Hello everyone. I've been driving a 1999 4Runner and a 2004 Sienna for many years (4Runner is daily driver with 1/4 Million miles on it and still going strong). But I have ZERO experience with the FJ40, and I've decided to take the leap and get into the game. I can't afford one of those nice shiny high dollar ones for sale online, so I am purchasing a 1971 FJ40 for $5k and going to try to fix it up and get it going. Top is not cracked, no glass is cracked or broken, floors are solid, body has a nickel size ding in 1 panel, and the seller said it has a factory PTO winch on it. Ran good but had a knock in the engine, a friend of his had rebuilt some straight 6 Chevy's and thought they could do it, took it apart, realized they were out of their comfort zone, and bailed. So the engine is disassembled and in the back of the FJ40. So, I've got a couple of questions. I see mention on here of F2 engines and things like that. Can anyone tell me what engine this would be so I can search for parts and/or someone to rebuild it for me? Also, I am in Central Florida. Does anyone know a good engine rebuilder near me that would not charge an arm and a leg? Years ago I would have done it myself, but after way too many surgeries and now Parkinson's symptoms, I've had to retire on disability (which is why I need to find a good price for the rebuild) and my hands & body won't cooperate. Time to let someone else do it. The seller says the PTO winch is hard to find, so I'd prefer to stick with the straight six (or engine swap a good used one if I can find one) rather than doing a V8 & automatic transmission swap. Any suggestions, thoughts, or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
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UPDATE: The day has FINALLY come! Today the shipping company is picking up the FJ40 and it should be delivered tomorrow! It is like a kid waiting on Christmas to get here.
Correction: As all of you pointed out, it is not an OEM PTO winch, and in fact it turns out that it is some brand of big electric winch. If it works, I will probably leave it, pull the gigantic bumper / brush guard off, and replace it with a CCOT HFS shorter than OEM winch bumper.
Since it probably does not have the PTO system, that should (from what I have learned from all of you) mean using the Overdrive unit should not be a problem.
Also shipping today is a good condition & running (not rebuilt) 1978 2F engine + a rebuilt 4 speed transmission + rebuilt 4 speed transfer case + 4 speed drive shafts + Overdrive unit all bolted up and ready to drop in.
Game Plan: while the original F engine is out of the engine bay, have the rig delivered to a local place to have the undercarriage professionally cleaned, prepped, and sprayed to get lifetime protection from rust & corrosion and help with heat & noise. Then they will spray the floorpan on the inside. Then haul it to my guy that did the paint job on my motorcycle (he does paint & body on the side when off of his primary job, and does a great job at a GREAT price) and have him repair / replace panels that need it, remove those tacky side mirrors & auxiliary lights off the front fenders, and get it painted. When he is done, then it will go to my mechanic (since I no longer have the tools or the steady hands to do it myself) and he will drop the drivetrain in and get it going. He has owned 3 FJ40's, regrets selling them, and knows what he is doing on FJ40's and has also built many rock crawlers. At that point, bring the old girl home and the boys and I will start on it. Put the interior back in, replace the window and door seals, tint the windows while we have them out, install a stereo, and then install a Vintage Air A/C system to deal with this good ole' southern heat and humidity.
The goal / target is to stay at, or under, a total investment (including original purchase price) of $12K and have something we can enjoy for many years to come.
Possible other future "To Do's": Maybe front disc brakes, maybe power steering, and if clutching & shifting becomes too painful (both hips reconstructed 39 years ago and multiple low back surgeries) either get an adapter plate to bolt up an automatic transmission, or a possible LS & tranny swap.
QUESTION for you all: From feedback I have received from people here in the forums, there's no real point in keeping the original F engine, so I will probably be listing it for sale. My question is, would you guys recommend selling it all together, OR since it is already taken apart, part it out? And, what would you guys recommend would be good but fair prices for either all of it together in 1 sale, or good / fair prices for the individual components? It's all there, just disassembled.
Thank you everyone, and thank you for all of the information you have all shared as I prep for the BIG DAY to arrive!