Possible offer on fj62

[aroundtownmarc]

Hi,

Was going to offer 18-20k on 89 fj62 with 290k miles. Looking to run some pictures by you folks. Posting pictures from my phone then gonna edit text and add more from pc in a bit.

 

[aroundtownmarc]

Hmm shoot didn't see a spot to edit my text up there. So very little surface rust on body and underside appears to have just surface rust although I saw a lot of black areas. Apparently it's all original with only maintenance work done on it, 2 owners. The ac blows hot (probably needs conversion) and the stereo/clock aren't powered. Understand transmission rebuild will be coming up.

I have some more underside and engine pictures I can post but saw a five post limit. Is it ok to just add pictures to a reply or is that looked down upon?

Thanks

 

[Lead Head]

For $20k, I'd expect working AC and stereo/clock, and I don't think I'd tolerate any body rust at all. The chassis and running gear seem fine, though (picture-wise).

 

[aroundtownmarc]

Hi,

Was going to offer 18-20k on 89 fj62 with 290k miles. Looking to run some pictures by you folks. Posting pictures from my phone then gonna edit text and add more from pc in a bit.

View attachment 4159641View attachment 4159641View attachment 4159643View attachment 4159642View attachment 4159643View attachment 4159644View attachment 4159645

Heres a few more pics.

 

[aroundtownmarc]

For $20k, I'd expect working AC and stereo/clock, and I don't think I'd tolerate any body rust at all. The chassis and running gear seem fine, though (picture-wise).

Thanks, watching auctions / facebook and other sale sites it's hard as heck to get a read on a fair price given the factors and my lack of general knowledge.

 

[bhsdriller]

yep everything better work for 20k

 

[aroundtownmarc]

yep everything better work for 20k

Thanks - we thinking 15k more fair market, or lower?

 

[hj 60]

No rust is a major plus but I see a few grand in baseline maintenance, also engine with 466k kilometers is worn, so a lot to do for that money.
But is can be done in weekends, no reason to immediately do a frame off or pull the engine, so you get instant fun of landcruiser.

 

[jclark]

if that’s your budget, you should be looking at this:

 

[Lead Head]

Thanks, watching auctions / facebook and other sale sites it's hard as heck to get a read on a fair price given the factors and my lack of general knowledge.

Looking at the additional photos, there's a bunch of stuff I don't like:

• Cooling fan shroud completely missing. This is really important for cooling, especially in hot climates (or if you want your AC to be effective)
• Various vacuum and emissions hoses not clipped into their holders
• All original coolant hoses (you can tell by the style of hose clamps). These are near 40 year old rubber, and need to be replaced
• Missing battery hold down, bracket, perhaps even entire battery tray.
• Shocks appear to be very old.

I'm not saying for $20k that everything needs to be *perfect*, but at $20k, I would expect everything to work (clock, radio, AC), and all of the major pieces to be there (fan shroud), and at least mildly fresh suspension components (new shocks, new bushings, etc...)

It really does appear to be in great shape underneath, but there's a lot more to a vehicle than just how it looks.

Thanks - we thinking 15k more fair market, or lower?

Value is such a subjective thing. For me, $15k is going to be a hard pill to swallow. When you factor in new shocks, fan shroud, AC work, tidying up the engine bay, new hoses, etc... Then there's the big elephant in the room: 300k miles. Yes, the 62 series are long-lived, but 300k is still a lot of miles.

 

[aroundtownmarc]

Looking at the additional photos, there's a bunch of stuff I don't like:

• Cooling fan shroud completely missing. This is really important for cooling, especially in hot climates (or if you want your AC to be effective)
• Various vacuum and emissions hoses not clipped into their holders
• All original coolant hoses (you can tell by the style of hose clamps). These are near 40 year old rubber, and need to be replaced
• Missing battery hold down, bracket, perhaps even entire battery tray.
• Shocks appear to be very old.

I'm not saying for $20k that everything needs to be *perfect*, but at $20k, I would expect everything to work (clock, radio, AC), and all of the major pieces to be there (fan shroud), and at least mildly fresh suspension components (new shocks, new bushings, etc...)

It really does appear to be in great shape underneath, but there's a lot more to a vehicle than just how it looks.

Value is such a subjective thing. For me, $15k is going to be a hard pill to swallow. When you factor in new shocks, fan shroud, AC work, tidying up the engine bay, new hoses, etc... Then there's the big elephant in the room: 300k miles. Yes, the 62 series are long-lived, but 300k is still a lot of miles.

Thanks for taking the time, i'll talk to the wife and we'll think it over. One big plus is that it's near us and we've driven it so we value that a good bit, but there are some things I haven't mentioned, driver side upholstery has some damage on door side but all the rest is good. Two small dents in driver door and hood has had paint touch ups where it's peeled that weren't particularly well done. Here's some pics of the rig:

 

[Devils Paw 80]

It could be worthwhile to pay someone to inspect and evaluate it. Does it have any maintenance history? It'd be a concern for me that the engine compartment has not been well cared for. The transmission is going bad, you say? It is a weak link in this model. Body and undercarriage do look very good.

 

[aroundtownmarc]

It could be worthwhile to pay someone to inspect and evaluate it. Does it have any maintenance history? It'd be a concern for me that the engine compartment has not been well cared for. The transmission is going bad, you say? It is a weak link in this model. Body and undercarriage do look very good.

it's not going bad per se, felt good, it's just the original so it's got an unknowable shortish life span

 

[Devils Paw 80]

So no maintenance history?
How do the front knuckles look. We haven’t seen a photo of that area. Rebuilding the front end can get spendy

 

[aroundtownmarc]

So no maintenance history?
How do the front knuckles look. We haven’t seen a photo of that area. Rebuilding the front end can get spendy

Asking if he has the history

 

[toy_tek]

Knuckles look suspiciously clean… like they’re either dry/empty or they were power washed very well and likely need serviced.

Corrosion wise it looks decent, interior not too bad either. But as mentioned there will be a LOT of maintenance work needed - my truck was very similar condition when I bought it. This is doable but don’t underestimate the costs… in this condition every little project snowballs rapidly.

Can you drive it for an hour and see if the engine or trans overheats at all? Pay a mechanic to do a leak down / compression test and look at the fluids. That will give you solid info to help make your decision / offer.

 

[aroundtownmarc]

Knuckles look suspiciously clean… like they’re either dry/empty or they were power washed very well and likely need serviced.

Corrosion wise it looks decent, interior not too bad either. But as mentioned there will be a LOT of maintenance work needed - my truck was very similar condition when I bought it. This is doable but don’t underestimate the costs… in this condition every little project snowballs rapidly.

Can you drive it for an hour and see if the engine or trans overheats at all? Pay a mechanic to do a leak down / compression test and look at the fluids. That will give you solid info to help make your decision / offer.

We drove it for about 45 minutes today in 95 degree heat, on hills and between 45-60mph, the heat gauge didn't move much and it ran fine. Other gages looked like they worked and gas gage for sure worked as I put a few gallons in.

Also no documented history, those knuckles were recently rebuilt and rear brakes done a while ago. That's it other then standard maintenance.

 

[Lead Head]

Also no documented history, those knuckles were recently rebuilt and rear brakes done a while ago. That's it other then standard maintenance.

I agree with @toy_tek. The knuckles seem extremely clean, but the crud on the studs threads indicate they haven't been apart in a long time. It's normal for there to be a slight oil/grease line on the ball, but there's none. Everything looks way too clean and dry underneath. It looks exactly like someone took a steam/hot-water pressure washer and just blasted the bottom of the vehicle. There is no way a 300,000 mile FJ62 isn't caked with grease and oil underneath, unless absolutely meticulous care was taken of it.

...and we know this thing was not well cared for. The oxygen sensor is literally dangling by its wires, and you can see the hack wrap they put on the exhaust pipe to cover up the gaping hole in the exhaust pipe where the sensor once was. I don't know even know how that's not setting a check engine light. Unless of course the bulb is burnt out/they pulled the bulb (check engine light should turn on with the vehicle ON and engine OFF)

Someone who actually takes care of their vehicles would not leave the exhaust like that and the sensor dangling. Couple that with the missing fan shroud, wiring issues with the radio/clock, missing battery tray with a random strap holding the battery up, non-functional AC, original 40 year old coolant hoses and you can just visually see that this thing is a mechanical wreck. I bet you could easily hit $10k in work doing a full brake, cooling system, suspension, steering, AC, etc... service.

Honestly, I would just pass on this FJ62, unless you're looking for a big project. The body and chassis are very nice, but mechanically it's a dog, and they're clearly trying to hide how "leaky" it is with their fresh pressure wash job. The more you look, the worse it gets. I'd probably offer less than $10k just by all the problems I see visually. A nice body only gets you so far...

But hey, at least they shined the tires!

 

[aroundtownmarc]

I agree with @toy_tek. The knuckles seem extremely clean, but the crud on the studs threads indicate they haven't been apart in a long time. It's normal for there to be a slight oil/grease line on the ball, but there's none. Everything looks way too clean and dry underneath. It looks exactly like someone took a steam/hot-water pressure washer and just blasted the bottom of the vehicle. There is no way a 300,000 mile FJ62 isn't caked with grease and oil underneath, unless absolutely meticulous care was taken of it.

...and we know this thing was not well cared for. The oxygen sensor is literally dangling by its wires, and you can see the hack wrap they put on the exhaust pipe to cover up the gaping hole in the exhaust pipe where the sensor once was. I don't know even know how that's not setting a check engine light. Unless of course the bulb is burnt out/they pulled the bulb (check engine light should turn on with the vehicle ON and engine OFF)
View attachment 4159724

Someone who actually takes care of their vehicles would not leave the exhaust like that and the sensor dangling. Couple that with the missing fan shroud, wiring issues with the radio/clock, missing battery tray with a random strap holding the battery up, non-functional AC, original 40 year old coolant hoses and you can just visually see that this thing is a mechanical wreck. I bet you could easily hit $10k in work doing a full brake, cooling system, suspension, steering, AC, etc... service.

Honestly, I would just pass on this FJ62, unless you're looking for a big project. The body and chassis are very nice, but mechanically it's a dog, and they're clearly trying to hide how "leaky" it is with their fresh pressure wash job. The more you look, the worse it gets. I'd probably offer less than $10k just by all the problems I see visually. A nice body only gets you so far...

But hey, at least they shined the tires!

Thanks everyone who put in their two cents. We'll pass on this.

 

[OGBeno]

$10k max.

You’ll need to drop $15-20k into on the back side.