Help Me Price My '87 FJ60

[Gordo]

Folks,

I've owned my baby since '96 but the time has come to consider moving on to something a little more plush. Would like some input/help on pricing my vehicle before I put it on the market. I see a lot of stock vehicles for sale, mine isn't... Best description I can come up with:

1987 FJ60, 165k miles. Original color sand, repainted to forest green in 2003

Body is in good shape. Frame rails showing surface rust but solid. Accident in 2003; impact to passenger side front. Fully repaired (not totalled); only noticeable issue is passenger side window frame does not seal properly (I think the pillar is bent – air noise at highway speed).
-Minor surface rust in 2-3 areas (wheel well, front inside of hood). No rust through.
-Paint quality 6 out of 10. Dull in some areas, pealed around the front window frame (window replaced in 2003 after paint job – removing the window pulled up paint within ½” of the rubber window seal)
-ARB Bull Bar (non-winch) like new
-SOR tube rock sliders
-16X8 aftermarket wheels (great fit for 31X10.5 tires)
-Kaymar roof rack
-FJ62 manual mirrors (aftermarket)
-Draw-Tite Class IV trailer hitch
-Hella H-4 E-spec headlights
-Power antenna

Interior condition and upgrades:
-Interior is in good shape. Dash is starting to crack. Driver’s seat (side) is split on the edge.
-Custom fit diamond pattern rubber cargo mat (covers entire cargo area and backside of back seat)
-Leather wrapped steering wheel
-Clean/nice interior

Engine and accessories:
-Engine runs very strong. A few oil leaks (side cover & pan gaskets)
-New water pump less than 5k miles ago, 2007
-Carb rebuilt 2005
-Hi-perf vacuum advance distributor (have original w/sale along with a bunch of other parts)
-Crane XC Fireball ignition/optical pick up (replaced points in the Hi-perf distributor)
-SOR Tri-Y header
-DeSmog’d
-Valves adjusted under 20k miles ago
-New alternator 2002 (Napa)
-New CCOT radiator, 2003
-K&N air filter
-Electric fuel pump
-Starter rebuilt 2002
-Motor mounts replaced 2004
-Power steering pump leaks
-AC converted to R134. Leaks but runs cool for a season with a spring recharge.

Transmission
-Great shape. Shifts flawlessly. Locks into 4WD HI/LOW without issue. High miles on clutch but no signs of slippage.


Recent maintenance
-New front disks & pads, new front brake lines, repacked hub/bearings 2006
-New Toyota T100 1” brake master cylinder installed 2006

Suspension
-Needs refresh. Springs and shocks are worn out.
-Tires are old, need to be replaced. Good tread but the sidewalls are cracking.

2F Engine Manual
Owners Manual
2F Emissions Manual

Thanks, Gordo

 

[Fedyschyn]

5-6k is what I have seen similar condition 60's listed for around here, but obviously you have to find the buyer willing to pay that. On the other hand you could sell me the roof rack and still charge that much

 

[nodaksn3]

Nice looking truck, but I agree, 5-6k. What are you thinking of buying next?

 

[Cruiserdrew]

With all the smog stuff gone, your pool of potential buyers is getting smaller every day. Your truck looks pretty nice, but with the de-smog and stuff you may be looking a $3000-$3500 especially with some expensive repairs looming-like the power steering and the AC. Good luck with the sale.

 

[roundrocktom]

Folks,

Suspension
-Needs refresh. Springs and shocks are worn out.
-Tires are old, need to be replaced. Good tread but the sidewalls are cracking.

Gordo,

Not the time to sell with everyone dumping trucks/SUV's for small vehicles.

Nice rig, but at this point cheaper to keep 'em.

Tom

 

[89s rule]

With all the smog stuff gone, your pool of potential buyers is getting smaller every day. Your truck looks pretty nice, but with the de-smog and stuff you may be looking a $3000-$3500 especially with some expensive repairs looming-like the power steering and the AC. Good luck with the sale.

Been in cali too long. De-smog isnt an issue for a good portion of the US.

Nice truck!

 

[krookedpandas]

I would say 4k. People are always very skeptical of repaints and I would have to agree a desmogged cruiser to an everyday person is not very appealing. Power steering is for the most part an easy fix, same with pan gasket. I would suggest fixing those problems then attempting to sell it.

 

[Wile E Coyote]

Been in cali too long. De-smog isnt an issue for a good portion of the US.

Nice truck!

For how much longer, though?

 

[89s rule]

For how much longer, though?

When they start smogging in the rural south I will be very suprised. And I dont plan on leaving here. Shoot we dont even have yearly inspections and havent for 10+ years. B/f that if you knew people it wasnt an issue as you would just get passed anyway.

You are correct though the govt gets into it more and more and makes it miserable for the rest of us.

 

[Gordo]

Thanks

Thanks for the input, gives me a good frame of reference.

The desmog topic has some painful history. I currently have the vehicle licensed in Ohio partly based on the strict Northern VA emissions and safety inspection process (I'm military, my home of record is in North-Western Ohio - no smog inspections).

I bought the vehicle in SC and brought it up to NoVA in '98. I tried to get it licenced here and found I needed an emissions inspection first.

The initial inspection hit me on my muffler - it had 2 very small holes and needed to be replaced before I could continue. Can't recall what I paid, but I was pressed for time and had Meineke replace it.

Returned for inspection and they failed it (a permanent mark against the truck...). Brought it to a Toyota dealer (new to the area - didn't know where else to go - needed to bring it to an "authorized" emissions repair place...). The dealer worked on the vehicle (or had it) for nearly 3 weeks. After loads of calling and pressing, they said it passed emissions. My bill was around $900 bucks with a $15.00 part replacement. I was steamed, but hey, it passed...

Oddly enough, the vehicle always had a loud ticking/popping noise and strong exhaust/fuel smell in the engine compartment. I would discover later (about a year after the "passed" inspection") that my exhaust manifold gasket was shot. Thought it kind of odd that my vehicle needed a new muffler, but somehow passed with a leaking exhaust manifold... I guess the Toyota dealer thought they were doing me a favor giving it a pass somehow - meanwhile, my take-away was that the emissions inspections process was broke, amounting to not much more than a racket for the automotive industry... As it turned out I found that if a vehicle can't pass with ~$1,000 worth of work, you get a 1 year license (vice 2 year with a pass).

Another observation/impression - emissions repair is guesswork for most places; especially for vehicles that don't have computers to tell you what parts are bad...

Not wanting to deal with this every year or two, I quickly tagged the truck in my home county back in Ohio. Farm country; where guys don't hesitate to put performance exhausts, header to tail pipe on brand new trucks or for that matter, drive an old beater truck.

Left the emissions stuff alone for a year or so when I finally decided to do something about the "ticking" noise. Bought the emissions manual and went at installing the header. As I studied the emissions system on this truck I was amazed - multilple failure points, with many leading to degraded performance/worse emissions than if never installed. Disgusted at the mess - I desmog'd. My truck has never been easier to keep finely tuned since. The exhaust stink and fuel smell long gone. I still have the cat after the header - everything else is gone. I'm a firm believer that a finely vehicle kept well tuned (without smog gear), will outperform and be better for the environment, than a crappy running vehicle that's fixed to pass inspections every couple of years. I'm fortunate enough to have the flexibility to take actions on that premise...

Good on you if you can afford to keep an older vehicle on the road under the emissions laws, unfortunately I found the process to be rather broke.

Thanks again. Gordo



Side note, I wasn't thrilled with the NoVA safety inspections either. Had a '94 Infiniti J30 I was trying to get licened at the same time - failed the safety inspection. A headlight had a rock chip (no leak, just a chip like you get on your windshild that somehow didn't run). Inspector said it needed replaced - $500 for the headlight assembly. Forget it...

I recognize and respect the intent and purpose of both the emissions and safety inspections, however I feel in execution - they are both broke.