How much do you have into your rig so far?

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I don't think I have thought once about what anything that I put on/in my 60 or 80 has ever cost.

Not because I have a lot of money, but because the experiences those trucks allow me to have, the friends I have made, the life lessons I have learned far outweigh any price tag or cost.

:)
 
It depends what you want to do with it and what you expect. A stock FJ60 isn't known for power or hill climbing at posted road speeds. 135Hp pulling 5000lb wagon + gear = Slow 3rd gear hill climbing unless you've re-geared the 3rd members. if you plan on loading a stock Fj60 with tools or camping gear and friends or plan on towing anything you'll discover a few things quick. New Springs are needed to deal with the additional weight of the gear or what ever is being towed if you don't want the rear axle hitting the frame on every bump because the stock springs are flat. If you want to do any of the above doing up hill and hold 55mph or better You'll want a stronger more powerful motor. Starting with a nice clean Stock Fj60 with good body and paint can run from 4, to 10,k figure another 1,500.min for servicing items like axles, brakes, t-case due to mileage or neglect. Night driving your stock FJ60 will bring you to upgrading the driving lights or adding additional which will run 150.00, for quality h4 housings and hi watt bulbs. probably one of the cheapest and best upgrades and new cruiser owner can do.
Plan on new springs, bushings, shackles and shocks. 1,500.min. for OME. V8 conversion or diesel, $3,000. and up. Add bumpers, sliders, headlight upgrades, a roof rack, extra off road driving lights, dif lockers, 5speed transmission, a nice stereo, seats suitable for long distance trips, refrigerator, 2nd batter with power management, rooftop tent, additional tank for long range and your easily in the 15K to 20+ range. If you can find one that already has most of the above mods to you'll well ahead. Generally people don't understand how a 1980's land Cruiser could possibly be worth 15 or 30K.

Hope that helps.
 
I haven't waded through the entire thread, so forgive if I repeat, but if you want to get into a 60-series Land Cruiser and spend the LEAST AMOUNT in the long run, find a good runner that someone else has already gone through and needs to sell. In other words, buy the best you can afford upfront.

That being said, I bought mine (5/85) for $1500 with a blown HG and then proceeded to dump another $15K or more into it rebuilding and upgrading the entire drive train, suspension, electrical, chassis, bumper to bumper. I had no idea it was going to cost that much, but I don't regret it for a second 'cuz it's a great, reliable off-road truck and way less than a new Rover or *eep. It's prolly only worth half what I've got into it.
 
I've put 18-19K into mine and it was a great daily driver for the year and a half that I had it running. I pulled the engine and will be resealing it and putting it right back in. Now that I'll be selling it I know that I'll never see the cash I put into it but it was a fun hobby while I had it.
 
I bought my 62 for $4900 11 yrs ago. New radiator, alternator, starter, water pump, brakes, shocks, tires, muffler and tailpipe twice (second time was free) since then have been necessary. Not necessary add ons have been McNamara gear to stop tranny clunk (didn't help), ARB front bumper and reupholstered front seats. There are probably a few things I'm overlooking. Oh yes, front axle rebuild. New master cylinder. Engine performance has never been an issue, always runs like a top. Haven't kept track of costs, but you should get the idea. Around 10K total into it, I think, which means probably more like 12K. It doesn't see a lot of miles though, only about 40K since 2003.
The good news is that it hasn't cost me anything in the past 3 years or so, and I expect it to be cost free for the next 10+ years. :lol:
 
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Who' s wife asked this question in the first place ? Thank god my wife doesn't know about Mud I would have to choose between my Harley or my 60 . Only one toy at a time you know .
 
As was said in a great movie: "Welcome to the party, pal"

I like now being able to tackle any problem the rig presents AFTER all I have done as I have spent the money AND the time to fix things during my learning curve.

We can itemize all the costs, but the punch line on our rigs is: PRICELESS

dougbert
 
My wife is blowing a big wad of cash on a nearly-new X5 this week, so i think that gives me license to spend a few grand under the hood of my 62. Makes sense, right? :eek:
 
Who can put a price on love?
 
I'm with the other guys who suspect their wives of posting this as a trap. With that being said probably around 11 so far. Currently in the middle of a SOA with 63" springs going in the back though, and still haven't let the princess know about the tires and wheels that it's going to require as soon as I finish it yet. Sorry Babe!

Weasel


Weasel
 
My wife is blowing a big wad of cash on a nearly-new X5 this week, so i think that gives me license to spend a few grand under the hood of my 62. Makes sense, right? :eek:

I'm with the other guys who suspect their wives of posting this as a trap. With that being said probably around 11 so far. Currently in the middle of a SOA with 63" springs going in the back though, and still haven't let the princess know about the tires and wheels that it's going to require as soon as I finish it yet. Sorry Babe!

Weasel


Weasel

Yes, there is a "wife limit" on our wants, but a secret to raising that limit, is to respond with a wife "budget" for her. Costs extra, but then both parties become "guilty" - of something.

dougbert
 
It is funny because I keep meticulous records and log books on all of my cars, and could tell you to the exact amount I spend per mile. However, the Cruiser is the only one that I never EVER total up. Weird huh.
Dyno
 
What a great thread this is, surprised to see so little replies or maybe not because people are hiding the truth. I have had my 60 for 18 years, it was my first vehicle. It has been torn down and rebuilt twice and now on its third build. If I could only have the money back in stereo equipment from high school that I thought was cool. The man-a-fre high performance motor and H55f trans that set me back $7000 and the truck was still slow. Now its getting front and rear lockers, gears, ls1, auto trans, new carpet, headliner, and paint.

I don't even want to know what I got in it, but I love it and will never get rid of it.

Buy one done it will save you a lot of money long run.
 
This is a fascinating conundrum. "When I die . . . I hope my wife doesn't sell my tools for what I told her I bought them for . . .!" :hmm:
And for the cruiser it's all the worse!:bang::bang:
 
right under $13 K. I kept a spreadsheet of every car I have owned, (the old ones, anyway).

Cheapest per mile was my 1989 Mercedes 560 SEL. Like the Cruiser, I did everything myself, it was all parts.

John
 

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