Looking for a FJ62 what this one worth?

[ncduckman]

Pictures or link? Show us what you're looking at. Sounds like a good start, especially if you plan on wheeling it.

What type of wheeling do you plan on doing with your truck?

I hate to admit it, but it will likely be a highway queen/daily driver. I do hunt and need/want a 4x4. More want than need as I have not had a 4x4 for 5 years or so and have gotten by just fine in NC with my 2wd Toyota pickup. I am a MN transplant though and grew up on trucks.

I just miss the Cruiser scene and want back in, bad.

The wheeling would likely be very light stuff. I really want a very straight truck and am averse to rock rash and trail chrome. The next Cruiser can be the trail beater.

I just want to note that I have not seen this truck yet, it is 8 hours away.

 

[Randy88FJ62]

It looks clean.

 

[alaska60]

Do what feels good for your mind as well as your pocket. you are the only one that knows.

 

[ncduckman]

One other thing I should note, has a rear main seal leak. I don't know why this wasn't replaced when the tranny was out. But owner says he has a 12" or so stain in driveway where it is parked and has to add about a quart every 3500-4000 miles.

 

[Randy88FJ62]

I have to add a quart about every 1,000 mi with my rear main seal leak. If you're going to do the labor it's not a big deal. Otherwise that's gonna get pricey.

 

[ncduckman]

I have no fear of having to add oil. I have no fear of the labor either, but the magnitude of the work for not having to add oil is not worth it.

The seller is going to send me more detailed pics of everything once he pics it up from the brake job.

I hope this is the one!

 

[Cruiserdrew]

The deals are out there, but paying $6000 is not wise. Why? Not because it's too much for a used car, but because it's enough to buy a nice 80 series. Having owned a bunch of Cruisers, if you are forced to pick between a 62 and an 80, the 80 is a more versatile and more comfortable truck. Don't hate me for that, but it is my considered opinion.

Deals on Land Cruisers usually come to you. If you go to them, they cost more.

I was fortunate in my recent FJ62 purchase, I think. It was right at the height of the gasoline price spike, and I got a 1 owner local truck, from a guy I've worked with for 18 years, with perfect maintenance and all records for less than $2500. The best news was the 117k miles. I even have the original purchase invoice and dealer brochure, which I think is cool. I've probably spent another $1000 with Cruiserdan on new brakes, gaskets, knuckle kit, tune up parts etc, and it should go another 100k miles as is.

With that said, I'd worry about an FJ62 over 200k miles. Most owners are not careful about maintenance, and so the tranny will at least be a concern. They do wear out and rarely get serviced. The "clunk" is wear on the output shaft that you can address with a McNamara gear, but it's fairly expensive and a bunch of work to get to it.

Anyway, on an older truck that you are trying to buy, point out the terrible fuel economy (that's the real deal), the uncertainty surrounding the transmission and the cost of a new "Extreme" transmission from Wholesale Automatics in Australia, and you may be able to nudge the price down into the $3-$4000 range where it should be.

If you do find the perfect truck, though, jump on it immediately with cash in hand.

I have a neighbor with a nice white one that has 170k and a significant oil leak that he keeps talking about selling. He was talking $3000 last time we chatted about it, but gas was above $4 just then. I even offered him $1500 for it, and I could tell he almost took it. It would have cost me a divorce though, so I'm glad it didn't work out. The recent drop in fuel prices has taken the urgency out of a lot of these sales.

Good luck.

 

[Bryan062087]

I hate to admit it, but it will likely be a highway queen/daily driver. I do hunt and need/want a 4x4. More want than need as I have not had a 4x4 for 5 years or so and have gotten by just fine in NC with my 2wd Toyota pickup. I am a MN transplant though and grew up on trucks.

I just miss the Cruiser scene and want back in, bad.

The wheeling would likely be very light stuff. I really want a very straight truck and am averse to rock rash and trail chrome. The next Cruiser can be the trail beater.

I just want to note that I have not seen this truck yet, it is 8 hours away.

I am 99 percent sure I have seen that truck for sale before and it was covered in rust. Ask him about rust and body work.

Also the rear main leak could be the oil pan. I also would be scared of a rebuilt transmission, most seem to not get rebuilt right at least from what I know reading this forum.

 

[ncduckman]

I appreciate the advice Cruiserdrew.

The most recent one I am interested in is listed just above and has had the tranny replaced 25000 miles ago. I hear you on the 80s and I should look at those as well. I just have a case of FJ62 on the brain as I had one in the past.

The added goodies are what really draw me in, as I would likely add them myself at some point.

Robert

 

[ncduckman]

I am 99 percent sure I have seen that truck for sale before and it was covered in rust. Ask him about rust and body work.

Also the rear main leak could be the oil pan. Why was the transmission out?

You are in the right neck of the woods to have seen it. It is in Chattanooga. According to seller, it has been painted. I do not know if he had that done or not. I am going to call him again over lunch. I hope that the rust thing is not the case. Thanks for the heads up though!

The tranny was out as it had been rebuilt in the last 25,000 miles.

Is anyone in the Chattanooga area that could check it out before I buy a plane ticket?

 

[Bryan062087]

You are in the right neck of the woods to have seen it. It is in Chattanooga. According to seller, it has been painted. I do not know if he had that done or not. I am going to call him again over lunch. I hope that the rust thing is not the case. Thanks for the heads up though!

The tranny was out as it had been rebuilt in the last 25,000 miles.

Is anyone in the Chattanooga area that could check it out before I buy a plane ticket?

Yep, the one I'm talking about I'm pretty sure was in Chattanooga. Someone on this board from Memphis posted a thread about it half considering to buy it. I've looked for the post but I cannot find it. I really do think its the same truck. The rockers were very rusty and who knows what else. It had the exact same accessories and was listed on craigslist.

 

[ncduckman]

Ok, the plot thickens...............

The first truck in the thread, 1989, 112000 miles, pampered clean, NO RUST, and bone stock, originally asking $6990.

I sent the seller an email explaining that I felt he was high, telling him that I wanted to pimp it out, and showed him the others that were loaded up, albeit with higher miles and lesser condition, were being sold for what he wanted for his stocker. I explained that the market had drastically changed since he bought it 3 years ago for $8000. I even sent him a link to this thread.

I said I would consider the $5000 range.

Well, he replied and said that he would consider $5000-$5500.

Now what?

 

[ncduckman]

Here are some pics

 

[Bryan062087]

I like the stocker with 112k but thats just me. And you can build it how you want it. Also having only two owners is a big plus. Is the paint in good shape? It looks faded but it may just be the pictures.

Edit: just noticed the chrome strips around the wheel wells, check underneath these for rust. I would toss them anyways.

 

[HJ-45CrewCab]

Deals on Land Cruisers usually come to you. If you go to them, they cost more.

My 62 came to me for $500. Some woman approached my wife when she saw our FJCruiser (built) in a parking lot. She asked my wife if we like Toyotas and said she had a 90 model for $500 to get it off her property. It was her Fathers Landcruiser and when he moved to Florida, he didn't need the 4wd. Anyway, I was skeptical at first, but when I looked at it, I jumped on it. One owner, 130K, interior is mint, body was repainted (gunmetal grey ) and everything works. She decided to not put any money into it and when it wouldn't pass inspection, she let it go. Needs brakes and exhaust and that's my winter project. Even came with brand new oil pan and gasket, Factory Service Manual, and original window sticker. Drove it home with no problems.

Good luck on your search.

 

[ncduckman]

I think it is dirty. He sent a bunch of pics of the interior and exterior and it could use a detail job.
Seller stated he would detail it, but now that we have knocked $1500 to $2000 off the top..........maybe not.

It is easy to get caught up in all of the bling with the bull bars and all that, but a solid foundation is key. And NO RUST!

I guess I have painted myself into a corner now in the $5000 range. Should have offered him $3000, but I doubt he would have seen the humor in that.

So, if it is what it is, $5000 is a good price?

Sorry for being schizo, just feeling the need for reassurance.

Robert

 

[Bryan062087]

2.5K$ would be great.

But since this guy seems to know what he has, I think 4K would be a good price. 5k- would be "ok" but on the high-ish side.

Does it need anything mechanically? Brakes?, any leaks?, how old is the radiator? Tires? Belts? Spark plugs, distributor cap? Water Pump? Are all these original or new or what?

Make sure you saw what I said above about the chrome strips on the wheel wells!

 

[ncduckman]

You know, I saw those strips too and that is the first thing I thought, yuk, rust magnets.

Edit: It will need tires. I do not know what else. I will find out. I do know that he had a full blown inspection done at the dealership and it was given a clean bill of health. I will try to see what records he has for it. I know that he does not have anything form the previous owner. He has only put about 10,000 miles on it in the three years he has had it, so I would imagine that his records would amount to about 3 oil changes.

The previous owner was a mechanic though. And if the seller is on the up and up when he said he looked for 6 months and checked about 50 of them, with this being the "one"...................

Robert

 

[Cruiserdrew]

That's a nice low miles truck. I would be tempted to jump on it, just be prepared to see one 2 weeks from now in better condition at a lower price. That's just the way it goes. $5000 is on the high side for these, so it would have to be really nice to justify that. Maybe ask for a pre-purchase inspection at the seller's cost, but then if it pans out, you're comitted to buy it.

Still it looks like a good truck, actually, really good. You could do a lot worse for more $$.

 

[mmmahhmatt]

I have done a lot worse for more money. A "good deal" is when you are happy with what you bring home (and your wife is too). I like the lo-mileage, unmolested, original owner, original paint vehicle. That said, my favorite 60 to date was a one owner rust-free tan 84 with 330,000 miles. Picture is after tires and ome. -M.