Help with purchasing an FJ55

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dranven

dranven

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Feb 20, 2010
Threads
52
Messages
408
Location
Arizona
Hello there. I am looking to purchase an FJ55 and I'm wondering what to expect to pay. There aren't a lot out there for sale, so when I come across one, I have little to compare it with.

I checked out this one:

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It seems to be in decent shape, about on par with my old '68 VW bus. This pig has some surface rust on the roof, some panels here and there, hinges, and engine bay, but no holes from what I could see.

It has the original f155 motor. Odometer reads roughly 68,000 but it's broken now, so who knows. The owner claims it has about just under 100k on it. Again, I can only take his word. Speedo and gas gauge are finnicky (partially functional). AC is not hooked up. This is a 3 speed. It's very sluggish and rough to get going in first gear from a stop (i.e. really feels like it wants to stall and it's not just my driving - the owner had the same challenges). It runs though.

Body damage is minimal, aside from the front fender, which is nicely dented in. Pig leaks from the differential and engine from what I could tell (it's rainy here).

There other minor stuff broken as far as door handles, etc. So there you have it. I'm just wondering what I should expect to pay for the pig, should I choose to pick it up. Any help/advice is appreciated.

Thanks.
 
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It is hard to guess these things without more specifics. For example, the floor boards, are they rust free? The interior, what shape is it in? Any bondo? Do yourself a favor and crawl under it to look for hidden rust. Your running issues sounds like carb problems.

Ballpark would be $ 2000 max. Probably closer to $ 1000.
 
Floorboards have minimal surface rust. No bubbling, no holes. Seats are in decent shape, no rearview mirror, headliner was replaced, so it's good. Dash is all cracked.

No bondo, all original metal. I crawled under and could not find any major rust aside from minor surface stuff on the body. Some components had some rust on them, leaf springs, etc.

Thanks.
 
Sounds like a pretty rust free truck as far as pigs go. Most of them will have quite a bit of body rust. So I guess it is up to you, you could find cheaper but would have to invest a lot of time in rust repair. I would probably go as high as $3-3.5k. My '71 was pretty rust free but mechanically need a lot of work. I paid $5k, it was a little high, but worth it to me.

Ryan
 
+
Well here on the east coast for 1000 all it has to do is crank, doesnt matter what the body looks like. Just try to ask anyone on this board if they would sell theirs for a $1000. It aint gonna happen. Ryans est. is more in line. BTW where are you located? That makes a big diffrence also.
 
Thanks for the insight, Ron. I am located in Arizona. Supposedly, this pig has spent its life in AZ. I've wanted a pig for a long time (my dad was into FJ40s, but I always liked the 55) and recently begun searching for one.

There's a member here in AZ selling a lifted yellow one and he says he wants "a little more than 6,200" according to his posts.

The one I went to see and described in my original post is not as clean, nor does it have as much invested in it, so I am trying to use that to gauge what a fair price would be for the one I described, as I don't have $6,500-ish to spend. :(
 
I know what you mean. Ive owned 17 fj40,s and finally got a pig. Finaally drove for the first time today around the neighbor hood. then I parked it to continue working on it. It will probablly be months before its roadworthy. Maybe youll get that one. Good luck!
 
dranven said:
Thanks for the insight, Ron. I am located in Arizona. Supposedly, this pig has spent its life in AZ. I've wanted a pig for a long time (my dad was into FJ40s, but I always liked the 55) and recently begun searching for one.

There's a member here in AZ selling a lifted yellow one and he says he wants "a little more than 6,200" according to his posts.

The one I went to see and described in my original post is not as clean, nor does it have as much invested in it, so I am trying to use that to gauge what a fair price would be for the one I described, as I don't have $6,500-ish to spend. :(
Click to expand...

Paid 1500.00 for mine a few years ago...still driving it and waiting to park it and start the big work. I have assembled most of what I need to the tune of maybe 2000.00 to 2500.00. Big on the list were new fenders, dash and weather strip. Also, Carb and manifolds. It was desmogged. Mostly spent its life here in NM but it has some rocker rust from hauling boats to the lake. Don't have a headliner yet ;) .

And if you do not have to do much with metal that's worth a good bit. Course in AZ and NM Rubber eats it badly...and that is 'spensive.
 
I agree with Ryan. Somewhere in the 3-4k ball park. I paid a little over 5k for min in 2007, but it was high from what I've learned since then. However, mine ran like a champ and had a pretty small amount of rust considering it had come from Colorado. I was able to drive it daily from day one, so... I don't ever plan on selling mine, so the amount I will have invested won't be as important to me as the fact that I have it, and I love it!
 
Dranven,

What year is it? It sounds like a strange combo. It has the 155 motor with A/C and 3 speed? Is the 3 speed on the column or floor? Either way it sounds like a cool truck. What are your plans? It might make it easier to help with the purchase if we knew what you wanted to do with it.

i.e. if you want an ready to run DD maybe we would suggest a later model with a 4 speed and disk brakes, but if you want to put a crate motor, axles and cut up the body there might be a better candidate out there for you.

Just an idea.

Ryan.
 
Hey guys, thanks again for all the comments so far. I appreciate it.

The one I looked at is a '73. Hopefully I didn't misspeak about the motor. I wrote "F155" because in my research on the FJ55, it appears as if that's the motor equipped on the '73 model. The owner simply said "original motor", so it was my assumption that it's an F155. As far as my plans, I'd like to use it as a DD mainly and trips upstate to the snowy areas of AZ during the winter.

This owner is holding at $5,000 firm right now. I just don't think it's clean enough for $5k, but that's why I came here to ask. When I sold my '97 Toyota Supra with 85,000 miles for $32,000 a few years ago, a lot of people thought there was a typo in my ad and it had an extra zero. So, I certainly understand that certain vehicle command a premium due to rarity, popularity, or other reasons.
 
post up as many pics as possible and we'll give you the honest eyeball. too tough to tell.
 
Yea, I think I would go 3k-ish on the one I looked at, but no more. He is holding firm at $5,000 though, so I can't move on it. I am going to wait a while I guess and perhaps if he can't sell it, he will lower his price a bit. If it comes to it, I will go see it again and take detailed pictures.
 
I bought two '74 FJ55's as a package deal fall of last year... The one that runs has a bit of rust hoels, is in pretty good mechanical condition and could be daily driven with a new exhaust. The other is a clean (bondo queen but straight) body with some boxes of parts to put it back together.. The idea was/is to combine the two.

I paid under $2k for the package.
 
rsbcruiser said:
It is hard to guess these things without more specifics. For example, the floor boards, are they rust free? The interior, what shape is it in? Any bondo? Do yourself a favor and crawl under it to look for hidden rust. Your running issues sounds like carb problems.

Ballpark would be $ 2000 max. Probably closer to $ 1000.
Click to expand...

$2000? not likely...
 
3 PIGS in PHX area

Yeah, they're three pigs for sale in the phx area. A white one in North Phx, two toned orange & white in Glendale, and my yellow pig in Mesa. I thought both of the stock pigs were asking low 6's and I'm of course asking mid 7's. I'm pretty firm on that considering the PIG comes with an 18 month tranny/transfer case warranty and rebuild I paid 1.5k for. I'm staying firm on my price or waiting until someone wants to trade for an 80 series.

Good luck PIG hunting Draven
 
More Advice

You guys are the pros, so I have a question...

Stumbled on a '75 FJ55 and thought from the year it would have a 2F. It has an F, but it does have a 4 speed. I thought that was a '74 set up.

I was able to get the VIN, and it comes up non existent. MFR. date on the tag is Aug 1975. VIN is FJ5553466.

No tag under the hood, only on the pillar.

Questions are:
1. Don't all '75s have the 2F?
2. Is the VIN missing numbers?
3. Is this a Non USA model that will be a challenge to register? I'm in CA.

Any input would be appreciated. The advice so far on this thread has helped me with the value. Thanks!
 
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