I have a 4bt cummins on my 76 fj40, but been having some evil thoughts about going a different direction on the powertrain. An LS is certainly an option, but am also considering a 4runner 4.0 VVT V6.
Man, I had a 1999 Gen 3 4Runner with a 4 cylinder (yay, timing chain and not belt) that I kind of regret selling. It had a quarter of a million miles on it, didn't burn a drop of oil, and got as good of gas mileage as it did the day I bought it used. I even thought about having the drivetrain pulled and put into the FJ40. And then one day there was a knock at the door, and I guy asked if it was for sale? I remembered my dad when I was a kid saying everything was for sale if the price was right, so instead of slamming the door in his face I grabbed the keys and stepped outside to talk to him. My mistake. Turned out he was in the neighborhood looking for a house for his parents, and he had a used car lot in Orlando, 23 minutes away. He tried to low ball me, like you would expect from a sleezy used car salesman (no offense if any readers are in the business, but they came up with that term for a very good reason), and I held my ground and reminded him he showed up knocking on my door. I had EVERY receipt for EVERY bit of maintenance that had been done, and every oil change, and every set of new tires. So, I got exactly what I had paid for it 12 years prior. But there are days I miss it. It was fantastic! Best vehicle I've ever owned! And I loved that the rear glass went down. I. The heat of summer you could hop in, crank it and turn up the THUMPIN stereo system I had in it (wasn't in there when I bought it) and put down every window and the rear glass and blow all the hot air out super quick! Yep... Loved my 4Runner! I hope to steer my oldest son towards a good used 4Runner for his first vehicle. He turns 16 at the end of the month. But, unlike most parents these days, he's not getting handed a vehicle. When I was young my dad told me he had to work and everything he ever got, and as a result he appreciated and respected everything more and took better care of it. I worked for years mowing people's yards in the summer (and trimming bushes and stuff), and shoveled snow for the same people in the winter so they could get out of their driveways, and bought my first car with my own money. Made a SUPPER TERRIBLE purchasing decision, but that turned me into a pretty good mechanic because I could afford repair manuals but couldn't afford a repair shop. LOL. Wow, I don't usually think of myself as old, but I've sure rambled on line an old person with a bunch of information you didn't want or need. LOL! My sincere apologies!
Oh, and by the way, I have thought about steering both my boys towards an old FJ (can't remember what the FJ40 with a diesel is after pain meds + rum & Diet Coke with a twist of lime), because like the GREAT comedian Henry Cho says, if you get them a stick shift, they can't text message and drive, and if you get them a diesel, they can sneak out at night! LOL!!!
