My New FJ62: Need Ideas!

[jppaeltz]

So I cam across this '88 FJ62 about a month ago. It has 164k miles and original everything, other than a nice paint job about 3 years ago. I paid $1200 for it because the Doctor that was selling it was having trouble finding anyone to buy it! He was asking 3000!!! This LC is clean! One dent and absolutely no rust. Its been in West Texas all of its life. I'm currently getting some motor work done to it. Pretty sure its need a new head gasket. I plan on getting new carpet and the seats recovered. The tires/wheels don't match so I plan on doing something about them as well (depending on what the costs of the head gasket work, does anybody have any estimate to what it might be?) I'd like to eventually have a roof rack and some new bumpers, but would like to hear what the 'experts' think is the best upgrades to do at first.

 

[IrollwithTojo]

Welcome! (Official MUD salute)

Cant see the pic....

-Carl

 

[Gabbo]

I push-button start is a must have.

 

[jppaeltz]

I push-button start is a must have.

haha okay.
Is the pic working now?

 

[84cruzer]

You total robbed that guy!!;p

 

[fj4play]

some altitude and larger tires, i like the black with the privacy glass , great buy

 

[jppaeltz]

Thanks, I didn't know much of anything specific about these. But I know a good deal when I see one.
Am I able to fit 31" tires on there with stock suspension?

 

[HeadacheManNYC]

31" tires should fit no problem

 

[cruiser guy]

i'm running 31's with my stock suspension and i have had no problems oh and by the way welcome

 

[EOE_overland]

Nice truck!

Make sure and get the maintenance work where it should be...
Then get some tires! 62's don't look right without a decent set of rubbers. The 33x10.50s I put under my stock suspension made it look like a completely different truck.

Good luck man; you found yourself a great truck!

 

[RockDoc]

My 2 cents. Drive it and address any deficiencies as you find them. It's easy to get caught up spending money, but they are great vehicles right out of the box (well, once you have the maintenance done anyway),

Welcome

 

[Randy88FJ62]

Nice find at such a great price! Search this forum and look up the “oil galley plug.” Make sure that it has been replaced. Most 62 owners install a transmission cooler to keep the trany living longer. Especially if you offroad it or drive in mud. Other than that, check all the fluids and make sure the basic maintenance is up to date. The hardest part is the beginning, after that it’s all easy.

 

[Tofudebeest]

My 2 cents. Drive it and address any deficiencies as you find them. It's easy to get caught up spending money, but they are great vehicles right out of the box (well, once you have the maintenance done anyway),

Welcome

X2

Here the Golden Rule:

Address mechanicals (the "needs") until it is in solid running condition with all maintenance and necessary repairs taken care of before you spend any money on cosmetics and "wants".

If the truck ends up being in great condition, you might then have some $$$ to put into her. If not, you will not want to have spent money on cosmetics and then have jack s*** left to make it run well.

As for what you can do now to personalize this rig without blowing your paycheck, start here:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/22956-best-mods-under-$50.html

And look far into that thread (last or next to last page) and see the 62 transmission shifter handle shortening procedure. I know if I still ran an automatic, I'd be very psyched about that mod.

For me, job #1 would be a full de-chrome. A couple of cans of Rustoleum flat or gloss black and a full day pulling the grill, etc. and blacking them out and ripping all the gutter, window and other dumb chrome trim is ESSENTIAL, more on a black truck with darkly tinted windows than on any other setup. But, it is a matter of taste, you may like the cheese look.

 

[jppaeltz]

Awesome, thanks for the responses guys. As I said above its getting a new head gasket and cleaned up as we speak. I can't wait for it to be done. The mechanics seen it more than i have. I definitely am looking into new tires/wheels. I wish I could a set of the stock OEM wheels. Anybody know where I can find them?

 

[T-bones 60]

Nice score! The key words were 'no rust'. Everything else can be fixed. As everyone else above stated. Drive it, work out the bugs, then slowly mod it the way you want it. I've been slowly doing mine for 7 years now. Just understand, it will never be 'done'!

 

[RockDoc]

Awesome, thanks for the responses guys. As I said above its getting a new head gasket and cleaned up as we speak. I can't wait for it to be done. The mechanics seen it more than i have. I definitely am looking into new tires/wheels. I wish I could a set of the stock OEM wheels. Anybody know where I can find them?

Look under the classifieds tab at the top of the page, there is a wheel and tire section. I picked up 5 nice OEM rims a could years ago for $100 cdn.

 

[cruiser88]

Post good pictures of the rig,like the springs,birfs,joints all that kind of stuff...and lets see the motor

Good price my man

 

[ca62cruzr]

Wow, what a deal! Welcome! Check the for sale forums in here for the rims, 31's on stockers is a sweet combo. I found a set of aftermarket rims Allied type 90 that look really close to stock but can be ordered 15x8 if you want to go to 32-33" tires. The guys are totally right go through everything and swap out old and get it current. If you dont have recipts and it looks like garbage, it probably is. Get it running smoothly then start with other things
I did total fluid flushes and replacement from oil to axles. If your cracking the pumpkin, I suggest a rear locker. You will have a battle going if you ask which Eaton or Aussie but either way its a good couple hundred$ spent. Dig through the FJ60/62 series FAQ's here and there is more info based on experience than you will know what to do with.
Welcome to the addiction, I'm $4000 into a $2300 machine and counting.

 

[IrollwithTojo]

My buddy got a new truck recently, him myself, and another buddy have been working on it for 2 days now, nothing huge just small stuff. This is how things need to get done:
1 get it runnin good and smooth (usually not that hard to do)
2 lift/tires
3 rust,dents (some dents are free to fix, we kicked out a few)
4 any fun stuff you want, bumpers,racks, winch etc
Sweet truck, dont see too many black
-Carl

 

[Devils Paw 80]

X2

Here the Golden Rule:

Address mechanicals (the "needs") until it is in solid running condition with all maintenance and necessary repairs taken care of before you spend any money on cosmetics and "wants".

..For me, job #1 would be a full de-chrome..

I agree completely with Tofu's Golden Rule. However, I like the chrome and suggest you keep it mostly stock in appearance and mechanicals. Tip top stock condition will keep your fingers and pocketbook plenty busy. Nice score!