t there.

Engine swap or not, this is a $2500 truck.

 

[NCFJ]

Never saw a plow truck that was not beat to hell. Hard pass for that and the multitude of other reasons posted above.

 

[tmxmotorsports]

Never saw a plow truck that was not beat to hell. Had pass for that an the multitude of other reasons posted above.

Snow plow = NO

 

[NCFJ]

I knew a guy in PA that would add extra bracing and cross members to plow trucks. They would still parallelogram from the constant pounding. Only Harry home owners and guys with money to burn put plows on new trucks. Oh yeah the state too

 

[poptart]

Honestly, price is largely based on location on these things. It’s easy for west coast and southern guys to see rust and just say no. On the East coast you’ll be lucky to find any 30+ y/o car without some form of rust. I’ve seen rustier FJ60/62 go for more with less work done to them.

That being said, I’d walk away from anything with a plow or that’s had a plow mounted. That’s just asking for a world of hurt. I wouldn’t even buy a truck I intend to plow with, with a plow already mounted. Adds a lot of stress on a lot of things not just frame.

 

[Seth S]

My advice is be patient. There are a lot of these trucks out there and there are still good deals to be had. Don’t let desire cloud your vision and drag you into a nightmare truck. I spent a solid year looking around for a truck and eventually found one 2000 miles away that fit my budget and wants. Bonus was a friend was nearbye and could check it out in person. I bought it and stored it at a friends and the. Flew out and drove it home.

Consider if you do find one for sale that’s far away...seriously consider flying out to see in person if you can’t get any known person to check it for you. A $500 plane ticket can save you a lot of money