please read threads started by
@Beehanger. 2022 minus 1984 equals 38. You are considering a 38 year old truck for a daily driver. On this forum we all love Land Cruisers but you should be either self sufficient or filthy rich to comfortably stay afloat.
Edit: no offense meant to
@Beehanger. He has a lot of grit. But his experience may make the OP reconsider...
Thanks for linking my 2mbb,
I was in a similar postion as you and have some to add to this conversation. I agree with what's been said so far, don't overlook the realities of what you're considering doing.
Whether or not you "should" buy an FJ60, honestly, like everything in life, just depends on a lot of things. Figuring this out is a journey in itself as this is a big commitment for young guys like us. I made a similar post to you (much more long winded) about a year and a half ago on out of college on this very forum asking if I should buy a Fj60. I kindof needed something as my achor as I was going through a lot at the time, and wanted to learn to work on it. I ended up pulling the trigger. Some days I regret it, but Im sure once its running better I'll be glad I stuck it through. It also got me to where I am today.
I'd say the 3 biggest reasons why I "rightly" said yes to buying the cruiser young without any mechhanical experience, against some real advice to do the contrary were:
1.)I wasn't doing it to just look cool, I did it because I honestly want to learn to work on it at a young age and could deal with the consequences (getting a project truck without knowing it, car breaking down, no airbags, not having it as MY ONLY CAR for extended periods of time). I could only deal with these things because I at the time could walk to work if I had to, and was actually willing to kind of build my life around the truck for a year or two. Even with all the downsides something inside me just told me to do it. I was the rich kid who wanted to kick my own ass.
This is probably an anomaly story.
2.)The LC had no rust (meaning thin surfice rust on the frame, Cali/arizona trucks are the best), and could be resold with some effort.
3.)I was fine driving SUPER SLOW cause these things only have 135 HP which really really sucks sometimes. I live in a smaller town and don't have to go on the freeway with it. When I drove it home frome LA I was going 40 the entire time so if you really want to buy an fj60 be ready to due a lot of due dilligence cause you don't want to end up with a fj60 with a tired motor like me. If you're going to be living in a city or commuting on a big freeway you really can't have this be your DD.
Maybe with all this I was still "wrong" to do it in a lot of people's eyes, but I was right in my own eyes and knew myself well enough.
Biggest things I've learned
1. Make sure the FJ60 you're working on is actually running well, I didn't know what I was looking at and didn't have any other mechanics or friends to give it a once over. I had the misfortune of buying from a mechanic who gave it a once over himself (GEE THANKS!) I Just posted pics online for second opinions which can only go so far. I got pretty unlucky it needed an engine rebuild, and have been out for a year now. This is because I didn't know how to do the work myself, but wish I would have just tried to figure out how to do the rebuild yself rather than having to wait this long and have a bill waiting.
2. Don't let the seller, or anyone else take advantage of you. Even if they say they aren't or if they're nice etc. just dont trust them. You can say no, change your mind, or not buy a land cruiser at all and still live your life happily. I probably would have quit and sold it a long time ago but I just am too stubborn to quit, and once youre in it you get kind of a funny feeling to keep going. It's honestly been a rough hindrance on my life having it out though, and if you can't handle this possibility or have some special mentor to fix it with you on a moments notice for free instead then don't do it. I'm "lucky" to be living at home right now where my family has other cars.
3. If everything in your gut and in your heart is telling you to do it, and you are being honest with yourself that you will do all the due dilligence to find the right truck and actually want to work on it for years to come, and deal with all the shortfalls that can easily happen, then you may just ask the universe to guide you to do this. Life is short, especially if you find one with minimal rust you can resell it pretty quick (easier said then done if you get as emotionally attached as I do).
It really comes down to you, most people probably don't want to bother with the pains of having one. By buying an fj60
you're essentially signing up for something and are likely knowingly getting yourself into a pickle, but pickles are where the fun and growth can happen if you have the time, right attitude, energy, and reasons. I'm still personally dealing with the effects of my decision but have just decided the truck is really important to me so I'm sticking it out and suffering everyday for it. I didn't fully know this is what I would be getting myself into, and I admittedly got unlucky with mechanics etc trying to get the engine rebuilt. I wouldn't have done it having known this could happen, but it can happen to any of us, yet for whatever reason I'm sticking it out. There's also that chance you do some due diligence and find a good running truck and won't have major headaches, but don't bank on that. If a headache comes up you need to have backup plans -- bike/ roomates car/ parents. I really wish I would have paid 20k instead of 15k to get a better running truck and not deal with what I am dealing with. You'll end up putting a lot more than 12k in I'll tell you that.
Don't screw yourself now and pay later, If nows not the right time cause of money or whatever else no shame in that. But if you do some real research/thinking/planning and have the right reasons financially/philosophically/emotionally you may consider seeing what you can find and go from there.
Feel free to PM me if you want to chat more, hope that helped some.
God's speed,
Daniel
