For Sale @ High Desert Cruisers

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Hello Adam,

Can you help me out please? You have seen this FJ up close...in your estimation, what do you think would need to be done to get this thing up and going? What were your impressions of the vehicle? I'm in the market for a FJ (I've never owned one), and the price is low, but I'm thinking I would have to sink a lot of dough into it...thanks for yout time.

Vince
 
Vince - Ya gotta go look at it yourself. Check if it starts and runs, check the oil and the antifreeze, look for broken/cracked frame stuff... Take your $1500... If it runs it's a starter rig. Maybe even if it doesn't run.

For $1500 you can't go too wrong. - it's a Landcruiser.

Looks like a starter cruiser from here....

Is that a '77 top though?
 
Vinny, SteveLCetc,

He told me it ran when parked, it may need only fuel to get it started. He said it had no fuel in it so thats why we didn't attempt to get it started. I don't think he is trying to hide anything just lacks the motivation to buy gas and try to get it running before selling. The impression I get is he just wants the thing sold. The top is older than 77, frame looked solid to me. I checked the engine number agaist the production date and they appear to match, so Im guessing the motor and trans are original. The body is pretty rusty, wheels have the wrong offset so it looks like they rub once in awhile. Has a GM distributor, and non-toyota alternator. I think he said he has a tow bar that ties to the front bumper so you could tow it home without a trailer. I think it could be a cool trail rig etc. If your looking to turn it into a show piece, I might keep looking. Good luck.

Adam
 
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Vince,

One question. What do you plan on doing with a FJ40? Wheel or restoration? If restoration, this is NOT your truck. If wheeling, maybe. Speaking from experience ... this truck is rough. Nothing that time and $$$ can't take care of. My observations:

Body
  • Funky heater vent hoses. Still available from Toyota, BTW.
  • Hood, fenders, & bib look good. In one of the pics the passanger fender appears to be cancerous. I would look close at all body parts.
  • Rockers look rusty. I bet a wire wheel would go right through.
  • Doors look OK in the pics, but I would look close at the bottoms on inspection.
  • The window is down on the drivers side. Does it go up?
  • Frame, from what I can see, has potential and might be the best part, which is good.
  • Rear doors are clearly rusty at the bottom.
  • That color is not OEM and it looks like the WHOLE truck was rattle-caned. The chrome emblems are painted over. What's hiding underneath?
  • My one concern was the condition of the tub. The quarters are hiding something under that primer and rattle-can paint. The inside of the tub is ugly. Personally, I think you are looking at a tub replacement in the future.

Engine
  • The rats-nest of wire, OMG.
  • Engine has been de-smogged. Issue for Bernalillo County.
  • Fuel lines have been booger rigged.
  • I'm not sure that's an AISIN carb. Might be, but that air cleaner is a joke.
  • Header.
  • Good spot on the HEI distributor and GM(?) alternator.
  • Booger overflow can to the radiator.

If it runs, no more than $1000. If he can't make it run right there, $800. Go armed with this list, and add to it on inspection. From the looks of it, more issues will be easy to find (door weatherstrip). BTW, you are not driving this truck home unless you live around the corner. Plan on dragging/towing/flatbedding it home.
 
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I'd be really careful flat towing it. There's something in the steering geometry of a 40 that makes flat towing really squirrelly.
 
thanks!

SteveLCetc, Yotamotive, and pappy,

Thanks so much for your advice and good words. Your input has been very helpful. I called and offered $500 for the rig, but no luck with that offer. I am looking for a decent rig that can get me into the backcountry of West Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado for camping and trails...I don't want to restore something, just need a solid vehicle that I can maintain and never worry about when I am 100 miles deep in Big Bend territory. You know what I mean?

Thanks again, and if you know of any thing out there that may fit this bill, would you let me know please?

Vinny
 
SteveLCetc said:
Is that a '77 top though?
Click to expand...

nope. it's a 77 or '78 with a '76 top and doors. that thing is toast. the body is worse than mine! and it's been worked on too! note the gray lines above the rear fenders. that's patchwork for rust. the bottoms of the rear tub are cut off along with the outer edge of the front fenders (big rust spots). the rear well tops are gone, leaving the roll bar attached to NOTHING (ask me how i know). that is not a Toyota carb, probably weber. this is less than a starter IMHO. $500 wasn't out of line. the rebuilt engine (if it is) was the only thing worth anything there. somebody has tried with it, but there ain't much to work with. i wouldn't be interested based on the pics. too much work, even for me. sorry, no offense to anyone.
 
BionicCruiser said:
nope. it's a 77 or '78 with a '76 top and doors. that thing is toast. the body is worse than mine! and it's been worked on too! note the gray lines above the rear fenders. that's patchwork for rust. the bottoms of the rear tub are cut off along with the outer edge of the front fenders (big rust spots). the rear well tops are gone, leaving the roll bar attached to NOTHING (ask me how i know). that is not a Toyota carb, probably weber. this is less than a starter IMHO. $500 wasn't out of line. the rebuilt engine (if it is) was the only thing worth anything there. somebody has tried with it, but there ain't much to work with. i wouldn't be interested based on the pics. too much work, even for me. sorry, no offense to anyone.
Click to expand...

Those gray lines are racing strips!...kidding. Yup, your correct, ive seen it in person and the tub is totaly shot with the exception of the firewall/dash etc. Good hard top sides, drivers door, hood, windshield frame. The frame seems to be good, also the engine and probabaly trans/transfer and all drivetrain seem to be usable. Carb is a striped down stock Aisin. Good brake booster and other odds and ends im sure. It is very rough and heavly messed with, but based on parts alone the price can ad up fast.
 
Kaiser M715

Not a Toyota but it still sounds cool. From Lab News:

'65 Kaiser M715 5/4 ton, 4X4, all original, new tires, 24V, canopy cab, $5,000. 239-7059
 
This appeared on the 3FE list. Thought I would post here.

=========================
Got a call from a friend in Santa Fe, NM about a 55 that a friend of
his is selling. Sounds like a fairly clean, no major rust, truck that
has a 2F engine in it. My friend has driven it and he thinks it pretty
sound. It has new tires and the seller is asking $3500 for it. Sellers
name is Loy and can be reached at 505-660-5561. I know nothing more
than that.
=========================
 
This was sent to me via the website:

=======================
1996 TOYOTA LANDCRUISER WITH ONE OWNER.
188,000 ORIGINAL MILES. GREY EXTERIOR, GREY LEATHER INTERIOR.
A/C, POWER WINDOWS, SUNROOF, CD/AM/FM, TINTED WINDOWS ALL AROUND.
ALUMINUM ALLOY WHEELS.
SEATS SEVEN.
SOME MINOR DENTS, VERY RELIABLE, VERY GOOD IN SNOW.
EXCELLENT MECHANICAL CONDITION. EVERY OIL CHANGE RECORD AVAILABLE.
(NO DIFF/LOCK OPTION)
PRICE IS PRETTY FIRM. NO LOWBALL OFFERS PLEASE.
505-473-9333 ANDREW1SANTAFE@YAHOO.COM
=========================
 
No price on the '96 but it is firm.

-B-
 
Beowulf said:
No price on the '96 but it is firm.

-B-
Click to expand...

Yep, I noticed. I only post them as I receive them. BTW, the FJ40 posted recently for $950 may be sold. I think it belonged to a coworker.
 
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Ash, I was going to give you a hard time for not giving a size ... until I saw on the quote it's a linky. I made it stand out a bit more.
 
Howdy group - Looking for someone with some FJ40 knowledge. As you may or may not know, my son and I are looking for a project FJ40 and have found them to be terribly expensive. I found this one on Craigslist and he's asking $2,500. It looks pretty bad, but it seems that it is mostly cosmetic. Any thoughts. We are not in a hurry - but are willing to look at just about anything that comes along. This one has a Chev V8 conversion. Your input would be appreciated. Thanks - paul
fj1.jpg

FJ3.jpg

FJ4.jpg
 
It looks like its running in the second pic. That's a good thing :D


What are you wanting to do with the 40? How much work are you willing to do? What motor/tranny do you want?

Without knowing things like that it is kinda hard to recommend anything.
 
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