Input on Possible 77 fj40 purchase (1 Viewer)

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Joined
Jan 19, 2021
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29
Messages
178
Location
Emigrant, MT 59027
Just joined, looks like an awesome place. Need input from those much wiser than myself on whether I should run away or pounce on (or maybe in between). First, the vehicle I am looking at is priced at $5K, been sitting for 2 years on a lot, not starting now., they feel it is likely the carburetor. Also, because of distance I cannot look at myself, so will likely hire a mechanic to take a peek (if you folks think it is warranted). Use of the vehicle will be as a second vehicle at our cabin in MT.




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It all depends on what is under all that diamond plate. It could be a gem, or a total rust bucket. Most everything else looks pretty decent though.
 
kind of what i was thinking. Anyway to easily figure that out short of ripping it off? Where in MT are you?
Inside of the cab and under the rear should show you a lot. Look at all the metal you can under that plating. Rear sill and quarters are notorious, the rockers below the doors.
I’m in the Bitterroot.
 
That looks like an "amalgam" of years. Doors, wiper motor location, and vented side windows don't look contemporary to me. That said, diamond plate job looks pretty professional. We did all our body work on our '72 BEFORE we installed the diamond plate, so its possible the PO did the same. For $5K I'd be all over that. But realize, it's gonna' be a ton of work to get it road worthy!

Where is it located?
 
If you can talk them down a bit in price, i'd say clean out the spiderwebs and rodent turds, get it baselined and drive/ enjoy it!
 
A mix of years as stated above. Missing rear jump seats, intake bits, etc. looks to be a project. Nothing wrong with that at all, but time money and energy will be required. Does the motor turn over freely? Vehicle should have ambulance doors on that year. Any pics of undercarriage and or areas below diamond plate. As stated earlier, I always assume rusted out below diamond plate until verified otherwise. Price not crazy for today’s market.
 
Saw the hatch, assumed rear barn doors would be present. Nope! custom redneck tailgate. Perfect reminder to assume the worst. Hatch handle broke off. Hatch looks rotted in spots. Was tub so rotted it couldn't support ambi doors? :meh:

Diamond plate interior rear wheel wells :hmm:

Brake booster is a 77, so might have 77 front 77 disk brakes. Windshield frame looks correct for 77 to me. Dash pad missing, valuable rear jump seats missing, no headliner, leg of driver seat looks tweaked.
 
At $5K it looks inexpensive, if you are up for a project I would offer $3K. Guess how fast one can put $10K into a fixer upper??? Many of us know the answer to that one all too well. That said, good luck whatever your decision. Oh and welcome to mud!!!
 
Yeah, Aluminum Diamond plate on the outside is an indication that it could be hiding rust. Steel diamond plate on the inside on rear fenders is a confirmation that its probably real rusty.
 
thanks for the input guys, appreciated. Because of location, this would have to be a buy sight unseen, maybe hire someone local to check out, but likely just going to pass on it.
 
@troutbum4 Are you looking for a long term project or something that is close to road worthy?


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Keep an eye on mud classifieds. Members do occasionally sell rigs in classifieds at fair prices.

This looked like a fair deal
 
I looked at that one on FB marketplace a few weeks back. Too many mismatched parts and it clearly has body filler in many places. Even the turn signal mounting holes are filled in. I’d bet that the diamond plate is covering rust as well.
 
Front two fender turn signals aren’t OEM and don’t match 1977.

The spare tire carrier on the driver side is for 1975 or 1976.

Since you’ll easily need to put $5 - $8,000 into that to get it street worthy, I would wait for a better project.

PS. Is that an 8-Track player radio?
 
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Diamond plate interior rear wheel wells :hmm:
This is a sure sign of extensive rust "repairs". Almong with the front aprons and fenders being "repaired" (no turn signal or emblem mounting holes), I would say there's a lot of hidden surprises.
 

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