Replace '94 Explorer with '83 FJ60--am I daft?

[Carpe Discus]

Love the forum, never posted before.

You know, I grew up with a FJ60, since about age 9 or so. Lots of good memories in that car. Now, my dad's planning on selling it, and I'm thinking about selling our '94 2-door Explorer and getting it. Am I completely off my rocker here?

The Explorer's at 98K, the FJ60 at 180K. Nothing major to speak of on both machines, except perhaps to note that the Land Cruiser has a new catalytic converter as of a couple of years ago. The reason for the swap is a couple-fold--it'd be nice to have more cargo room for hauling (we borrow it already for this purpose), and four doors are much better than 2 for hauling a 2-year-old in and out of. Oh--and, of course I like it. This car will not see too much four-wheeling aside from the occasional camping trip and the like. My everyday commuyte is on pavement, although I generally take something more fuel-efficient.

I understand I'll get a bit of a biased response here perhaps--I'll probably head on over to some Explorer forum, too. I guess what I'm asking, though, is for a crystal ball (nothing much!). I suspect that the Land Cruiser will age more gracefully even with its head start. However, no matter what it says on the grille, I hate getting rid of a solid performer, which the Ford has more or less been up until this point. There's enough flaky trucks and cars out there...

 

[swank60]

The 60 is a tough rig for a daily driver. Make sure you're got the time/money to work on it and stay on top of all the mechanical failures you'll be facing (yes they're Toyotas, yes you can get a whole lot of miles out of them) - it's 20 years old and will need the work. Mine has 205k on it and runs great, but I'm having to pull it off the road - the rear main seal is blown and one of my rear axle seals is shot, too, and I need to replace a motor mount (becuase of the recently replaced power steering pump that leaked and ruined the mounts. Probably needs a new tranny mount as well because of the oil from the rear main...blah blah blah)

Point being, things like that are going to happen at 180k. If you've got another vehicle to rely on, you're okay. Hopefully you've got some experience wrenching, too. Mechanics usually want to charge an arm and a leg to work on these things, and they very often screw things up (ah, the stories I could tell...thanks PO!) - But you buy a 60 because you love it.

I'm no Ford fan (get to work on the sister-in-law's all the time - or at least tow it) and would much rather work on the 60 than anything else...once I get all of my screwed up crap fixed, I'll be good to go, I'm guessing, another 150k without really having to do anything major - if not more. When I fix the rear main, I'll replace the clutch, too...which has been on the truck since new (only replacing it because I'll have the tranny out, may as well.) But the little things are still going to be there. (but I'm perpetually trapped in "fixing PO's mistakes" mode - maybe I"m coming out of it...)

Also, find out what the better half thinks of the truck, too. See if you can drive it for a week and how she and the kiddo react. We don't use the 60 as the family truckster - the wife hates it, our little girl is 50/50 and my son isn't old enough to complain - but he likes how high he sits up in it because he can see out.

The board here has helped me tremendously. I can't believe how much good advice I've gotten from here - and how my own trials have helped others out, too. People here are really great... If you decide to buy it and have a question about anything, I'd bet that if you ask on a weekday, you'll wind up with 3-4 different answers that will help you track down your problem.

 

[swank60]

Jeez, what a long damn post. I should be using my internet time more wisely and looking for girly pictures or something.

 

[thorvald]

DO IT


We had a 91 exploder for a year, traded it in on a 93 fourrunner cause we didnt like it much. the fourunner was great till i totalled it. i doubt your explorer will outlast the 60 with fewer problems if taken care of. course parts are expensive, but shouldnt have to replace them as often on the yoda if using oem.
Id take the ride in my 87 60 with worn springs over the 91 explorer anyday.

DO IT
DO IT
DO IT
(starsky and hutch reference)

 

[archie]

I vote to keep both. Offer your father to pay in installments if you can't afford it now. You will need it when you get parts for your explorer when it breaks down and vice a versa. At least you'll have a chance to see which one you will keep and the LC will not depreciate much while your using it because it problably hit close to the bottom of it's value.I don't think your father will charge you more than 5k for the truck and the best thing about the buy is that you already know the truthful history of the vehicle unlike most of us that have to buy by just pure trust. If your father is selling make sure you post it on this board because you'll make sure it goes to a good home. Out of the two vehicles I believe that the LC will be the better truck to own OLD because there is problably much more support and loyalty for this vehicle.Of course I don't get on the Explorer boards to really tell,it's best to check their boards to see how many people talk shop about a 1983 Explorer.Welcome to the board!

 

[rightlane]

the toyota will get you more chicks

 

[Carpe Discus]

Also, find out what the better half thinks of the truck, too. See if you can drive it for a week and how she and the kiddo react. We don't use the 60 as the family truckster - the wife hates it, our little girl is 50/50 and my son isn't old enough to complain - but he likes how high he sits up in it because he can see out.

Yeah, I hear you. I had her drive it before and she wasn't at all pleased with the lack of pickup getting on the freeway, etc. Keep in mind, she bought the Explorer before we were married to tool around Colorado in, so it actually has seen some good use back in the day (She has mentioned that the injection served her well in the high altitudes). Here in San Diego, we don't get out to the good stuff as often.

I appreciate the advice though. "Don't rely on it" sounds like prudent advice, much as I'd like to think otherwise. I have to determine if I can swing it as a third car, which is hard to justify for us. We may end up having it as a second car in the interim until a more reliable third is purchased, I dunno.

I vote to keep both. Offer your father to pay in installments if you can't afford it now.

Yeah, that's an option we've actually used before, so we're good for it. I'm not worried about the price, which is fair. I've also been telling him that if I don't go for it, he's gotta post somewhere like here so it goes to a good home to be sure.

Of course I don't get on the Explorer boards to really tell,it's best to check their boards to see how many people talk shop about a 1983 Explorer

Heh--good point. Although it wasn't around then, of course. I imagine that the following just isn't the same.

-Rich

 

[archie]

Lurking around an Explorer forum and find that most posters are not as mechanically inclined(comparing to Ih8mud posters) but seemed a little better in the Bronco forums about knowing their vehicles.Here's a thread in a ford forum that say's "get a toyota" in the title of the tread http://p209.ezboard.com/ffordforumsfrm20.showMessage?topicID=43.topic. That was funny to see in the their forums as for a few other rants about ford products. I have a 91 Mercury tracer that am not so happy with from the day I bought it but now am scared from buying another Ford product.
I saw in a ford thread that somebody had problems with front rotors being eaten up quickly and the rear weld hatch failing. Had you had those issues with your Explorer? I believed at one point that Ford made good larger vehicles and poorer smaller vehicles but might have to reassess that thought.

 

[cahilc]

I was really psyched when the Exploder first came out on the market. I was saving my pennies for purchase and could hardly wait. When the local dealer got in the first ones I went right over to test drive. The salesman was busy so he let me and my girlfriend test drive by ourself. About 3 miles from the dealership the computer wacked out and went into "limp-home-mode". I tell ya' ... they don't call it "limp-home-mode" for nothing. Anyway, finally got it back to the dealership. Parking it and that's the last she started. Saleman freaked ... "This one needs to be serviced. How about lookin' at another one ?" Me ... "Ummm, no thanks."

Explorer vs. FJ60 ??? The question is simple. Do you want a computer in your car/truck or *NOT* ???

Cahil

 

[archie]

ford forum findings

I was really psyched when the Exploder first came out on the market. I was saving my pennies for purchase and could hardly wait. When the local dealer got in the first ones I went right over to test drive. The salesman was busy so he let me and my girlfriend test drive by ourself. About 3 miles from the dealership the computer wacked out and went into "limp-home-mode". I tell ya' ... they don't call it "limp-home-mode" for nothing. Anyway, finally got it back to the dealership. Parking it and that's the last she started. Saleman freaked ... "This one needs to be serviced. How about lookin' at another one ?" Me ... "Ummm, no thanks."

Explorer vs. FJ60 ??? The question is simple. Do you want a computer in your car/truck or *NOT* ???

Cahil

That's kinda interesting that there was some posts in the ford forum that had this crank but no start problem. Did the explorer you drove, crank but no start?

 

[cahilc]

That's kinda interesting that there was some posts in the ford forum that had this crank but no start problem. Did the explorer you drove, crank but no start?

Took the Exploder for a test drive and the computer when into "limp-home-mode". Crawled back to the dealer. Parked it. Sales person came out ... he could start the truck but couldn't drive it anywhere. Was kinda funny ... from my perspective ...

He offered me another truck ... I said ... "Just like that one ???"

:+)

Cahil

 

[Carpe Discus]

Lurking around an Explorer forum and find that most posters are not as mechanically inclined(comparing to Ih8mud posters) (...) I saw in a ford thread that somebody had problems with front rotors being eaten up quickly and the rear weld hatch failing. Had you had those issues with your Explorer? I believed at one point that Ford made good larger vehicles and poorer smaller vehicles but might have to reassess that thought.

Well, I'm not terribly inept mechanically, but most of my experience has been limited to oil changes and the odd starter swapout in the parking lot. I don't mind working on it, as it's not computerized and there's a *ton* of room in there--but I'll mostly end up paying someone most of the time because of time issues. Might end up helping (and of course paying more.)

cahilc: I did have the rear weld problem (didn't know it was a recall until long after I fixed it--nope, not bitter). Actually, the most annoying problem has been the interior pull handle cracking and coming off both front doors. Kinda hard to close the doors without them. The power windows occasionally stick down, too--no problems there in the 60 of course. Pretty funny story, though.

-Rich

 

[VTCruiser]

i drove a '93 ford explorer as my fist car (hand-me-down, 123K miles)) and i beat the PISS out of that rig.....couldn't kill it...and had none of the problems you guys mentioned. BUT I too grew up in a 60 series cruiser which led me to purchase my current cruiser as a daily driver. Alas, i'm young and don't need to worry about pleasing the wife or kid safety and can handle the qirks and required TLC (no pun intended) that goes along with owning a 60....your call, 60s are awesome but will require some more hours of love on the weekends, and gassers get crappy fuel mileage

 

[hj60]

Explorer vs. FJ60 ??? The question is simple. Do you want a computer in your car/truck or *NOT* ???

Uhh, hate to brake it to you, but my 60 has a computer in it. And I'm sure most
others on here do too.
Granted, it's a pocket calculator compared to an OBDII PCM, but it's still a computer.

 

[cahilc]

...
but my 60 has a computer in it. And I'm sure most
others on here do too.

Well ... *you* might have a computer but my '60 is *chipped* ... hmmm, paint that is ...



Cahil