On the fence - I'm scared

[mooney]

Hey guys, I'm new to the community. Not even part of it yet, really. I have always thought Cruisers were cool, but always needed a truck (Toyotas of course). I have my eye on an 86 60 series, but the guy attempted to remove all the smog stuff (on a CA truck) and now it doesn't run as good as it should. It has a little rust on one fender and a couple little holes in the driver's side floorboard, but otherwise it's solid.

It has 287,000 miles on it, and I'm worried that it will be nothing but a money pit. The guy wants $1,000 for it and I don't know if I should....

It has ARB's on the front and rear, so they are probably worth almost a grand by themselves, right?

Can you guys give me some reassurance????

 

[VETTE60]

your right about the arb's. i would worry a bit about the holes in the floor and figure on a rebuild or complete swap with that many miles, and that is probably why it does not run as good. she is getting tired. what else has been done to this rig, and can you get pics?

 

[Dave-T]

Yes it will be a money pit. But what car wouldn't?

Where is it located?

 

[NocalFJ60]

Welcome

If you live in an area where you have to smog the truck, it is going to take some work and money to track down the parts and get it smogged. Ask him if he has all the parts he removed. How is the frame and other areas of the body? It sounds like it has some rust issues. I wouldn't buy a rusted out cruiser with major frame and body rust unless it was for parts. I think it is worth paying another $1000 to get a rust free cruiser if you want to keep it awhile with out throwing a lot of money into it.

 

[mrsvle]

Stay away. Sounds like this vehicle has been ridden into the ground. In California you should be able to find an unmolested 60 with a lot less miles on it and little or no rust. Restoring this truck to decent condition will cost you a fortune ($10,000+). Bide your time and spend a little more for a vehicle that has been well maintained or at least not hacked up. Also look for an FJ60 that was made in the latter half of 85 through 87, that way if you decide to put in a 5-speed later on it will be a relatively straight forward bolt in.

Welcome to the obsession.

Matt

 

[D'Animal]

Hey guys, I'm new to the community. Not even part of it yet, really. I have always thought Cruisers were cool, but always needed a truck (Toyotas of course). I have my eye on an 86 60 series, but the guy attempted to remove all the smog stuff (on a CA truck) and now it doesn't run as good as it should. It has a little rust on one fender and a couple little holes in the driver's side floorboard, but otherwise it's solid.

It has 287,000 miles on it, and I'm worried that it will be nothing but a money pit. The guy wants $1,000 for it and I don't know if I should....

It has ARB's on the front and rear, so they are probably worth almost a grand by themselves, right?

Can you guys give me some reassurance????

What are your intension for the rig?

DD or trail rig?

 

[Mtnmn99]

Buy it and look on craigslist and buy a second one. Use the two to build one. If it has ARB's they are worth the money alone.

Where is it at, if you dont get it I may have to....

 

[hks3sgte]

If it's gonna be your daily driver, I would look for one that needs little, to no work. It's worth the price sometimes. If you need a project, then go for it. But I wouldn't let the ARBs be the selling point. Good luck.

 

[Texx]

It's a running, driving Toyota Land Cruiser for a grand. You could certainly do alot worse.

 

[RAWHEAD REX]

It would make a good parts truck.You should look around for something alot better.Than if you had the extra grand and space, buy it for a parts truck.Take off what you need and part it out .The arbs would be worth keeping.Just a thought.It just sounds like it needs tooo0o much work

 

[RAWHEAD REX]

After a few minuted to think about it.You could drop a v8 into it.That would be cool if you had the money and did alot of the stuff yourself.I don't like to deal with vehicles that some knucklehead has removed all the smog off of.Unless he has all the smog equipment you'lle be searching for it.I'm tired of resurecting basket cases myself.I've done more than my share of them.They suck.

 

[brownbear]

1k.....just buy it. that is cheap, even if it is rusty.

You could as mentioned above just stuff in a 350 with it's emissions stuff.

 

[mooney]

More info

Man, you guys are giving me some good feedback - I had no idea I would get such a quick and plentiful response.

I guess I left out some important details - the truck is in So Cal (Camp Pendleton), so to register it here would require the smog stuff to be reinstalled and working. However, I think I can register it back home in Utah as an out-of-state military member, which would not require smog.

He has most of the smog stuff he took off of it, minus the pump. The pump failed, which is why he took it all off to begin with. He bought an eliminator kit that puts a pulley on a cool-looking billet aluminum bracket where the smog pump used to be. It looks expensive.

He said the engine had been rebuilt by the previous owner, but he doesn't know how long ago.

It drives okay - I was surprised by how well it ran, despite having all the vacuum hoses plugged. It doesn't have any vacuum hoses going to the advancer on the distrubutor - he said it was rusted up. But like I said, it still ran pretty good.

The rust on the fender is minimal, maybe 1/2 inch by 2 inches, and a little on the floorboard.

Other than that, it looks good - the body, the frame, the interior, electronics, etc.

I will use it for a daily driver, if I can. I think I've about made up my mind......

I'm about to join the family!

 

[CruisinFJ60]

be prepaired to put money into it. it is an older vehicle and thus will probally have a couple unexpected issues. but i wouldnt figure anything major.

i daily drove mine till i broke it. now im trying to put it all back together so i can drive my baby again.

I love my 60!!

 

[toyotatank]

Welcome to the MUD! Sounds like a steal and I do have say I'm a bit jealous, paid a grand for my 84 runs great no rust but no ARB's either.

 

[iglou]

welcome brother

basic math:

older + land cruiser = money pit

i luvs my 60 though!

 

[cody c]

ARB's and only a slight amount of rust for 1K, thats worth it right there, plus your able to drive it around while you can learn more about the engine or swaps while you put away some money for it. i think its a good deal.

 

[brownbear]

Sounds good, buy it.

Rust can be grinded out, painted with something like POR-15 and covered with a fender flare.

The floor rust can also be painted with POR-15 using some fiberglass cloth soaked in POR and covered over. Not ideal, but makes it last much longer.

 

[mooney]

Sounds good, buy it.

Rust can be grinded out, painted with something like POR-15 and covered with a fender flare.

The floor rust can also be painted with POR-15 using some fiberglass cloth soaked in POR and covered over. Not ideal, but makes it last much longer.

What is POR-15 and where can I get it?

The idea of stopping the rust and covering it with a fender flare is a great idea - that's why I love these forums!

I have a Chevy Suburban (thanks for your sympathy) with rust issues on the windshield seam - maybe I can use your POR-15 advise on that too!

 

[Dave-T]

Here's one place to get it, with some info.

http://coolfj40.stores.yahoo.net/approc.html