Restoration budget

[Gippster]

I realize restoration has a different meaning for every individual or shop. I'm thinking through the major moving parts. I'm projecting around $30K for a new engine (high-performance 2F) + 5spd transmission, labor, tub repaint (I remove the interior, strip it down, ship it off to the body shop), and a bunch of odds and ends to bring my '84 back to a nice working condition, highway ready, make it a daily driver, sort to speak. The number is based on the preliminary and various conversations I've had so far; I'm curious if anyone else has done the above and could share some numbers with me; I'm also building my project list, but I would love to see a no-frills and honest stock of what you have if you got it.

Here is the original listing with all the pictures: 1984 Toyota Land Cruiser - https://www.grautogallery.com/vehicles/p5741-h/1984-toyota-land-cruiser-fj-60

 

[SteveH]

You could have the Rust Doctor in Grand Junction give you a body estimate. They do full FJ60 body resto stuff fairly often and just did one for a Rising Sun Club guy.

 

[yotadude520]

You're going to spend at least $3,500 buying the H55F, shifter & TC rebuild kit. Keep in mind you also have an 84 which means you will need to get new driveshafts so that makes the swap more expensive. Figure $1,000 for custom Tom Woods driveshafts at the very least, unless you can find used ones out of a 86+ FJ60.

As for the high-output 2F, I can imagine it's going to be at least $10,000 for the engine. Between the engine and the H55F you're already at half your budget if you're doing all the work yourself.

The paint on that 60 already looks pretty good, I'd just have the hood repainted and call it a day. If it's going to be a daily driver there's no sense in paying someone for a full paint job because it's going to get dinged, scratched, etc. If you're dead set on painting it, do all the prep work and pay for a quality paint job. Not some Maaco nonsense. I personally wouldn't paint it though.

Also remember these are older vehicles and you're going to have to spend money on non-cosmetic/mechanical upgrades. You'll probably want to rebuild the knuckles, replace all the rubber brakes lines, master cylinders, brake components, tie rod ends, suspension bushings (at the very least), radiator/heating hoses, etc etc. You can easily find yourself in a rabbit hole with one of these and all of those parts aren't cheap.

If you're doing all the labor (minus paint), $30k can be enough depending on how far you go on this. If you're planning on having a shop do it all, enjoy the cruiser as it is or sell it. You'll quickly blow through that $30k just on the engine/transmission & preventative maintenance alone.

 

[OSS]

$30K won’t be anywhere near enough.
Remember- a brand new LC250 costs somewhere in the $55K range.

 

[Gippster]

Thanks all. I will phase it with the mechanical first, which will cost about $33K to get the engine, headers, distributor, radiator, transmission + transfer case, and EFI installed. If I decide to do the rest later, it will be much later.

 

[Gippster]

You could have the Rust Doctor in Grand Junction give you a body estimate. They do full FJ60 body resto stuff fairly often and just did one for a Rising Sun Club guy.

Amazing, Grand Junction is happening; I'll give them a call to see what they say.

 

[SteveH]

Good looking truck - congrats!

This is the Rust Doctor thread: Bender - The Silver 60 - https://risingsun4x4club.org/xf/threads/bender-the-silver-60.35366/

I think you'd be at 50K with body, engine, trans. I would just drive it for a few years, learn a great deal more about the truck and how you're going to use it, and then decide what to do next. I have thought about pimping out my FJ62 and/or my FJ40, but at some point, not doing so is money in the bank and no hassles with unresponsive/slow paint shops, etc.

 

[toy_tek]

I’ve dealt with that reseller before, I think his name is Chris if I recall correctly. Do you already have the truck in your possession?

Curious- if you’re budgeting $30k+ have you considered a V8 swap? We all have individual wants/needs but if I were planning to drop that cash I’d at least want an “upgrade”.

 

[Gippster]

I’ve dealt with that reseller before, I think his name is Chris if I recall correctly. Do you already have the truck in your possession?

Curious- if you’re budgeting $30k+ have you considered a V8 swap? We all have individual wants/needs but if I were planning to drop that cash I’d at least want an “upgrade”.

Yessir, I was working with Jarrod over there. Took possession couple of weeks ago. LS swaps are cool but that’s going to be a lot more expensive than sticking to the suped-up long block option. I’m certainly not in a rush either so this is to solicit feedback, options and figure out what makes sense. I’ve already learned a great deal just by this thread.

The existing engine runs, but it’s tired. I’ve done the basic of maintenance but looking to make a daily driver, I work from home so daily driver is mostly casual driver with trips to grocery store, ranch, etc.

 

[zeeklafreek]

I'm right at $27K now. If you look at my 'Munich' thread, you can see what I started with.
That includes a 5K paint job, 3.6K new H55, 1.5K new shoes, new carpet and seat kits, dash cap, suspension overhaul (no lift kit), carb rebuild, brakes, exhaust, etc.
Motor has 220K miles on it but still has good compression.

 

[Idaho Savage]

FWIW, I went the GM route. Including a crate GM 6.2L, brand new overbuild 4L65E, rebuilding the transfer case, complete electrical, new fuel lines, cooling system with Mosely GM radiator, AC system, refurbishing of TT long range tank, plus a bunch of weird odds and ends, it came out just north of your estimate. You could do it yourself for around half of that but I don't have the talent or anywhere close to the time. And I haven't touched the body yet but will get Kelly on it a few years down the road when I sell another kidney.

 

[Gippster]

FWIW, I went the GM route. Including a crate GM 6.2L, brand new overbuild 4L65E, rebuilding the transfer case, complete electrical, new fuel lines, cooling system with Mosely GM radiator, AC system, refurbishing of TT long range tank, plus a bunch of weird odds and ends, it came out just north of your estimate. You could do it yourself for around half of that but I don't have the talent or anywhere close to the time. And I haven't touched the body yet but will get Kelly on it a few years down the road when I sell another kidney.

Samesies. I can probably work on the interior at best. I'm not going to mess around with the mechanical because I simply don't have the room/talent or time. Not to mention, I want to make it somewhat turnkey so I can drive it. Curious, why the GM route? Do you do a lot of off-roading?

 

[Idaho Savage]

Samesies. I can probably work on the interior at best. I'm not going to mess around with the mechanical because I simply don't have the room/talent or time. Not to mention, I want to make it somewhat turnkey so I can drive it. Curious, why the GM route? Do you do a lot of off-roading?

1. It's a very common swap so nothing to solve.
2. I use mine in a lot of pretty remote locations so reliability is critical. The family of GM motors are pretty stout.
3. I tow a fair amount.

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

Someone said 5K for paint.... My materials cost more than that.

Jason
TT

 

[Gippster]

Someone said 5K for paint.... My materials cost more than that.

Jason
TT

Yep. $12-$14K has been the cheapest so far. I'm willing to strip it down when I'm ready to tackle that, but I doubt it'll have a bearing, considering someone told me clear coat costs $300/gallon, and most shops have increased the cost of labor. By the time I'm ready, I'll open up my shop.

 

[zeeklafreek]

I passed on the $10K option.