Project Fj40? Good idea, bad idea, or worse idea?

[ElixerGxer]

So im thinking of picking up a project fj40 soon and there is one just a few cities over. According to the seller post "Rebuilt motor in 1996 and hasn't been driven in 22 years, clutch is out, etc... My initial reaction is that he is asking about 2k too much. So my question is this, Is this way overpriced and are parts hard to come across for these things? I know American classics are not that bad to order parts for but im sure Japanese are a whole different ball game. TIA

Link Here

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

They didn’t make FJ Cruisers 22 years ago.

 

[cruiserboy14]

A. we need prices, pictures and links... at this moment I have no idea what to tell you..
B. parts are so so. Toyota still sells quite a bit of parts for this, but it depends on your year and the list shrinks every year. there are also quite a few good vendors and plenty of people on here wiling to swap/sell parts.
C. we don't do FJ cruisers here.. that's another forum

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

Parts are available for most of the wear items.

We need more info.

 

[ElixerGxer]

They didn’t make FJ Cruisers 22 years ago.

Sorry getting ahead of myself

A. we need prices, pictures and links... at this moment I have no idea what to tell you..
B. parts are so so. Toyota still sells quite a bit of parts for this, but it depends on your year and the list shrinks every year. there are also quite a few good vendors and plenty of people on here wiling to swap/sell parts.
C. we don't do FJ cruisers here.. that's another forum

I posted the link to the ad. Is it not coming across on your ends?

 

[ElixerGxer]

Maybe this will work click here

 

[franklin40]

edit. there’s the link. you posted it while i was typing

nope. i’m not seeing it. post year price and a few screen shots with some of the undercarriage and interior if possible. guys here have a pretty good eye for things “not right”

 

[franklin40]

looks like a 79 or newer as it looks like the upside down bezel is square. it’s dirty but not as bad as some. rear fenders and sill are rusty so there’s some metal work to be done but if the pics we can see actually represent the state of the whole vehicle it looks pretty good. i’d offer him 4K or a bit less if it will run. otherwise way lower. there’s a big dent in the hood and who knows what’s behind the checker plate. often it hides rust

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

That poor 40.


I bought one roached out like that a few years ago for under $500.

I'd keep walking at that price.

Just my opinion.

 

[ElixerGxer]

I had similiar feelings for it, Thanks for the opinions guys!

 

[franklin40]

don’t give up on it if you’re willing to put the work into it. it looks like a solid “project” start. just don’t get too desperate too fast and pay way more than you should. ask me how i know!! are you close enough to go see if it’ll run? how are your mechanical skills? you might be surprised what you might be able to get it to do!

 

[ElixerGxer]

Im definitely close enough to go and see if it runs. 22 years might be a bit much even for a Toyota. Mechanical skills; im not a shop mechanic but I know my way around a toolbox.

 

[franklin40]

worth seeing what you can make it do and then offer what you’re willing to pay. what would your plans be? if you’re looking at an engine swap anyway then it’s just ammo to work him down.

 

[pjohnson]

Seems these days everyone with a rotting cruiser thinks it's gold. Is it a good project start, maybe. If it has good bones and not as rotted as it looks from the pics. What it's worth depends on what kind of project you have in mind.

 

[cruiserboy14]

im no expert, but it looks like a good start! a lot of people will tell you that its not worth much but a good base cruiser is $10,000 and up. the rust is so,so. if it runs, and he can prove it (IE see it run) then id go $5,000- $6,000.

 

[Advrider639]

Some one sent me that a few days ago. I am not interested, but I thought about going and taking a peek.

It'd be nice to see after a good pressure washing. Defiantly a lot of work to be done on it, for that type of money you can find a running 40 and just maintain it/slowly fix up.

 

[tcarlson78]

If he was serious at $6.8K he would have cleaned it up and made some effort. I don't see that here. He has not shown interior pictures of identified problems. As a project vehicle, it may have a good base. I would offer $2.0 K and haggle from there, him justify the additional money to pay. I would even ask him to prove the electrical system works.

Once you get a project there is A LOT of help and ideas to be found here and on other sites. Happy hunting.

 

[Adog]

Nice find. That 40 has potential. If motor will run, I would probably be in about 4500, if not, 2000. Lots of good bones there. Like others no interior pictures, would be nice to see. My 40 has parts from all over the world , a labor of love, my wife says it is my other woman, fun , glad to see another 40 resurrection. Battery and carb cleaner sprayed into carb would be where I would start. Big project.

 

[aremell]

Saw that one as well and I agree with with Advrider and Adog - I'd like to see it after the pressure washer hit it! The question you need to ask yourself is how much work you are capable of doing yourself and how much you'll be paying others to do. For example - in light of the fact that it's not running, if you are going to need to pay someone to get that question answered, that could add up very quickly and may favor finding a running / driving / stopping specimen, even if it is for more $. To me, it has the feel of something that could be brought back to life but you could easily be in at 2x the ask and have a cruiser that might be worth 10,000 once you're there. Mine started much worse and I'm confident I overpaid at 1,500, but fell in love and the rest is history. I'm sure I have more in it than it is worth, but wouldn't trade the experience for the difference. See the yellow one for sale locally on craigslist. It seems comparable, allegedly runs/drives/stops, and has been for sale for a quite a while at 12,500 (I'm not affiliated with either FJ40). That may give you an indication of what the local market is looking like for what you may end up with once it's moving around on it's own.

 

[Rigger]

I can't see the pics. Are there pics?