Looking at buying an fj

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It can be hard to tell what quality the build is from pics but it does look nice. I have seen a 74 recently in GA on a used car lot for around $12k that was in pretty good original condition. By pretty good condition I mean unrestored with some surface rust but no rot and running well.
 
very nice rig. If it's as nice as it looks I'd say it's a fair price. I spent nearly a thousand bucks restoring my seats like those ones, then another few thousand on engine rebuild and more on suspension and so on. When you tally it up this is a fair price assuming its done well. This is a jump in and drive cruiser

Just keep in mind all cruisers require more regular maintenance than a new car
 
Well, it's the right color :) and it's already got a lift and power steering. You could sell those wheels and maybe get enough money for some stock wheels and an FJ60 distributor.
 
Its missing the running boards, the headliner is new but messed up and sagging I see some surface rust on the underside, the dash knobs were not restored. Seems to me for $21,500 should be a little cleaner then that. It is very nice I am just not so sure that nice for that price. I would really check underneath and the backside of the body panels and try and see how well it was restored. You can slap bondo and some nice paint on for cheap but that will not last unless the metal under that was properly treated. The drivers floor board does not have the rubber glue garbage on it, yet up under the pedals it is still there. These problems I point out seem trivial but is indicative of shortcuts and being lazy to not make them clean. It is stuff I would do, but that is why I will never get 21,500 for something I restore!! Seems like to much money and questionable on how long it will keep looking this nice.
 
It seems fine, maybe for $18K. I don't like the job on the rocker panels and no running boards. New headliner is not that expensive, I would have that fixed. Air filter assembly lacks a plastic part.
 
Rear ambulance doors look like they weren't aligned properly and have rubbed off the bottom corners. Seems like a lot of unplugged wires in the engine bay, maybe missing smog equipment? I'd suggest taking it to a reputable cruiser shop in the area for a diagnostic on the mechanical, since the print out they show doesn't necessarily mean the work was done or done right.

I didn't see a price on the ad, but for 21.5k I'd expect pristine in this market. I'd also be concerned about the rubberized coating under the drivers side, might be hiding shoddy metal work. I'd double check the sills behind that black bolt guard, just to make sure that's not hiding rust too. I'm also surprised the power steering connections weren't cleaned up and/or are already rusting considering the condition on the rest of the rig.

These are all things I'd be doing if I was buying, might be nit picky but I'd be very thorough at a 20k+ price tag.
 
Sheesh yeah that's all ok if you wanna buy something that you dont have to do anything to.:rolleyes: Just kidding, would be sweet! I found a 65 here for $750 that has no engine or tranny.
 
It's a buyers market now. There appears to be rust underneath. I'd keep looking.

There seem to be some good looking rigs around the country for a lot less.
 
Hey thanks for all the help guys. I have noticed almost every problem that was mentioned. Everything seems as though it would be an easy fix...surface rust, align ambulance doors, clean up power steering lines and clean the underside of it.

I am curious about the comment that said there were loose wires in the engine bay? Can you tell what they are for?

The problem with it is that I have to 80% decide its in good shape and then fly to tennessee to decide the other 20%.

Does anyone know of a mechanic in the nashville area that is knowledgable about cruisers that I could take it to? What would I have him check for specifically. Thanks a lot guys yall are very helpful!!!
 
I would keep looking, at 21k you should not have to do any easy fixes, if they want 21k they should have already done them before listing it for that much.
 
I know of a cleaner one for less money but it is unmodified. Where are you located and are you looking for a lifted truck or would you be cool with a really nice stock truck?
 
Unless you have uncontrollable "Cruiser" fever and we all suffer from that from time to time, I would continue looking for a while. 20K+ can buy an awlful nice Cruiser and there are good ones popping up on places like Ebay fairly often. In addition to having the mechanicals checked out, it might be prudent to take any potential vehicle by a good body shop. You would be amazed what can be covered up ( all be it temporarily) by a good paint job. Bubbling paint a year from now on a 21K Cruiser would not be a good thing.:bang:
Good luck with your search.........1978HJ45
 
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Why not post up on the local Tennessee TLCA site and see if any of the members know anything about the vehicle. Many times people are very willing to check a vehicle out for you and let you know what they think. Worth a try, here is the link:

TN- STLCA
 
Tommy the Cat said:
I know of a cleaner one for less money but it is unmodified. Where are you located and are you looking for a lifted truck or would you be cool with a really nice stock truck?
Click to expand...

Yes i would definitely be interested. Send me pictures and info.... price, work, location. Im willing to travel
 
Mutt B said:
Hey thanks for all the help guys. I have noticed almost every problem that was mentioned. Everything seems as though it would be an easy fix...surface rust, align ambulance doors, clean up power steering lines and clean the underside of it.

I am curious about the comment that said there were loose wires in the engine bay? Can you tell what they are for?

The problem with it is that I have to 80% decide its in good shape and then fly to tennessee to decide the other 20%.

Does anyone know of a mechanic in the nashville area that is knowledgable about cruisers that I could take it to? What would I have him check for specifically. Thanks a lot guys yall are very helpful!!!
Click to expand...

The loose cables I noticed were in the upper right corner of this picture (see green plugs). As I'm not as familiar with post 75 cruisers, I don't know if that is normal or not, just stood out to me.

http://images3.ecarlist.com/photos/1675/423020/640/55.jpg

As for the condition, most of the things are correctable, with some time, but I'd be more concerned about the fact that they weren't done correctly in the first place. Makes you wonder what other corners were cut. When you're talking about that kind of dough, there shouldn't be that level of concern.
 
pavieSD said:
The loose cables I noticed were in the upper right corner of this picture (see green plugs). As I'm not as familiar with post 75 cruisers, I don't know if that is normal or not, just stood out to me.

http://images3.ecarlist.com/photos/1675/423020/640/55.jpgAs for the condition, most of the things are correctable, with some time, but I'd be more concerned about the fact that they weren't done correctly in the first place. Makes you wonder what other corners were cut. When you're talking about that kind of dough, there shouldn't be that level of concern.
Click to expand...

One of the plugs in question connects the brake warning switches on the master cylinder to the brake warning light below the dash ... which is also missing. Not a biggie in itself, but more additions to the list of things that aren't quite right.

Of more potential concern is that the motor has evidently been de-smogged. Check your state/county's emission requirements. Will the vehicle have to pass an emission test? Will it have to pass visual inspection of emission equipment? If so, be sure you'll be able to legally register it!
Good luck!
 
Well guys, that fj went fast as I just found out it already sold.

So im in the market. I am looking for a fully restored fj40 76-83 but preferably in the seventies.

I would like for the vehicle to not be heavily modified. Could deal with lift, tires, new distributor and power steering, but mainly all original.

looking to spend 20,000 or around there. (or less if I can find the same quality for sure)

Thanks for all the help guys, your eyes are very keen.
 
Keep your eye on ebay, the ones as nice as you want come up often on there and in this market at or less then what you want to spend. I think you dodged a bullet on the one that started this thread.
 
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