Looking to buy….what are your thoughts?

[sleepycruiser]

Hello! Quick intro…I’ve had two 80 series a 100 series, and now a 200 series. I’ve always wanted a 40. I found one and it has good bones…needs some work, but nothing that looks crazy to me. My skills are basically that of a YouTube mechanic. Fluid changes, alternator changes, radiator changes…that is about my depth.

I looked at a 40 today and some rust, but nothing outrageous. Probably needs the DS floor pan replaced and the steps on each side could use some love, but overall nothing crazy that I saw…BUT it has been covered with something at some point. Frame is solid. Steering column (see pic) has a gasket (?) that needs to be replaced. Steering seems a little ‘not tight’ although power steering has been installed. Brakes seem a little soft. Like I mentioned…bones are pretty good. ARB 4.88 gears. Gauges need to be replaced. It has an auxiliary gas tank as well.

What are your thoughts on these pics?

 

[sleepycruiser]

Adding more pics

 

[thabruiser]

I like what I see. My first 80 was nasty like that, and it ended up being a great thing, because all that grime saved the frame and body from rust and corrosion! How is the top side?

 

[sleepycruiser]

I like what I see. My first 80 was nasty like that, and it ended up being a great thing, because all that grime saved the frame and body from rust and corrosion! How is the top side?

Top is great. Doors have minimal rust on the bottom…not even to the point I think you could correct at this point. Clutch and transmission feel very good. Top speed is 50mph or so, though.

 

[70 FJ40]

Looks like it could probably use a front knuckle job and there is definitely some oil leaks here and there, but like thabruiser said that has likely helped keep bolts, nuts and all sorts of things from being rusty. I don't know what's going on with the steering I'm only kinda familiar with stock or a mini truck conversion.

When I first got my Cruiser, I could only do 50 MPH too, but after a proper timing and tune up with carb adjustment it'll do 60 Plus pretty easy.

More pics of the rest of the rig is always helpful too.

 

[charliemeyer007]

It should go more that 50mph, maybe it has aftermarket gears for rock crawling 4.56 or more. No rust would be a blessing.

 

[sleepycruiser]

It should go more that 50mph, maybe it has aftermarket gears for rock crawling 4.56 or more. No rust would be a blessing.

It probably would, but without a tach I was hesitant during the test drive.

 

[charliemeyer007]

It has been my 40 years plus experience with my 72 that in high range high it will not over rev on flat ground, pushing a big box threw the air takes more power that the stock engine can make. At the upper end of as fast as it will go, the steering gets way more scary that the thought of throwing a piston out of the engine. Doing like 9% down grade or in low range is a different story.

 

[rex in bama]

Looks very much like mine did initially. All those leaks are great rust prevention, but will take time and $ to track down and remedy. Agree that the birfs need to be redone. Loose steering can have several culprits - fixing mine included a rebuilt steering box, new tie rod ends, center arm rebuild, and a new rag joint. Have had a ton of satisfaction in fixing several of these items myself, but have also had to let the experts handle a good bit of it too. I’m about at your level of expertise. Initially I wondered what I got myself into, but have really enjoyed it and don’t regret it. I also don’t think of it as an investment….I’d rather stay ignorant of that math

 

[sleepycruiser]

Looks very much like mine did initially. All those leaks are great rust prevention, but will take time and $ to track down and remedy. Agree that the birfs need to be redone. Loose steering can have several culprits - fixing mine included a rebuilt steering box, new tie rod ends, center arm rebuild, and a new rag joint. Have had a ton of satisfaction in fixing several of these items myself, but have also had to let the experts handle a good bit of it too. I’m about at your level of expertise. Initially I wondered what I got myself into, but have really enjoyed it and don’t regret it. I also don’t think of it as an investment….I’d rather stay ignorant of that math

Great insight. I’ve read the threads here and even told my wife that one of them warned that we need to have a strong relationship.

I’m going into this with a very open mind of potential costs and I am hoping I can learn a lot in the process as far as working on it.

 

[sleepycruiser]

It should go more that 50mph, maybe it has aftermarket gears for rock crawling 4.56 or more. No rust would be a blessing.

Yes, it has ARB 4.88 in the rear.

It has been my 40 years plus experience with my 72 that in high range high it will not over rev on flat ground, pushing a big box threw the air takes more power that the stock engine can make. At the upper end of as fast as it will go, the steering gets way more scary that the thought of throwing a piston out of the engine. Doing like 9% down grade or in low range is a different story.

Yes, the steering got a little more scary at the faster speeds, but I never felt out of control. Definitely had to ‘listen’ to the RPMs.

 

[charliemeyer007]

Yea I'd bet with that ratio, you could wind up the rpm's. My technique for freeway driving speeds was to grab the steering wheel low and brace my hands against my knee's. Even with all the steering components in top shape it's still a close coupled unit that can have the tendency to swap ends especially on wash boards.

 

[Skreddy]

Great insight. I’ve read the threads here and even told my wife that one of them warned that we need to have a strong relationship.

I’m going into this with a very open mind of potential costs and I am hoping I can learn a lot in the process as far as working on it.

Where’s the rest of the pics?! Can’t judge much by what was posted.

What year, how many original parts missing, what do you want to do with it, etc?

 

[pb4ugo]

With 4.88 gears your rpms are going to be screaming depending on the tire size. If you have 35" tires traveling 60mph your rpms are going to be close to 2900 to 3000 rpms. The steering coupler in your pic is probably from a gm vehicle. It we would probably better with a U joints on both ends of the steering shaft. I'd be curious how the rest of the steering has been modified. It appears its running a weber carb. Really we needs better pic for a better assement of the condition of the vehicle and its' mods. The gearing and lockers may be an indication it's spent some time on the trails. You also don't mention what yr it is.

 

[sleepycruiser]

It is a 1977. 35” tires. It has definitely been on the trails. I have several videos, so I got some screenshots of underneath. I wasn’t able to get many good screenshots under the hood.

 

[sleepycruiser]

Here are a few more. That rust is on the DS floor pan. Not any on the PS. I also stuck my head in the rear fender area and didn’t see any rot/rust behind the diamond plate area.

 

[sleepycruiser]

With 4.88 gears your rpms are going to be screaming depending on the tire size. If you have 35" tires traveling 60mph your rpms are going to be close to 2900 to 3000 rpms. The steering coupler in your pic is probably from a gm vehicle. It we would probably better with a U joints on both ends of the steering shaft. I'd be curious how the rest of the steering has been modified. It appears it’s running a weber carb. Really we needs better pic for a better assement of the condition of the vehicle and its' mods. The gearing and lockers may be an indication it's spent some time on the trails. You also don't mention what yr it is.

Downey air cleaner and Holley carb. Rebuilt Ramsey winch. It has been on the trails for sure, but no dents or anything in the body.

 

[sleepycruiser]

What year, how many original parts missing, what do you want to do with it, etc?

It is a 1977. I am wanting to use it as a weekender and drive around western NC. Probably would not see many trails, but would use it for camping on some service roads, etc. I’ll be the first to admit that the ARB 4.88 with 35” tires would be more than I’d require….but would be nice to have them as options I guess.

 

[John Smith]

Frame looks good, and the body has some rust, but doesn't look too bad. What I can see of the steering looks very unique. Do you have any pictures of the steering gear box? Depending on price, I would buy this truck based on what I see in the pictures. I would also expect to probably completely redo the steering.

 

[sleepycruiser]

Frame looks good, and the body has some rust, but doesn't look too bad. What I can see of the steering looks very unique. Do you have any pictures of the steering gear box? Depending on price, I would buy this truck based on what I see in the pictures. I would also expect to probably completely redo the steering.

Unfortunately I don’t have any pics of the steering box. What would be an approximate cost to redo the steering?