New FJ owner in Nica

[Jkarow08]

Hello everybody,

I've been lurking around here for years but finally created an account now that I have purchased my first FJ40, a rustic green 1972. I moved down here to San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua a few months ago and have been on the prowl for a reasonably clean FJ since I got here. Last week I was lucky enough to find this old girl locally for a good price. While she started life burning gas, she was swapped to a 3B at some point in her life along with having power steering and AC added. The motor was just completely rebuilt so she should be GTG for a long time now. It also came with new 33x12.5 M/Ts and wheels, with a DIY shackle lift to fit them underneath. She is not perfect but is in really nice shape overall for a '72 down here, and will be great base to mod and make my own. I've got a lot of questions you all will be able to help me with, but first the important part...the pictures! Thanks for letting me in the club! -Josh

 

[Fj80oregon]

Nice find! Is iguanas still there?

 

[Jkarow08]

Nice find! Is iguanas still there?

Thanks! I live out in the sticks on a gnarly jungle road, especially now during the rainy season, so this beast is exactly what the doctor ordered. Iguana the person or the animal lol?

 

[Fj80oregon]

It’s a bar in San Juan del sur or it was in 2012 when I was visiting.

 

[Fj80oregon]

How much are 40’s going for down there? Our dollar is pretty strong compared to there’s. Or it was?

 

[Jkarow08]

It’s a bar in San Juan del sur or it was in 2012 when I was visiting.

Aahhh...that was going to be my 3rd choice lol. I just looked and it is, I've never been there though. I haven't had an opportunity to explore in town as much as I've wanted...I live about 12km north of town near Playa Maderas and have been kind of marooned out here in paradise with only a Honda Navi to get me around, this FJ will change that though.

How much are 40’s going for down there? Our dollar is pretty strong compared to there’s. Or it was?

Like everywhere, it depends on the condition and model/options. The market goes down to about $5k for soft/no tops that need some work, up to about $15-18k for really clean/restored examples. Examples like mine in the middle of that spectrum are usually in the $10-12k range. The biggest problem in finding one has not been the price (or availability although they aren't that common), but rather finding one with "papeles en regla" (papers in order). I seems like these are often flipped down here so the registration is often not in the name of the current owner, which means you have to pay back taxes in addition to your own. I've passed on cleaner examples because of this as I didn't feel comfortable buying one out of my area that had "questionable" paperwork, especially since this is for my business. This one was local so I was able to have my attorney verify the paperwork was GTG before I purchased it.

 

[Fj80oregon]

Nice! There is some awesome beaches there with the howler monkeys yelling at you when you drive in. Watch out for the sloths crossing the road they are a little slow!

 

[Jkarow08]

Nice! There is some awesome beaches there with the howler monkeys yelling at you when you drive in. Watch out for the sloths crossing the road they are a little slow!

You are preaching to the choir...the beach I live on (Playa Majagual) is the most beautiful beach I've ever seen in all of my travels. And I'm listening to howler monkeys screaming in my front yard as I type this...it's definitely paradise! I haven't seen any sloths yet but I know they are around, hoping I finally see one now that the rainy season has started and the jungle has greened up.

 

[SNLC]

I have spent a lot of time there myself. Enjoy, it’s nice and cheap. Government sucks hard though, main reason I haven’t been back.

Cheers

 

[Jkarow08]

I have spent a lot of time there myself. Enjoy, it’s nice and cheap. Government sucks hard though, main reason I haven’t been back.

Cheers

What govt doesn't I'm guessing (hoping) politics are off limits here but in terms of Nica, I caution people not to believe everything they read, a lot of bad propaganda out there. In spite of being one of the poorest countries in the hemisphere, they consistently rank among the happiest/most "at peace" on the planet and the govt has managed to provide free healthcare for all (including tourists) on a tiny tax revenue, all while amassing only about 1/100th of the national debt per capita as the US. It ain't all bad...

 

[SNLC]

What govt doesn't I'm guessing (hoping) politics are off limits here but in terms of Nica, I caution people not to believe everything they read, a lot of bad propaganda out there. In spite of being one of the poorest countries in the hemisphere, they consistently rank among the happiest/most "at peace" on the planet and the govt has managed to provide free healthcare for all (including tourists) on a tiny tax revenue, all while amassing only about 1/100th of the national debt per capita as the US. It ain't all bad...

Except 2018, I was last down in 2017 and was going to move down in 18 but then Danny O decided to murder people who didn’t want him as dictator anymore.

Cheers

 

[Jkarow08]

Except 2018, I was last down in 2017 and was going to move down in 18 but then Danny O decided to murder people who didn’t want him as dictator anymore.

Cheers

Like I said...a lot of bad propaganda...

 

[SNLC]

Like I said...a lot of bad propaganda...

Which came from my Nica friends who sent pics of the murdered people. Several within blocks of where I lived. One of those friends, his uncle is in prison as a political prisoner.

Any ways, not trying to poo in your thread but if you think it’s all butterflies and rainbows down there you are mistaken.

Cheers

 

[Jkarow08]

Which came from my Nica friends who sent pics of the murdered people. Several within blocks of where I lived. One of those friends, his uncle is in prison as a political prisoner.

Any ways, not trying to poo in your thread but if you think it’s all butterflies and rainbows down there you are mistaken.

Cheers

Just remember there are two sides to every story and people are easily manipulated by outside forces these days...

 

[cruiserkev]

Gorgeous cruiser, looks similar to how I had mine back in the 90s! Best rig in the world!

 

[Jkarow08]

Gorgeous cruiser, looks similar to how I had mine back in the 90s! Best rig in the world!

View attachment 3660231

Thanks, you too! To be honest with you, I didn't know this shade of green existed until I found mine...and now it is one of my favorites! I'm originally from Wisconsin...while this would be fun in the snow, I definitely don't miss it

 

[Jkarow08]

So it has new Bilstein 5100s on all 4 corners, verified the fronts are the 4" extended version, assuming the rears are as well but I haven't been able to find the part # yet. I'd like to replace the DIY lift shackles and tired OE springs with some lift springs and OE length shackles (greaseable and anti inversion preferably). Would it be OK to run the 4" Bilsteins with 2.5" skyjacker springs? Or Dobinsons 1.75"? I'll go with 4" springs if I have to to match the current shocks but for my uses I think a 2-2.5" lift will be perfect. It looks like I can source Dobinsons springs locally which should save me money on shipping, but I'm not sure if the 4" bilsteins will be limiting and survive with only 1.75" of spring lift.

 

[FJ404345]

NIce rig!, some Kutsnake rear flares would be usefull

 

[sogafarm]

You’ll like the dobinsons springs. Mine ride very nice. I think they sit a bit higher than the 1.75” that they state. Of course they may settle over time. I’ve also looked at reviews of the terrain tamer’s parabolic springs and supposedly they ride very well too. They may be a little less expensive than the Dobinsons.

 

[Jkarow08]

Thanks! A set of flares is definitely in my future, I was almost afraid to ask which brand as I know "fender flares" is a four letter word around here I'm sick of my elbow being covered in mud from hanging it out the window though lol. Does anyone know of a flare brand that doesn't require cutting the wheel well opening? I've been searching but everything I've found is for an oversized opening.