Introduction and advice seek

[goose1973]

New around here and introducing myself. Don't currently own a cruiser yet but in the market for 80 and 100 series (mainly 80).
In talks with a guy about his '95, but not sure the value is there. Any advice is welcome.
He's agreed to come down to $6500 from $9500. Details
1995 FZJ80, 310k miles
-Yokohama tires 37x 12.5 R17 on Method Wheels Deadlock
-Dobinson 6in Spring Coils with Fox 2.0 long travel shocks
-Dobinson adjustable Pandhards and control arms
-Dobinson adjustable steering damper
-ARB axle breathers
-Prinsu roof rack

The bad.
-Needs knuckle seals
-Needs double joint front drive shaft
-Has a blown head gasket that's leaking external and internal (he says "some water mixed in oil"), so I'm guessing a full rebuild and at the very least having the head and maybe blocked decked at the machine shop.
I'm out of town, so I haven't had the time to go check it out in person.

Do yall think the value is there, try to talk the price down more, or just keep looking for one that doesn't need engine work? From looking around on the forums it seems that rebuilds are anywhere from $3500-20k (at the 5-20k mark I would just do a LS or 4BT swap). I am pretty knowledgeable with mechanics, fabrication, troubleshooting and have my own lathe/mill.

 

[AussieHJCruza]

Do you know if it's been run with coolant in the oil? If not, bottom end is very likely fine. If it has, budget on bearings as a minimum.
10k should get you a good rebuild with quality parts if you do the labour.
Another option which often isn't badly priced is to get a new short block from Mr Yota and go over your cylinder head and reuse.

On the price of the truck, I'd say perhaps a bit high but post pics so we can see what sort of condition

 

[Fj80oregon]

Keep shopping. $6500 for a truck with a bad head is not good deal these days. I would also bet it drives like crap with a 6” lift and 37’s. If you don’t work on your own cars don’t buy a 80 series.

 

[Francis K]

Pay more for a well sorted and cared for truck, it will be far cheaper in the end.

 

[goose1973]

Do you know if it's been run with coolant in the oil? If not, bottom end is very likely fine. If it has, budget on bearings as a minimum.
10k should get you a good rebuild with quality parts if you do the labour.
Another option which often isn't badly priced is to get a new short block from Mr Yota and go over your cylinder head and reuse.

On the price of the truck, I'd say perhaps a bit high but post pics so we can see what sort of condition

oops, completely spaced on the pictures, sorry. Adding them in a post reply.
I would be doing all the work except the machining (I'm set up to machine basic parts not engine machining). Since it took a little creative questioning to find out that there's coolant in the oil, I'm banking on the safe side and guessing that it was ran and probably wheeled with contaminated oil.

Keep shopping. $6500 for a truck with a bad head is not good deal these days. I would also bet it drives like crap with a 6” lift and 37’s. If you don’t work on your own cars don’t buy a 80 series.

That's what i was figuring also, he is desperate to sell and I like a good project if i get it for the right price. What would you say is a fair price? I do all my own work except most auto trans rebuilds and engine machining.
Also wondered about the 6" lift, since every 1/2 and 3/4 ton truck I've driven with a big lift was terrible everywhere except offroad (mainly mud)

 

[goose1973]

Interior pictures

 

[manofthewoods]

Gotta agree with posts 3 and 4 above.
Vehicle reeks of used "hard."
I wouldn't trust that engine unless I (or Fj80oregon) went completely through it.

Sometimes, a good deal isn't a good deal.

 

[goose1973]

Gotta agree with posts 3 and 4 above.
Vehicle reeks of used "hard."
I wouldn't trust that engine unless I (or Fj80oregon) went completely through it.

Sometimes, a good deal isn't a good deal.

That's what im getting out of it too, but new to the cruiser world so wasn't sure if they're a little more resilient than a Tahoe, silverado, Sami, ect. I was suspecting that a realistic price with the age, known needs, and most likely needed repairs. It's probably realistically like a 3-4k project, amd even then only if I want to get into another project.

 

[landcrshr]

oops, completely spaced on the pictures, sorry. Adding them in a post reply.
I would be doing all the work except the machining (I'm set up to machine basic parts not engine machining). Since it took a little creative questioning to find out that there's coolant in the oil, I'm banking on the safe side and guessing that it was ran and probably wheeled with contaminated oil.

That's what i was figuring also, he is desperate to sell and I like a good project if i get it for the right price. What would you say is a fair price? I do all my own work except most auto trans rebuilds and engine machining.
Also wondered about the 6" lift, since every 1/2 and 3/4 ton truck I've driven with a big lift was terrible everywhere except offroad (mainly mud)View attachment 3892930View attachment 3892931View attachment 3892932View attachment 3892933View attachment 3892934

Weird, I'm seeing two methods of caster correction. Both drop brackets and correction plates, which explains why the front 3rd member is contacting the tie rod in pic #2. Also see the extreme angle of the spring perch in the last pic.

 

[goose1973]

Weird, I'm seeing two methods of caster correction. Both drop brackets and correction plates, which explains why the front 3rd member is contacting the tie rod in pic #2. Also see the extreme angle of the spring perch in the last pic.

Glad you pointed that out, completely missed it, but honestly didn't look super close since I was planning on thoroughly checking it out in person. Now I see the curve in the spring.
He also just messaged me saying that "it would only be $3000 parts and labor to fix it" so yeah he realized the whole he's in and trying to dump it on someone that doesn't know enough to at least get some advice and/or quotes.
I'm in no hurry to buy, so I'll just keep looking. Whatever I get won't be a daily and will be trailered to the trails, with the occasional drive to work or farmers market just to keep it moving.

 

[ppc]

@goose1973,

$3,000 to fix what? These days a head gasket job and all the do while you're got it apart is going to be double that amount. That vehicle has been beat on hard. It could be the angle of the photo, but The passenger side control arm looks to have a significant bend. I would guess this truck was modified several times without a clear objective how to do it right. Your observation of high lift vehicles certainly applies to this one. I sure it drives like crap on the road.

 

[goose1973]

@goose1973,

$3,000 to fix what? These days a head gasket job and all the do while you're got it apart is going to be double that amount. That vehicle has been beat on hard. It could be the angle of the photo, but The passenger side control arm looks to have a significant bend. I would guess this truck was modified several times without a clear objective how to do it right. Your observation of high lift vehicles certainly applies to this one. I sure it drives like crap on the road.

Lol, yeah I kinda had a little "yeah....ssssuuuurrreeee" laugh when he sent that.
I noticed that control arm as well but it looks like a fish eye shot, so could also be that.

 

[CharlieS]

~$10k for a quality rebuild installed by a shop (Fj80Oregon rebuild plus shop labor), plus a couple $K to sort out that mess of a lift. Might be worth starting with one in better condition. I wouldn't pay more than ~$4k for one like the one you posted.

 

[goose1973]

~$10k for a quality rebuild installed by a shop (Fj80Oregon rebuild plus shop labor), plus a couple $K to sort out that mess of a lift. Might be worth starting with one in better condition. I wouldn't pay more than ~$4k for one like the one you posted.

I would do everything except the engine machine work (I'm outfitted for it except any specialty tools and have no problem buying them) but I told him that I'm not a buyer unless he comes down to $2k. Too many 80's that aren't lifted, not blown, and under 280k miles for $7-12k in the area.
He did say he's super desperate to get it sold by no later than next weekend though, so I may have screwed myself when he says bring $2000 and take it away

 

[BTLSHP]

Geez, I will never understand the value of the cars. We had our '94 in a shape Tuesday because I needed help removing a super tight leaking oil pressure sender. Got a call from the mechanic yesterday saying one of their customers saw it and wondered if I would take 25k.

 

[manofthewoods]

Geez, I will never understand the value of the cars. We had our '94 in a shape Tuesday because I needed help removing a super tight leaking oil pressure sender. Got a call from the mechanic yesterday saying one of their customers saw it and wondered if I would take 25k.

My neighbor's hobby is buying and selling vehicles. He has a stock clean (w/semi faded paint) '68 Bronco, 302 automatic for a paltry $75k
Nice vehicle? Sure. But seriously...

 

[Azca]

Buy the nicest one you can. This has too many problems and will be a black hole. The few people I have spoken to that have gone over 4" in lift have not liked them so I would second guess it just on that alone.

 

[BILT4ME]

Pass

 

[goose1973]

My neighbor's hobby is buying and selling vehicles. He has a stock clean (w/semi faded paint) '68 Bronco, 302 automatic for a paltry $75k
Nice vehicle? Sure. But seriously...

There's a guy around Memphis with essentially the same (67 I think though) and not fadded. Posted almost 2 years ago for like $90k. Last I saw, it was down to $38k and still not sold.