HELP FJ 40 Project, Time to sell? What Say Ye?

[Josh Morin]

OK HEAR GOES

I'm looking for some opinions or recommendations on my current cruiser dilemna!

My Wife is 6 months pregant and we are very excited to be starting a new family but with the baby on the way there is a lot of pressure to get many things done. Along with that I find that every time I go into the backyard and the garage I see my cruiser under the tarp and no progress being made and it hits me like a ton of bricks. The number of hours it will take to complete the project (hundreds) and a lack of free time that I have now feels overwhelming.

I work 65-75 hours a week and there is limited time for recreation, time with the wife, let alone the cruiser.

Plus over the last year I've been suffering with some herniated disks and had to have a hip operation. So I need to prioritize working out and exercising to get rid of the pain .blah.. blah blah.. wah...wah ....wah!!

I bought the truck in college in 96 after searching and saving for a cruiser since I was 15.

The truck has some great memories. I drove her cross country from Virginia down to Baja Mexico and back in 97. Rolled her off an ice covered gravel road outisde of Blacksburg Va. and had to get my buddies to resuce me. Had countless wheeling trips in the Appalachians and she spent a few summers on the beach in Assateague.


So technically I've been working on the project since 2005 when I finally stripped the wrotten tub off the 79 40 and decided to do frame off restoration. Mostly the truck has been sitting with shorts spurts of progress


Currently it's isitting in my driveway in Pa in the following state:

-frame stripped and coated with POR 15
-rebuilt front and rear axle
-aqualu aluminum 3/4 tub with lip for hard top resting on top of the frame
-2f, tranny and transfer sitting in the garage
-new front fenders
-sandblasted all body part with the exception of the front cowl
-disk conversion for rear axles
-mini pick up steering conversion uninstalled
-OME Dakkar 2.5 lift springs mounted
-cool cruiser repair panels for front doors with ambulance doors partially repaired.


It really feels like my best option at this point is to recognize it for what it is. A project that is beyond my current means and not really feasible in the near term.


I'm thinking of just selling everything to someone that wants a project or has a current project that needs all these parts.

Then maybe buying a 40 that is driveable and that I can enjoy on the occasional weekend or leave down at the beach in the summer.

I'd be interested in hearing from anyone that has faced a similar situation.

Regrets? Relief?


Thanks for reading

Josh

 

[nick]

Don't sell it. If you don't need the money just hang on to it eventually you'll find the time to work on it.
You've put a lot of time and money into it to let it go now.

 

[Splangy]

You don't have the time to work on it. Sell it to me for a song.

 

[NikP]

You never have time for them. Then someday you'll talk about the fj that you sold and be mad you sold it. The money is already gone to get this far and you've accomplished so much that it would be hard to get enough back to be justified.

 

[Josh Morin]

Nick,

Thansk for the advise . I checked out your rebuild thread and it is inspirational to see those pics.

Your truck looks sweet.

It makes me long for the days of sitting behind the wheel of the cruiser and clunking the shifter down into reverse or lazily shifting through the gears without using the clutch.

If it's taken me 5 years to get this far, I have to ask myself, When my kid is two will I rather be working on the cruiser very slowly or taking him for a ride in one that runs.

 

[romey]

shoot, i hear ya man. comin from a fairly new dad...time is runnin low on wheelin let alone doin stuff to my 40 (and i'm no gearhead),..and IF we have baby #2 then it's definitely reality check time... my rig is running, but it needs minor stuff here and there... you've got crazy hours at work, and when that baby comes it'll be a crazy first few months as you go through your new dad learning curve...then depending on your wife/new mom's demmands...it might really be a hassle to find time... BUT, if you park it, and like someone said didn't need the cash asap...then you could go back to it when the little one get's a little older (i had/have dreams of takin my son on the 40 when he's big enough, but it's a looong way from now, lots can change). that's IF you have good space to store all the parts for several years..? if you let it go now, and IF you ddin't have any regrets and can move on from the "attachment" to your 40 (from all the fond memories)... then you can always grab another when the time is right.... BUT, gettin one and starting from scratch with all your new priorities as a dad might make it even harder (vs. keeping it, and you got one just waitin to run!)...?

i see both sides. hmm, but killin your body IF and when you have time to work on it might not be worth it in the long run...and wreck your back even more and not make it fun to drive anyway... hmm, i say let it go, move on, enjoy being a new dad...and when you're little one can enjoy a back seat ride on some mild roads..then grab a turn key 40....(keep in touch with the guy who you end up selling the 40 to, and who knows, long shot, maybe you can buy it back down the road..lol)
cheers and all the best.

 

[Hogan]

When my wife was pregnamt with our second I bought a 40, because I knew I would never be able to once my daughter was born for a long while.

 

[dcamp]

Congradulations on the soon-to-be new member of your family. It's a life changer... Be patient the 40 will be there, and just think of the fun you can have wrenching with the kid.

 

[bikersmurf]

I completely understand the situation you're in.

If you sell it as a project you'll get only a small portion of what you've got into it.
If you buy another, you'll likely soon be wanting a new tub or??? that you've just sold.

I see 5 options:
1) Find a couple of weekends to put into it and get it back on the road.
2) Keep it for parts and buy a 1/2 decent runner... eventually mix and match the best of both till you have one really nice truck and a ton of spare parts to sell.
3) Find a shop that can finish the job for you and shell out some coin.
4) Flog it and buy a nice truck again some day down the road.
5) 1 and 3.

I've got two young ones... life will be hectic for a few years (2-3) good luck.
Choose wisely and try not to second guess yourself.

 

[albee]

Do not sell it. I have three kids and a supportive wife. You will need a project to tinker with to keep your head clear. Keep your dream alive and find an hour per week to play with it. If dad is happy, then mom will be happy. It is a big circle man, don't break it.
Good Luck
Al

 

[Josh Morin]

shoot, i hear ya man. comin from a fairly new dad...time is runnin low on wheelin let alone doin stuff to my 40 (and i'm no gearhead),..and IF we have baby #2 then it's definitely reality check time... my rig is running, but it needs minor stuff here and there... you've got crazy hours at work, and when that baby comes it'll be a crazy first few months as you go through your new dad learning curve...then depending on your wife/new mom's demmands...it might really be a hassle to find time... BUT, if you park it, and like someone said didn't need the cash asap...then you could go back to it when the little one get's a little older (i had/have dreams of takin my son on the 40 when he's big enough, but it's a looong way from now, lots can change). that's IF you have good space to store all the parts for several years..? if you let it go now, and IF you ddin't have any regrets and can move on from the "attachment" to your 40 (from all the fond memories)... then you can always grab another when the time is right.... BUT, gettin one and starting from scratch with all your new priorities as a dad might make it even harder (vs. keeping it, and you got one just waitin to run!)...?

i see both sides. hmm, but killin your body IF and when you have time to work on it might not be worth it in the long run...and wreck your back even more and not make it fun to drive anyway... hmm, i say let it go, move on, enjoy being a new dad...and when you're little one can enjoy a back seat ride on some mild roads..then grab a turn key 40....(keep in touch with the guy who you end up selling the 40 to, and who knows, long shot, maybe you can buy it back down the road..lol)
cheers and all the best.

Romey

I appreciate your reply and your perspective as a new Dad. I didn't even think about the possibility of baby #2 which I'm sure will be on my wife's mind.

We moved up here a few years ago and I moved my cruiser and all the parts up in a POD storage unit. I was really pushing for a two car garage but it didn't happen. I don't have a spot to store the truck except in my one care garage/shop. I have to push it out every time I need to work in the garage.

My wife is very keen on moving from here sometime in the next couple years. She's from Colorado and would much rather be out west than in the east. I don't really want to think about hauling a non running cruiser on our next move.

I love the memories I have with the truck, but at this point that's all they are and life isn't about nostalgia it's about living. I own the truck it doesn't own me. Sadly I think the project has turned into a bit of a monkey on my back and being free from it for a while might allow me to pursue other projects more freely and get some good perspective on how I want to spend my time.

Good idea about the buy back!!

Thanks

Josh

 

[todt]

Looks like you put a ton of work into it. You should hold on to it if you can.

 

[bikersmurf]

I'll tell you one thing for sure, NOTHING put a bigger grin on my sons face when he was two than sitting in the front seat of a Fj40 (with a 350 in it).

 

[bikersmurf]

Romey

I appreciate your reply and your perspective as a new Dad. I didn't even think about the possibility of baby #2 which I'm sure will be on my wife's mind.

We moved up here a few years ago and I moved my cruiser and all the parts up in a POD storage unit. I was really pushing for a two car garage but it didn't happen. I don't have a spot to store the truck except in my one care garage/shop. I have to push it out every time I need to work in the garage.

My wife is very keen on moving from here sometime in the next couple years. She's from Colorado and would much rather be out west than in the east. I don't really want to think about hauling a non running cruiser on our next move.

I love the memories I have with the truck, but at this point that's all they are and life isn't about nostalgia it's about living. I own the truck it doesn't own me. Sadly I think the project has turned into a bit of a monkey on my back and being free from it for a while might allow me to pursue other projects more freely and get some good perspective on how I want to spend my time.

Good idea about the buy back!!

Thanks

Josh

It really sounds like you already know the answer. Moving a basket case will cost you an arm and a leg.

If you can't figure out a way to get it thrown together, I hate to say it, you should sell it and buy another one a few years down the road.

 

[Josh Morin]

Do not sell it. I have three kids and a supportive wife. You will need a project to tinker with to keep your head clear. Keep your dream alive and find an hour per week to play with it. If dad is happy, then mom will be happy. It is a big circle man, don't break it.
Good Luck
Al

This is all good stuff and is getting my wheels turning.

Before I make a decision I should explore the cost of having someone get it to the point where I could throw the drivetrain back into it.

I'm sure it'll be some $ to get the body stuff done.

I've found it really difficult to do work in small spurts because it takes time to get set up for the welding and other stuff. So buy the time I get set up in the evening it gets too late and my back is screaming at me from driving around all day.

I do agree about having to have projects to keep happy. It's just that right now the little projects that provide me with a small kick are more satisfying than periodically taking baby steps with the cruiser.

These are some pics from the last bit of progress that I made last July before I had hip surgery.

I didn't mention that after surgery last summer I bought an 89 fj62 with the idea that iw ould use it as a parts truck for the Fuel injection. Which right now seems like it was a real pipe dream.

 

[bikersmurf]

It doesn't have to be finished. Drive-able would be good enough. (and keep it)

You can then take your time to make it the way you want.

You can take a look at my album. It has taken me almost 20 years to get this far. I parked it when the insurance ran out when my wife was pregnant (approximately two years ago).

 

[BDSeff1fitty]

i'd vote, part it out, i think thats the only way you will get any where near what that aqaulu tub is worth. buy a running cruiser the month your new kid is born, give the new one a special meaning.

 

[romey]

man, and i totally see the other side of the coin. i know of a fellow cruiserhead with 3 kids and he manages to find time to tinker and wrench.. albee makes an excellent point about having an outlet...man time away from work and family...IT IS a necessity, imho!

i've got other buddies too with kids that are now driving their cruisers...i get they just had to take a time out when the wee one's demand more of your time...sooner or later...the time will return, and you will find it. ... i'm realizing now too how much work can be done if you manage your time... some guys juggle real well, and it's a huge bonus when the wife is on board and supportive...

i hear ya bout who owns who.....i was crazy into motorcycles for 13 years...as soon as i got married and baby came...i was like...meh, i can loose the bikes...in place of them after selling the bikes, money went into the 40, lol (and that's after the wifey told me to keep one bike and said she didn't want me to be unhappy w/o the 2 wheels...) as soon as the little guy came out, the world just changed, i've been there done that and was ready to move onto a new hobby...we need hobbies to stay sane, lol.

the facts; your space issue,possibly moving, time, logisitics around making that 40 back to life a reality.
. . . and just wait till you get that little bundle of joy in your arms, staring at you...life changing, and just a wonderful feeling!...enough to temporarily set your priorities in a way that you'd never imagine, haha.

it's just a pile of steel and rubber...you'll find another one and forums will always be there.

eitherway, i'm sure you'll make the right decision.

 

[Sputnik40]

Keep it. Slam it together as time permits. Looking at where you're at - if you got another cheap one it'll probably be a rust bucket or unsafe. Least it looks like you were doing it right - and even if half finished it'll be a clean safe ride.

 

[tpc78]

I got two kids of my own I can feel your delimma. If money is not an issue keep it. Life is real busy when the little ones come into play however outlets are always needed and working on the cruiser is a great outlet even if it only happens every couple of months. Plus as soon as you child is able to pick up a tool they will love sitting by you and imitating every move you make! Good Luck!