Opinions on buying an FJ40 or an FJ45 in similar condition

[Ample]

Hi,

I have finally found an FJ40 which is in solid condition with minimal rust and I have also found an FJ45 in a similar condition to the FJ40.

The FJ40 has no engine, gearbox, window glass, wiper motors, door locks, door handles, door panels, seats, lights, door rubbers, and there is only 1 rear ambulance door on it. The roof is fibreglass (so will this be an original roof?) and has a tear in it. Dash instrumentation and switches are all missing.

It originally had a 4 speed petrol engine (from what I can see on the plaque on the dash). It is the full body version. It has the axles and chassis. It will need new tyres as well.

The seller is willing to throw in a 2F engine & gearbox and is saying they are in ok condition. The car will need a lot of work - I am sure there is no wiring harness either...

The cost is circa USD $2500.00

Is it worth it? In our country there are hardly any FJ40's. I love the look of these trucks.

My ideal scenario would be to put in a 1HZ Diesel or 1HDT with auto gearbox?

On the other hand the equally mediocre FJ45 (pick up version), with the engine and gearbox (gearbox bell housing is missing). The car interior is non existent (same as the FJ40)... window glass is missing, tyres need replacing - I would say an equal amount of stuff is missing on the FJ45 as is on the FJ40.

This will cost me $1250.

Ideally I want a 4 seater with a Toyota engine and an auto box so my wife can enjoy it as well. This would be a dream car which I would not want to sell for a very long time and possibly hand over to my son at some stage.

Remember I am all the way in Kenya so anything missing will have to be brought in from overseas...

Which direction would you guys take? If someone can give me costs on used / new parts such as:

Window glass,
Window winders,
Door and window rubbers
Door handles, Locks
Wiper motor
Wiper linkages
Dash instrumentation
Dash Switches
Rear ambulance door
Rear Tyre Carrier
Fuel tank

I just wanted to say thanks in advance. I will post pics of the FJ 40 - just have to go back to the car and take some pics. The FJ45 is in a garage with lots of junk around it, so am not sure when I can get pics.

 

[donny paradise]

Ideally I want a 4 seater with a Toyota engine and an auto box so my wife can enjoy it as well.

That narrows it down to the 40 then.

 

[Pighead]

Have you ever tried to sit in a 45 or drive it for any distance? A 40 is slightly more comfortable for taller people, you do not mention your height...

 

[DeltaT]

It is hard to say if it's worth it. The initial price you pay for either one of them is irrelevant in my opinion because you will be spending a lot of money on getting all the parts you need to get it running again. And getting them for overseas would cost even more (if you can find the stuff).

And the there is the resto itself. Once you get started it will add up quickly. How is the body/chassis? Are they straight? What about the history, any accidents? Any rust issues? Do you have to do some serious welding? Are they still registered for the road? Stuff like that is important too.
These rigs are easy to work on, but you will need a good start. An incomplete shell is not a good base unless it is your passion/hobby to bring 'back the dead' (like me lol)
Your best option would be to try and find one that is complete and pay more initially for a good one.

If you want to make a choice between these two and looking at your other LC's your best bet would be the FJ45. A pickup is mighty handy (and cool) and you already have two that can transport the family.

Love to see those pictures!

 

[baas]

Hi mate,

They are great trucks - you'll really enjoy them. But it sounds like you are going to be in for a long journey just to get one of them driveable. All the big obvious items are easy enough to find, shipping and transport to Kenya may be cost prohibitive for you and a bit of a pain for international sellers to package up. But I think it will be the little unexpected little things that can do you in - I mean the little brackets, relays, and assorted stuff that you may not realise you need until you are assembling. That is why many folks end up getting a donor vehicle or two.

OEM parts are very expensive, and the chinese/taiwanese aftermarket parts are really a poor quality. If there is such a shortage of 40's in your neck of the woods you may not be able to just go down to the wrecker and pick parts. They say that you should start with the best, most complete rig you can - a little initial saving may be pennywise and pound foolish. If you can find one that is at least running. Have you considered importing one, maybe from Saudi Arabia? Initial cost will be higher but you should be able to drive it almost right away? And I can almost guarantee that it will be cheaper in the long run.

For pricing on parts and stuff probably best to check ebay, or your local version of craigslist. But best of luck, hope you get it all sorted !

 

[Ample]

That narrows it down to the 40 then.

My gut feeling tells me the same... not sure if that is a good thing though!

 

[Ample]

Have you ever tried to sit in a 45 or drive it for any distance? A 40 is slightly more comfortable for taller people, you do not mention your height...

It is hard to say if it's worth it. The initial price you pay for either one of them is irrelevant in my opinion because you will be spending a lot of money on getting all the parts you need to get it running again. And getting them for overseas would cost even more (if you can find the stuff).

And the there is the resto itself. Once you get started it will add up quickly. How is the body/chassis? Are they straight? What about the history, any accidents? Any rust issues? Do you have to do some serious welding? Are they still registered for the road? Stuff like that is important too.
These rigs are easy to work on, but you will need a good start. An incomplete shell is not a good base unless it is your passion/hobby to bring 'back the dead' (like me lol)
Your best option would be to try and find one that is complete and pay more initially for a good one.

If you want to make a choice between these two and looking at your other LC's your best bet would be the FJ45. A pickup is mighty handy (and cool) and you already have two that can transport the family.

Love to see those pictures!

I have never driven a FJ45. I drove a FJ40 last year and it was a crazy ride - sitting on a plastic bucket with no belts and only later to find out no brakes. I loved the looks we got but did not enjoy the drive. But I just love an FJ40!

You are right - the initial prices is a drop in the ocean.

The body is in really good condition for age - straight and there is not even 1 bit of filler on it. The roof does not seem to meet the windscreen top - there is a gap. In Kenya we are fortunate to have the sun all year through - the chassis is in good condition. There is not a lot of welding needed. The tub floor is real solid. The fibre glass roof will need repairs - it has a split in it.

Can't say much about it's history or if it has had any accidents - but it does not look like it has. The paperwork is all there and matches up the chassis number (that's what the seller is saying - but I will need to verify it.

I think it's going to be 'fat chance' of finding a complete good rig with the full body. There are a few really bondo'd ones out there and many I have seen a few used as tow trucks.

This would become a dream vehicle if I can fit an auto - our traffic conditions are dire - and I cannot see me clutch in clutch out through traffic. As I said I also really want my wife to enjoy the car as well.

Pics on the way - i went back & photographed the car... took my wife and she's agreed but said "You're not working on Sundays on this rig"... that's a good start - means I can buy it!

 

[Sando Serious]

Well if you do get one of them there is a 1HZ for sale in the classifieds section right now. Good luck!

 

[Ample]

Have you ever tried to sit in a 45 or drive it for any distance? A 40 is slightly more comfortable for taller people, you do not mention your height...

I'm only 5ft 9 inches = not that tall!

Never sat in a 45 - just that the 45 I saw looked bigger than the 40!

 

[Ample]

Hi mate,

They are great trucks - you'll really enjoy them. But it sounds like you are going to be in for a long journey just to get one of them driveable. All the big obvious items are easy enough to find, shipping and transport to Kenya may be cost prohibitive for you and a bit of a pain for international sellers to package up. But I think it will be the little unexpected little things that can do you in - I mean the little brackets, relays, and assorted stuff that you may not realise you need until you are assembling. That is why many folks end up getting a donor vehicle or two.

OEM parts are very expensive, and the chinese/taiwanese aftermarket parts are really a poor quality. If there is such a shortage of 40's in your neck of the woods you may not be able to just go down to the wrecker and pick parts. They say that you should start with the best, most complete rig you can - a little initial saving may be pennywise and pound foolish. If you can find one that is at least running. Have you considered importing one, maybe from Saudi Arabia? Initial cost will be higher but you should be able to drive it almost right away? And I can almost guarantee that it will be cheaper in the long run.

For pricing on parts and stuff probably best to check ebay, or your local version of craigslist. But best of luck, hope you get it all sorted !

I know - if I end up buying this vehicle it is gonna be a crazy ride. These little parts will be the ones that will make an ok truck great.

The problem we have is importing cars older than 8 years is not allowed. In wrecker yards here you are sure NOT to find a FJ40 / FJ45.

I've seen another 3 FJ40's - 2 open tops and the 3rd one had all sorts of body panels welded up to make a complete body - and all were full of bondo.

It just seems that there is no easy way out if I buy one of these. However I can see myself smiling in my sleep!

I also asked via some sellers on Ebay Oz for various parts - and I was quoted AU $1550 but then that was with all body panels and transporting them would easily treble that price. I think it is the small parts that I need to get in 1 box from OZ or the USA. The larger parts will need fabrication on home ground or importation via pallet loads.

 

[Ample]

Well if you do get one of them there is a 1HZ for sale in the classifieds section right now. Good luck!

thanks - going to look now. However we have right hand drive cars here (so will this make a difference)?

 

[Living in the Past]

The one thing I haven't seen mention is your looking to go automatic transmission. One thing to keep in mind the FJ40 is a short wheel base and a six cylinder engine with a automatic transmission with a transfer case is going to be a tight fit. You don't mention the year of the FJ40. Before 8/80 the hand brake on the 40 series was on the transfer case. If this cruiser is earlier than 8/80 the rear axle wouldn't be set up for the hand brake. Chances are if you run a Toyota transmission it will be set up for a split transfer case which will most likely not have a hand brake. Sourcing one one of hand brake setup for the split transfer case will not be easy or cheap. Most running a automatic have a shorter V8.

 

[Ample]

The one thing I haven't seen mention is your looking to go automatic transmission. One thing to keep in mind the FJ40 is a short wheel base and a six cylinder engine with a automatic transmission with a transfer case is going to be a tight fit. You don't mention the year of the FJ40. Before 8/80 the hand brake on the 40 series was on the transfer case. If this cruiser is earlier than 8/80 the rear axle wouldn't be set up for the hand brake. Chances are if you run a Toyota transmission it will be set up for a split transfer case which will most likely not have a hand brake. Sourcing one one of hand brake setup for the split transfer case will not be easy or cheap. Most running a automatic have a shorter V8.

This is what Mud special - thank you for enlightening me to the handbrake issue.

Here's a pic of the interior (I do not know the year of manufacture yet)

I am looking at the following options:

1. Transplant the entire body of the FJ40 onto a 80 Series chassis with the 80 series axles

2. Even if I do not do 1 above - I was considering fitting 80 series axles under the 40 series chassis and then using the engine from an 80 series with the axles, gearbox, transfer cases from an 80 series.

Do you think this can work?

Thank you for enlightening me

 

[Ample]

Ok ... here come the pics

 

[Ample]

and some more...

Roof cracked

Dash Front

4 Speed Glove box plaque

 

[Tireguy87]

Body looks good enough but it looks like all it is is a body on a frame. You're going to be sourcing a LOT of parts.

 

[Ample]

Body looks good enough but it looks like all it is is a body on a frame. You're going to be sourcing a LOT of parts.

Yup - that's all there is - a body on a frame!

 

[Living in the Past]

That steering wheel would be a 8/80 or later in the US market but. Plus the transfer case shifter looks like the later split case version. The earlier ones have a smaller thread for the knob on the end. So what needs to be check is where the hand brake is. Most markets it would be on the axle but a few models in some market it was on the back of the transfer case. Starting with the 83 model year our split case chanced here in the US. So even if these has a hand brake on the back of the trasnfer it may not just switch over to another transfer case. Your best option might be having it on the axle. As for putting the FJ40 body on the 80 series will require a lot of custom work. The wheel base of the 80 series is a lot longer than the 40 series. And fitting the 80 series running gear into a FJ40 wouldn't be easy either. If you plan on going six cylinder and automatic transmission stretching the wheel base is almost a must.

In my case I thinking of going automatic in my FJ45. My wife has no interest in learning to drive a stick shift and of all my FJ4X series the pickup is the only she likes. The big plus is extra drive line length is not a issue. The idea of putting a FJ45 cab and body on a 80 series chassis would be a lot easier. I believe someone on this site has already done it.

 

[bikersmurf]

Four seats = 40. As cool as 45s are, I can only see seating 3 max... So it all depends if that's a priority.

Rear windows are a little harder to source for a 45 in these parts... 40 glass is readily availible.

The extra length of a 45 would make it easier to fit in an auto. You could always stretch the 45 cab a couple of feet to make it a four seater... You'd have a smoother ride from the longer wheelbase, and still be able to haul stuff in the shorter box.

 

[coleman2347]

Just curious, do you have 60 or 70 series LC's there...the money seems high but if there are no FJ40's there maybe its what you have to pay...If there are 60/70 series LC's there you have your source for running gear parts..If Toyota trucks (diesels) are plentiful you may have a source for a engine..I think you said Kenya, if I wanted a 40 and was in your shoes I would be doing some serious thinking out of the box. Like some say on here "anything can be fixed" it just depends on what you want..automatic, diesel, Rag top, hard top what ever...but know you will spend some serious time and money...I would not hesitate to modify a frame, guys on here build them from scratch, but I would take my time and figure out what would be the most practical. Welcome and I wish you every sucess on your new FJ40 or 45 what ever you decide...Lee