Need help pricing my '85 FJ60 after engine seizure... (1 Viewer)

[mmarenyi]

It is with an incredibly heavy heart that I write this post. After dumping almost 30k into this cruiser, the engine seems to have completely seized/failed on the freeway the other day. I simply do not have any more funds to continue restoring this truck. I'm considering cutting my loses and I'm looking to the Mud community to help me understand what a reasonable price would be for this truck.

1985 FJ60 with 197,000 Original Miles, car has spent most of it's life in Southern California with a brief stint in Washington state. Minimal to zero rust.

Here are all the repairs and upgrades I have made in the last two years. Essentially until this engine seizure the car was some body work and new carpeting away from being a damn beautiful cruiser. Whoever has the cash to rebuild the engine is going to be walking into a lot of work already done for them. All repairs were overseen by Larry Bernstein of Dirty Parts in Culver City, CA.

So tell me guys, what would you list this for?

Radiator, Exhaust, Thermostat, Major Tune up, Leaks
Service Performed 10/13/2016
Radiator + Hoses
Thermostat + Gasket
Water Pump + Hoses
Fan Shroud
Distributor Caps/Rotos
Spark Plugs
Air Filter
Fuel Filter
Rebuilt Carbeurator
Catalytic Converter
Choke Cable Assembly
Oil Filter
Manifold Gasket Set
Head Pipe Gasket
EGR Pipe Gasket
Thermostat to Block Gasket

$5,348

Suspension
2/6/2017 Order Suspension Parts
All Old Man Emu
Leaf Springs
Nitrocharger Sport Shock
Suspension Bushings
U Bolts
Fitting Kits
Steering Dampeners
Shackles and Pins
2/21/17 Suspension Installation + Alignment
$3,131.70

New Fan Clutch
Service Performed 3/2/2017
Fan Clutch Assemby
R&R Fan Clutch

$455.72

Repair Starter Wire
12/31/17 - $85

All new brakes, power steering, steering knuckles, all leaks except rear main seal, A/C, Window Tint
Service Performed 11/14/2017
Disc Brakes + Drums (front and rear)
Disc Brake Pads
Drum Brake Shoe
Wheet & Master Cylinder
All new brakes hardware + hoses
Steering Knuckle Service
New steering knuckle bearings, seals
Power Steering Pump
Power Steering Hoses
Oil Pan Gasket
Push Rod Cover Gasket
Valve Cover Gasket
Crankshaft Seal
Timing Cover Gasket
AC Compressor
AC Recevier/Dryer
AC Fittings (high and low pressure)
A/D Drive Belt
New FREON
Window Tint
Radiator Cap
Timing Cam Sprocket

$7,317.18

New Transmission + Clutch, Exhaust Manifold Machining
Service Performed 5/18/18
Clutch Kit
Crankshaft Seal Rear
All new internal transmission parts
R&R Transmission/Clutch
Gasket Set for Exhaust Manifold
Resurface Flywheel
Resurface Manifolds

$4,611.81


Window Regulator (Driver Side)
7/11/2018
$342.95

Clean Idle up Valve
8/9/2018
$175.95

Extras:
JVC Head Unit + Installation: $209
Bosch Battery (3/16/2017) $137
Wiper Blades - $25
New Speakers - $300

Total repairs: $21,466.41

 

[mmarenyi]

more pics

 

[mmarenyi]

more pics

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

I might sound like a real wench but the cost you spent on repairs made by garages really means squat to a new buyer and what they’d pay you. You could have done much of that work by your own hand and saved a ton. This is what folks new in this rhelm are missing.

In what way did it seize? Did it throw a push rod? Photos of engine?
And how about the frame?
Sorry your forced to sell but this ultimately is just a tractor w/ a fancy set of leaves....

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

Find a stock bumper to replace that ugly smittybilt and toss the price up around 10k. I honestly doubt if it’s seized you’d get much more for it. Call yourself lucky you had some time to drive her and chalk all those repair bills up to experience.
Edited: 10k would be a long shot. I was being absurdly generous.

 

[Prairie Swamp]

Did it dump a massive amount of fluid on the ground? Do you have a pic of the motor as it sits now? As it stands fixing the engine might be the best course of action. The good news is your have a ton of resources in your area.

 

[FJACS]

Most of what you paid $20k for is general maintenance minus the trans overhaul, and a good chunk of the $$ was spent on a motor that’s now junk according to you. Although I’d like to hear more on this diagnosis.

Good body with a blown engine on the west coast. I hope you can get $3k for it. If you are sick of it and can afford to cut your losses just blow it out on Craigslist. If you want to try and get something back out of it - call up one of the specialist shops that advertises here - in CA, get a used motor dropped in - then turn around and sell it.

 

[g-man]

Personally I'd fix it and keep going. That truck is worth much more than the blown motor. Take the plugs out and put transmission fluid in the cylinders and let it soak for a while to see if it will free it up.

 

[Gretsch]

You could have done much of that work by your own hand and saved a ton. This is what folks new in this rhelm are missing.

Unfortunately for you @NeverGiveUpYota is dead on here. Owning one of these really is not financially possible for most unless you are willing to work on the truck yourself. At least not for me. This is something I luckily realized early on. I think you are a bit too far down the rabbit hole with this one, and with the current investment tally being what it is, I would, as @g-man suggests, fix it and then decide what you want to do. You have had a lot of work done that folks wanting one of these will appreciate if thinking about selling. If its running, that fact along with the work completed would most likely only force a buyer to buy yours over another one. It won't get your investment back however. The truck looks nice other than the busted engine. Getting it running would make it an easy sell. But again, with all you have done to it, I would fix it and keep on cruising. If you keep it and get it running, at least then all that money spent would seem like less of a defeat. Selling it at this point I think would make that sort of investment seem like a real waste. Fix the engine. She's worth it. Sorry man. I can appreciate what you are going through here. HTH.

 

[RodrigzCrzr]

I would investigate more on why she blew.

Just can’t walk away from it! Look into it. Plenty of cruiser out there with horrible bodies and good motors too transplant for your rig.
These trucks are easy to work on.
Sorry for what happened.
Hit me up I’m in Culver City. Not far from you. Would like to see what went wrong.

 

[workingdog]

So, again, no one actually answered your question. My off the cuff valuation would be $10,000 plus with a running engine (maybe $15,000 with all the stuff you've done to it), so $6,000 as is - especially if the transmission and clutch are in good shape. Someone will put a new engine in it for $2,500 and make some money. The comment about the front bumper was a reference to the fact that it will bring more money the more 'stock' it is. Clearly, whether the tube bumper is ugly or not is in the eye of the beholder. But he's right in that the more stock, the more desirable.

I get that you may not be in position to chase more money into the rig. It's always a balance between your love of your rig and the cost of keeping one going - particularly if you are having someone else do the work.

I also agree with the other posters that you won't get back what you put in, but the list does show the rig is in good shape except for the motor.

 

[georgebj60]

Beat me to it. I was going to peg it a 6K too. Ask $7500, see where it goes...

 

[Michael Hanson]

Hi, Tear engine down see what's wrong. If engine not rebuild able find a used engine and with friends to help put it in in one long weekend. Mike or sell for 6,000

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

@workingdog, I did in fact toss out a suggestion of 10k before all of you but yes, that would be w/ a working engine. And just incase you hadn’t picked up yet, he is actually a she.

To the OP... we all spend more money than we’re willing to admit and most have gotten the clear message, ‘don’t add up your receipts.’
Tell us HOW the engine seized on the highway because you’ve got all of us very curious.
I’ll add too, if I, a small framed 5’5” female w/ little mechanical training can rebuild an engine, anyone can IF you have the space avail to do so even if it’s just a driveway.

 

[georgebj60]

I looked through the list again. A good bit of the money was spent on the engine, which brings no value now, unfortunately.

 

[FJACS]

IMO. $6-7k is unrealistic. Would anyone here suggesting that value pay $7k for a blown up rig? I doubt it. I wouldn’t.

OP take @RodrigzCrzr up on his offer to check the truck over. If you can at least getting it running - even if not perfect you’ll get more $ for it.

 

[doug720]

I'm nearby also if you want another opinion?

 

[erse]

I agree with much that has been said to this point. Value for me for a non running rig would at best (rust free body and frame) be around 4k max. You have to find another way if you have that much cash into it. Be patient if you can, work with others to really find out what is going on with your engine.
If it is truly gone consider finding a pull out from someone upgrading to a vortec or the like (seems to happen a lot for some reason). Pull the one you have and rebuild it. There is still plenty of value in your rig but just not as a non running rig.

 

[toy_tek]

My off the cuff valuation would be $10,000 plus with a running engine (maybe $15,000 with all the stuff you've done to it), so $6,000 as is ...

Don't disagree with this assessment, although without being able to start and drive (to confirm condition of remaining drivetrain = $$$) personally I'd be maxing around $5k.

 

[87CRUSR]

As is, $6k is too much IMO. A shame to see such a nice example of a 60 not running. Causes: Oil galley plug blowout?