Looking for fj40 in NC

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No title, no sale for me. Trying to track down a third party title from another state is a pain in the ass. The seller needs to do this, not you. I just spoke with my wife about it, she runs a used car lot and deals with title work all the time.

She told me the following

If you decide to to buy without the title get a bill of sale from seller with his name, address and SS# if he will give it to you. Also make sure the VIN # is on the bill of sale

Get the state it came from, from your seller

Try running a car fax with the VIN, may turn up the titled owner's information

If you can not get in touch with the titled owner you can take the bill of sale to the NC DMV and work it backward through them. This does not guarantee you will get the title. I would go and talk with the NC DMV first, before you buy it.

If it all works out, expect it to take months

Far more hassle than I would deal with, good luck either way
 
NCFJ said:
No title, no sale for me. Trying to track down a third party title from another state is a pain in the ass. The seller needs to do this, not you.
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Agreed 100%. Don't deal with that garbage. When you go look at a car, or trailer for that matter, ask and verify that they have the title in-hand and that it is in their name. It'll save a ton of headaches.

If you find the ABSOLUTE PERFECT car, then getting the title might be worth looking into, but usually it's not.
 
FJEnthusiast123 said:
-1) the owner said he lost the title in the ad but had the previous owners info but didnt know how to get into contact with him (what does this mean?)

-2) I asked him if he ever had it registered in nc and he told me no, but he ran a dealer plate on it (again what does this mean )
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Sounds like he is a dealer. If so, Then he should know the ropes to get a title.
Some days as I walk into the house from work I can tell we are having FISH that night...
Just saying...Walk slow.
Shane
PS..
This has got to be the longest "I'm going to buy a 40 thread" ever.
It's great and everyone should learn from it.
Your build thread will be a novel.
 
My $.02. He's asking $1K for the one in Trinity. Get him down to $600 or $700 and just buy it as a parts lump. Don't worry about the title. Go get the '69 in Florence for $2,200 (assuming the title is not an issue) and swap the best of the parts between the two 40's to make one good cruiser for under $4K total. Bottom line: Don't buy the '75 in Trinity unless you are going to part it out. Getting a title for it is not worth the hassle. However, there are probably some good pieces on the '75 that you might want to swap onto the '69 like...disc brakes, steering column, hard top, seats, etc. The '69 looks like a solid body and a good foundation for a build. The '75 looks pretty roached but may have some good parts. The big question is whether or not there are enough salvagable parts on the '75 to justify making a purchase. You've seen it. What do you think? Did you take any pics? If so, post 'em up.
 
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roadstr6 said:
My $.02. He's asking $1K for the one in Trinity. Get him down to $600 or $700 and just buy it as a parts lump. Don't worry about the title. Go get the '69 in Florence for $2,200 (assuming the title is not an issue) and swap the best of the parts between the two 40's to make one good cruiser for under $4K total. Bottom line: Don't buy the '75 in Trinity unless you are going to part it out. Getting a title for it is not worth the hassle. However, there are probably some good pieces on the '75 that you might want to swap onto the '69 like...disc brakes, steering column, hard top, seats, etc. The '69 looks like a solid body and a good foundation for a build. The '75 looks pretty roached but may have some good parts. The big question is whether or not there are enough salvagable parts on the '75 to justify making a purchase. You've seen it. What do you think? Did you take any pics? If so, post 'em up.
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I agree with this direction 100%.

Here is some free advice for you, and it is certainly worth every penny you paid for it.....

Enroll your father and yourself in an evening mechanics class at a local high school or tech school. It is cheap HANDS ON knowledge. It will give you the basics you need to be able to take on jobs such as mentioned above.

It is a passion for most of us. Driving something down the road and on the trail that you built yourself is something you can get hooked on. If you do not learn how to wrench on this 40 you can count on all the money you make and then some to pay a mechanic to do the basics for you.

Count on long nights, in the garage if you are lucky, trying to figure out some electrical gremlin or trace down a leak in a vacuum system, Toyota is fond of vacuum systems, oh yeah and fans that blow on carbs and throttle bodies because they get too hot. :crybaby:

We do alll this stuff because we get to drive one of, if not the most capable off road vehicles made. A 40 is a perfect start, pure function with a couple seats. :cheers:
 
I know that cpcc north campus will let you take your car, truck whatever if you are enroll on the body work class. I thinks it is either fri pr sat.
 
Man.....I see a pretty simple solution to all this.....with your price range, you are going to have issues....you need to decide if.you want drivetrain or rust issues. What do you feel comfortable tackling? Again, with your price range, you need to get the best one possible....you will get in over your head quick and will get frustrated if you decide to get a project

No title, no sale. Especially if you want to be driving this thing any time soon. None of them are gonna be perfect. Rust can be handled in increments.
 
onemanarmy said:
Man.....I see a pretty simple solution to all this.....with your price range, you are going to have issues....you need to decide if.you want drivetrain or rust issues. What do you feel comfortable tackling? Again, with your price range, you need to get the best one possible....you will get in over your head quick and will get frustrated if you decide to get a project No title, no sale. Especially if you want to be driving this thing any time soon. None of them are gonna be perfect. Rust can be handled in increments.
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I agree $1000 will give you both problems.
 
Yeah I know I'm gonna have problems out of it at 1000. As far as the title goes, I think I'm going to have to track down the previous owner and get him/her to apply for a lost/duplicate title then get them to transfer it to my name. As far as the rust goes on it, it needs new quarter panels, a rear sill, the front door bottoms are pretty crusty, and the hardtop sides have a few spots here and there. Other than that though, it's rust free. The floors, wheel wells, bed, front clip, hood, and the frame and all that are all rust free and solid. The biggest mechanical issue that I know of right now (who knows what else will pop up?) is the transfer case being cracked so I'll need a new one. Worst case scenario is that I've got a donor truck and then I can part out what I don't want/ need and make my money back. Can someone tell me a little more about the classes at cpcc? It's gonna be a little bit of a challenge with my dad cause he works 3rd shift so idk about him but I'd be interested in doing that for sure.
 
Go to cpcc.edu and look up automotive department. They have several clases from engine to body work. I used to teach vlases at the harper (south) campus. They provide the help, tools and knowledge. You provide car and materials. I was going to do that with my 78 but didnt have enough hpurs in the day.
 
Current owner sent me a pic of the plate with the vin number on it. When I enter it on the DMV site to do the vehicle history report/title search it says its not a valid vin and must be 17 characters long. What's wrong and why is it saying this? Here's a pic of it. Thoughts?

image-529899540.webp


image-1673213882.webp


image-3137043705.webp
 
FJEnthusiast123 said:
Current owner sent me a pic of the plate with the vin number on it. When I enter it on the DMV site to do the vehicle history report/title search it says its not a valid vin and must be 17 characters long. What's wrong and why is it saying this? Here's a pic of it. Thoughts?
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Never mind. Just did a search on mud and figured out it doesn't work cause back in the day when they made the vins for 40's and cars then there wasn't a standard for the amount of characters in the vin but now there is (17 is the standard) so the DMV will change it if I can get this darn thing titled. Will see but not getting my hopes too high.
 
onemanarmy said:
The DMV won't change the VIN. The best/most informative thing to do is to go to a dmv office and explain that you are trying to track down a title with the VIN he sent you. I just had to do this with an old truck I'm working on with a short VIN. They got me going in the right direction.
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Yeah, he gave us the previous owners info as well, so we're gonna take a trip to the DMV with the vin and call and see what comes of it. If it is the worst case scenario which I hope not (but I'm not being to optimistic) then ill have a complete solid parts/donor truck.
 
I think we're just gonna pass on the 75 in Trinity, NC. Like y'all said it's the owners responsibility to get the title and all that stuff squared away. If he doesn't want to deal with it, then that's his problem. We went to the DMV and tried to get into contact with the previous owner and the DMV said it was his responsibility like the y'all said and that he had to do it if he was the one selling it. It would've been good if he had the title, or for the parts (cause its pretty complete minus the t-case and it needs new quarters and a rear sill). But I think at this time that 1000 would be better spent on another one with a clear title. The right one will pop up eventually. Just have to be a little more patient. That's the name of the game though right?

-Brysen
 
Seen this one yet? Right up your alley. Ad says it runs good but a little crusty. It looks decent to me. Price is in your range. A little steep for no hard top. Maybe he'd take less? You never know if you don't ask!

http://columbia.craigslist.org/cto/4226155349.html
 
Mmmmm okay. You're a better judge than me, Darin. I just thought I'd toss it up here.
 
I spoke with him the other day. He has one in his cross hairs as we speak. I do not want to say much more as it is not my place but he is steady gaining traction on ownership!
 
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