Talk me down from the ledge...

[MDarius]

I'm thinking of giving up the 60.

I bought it a couple years ago (Have an 80 already) 'cause I love the looks, ability, old school driving AND I wanted to learn more about working on carb's / vacuum with my boys. I wanted to prep them for life with it and teach them to drive a stick in it. Well...2 years later work has sucked away my free time and I'm travelling 90% of the time. I have no time to work on it or learn it, and the oldest boy is in Driver's Ed. The suspension is rough (hard to keep a straight line with the 33's I have on it) and the shop I had rebuild the carb...because I had no time and I was tired of it sitting waiting for work...rebuilt it but now it runs very rough. I can't teach him to drive this, it's hard to say it's safe right now...it always feels like the road is trying to pull the steering wheel out of my hands and there's a lot of play. I can manage it, but my 15-16 year-old can't.

I'm willing to dump about $2000 into it to make it reliable and safe and keep it going, I'm just not sure I can find a mechanic to do the work well enough, or that I will have time in the future to pick up where I'm leaving off. The smog system is shot, but it passed IM after the carb rebuild. Interior's good, exterior has less rust than most I've seen. I still love it, I'm just afraid reality is staring me down.

I think it just needs somebody who knows how to tune it and a new suspension. What do you think? Talk me down or tell me that if I have to pay someone else to do the work I shouldn't be driving it. Thanks, Mud-therapists.

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

Dude, you're in Sandy... Kurt can help or advise on a suitable mechanic...?? If you decide to sell.. look me up.

J

 

[Trapper50cal]

Teach the kid to fix it...as a reward, he get's to keep it.

The info for how to fix it is on this site and there are hundreds of potential mentors here...can he drive a keyboard?

Put the $2K in an account and tell him that's what he has to get it safe and rolling...no mods, just fixes.

Many lessons to be learned that route...about money, life, self-reliance and auto maintenance.

For what it's worth RE: the play and wandering. Check worm gear adjustment on the steering box and the condition
of the Tie Rod Ends...along with the knuckle play and hub nut...as well as checking the toe-in.

But, for god's sake, keep it. These 60's are getting popular with the hipster crowd...your kid will be the cat's meow
with the high school girls.

 

[klinetime574]

Do not get rid of that 60.

Cruiser Outfitters (<-- That's a link) is in Sandy, UT. You need to stop by and get a new suspension. Ask about getting the steering box rebuilt (if it needs that).

I'm actually jealous of all you fellas up there in 4WD world. So many great minds and places to put your vehicles to the test.

So once again. Do not sell it. Keep working on it and once you're there you'll wonder why you ever thought of selling it and then kick yourself for thinking that. (Hopefully not too hard)

Get the suspension replaced, inspect and service (if needed) the steering system. You'll be good to go.

Hopefully I talked you down

 

[tag3]

Sell the 80 and make the 60 kick ass.

 

[The Phoenician]

don't sell it. You can have your son enroll in a mechanic school program or a community college class in a year or so to fix it for free. He gets to learn how to do it and you get to keep a piece of history. Plus the red ones are the best ones, you'll regret it if you sell it.

 

[Wile E Coyote]

Living where you do and with a reasonable $2k budget, I can't see justifying selling. Get some advice/parts from Kurt and tell that boy to start wrenching. Get him signed up here and we'll guide him when you're OOT.

 

[norsk]

great looking rig

PM uglyoinker on this site, located up in Heber City, Utah

I am working on my rig there on his property over time and pay him for some services when I need it.
He does everything Cruiser, swap ins, and all types of things. always great to see what project he gets in.

he has 34 cruisers up here and loves them to fix or for parts.

x2 on contacting Kurt (www.cruiseroutfitters.com), I buy many parts from his business and he sells all over the world.
Also does cruiser work in his shop (Abt 86th south 1300 E)

dougbert

 

[Dirtpoor]

Hard to say if it's really dangerous without driving it, but I'd say put the boy in it. It'll build character. Most of us drove something far worse at that age.

 

[Heckraiser]

I taught my daughter how to drive stick in the 60 (and my mini-truck), and although I'm sure she considered it an ordeal, it was one of the most gratifying experiences of my life. Get some bushings, caster shims, TRE's, whatever the front end needs to drive straight and keep on trucking.

BTW, no offense intended, but if that is your white 80 in the picture, it looks like a piece of crap. Sell it and fund some rehab for the 60

 

[Max.Powerzz]

X2 on visiting Kurt and uglyojnker (jake). Jake and Tom do all repairs cruiser and are very affordable and expert. They could do a LOT with $2k, it will drive like new. My cruisers do now.

 

[Spudman]

Do not sell, you are part of the elite Freeborn Red crew, I just adjusted my toe out today as it was driving like a crab, now it's straight as a die. We've all had an 80 series, so unless your 80 is a multivalve Turbo Diesel if something as gotta go then it's that. The 60 is an icon and it's yours.

 

[Callahan Offroad]

Don't sell it, you will regret it. You just will.
I taught my wife to drive stick in the 60, she is 5'2". You never miss the camry or the accord or even the 3 series. You miss the car with character because character is what makes the old rig worthwhile. If the 60 didn't have character, no one would put the time into fixing them and they'd disappear like every other SUV and car you don't remember.

 

[mcguirejohnson]

Don't sell it. My 60 was my first vehicle and couldn't be happier. I have learned so much about working on cars and fixing it up over the years due to owning this rig. And yes as stated above it is a chick magnet!

Mj

 

[TallCanDan]

http://youtu.be/W9TgWvseH2o

 

[MDarius]

It was the Jim Carrey video that did it. So far I'm hanging on. I remember the grin I wore every time I drove it when it was running well and how I was not even a little jealous of the newer cars. I drive the 60 by choice. You guys have given me some good resources too. Thanks!

As for ugly 80, yeah, I've beaten the crud out of it over 8 years of ownership. My daughter hit a tree and a car with it, but that's why I have it. It just keeps delivering. She'll take it to college in the mountains of Utah after I clean it up a bit, and eventually probably drive her babies around in it. Now I need to get the 60 to the point it does the same thing for my next kid.

 

[alaska60]

Pm me. (or jake... uglyoinker) we can help and we are closer than you think.

...via IH8MUD app

 

[mmireles49]

These are pretty basic cars. Your son, with the help of you tube, Google, and us (ih8mud) can get her into shape. 2000 for parts and you all doing the labor, is a good budget. If your son is interested and wants to do it, I bet you would look to spend more time in helping get it fixed. Before it was just a cruiser needing fixing. Now it would be a son, father repair.

Good luck!!!

 

[MicahMan]

What's up dude don't give up.
I'm Micah and I'm vp of wasatch cruisers.

Www.wasatchcruisers.org

We are a local Club and would love to use your rig as one of our monthly tech nights. This would get 10 to 20 cruiser heads to help. Including kurt Williams the owner of cruiser outfitters. If nothing else call kurt Www.cruiseroutfitters.com

I live in Lehi and work in Taylorsville. There are a ton of us around.

Call me 8018245099.

 

[MDarius]

You guys are excellent! I called all over the valley...well, from Layton to Sandy, trying to find a mechanic that would help me when it wouldn't run and needed carb work. It sat for almost a year as I tried to figure out what I was going to do with it. When I finally did find a mechanic he charged me an arm and a leg and gave me a shoddy result. I would love to bring it to tech night and learn from cruiser heads! I will re-arrange my travel schedule for work to be there!

I was telling my son about the posts on here and how it would be a father / Son time. I said, "Think about it Jake, the time we spend together now on the weekends when I'm home we could spend working on the 60..." and he interrupted and said, "...making it worse...". Yeah, well, that's how I roll.

So, I'm in and so are my boys. My 17 year-old daughter said, "If you do all that, I might want the 60 instead of the 80 when I go to school!" Good luck with that!

Thanks!