FJ60 vs. 62? (1 Viewer)

[Vintage Innovations]

I've recently been struck with the LC bug again, and have been looking for a new project like crazy. My last FJ was an 86 60, I built it and traded it for a nice truck one of my employees had.
I have always wanted a 55, and like most people looking for them I can't seem to find one that isn't more bondo than Land Cruiser. I decided that if I couldn't find a good one I would go with another 60 or 62, and I found a 1990 62 from a neighbor that seems to be a pretty good deal. Has just over 215k miles, nordic blue with just a little bit of surface rust on one of the doors, old man emu lift with 30 x 10.50 BFG's, roof roof rack, automatic, and a pretty clean interior. Motor runs strong.
Question: Are there any particular year models that are better than others in the 55's, 60's, and 62's? I know in the 55's that post-74 they had disk brakes in the front, but what years in the 60's or 62's should i stay away from?
Seems to be a lot of good options on the market right now, more than I've seen in a while. Just want to make sure I grab the right one.

Thanks for your insight guys and gals.

 

[gregnash]

Post May 85 (I think) is when the bellhousing changed so that the H55F is a direct bolt-on so look for anything that is late 85 or older for a 60. 62s I think it was in 88 that the harness went from a two piece power plug to a single, not a huge deal but some have had issues when putting a new engine in and getting proper computer to go along with it. Other than that, there are the rare "poverty" versions of the 62 out there that have manual windows, doors and mirrors but still have the auto and rectangle headlights.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

If you don't plan an engine swap, the fuel injection in the FJ62 makes it a much stronger and better running truck. I've owned an FJ60 for 12 years and an FJ62 for 8, and would pick the FJ62 any day over the FJ60.

 

[Devils Paw 80]

Your neighbor's 62 sounds like a good bet. If you don't like the auto, your project can be swapping in a 4 or 5 speed. The '89 and 90 years are the only one to have rear shoulder seat belts, if that makes any difference to you. Good idea to forget the 55's.

 

[Random Dan]

A 62 with an H55 swap sounds like the best of both worlds.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

A 62 with an H55 swap sounds like the best of both worlds.

It is. It really wakes up the 3FE and improves it's dismal fuel economy.

 

[landcruiserjunky]

Got any eye candy?

 

[SteveH]

If the neighbor's 62 is pretty clean and priced right, I'd grab it, drive it, and go from there. You could do so much worse than what you have described. I have owned each and would pick the 62 over a 60. I love 60s to death, but 62s rev better and the EFI is a cold-start treat.

 

[Heckraiser]

I have owned one of each and I prefer the 62 mechanically. EFI is just so much better, IMO. 62 with a round headlight conversion would be my ideal cruiser

 

[jhanley]

Round headlights, FTW! All joking aside, my brother-in-law has a 62, and me a 60. I despise the auto. So, if I'm swapping for an H55 anyways, I'm choosing a 60 all day. I dig the interior, and no power anything, too. Although, you can find 62's with roll-ups and manual door locks.

 

[IBFJ62]

Having done the H55 conversion in my 62, my overall feeling is that it made it much more 'truck-like', the auto was just sort of boring, not to mention just seemed to have the shift points in all the wrong places. At freeway speed the auto was never in the power band, always seemed to have to floor it to kick down to get any gumption. With the H55, I cruise at 70 @ 2500 rpm with 32's on her, and it has definitely better throttle response for passing. Runs the rpms up quickly when you get toward 80 mph, but for short bursts it's great. Getting up to freeway speed is no problem. Recently did a short-block rebuild .020 over and gasket matched the intake, and definitely livened it up. Stick a good free flowing exhaust on there and she'll sound badass too! I love downshifting on some dumbass that cuts in front of me, it sounds like a dinosaur is growling down their neck..

 

[Hillhippy]

I'm fond of my 62. When I bought it, I thought it made sense to get as late a model of the bodystyle I wanted. A 90 fj62 filled the bill. I now realize there are prime examples of 60s to be had. So...to paraphrase real estate advice, Condition! Condition! Condition! Rust or no?

 

[sitesbyjoe]

I can't help but love the manual everything of my 60. Never had a 62, yet...

 

[NEFJ60]

You can swap in the H55 in and put in round eyes, but you still know it's a 62. Just something about that old carburated 2F. Embrace the slow! Go 60!

 

[MACFJ60]

I prefer the 60, but you can't go wrong either way.

 

[daytonadogie]

Ginger, or MaryAnn? The debate rages on.

 

[bentonrover]

My Fj62 is bitchen lol. I get some compliments . May cause I'm the only one around my way with one. Well that runs mine you

 

[Beachcomber Bernie]

Ginger, or MaryAnn? The debate rages on.

Jeannie!

A lot of this is function vs nostalgia.
Enjoy this time and pick a good one.

 

[tclark]

Jeannie!

A lot of this is function vs nostalgia.
Enjoy this time and pick a good one.

Agreed. For me a lot of the appeal of the 60 is the nostalgia of it, the retro feel of manual everything is a large part of what makes it cool. That said mine's just a 3rd vehicle and not a dd, nor would I really want one for a dd(although I do want a 2fe)
So for me I say 60 all day long--round lights are way cooler, manual everything is cooler, dash is cooler, etc. A buddy had a 62 and while still a cool ride it lost a good bit of appeal to me with it's "upgrades".

 

[Silver City Cruiser]

Parts are more available on the 60 due to a longer production run. Auto trans parts and engine parts are really getting tough to find in good condition on a 62, Bill