Lamar's dilemma (1 Viewer)

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Nothinghead

Nothinghead

Joined
May 25, 2012
Threads
35
Messages
901
Location
Heber City, UT
This is Lamar:
Lucky peak

Lucky peak

Lakebed


He is 1965 FJ40 and is at a bit of a fork in the road of his life. Everything is basically original except for longer shackles, new OEM wheels, later OEM roll bar, seats/mounts, winch and bumper. He still has the column shift three speed transmission, oil bath air cleaner, etc.

He has some problems including a few engine oil leaks, sloppy steering and barely tuneable 1bbl carb (10mpg at best). First gear isn't very low and third isn't very high. He's stinking reliable and I drive him a lot but he's sketchy at speed/in the wind, dirty and polluting and my wife won't be seen in him.

He has three basic directions:
  1. Stay stock and fix leaks and other big problems (cheapest and least glamorous)
  2. Stay mostly period correct and rebuild/replace things (steering box, tie rod ends, engine, carb). This is more money but still 1960s tech and efficiency. I'm not sure there are even parts available to rebuild the engine.
  3. Modernize: 2F, 3FE, or 1FZ-FE swap, H55, disc axles, mini-truck power steering. This is the most expensive option. (Think fj.co style).
I already have a set of late 70s axles with locking hubs and discs all the way around. I like option 3 for comfort, performance and all around driveability but my conscious wants me to resist scrapping an original engine with good compression. I don't plan on ever selling but I'm kind of a purist.

I tried having this conversation with the missus but her answer was that it's probably a good time to sell. I am curious what other's thoughts and opinions are.

I do not have a shop or all the tools to do an engine swap so I'd be paying someone for this.
 
Really a personal preference. I've opted to return mine back to somewhat original, option #3 would be my vote.

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Take it to Proffitt''s in Colorado. Have a chat and let him loose.

You will not be disappointed.
 
Combo of 1&2
 
If you want to go route 3, you should consider finding a cruiser that has been modified already or is a non-runner. You could sell your more original one for more money and could apply to your budget (which will be needed to pull off the level restoration you mention). As they say, "it's only original once."

I've read reports of up to 16-18mpg with a stock cruiser (seems high to me). I think 12-13 is probably more realistic. So if you want it to be your daily driver even the finest tuned machine won't get very good mileage.
 
ginmtb said:
If you want to go route 3, you should consider finding a cruiser that has been modified already or is a non-runner. You could sell your more original one for more money and could apply to your budget (which will be needed to pull off the level restoration you mention). As they say, "it's only original once."
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See, that's what kills me! I only have $4-5k into this but I don't know if it's realistic to expect as much out of it. I hate the idea of ruining a "classic" but is it really that classic?
Where are the people willing to pay $5k+ for something that would need quite a bit of work to go back to original?
 
ginmtb said:
I've read reports of up to 16-18mpg with a stock cruiser (seems high to me). I think 12-13 is probably more realistic. So if you want it to be your daily driver even the finest tuned machine won't get very good mileage.
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13 wouldn't bother me at all, as long as it's not dropping or burning oil. The only oil Lamar burns is whatever drips off the oil filter line onto the exhaust.

My gx470 currently gets 14.5 and isn't nearly as fun as Lamar.
 
I paid $5k for mine and have put in another $8K or so. I also bought a 75 for $4,500 that was in pieces and missing a couple of attainable items. Both were a couple of years ago and prices have continued to climb. You should post more photos so we can see what condition it is in.

Sounds like you really like it and to improve the steering doesn't cost much money if you can do it yourself. New TREs, rebuild kit for center arm, new OEM rag joint, rebuild kit for drag link, steering stabilizer, and proper toe in/alignment will probably cost you under $500 if you do it yourself. Contact @cruiseroutfit for the parts. Then either rebuild your carb (or send to @65swb45 to rebuild). That should help some with the performance.
 
The good part about #3 is that you'll still have the original parts to go back to stock if you ever wanted

I DD mine for over 26 years... so modernize worked for me... (still run the F engine however) and best part is you can tackle little by little and not have it down for more then a few days at a whack

Btw in the upper north east I don't mind MrT's built in rust proofing option that is added to every cruiser... and I like leaving my mark everywhere I go ... soooo I say Let'r Drip :)
 
ginmtb said:
Sounds like you really like it and to improve the steering doesn't cost much money if you can do it yourself. New TREs, rebuild kit for center arm, new OEM rag joint, rebuild kit for drag link, steering stabilizer, and proper toe in/alignment will probably cost you under $500 if you do it yourself. Contact @cruiseroutfit for the parts. Then either rebuild your carb (or send to @65swb45 to rebuild). That should help some with the performance.
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Actually, different from newer 40s this has no rag joint and most of the play is in the steering box itself. The rebuild kits for those are NLA. I could have it rebuilt for around $500 and that would be an option if I don't want p/s and keep the column shift. If I put a 4 or 5 speed in, I might as well do mini truck p/s and donate the steering box to Mark.
I don't think I'll go bigger than the 33s and don't intend on hitting the rubicon so more than mini truck p/s isn't needed...if any at all.
 
If you only did the front axle/disk brake swap, and a minitruck PS box (and center arm), you'd see an enormous increase in 'driving pleasure' - tight steering and non-scary brakes are a wonderful thing. I'd probably put a later model carb on it, and tune it up well. It will run a little cleaner and you should pick up a few MPGs. Your wife probably still won't want to be seen in it. She would like a nice, tight, stock '79-83 FJ40, if she wants to be seen in one at all.

My suggestions are budget-driven - if you want to go nuts, you can easily spend much more money on the truck, but it will stray farther from it's 1960s charm.
 
Just make sure to keep the gx470 and your wife stays happy(er).
 
Nothinghead said:
If my memory serves me right, they had a number of unhappy customers when they were in tooele or am I wrong?
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I know they were out of business for a while and reopened last year with many on here happy to see them back. A's far as I know, their work has always been top notch. Maybe I'm wrong :meh:
 
SteveH said:
If you only did the front axle/disk brake swap, and a minitruck PS box (and center arm), you'd see an enormous increase in 'driving pleasure' - tight steering and non-scary brakes are a wonderful thing. I'd probably put a later model carb on it,
Click to expand...
Now that I think of it, I can't do the p/s because my engine only has a single slot pulley and I don't think there is a two slot pulley that will fit so if need an electric p/s pump instead. That's kind of a cool idea since they are only powered at low vehicle speed (or on a switch). I think is need a different intake manifold for a later carb.

I like the ideas you all are sending me and so I might box up some things and send to mark for rebuild (carb & steering box) and start getting my disc/fine-spline axles ready to go under. I probably need to do the rear main seal as well.
 
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