Looking to buy an 1980 FJ40

[pablorg]

Hi there, I am new to the FJ40 world... I am looking to buy a 1980 FJ40 in Ecuador, South America. It has 460.000 kms, but it is in great condition. I am attaching the vin plate. The seller is saying it's 1980 FJ40 LX version. Is it true?

THanks, Pablo

 

[Living in the Past]

Rear emblems were never mounted with pop rivets. Without pictures before paint and possible body rust/body damage repairs hard to even guess at a value.

 

[pablorg]

Hello,

It is not a 1980 model year truck.

The dash gives it away as 1982. In general markets, 1982 was the last year with that dash. 1983-84 trucks had the insert dash.

The LX grade 40 Series had fabric seats, sliding windows and rear door cards, among other things, as is mentioned above. Australia spec LX 40 Series had three windshield wipers as well. Some markets had chrome in the bumpers, bezel and windshield weatherstrips.

The roll bar is missing, which confirms general markets (read: Middle East and South America.)

There should be an LX badge on each side in the front fenders, close to the Land Cruiser badge. If it is missing, there should be mounting holes. Unless, of course, somebody plugged them before painting.

The engine bay looks like the previous owner did some modifications. What is that canister close to the battery for? Moreover, the engine harness looks molested/tampered with.

The truck appears to have undergone a restoration of sorts, namely respray and reupholstering. It is worth asking whether the engine has been repaired. It is also worth checking for modifications. Rust may be lurking under the paint in the body, frame, engine and drive train.

I would go through this truck with a very fine comb before considering anything.

Regarding the price, do not spend money you cannot afford to lose.





Juan

Hi Juan,

Yeah, here in Ecuador all FJs didn't have a rollbar.

The canister you see it's Nitrogen that it's supposed to reduce fuel consumption... I have never seen it either...

The frame and body are in excellent shape, no rust anywhere.....


The problem with the year is what it worries me: the FJ is registered as a 1980 model

 

[fjwagon]

I have seen enough fj40s that come South America to come to the conclusion don't believe what the paperwork says. You have to be careful, they can be pieced together with different year parts that look good in general but don't match the year. Ironically, Im a happy owner of SA fj45 and its most intact with correct parts. The rivets on the badges used are the least of your worries. You actually want your badges revited if live there. It's a theft deterrent. If visit big populated areas in SA you will notce most cars will have their badges revited.

 

[pablorg]

Rear emblems were never mounted with pop rivets. Without pictures before paint and possible body rust/body damage repairs hard to even guess at a value.

The rivets are used here in Ecuador as a theft deterrent ... on all types of cars.

There is no rust whatsoever in the FJ

 

[Living in the Past]

The rivets are used here in Ecuador as a theft deterrent ... on all types of cars.

There is no rust whatsoever in the FJ

If people would steal those emblems I would be worried about someone stealing the whole vehicle. Still think the plastic tabs to mount the emblem were broken off. Then someone drilled holes in the body to use pop rivets. Would inspect the back side and see if original mounting tabs and be sure the original holes for the tabs are still there.

I can not say there is no rust looking at pictures of a repaint. Original paint doesn't survive after forty years and that many kilometers and look that good. The condition of the jack is more what you would expect the original paint to look like.

As for LX the aprons will have LX emblems. Interior would be brown. That includes the steering wheel and floor mats. Door cards. Back would be a two piece forward facing seat. They would be panels from the top of wheel well to the bottom of the side and corner windows.

Here is the channel that covers the wiring on non ambulance doors as well a handle cover from an LX model which is not original to this door.

Years ago someone was offering free non OEM ambulance door cards to anyone willing to drill the their doors for the factory style door clips. My doors are off an 84 troopy that was wrecked and not perfect so took him up on his offer. While not OEM original LX if they were brown they would look a lot closer to OEM then what is on 80 (really an 82).

Not saying this cruiser isn't worth the price. Just the fact it's being offered as the meeting year and not the rear LHD model. I've seen pictures of an 83 LX that was for sale in the Middle East. Other only having two wiper arms it was the same as the RHD LXs with three wiper arm.

 

[JuanJ]

Hi Juan,

Yeah, here in Ecuador all FJs didn't have a rollbar.

The canister you see it's Nitrogen that it's supposed to reduce fuel consumption... I have never seen it either...

The frame and body are in excellent shape, no rust anywhere.....


The problem with the year is what it worries me: the FJ is registered as a 1980 model

Hello,

Surprisingly, the previous owner did not fit a homemade roll bar, a good thing.

There are a number of devices out there that are supposed to save fuel. Benefits aside, most of them need power to function, and the easy way to get it is to hack into the harness, or into the battery. Which leads me to worry about the condition of the electrical system.

It is possible to restore a 40 Series electrical system, but parts are becoming scarce, expensive, or both. The same applies to the engine and drive train.

It is wise to go through the truck with a magnet. It is the only way to have an idea of its condition. Bondo and rust are good at hiding.

Regarding the model year, a number of details, most of them already mentioned, give it as a 1982. However, it is possible to cobble together parts from newer models into an older truck.

Do the registration documents say it is a 1980 truck? If so, someone has been busy putting things together, something to worry about: what else lurks beneath the respray and the modifications?

Maybe a typing error led to the wrong model year in the registration documents, and nobody noticed.

A thorough check in the local DMV registry is a must.

Again, do not spend money you cannot afford to lose.






Juan

 

[pablorg]

How hard is to install a factory rollbar ? If you can get one...

 

[JuanJ]

How hard is to install a factory rollbar ? If you can get one...

Hello,

There are a few threads here on how to do it. The search function is your friend.

Installing is easier if the body panels have the required captive nuts. Otherwise, some drilling is necessary.

Then there are the seat belts, which bolt on the bar if I remember correctly.

A roll bar requires smaller rear seats. There may not be enough space for the larger seats non-roll bar trucks have.

Both the seat belts and the rear seats can be harder to source than the roll bar itself.

While a roll bar may be necessary from a safety standpoint, other features can be more useful in a 40 Series. Namely, power steering and AC. Both modifications are feasible and parts are available.





Juan

 

[JohnnyC]

Roll bars are very good to have including a hardtop

 

[EcuadorFJ40]

The rivets are used here in Ecuador as a theft deterrent ... on all types of cars.

There is no rust whatsoever in the FJ

@pablorg I am currently residing in Ecuador and after looking at more than 10 FJ40s, currently going through a full restoration on a 1981 in Quito. Let's chat before you drop 30K. Maybe be able to provide some leads and my mechanic may be available to check the car for you.

 

[EcuadorFJ40]

Hi Juan,

Yeah, here in Ecuador all FJs didn't have a rollbar.

The canister you see it's Nitrogen that it's supposed to reduce fuel consumption... I have never seen it either...

The frame and body are in excellent shape, no rust anywhere.....


The problem with the year is what it worries me: the FJ is registered as a 1980 model

Yeah, I found that rust is not much of an issue with older vehicles in Quito given the climate. You have to be careful with FJ40's coming to Quito from the coast. In Ecuador, every vehicle has to be inspected before being allowed to be registered. You can check the vehicle history online Guía Completa para la Consulta de Revisión Vehicular AMT en Ecuador: Pasos y Consejos Esenciales - https://ecuadoronline.org/consulta-revision-vehicular-amt/ with the chasis/motor and pull up all the details on the technical inspections-which provides a report on the major components of the vehicle. This review is more complete than any inspection I have endured in the US. The site is in Spanish but you can get the information in English. Registration is often tricky because owners try to save money on taxes by changing the year so it's not necessarily a deal killer. Upholstery shops are abundant in Ecuador so surely the car had new covering installed at some point. Nice vehicle but price is quite high for Ecuador even on a previous restoration.

 

[pablorg]

@pablorg I am currently residing in Ecuador and after looking at more than 10 FJ40s, currently going through a full restoration on a 1981 in Quito. Let's chat before you drop 30K. Maybe be able to provide some leads and my mechanic may be available to check the car for you.

The owner dropped the price to $22.000 after much negotiation... I already bought it.

I am interested in having the contact of your mechanic! And we can certainly chat about the FJs

 

[EcuadorFJ40]

The owner dropped the price to $22.000 after much negotiation... I already bought it.

I am interested in having the contact of your mechanic! And we can certainly chat about the FJs

Sure thing- I am currently stateside picking up parts. My guy is Antonino Russo. He is associated with Renato of MGA Garage, who is managing my project (body and paint). Good luck and looking forward to seeing your rig!


Russo Tu Auto Center
RGPM+5FQ, Pje. E14B, Quito 170136, Ecuador
Indicaciones
Teléfono: 099 917 8132

MGA GARAGE
De los Naranjos, Quito 170503, Ecuador