Talk me off the ledge (9 Viewers)

[LI FJ40]

The 4O is long gone, the 100 is been gone for a couple of years , daily a GX460 now, but looking for a 60/62

I'd love an LS/ l460e swap, but not in the budget right now, so I've been looking for a while for something I can drive on the weekends and a few days a week in nice weather.

I located an early 88 62- manual windows, no rear 3pt belts- It check every box for me- Terrific original blue paint, totally rust free, good( enough) interior with an uncracked dash. Price is very reasonable.

I ran a carfax and its accident free ,has lived its entire life in same dry southwest state. My concern is it has 290K miles and NO service records. Current owner has had it for 3 years and said he has only changed fluids and does not drive much. He said he bought it from a friend who owned it for 10 years prior and did all his own maintenance


My concern is all the posts I read about the A440 . pricy to rebuild etc . I also do NOT have interest in an H55 swap-

If I buy I plan to drain all fluids and gears
change 02 sensors and cat
clean injectors
change all plugs wires
do the Throttle body clean

Should I be concerend at 290K miles ?

 

[jayp2]

The 4O is long gone, the 100 is been gone for a couple of years , daily a GX460 now, but looking for a 60/62

I'd love an LS/ l460e swap, but not in the budget right now, so I've been looking for a while for something I can drive on the weekends and a few days a week in nice weather.

I located an early 88 62- manual windows, no rear 3pt belts- It check every box for me- Terrific original blue paint, good( enough) interior with an uncracked dash. Price is very reasonable.

I ran a carfax and its accident free ,has lived its entire life in same dry southwest state. My concern is it has 290K miles and NO service records. Current owner has had it for 3 years and said he has only changed fluids and does not drive much. He said he bought it from a friend who owned it for 10 years prior and did all his own maintenance


My concern is all the posts I read about the A440 . pricy to rebuild etc . I also do NOT have interest in an H55 swap-

If I buy I plan to drain all fluids and gears
change 02 sensors and cat
clean injectors
change all plugs wires
do the Throttle body clean

Should I be concerend at 290K miles ?

View attachment 3911899

do it

 

[Old Nick]

The 4O is long gone, the 100 is been gone for a couple of years , daily a GX460 now, but looking for a 60/62

I'd love an LS/ l460e swap, but not in the budget right now, so I've been looking for a while for something I can drive on the weekends and a few days a week in nice weather.

I located an early 88 62- manual windows, no rear 3pt belts- It check every box for me- Terrific original blue paint, good( enough) interior with an uncracked dash. Price is very reasonable.

I ran a carfax and its accident free ,has lived its entire life in same dry southwest state. My concern is it has 290K miles and NO service records. Current owner has had it for 3 years and said he has only changed fluids and does not drive much. He said he bought it from a friend who owned it for 10 years prior and did all his own maintenance


My concern is all the posts I read about the A440 . pricy to rebuild etc . I also do NOT have interest in an H55 swap-

If I buy I plan to drain all fluids and gears
change 02 sensors and cat
clean injectors
change all plugs wires
do the Throttle body clean

Should I be concerend at 290K miles ?

View attachment 3911899

Yes, it is a real concern. As a 62 owner, I had the oem transmission fail at far fewer miles than are on the clock of that truck. I ended up replacing the oem tranny with one from Wholesale Automatics. Cost a chunk of change... and that's been several years ago. I'm not selling the truck, so I bit the bullet.

 

[DrRock]

I would perform a compression and leak down test and go from there. If the engine shows good results and is relatively leak free, I’d g for it. Also, ask the current owner how much oil it consumes. My 2F had good compression and leak down but the oil rings were really gummed up so it was blowing oil by. Good luck and keep us posted. I spend 1/2 my time in Harlem so not too far from you if you want a second set of eyes to look at this.

 

[John McVicker]

Buy it, buy it quickly.

If you want one of these…at this age they will all come with some clouds hanging over them. This one sounds good compared to what is out there.

 

[jclark]

What are the compression numbers? That will tell you what you need to know. Scope it if you're super concerned. Sounds like you've read the info on the A440. You can't tell the future, but that transmission has a reputation for a reason. If it's in your budget and you go in realizing these rigs cost money to maintain, sometimes big money, go for it. They are great rigs. I currently own 4 62, all with 5-speeds though.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Many rigs out there with high miles. Your constraints box you in and force you down the road to have “spare tranny on the shelf”. Are you handy? If not and If funds are tight, used rig of this type aint what ya need. Service records or not, they will require $. Walking you off the ledge

 

[LI FJ40]

I would perform a compression and leak down test and go from there. If the engine shows good results and is relatively leak free, I’d g for it. Also, ask the current owner how much oil it consumes. My 2F had good compression and leak down but the oil rings were really gummed up so it was blowing oil by. Good luck and keep us posted. I spend 1/2 my time in Harlem so not too far from you if you want a second set of eyes to look at this.

Much appreciated- but is nowhere near Us which explains why its rust free

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Hard pass if you dont want to see in person and test drive it in person.

 

[LI FJ40]

Hard pass if you dont want to see in person and test drive it in person.

My friend who is a mechanic and builder with a shop 5 minutes from it will put on eyes on it for me-

 

[DrRock]

Much appreciated- but is nowhere near Us which explains why its rust free

Ahh gotcha, good luck with your decision. If you do end up purchasing, get the kill switch from @Cruiser Cult . These trucks draw a lot of attention around here due to their rarity. I once stopped for a red light and FDNY had me pull over so they could check it out which ended up drawing a crowd. Really nice gesture on their part and a great crew but you get the point.

 

[Devils Paw 80]

Unmodified, rust free, un cracked dash and manual windows are four excellent selling points. Yeah, sounds good. After 20 years driving mine, I came to hate the A440 transmission. A friend of mine converted his 62 to H55F and it's so much nicer.

 

[yotadude520]

If the truck is as nice as you say and the price is really reasonable, there’s no reason not to buy it. Drive it till the tranny explodes and then start making whatever moves you need to get the LS in there. You won't regret having the LS when you're done, that much I can promise.

Look forward to the thread on this one!

 

[LI FJ40]

If the truck is as nice as you say and the price is really reasonable, there’s no reason not to buy it. Drive it till the tranny explodes and then start making whatever moves you need to get the LS in there. You won't regret having the LS when you're done, that much I can promise.

Look forward to the thread on this one!

I couldn't agree more. I have my mechanic friend going bac today or tomorrow to run a compression test and get it up on the lift

 

[yotadude520]

I couldn't agree more. I have my mechanic friend going bac today or tomorrow to run a compression test and get it up on the lift

If I knew I was going to be LS swapping it, I could care less about the mechanicals of the drivetrain. Drive it like you stole it and swap it in when you break it. My biggest concern would be any hidden rust at this point honestly.

 

[BurntToast]

If I knew I was going to be LS swapping it, I could care less about the mechanicals of the drivetrain. Drive it like you stole it and swap it in when you break it. My biggest concern would be any hidden rust at this point honestly.

100%, drive it and enjoy, while saving for the inevitable

 

[SteveH]

Given what else is likely available on Long Island, if you want an FJ62, this is it.

As long as it shifts properly now, you likely won't rack up enough miles to kill the transmission. You will want to check/change the fluid, and adjust the kickdown cable.

Don't borrow trouble - just buy, drive, and enjoy, and fix as needed. My FJ62 (265K - original transmission) has been perhaps the most reliable vehicle in my fleet for 10 years. It's not a DD, but every time I drive it, it just works!

 

[MWM1]

Grab it quickly and enjoy it now. Worry later if it breaks down. Welcome to the FJ62 club!

 

[Skniper]

The youngest 62 is 36 years old now. The transmissions are a well documented unfortunate reality at this point.
Keep that reality budgeted in the back of your mind.

 

[ace10]

It's probably a "buy." But those headlights are a crime against humanity.