Thinking about buying a 1976 55 as a daily driver

[weeboo]

First, love these forums! This is the #1 spot on the net for FJ55 info.

I'm thinking about buying a 76 FJ55 for DD. This one is pretty much in DD condition already, almost no rust, with a shot interior. I'm no mechanic, but I'd be comfortable doing the lighter mechanical and interior work myself. I'd take it to Maaco for new paint, in order to preserve it's relatively rust-less condition.

I have no desire to do mods or take this thing off road... Just get me around town when it snows, that's all I ask

Questions I have:
1) Can a 30-yr old vehicle even be considered as a DD?
I have a few things going for me: I drive very little, and the 55 I have my eye on seems to be in DD shape mechanically. The cool factor is a force to be reckoned with, in an area flooded with H2s and H3s.

2) Highway Speeds.
I'm not sure if the tires are stock size, but it seemed to really be straining at 65mph. I'd probably put the tallest tires on without lifting... I've read that 32/9.5 works for this.

3) Maintenance.
For kicks, I went to Autozone and did some part searches. There seems to be a good amount of the normal wear parts available, even things like radiators. Is Autozone smoking crack or is this for real?

4) Interior.
The interior is shot. I would replace everything I can get my hands on... dash pad, front seat, headliner, etc. I've seen some stuff at SOA but not everything, especially things like door and cargo area side panels, knobs, instrument panels, glovebox door, etc... How hard is this stuff to come by?

5) MPG
Ha, I know it's silly to ask. But, I am curious as to what it really is., with an F2 engine and 4spd. combo. I hear it's 11mpg or so. I already drive a vehicle that gets 16mpg so I can't be shocked too badly...

I'll think of more questions later. thanks

 

[porkysan]

For what it's worth......I just went this same route this past year. I was put in the position of replacing my DD due to an accident.

I'm relatively handy, always worked on my own cars.

I bought a 1972 fj55, planning to daily drive it for 7-8 months until my residency started, and/or I bought another vehicle(probably another Tacoma)

It was in great condition, had a lot of effort and work already put into it. V8 swap, disk brakes up front, etc.....it was as close to point and shoot DD as I could find in an fj55.

Minimal rust.....but I still discover it from time to time.

I drove it back to New Orleans from Georgia with no problems.

The engine had to be rebuilt several months after I bought it.

I've replaced the starter 3 times, and it's currently at a trusted mechanics place getting definitive care for starter/ignition switch issues. I exhausted my capabilities, and had to tap out for the pros.


I'd probably still do it again, with the following caveats:
1) try to stay as original as possible - once so much stuff has been swapped, it makes sourcing parts a pain in the ass. The guys at the parts places love me. Even buying spark plugs and wires requires me to pull them from the vehicle and compare to what they've got.

2)Don't do this if you don't have access to another vehicle - if this would truly be your only mode of transportation, rentals will get expensive fast! I've been fortunate to have access to my fiance's car for extended periods(months) If not for that, I'd have been screwed, or shopping for a cheap motorcycle or something.

3)Make sure you have time to work on it. I'm a 4th year medical student, with most of my tough rotations behind me - changing a starter at zero dark thirty so you can get to work is not fun. I have more time now than ever before to work on it, but I absolutely need to have a DD before my residency starts this summer.

4)If you have a significant other....make sure they understand. Seriously, I can't emphasize this enough. My fiance is great, and it's still been a struggle.

5)Budget generously. I got carried away buying the vehicle, but I still had plenty of money left....which saved me when the engine went out. Drive it for several months before making any big purchases for bling, bumpers, tires, etc. Get it reliable right away - pay someone to go through the vehicle and make sure you know what issues exist and need attention.

6)Have a worst case scenario. Use your imagination.
I'm stoked to finally own and (sometimes) drive an fj55. Would I do it again? Yep. But I'd have done things differently.

Also, keep in mind that even if the truck your looking at has been taken care of, if it's been a once a month around town vehicle - suddenly pressing it into daily driver status will bring new issues to attention.

It's easy to look at all the beautiful cruisers some of these guys post up..... and picture yourself in DD bliss. The work behind some of these vehicles is truly amazing. If you don't love it, it's gonna hurt.


Good luck, post up when you buy the thing!

This is great community, and there's a wealth of knowledge here. I never need to ask a question....someone has already been there and done that, and posted up about it on an old thread.

welcome to mud

 

[Eric Ellis]

All the above: True

And you just never know. I have done much more work on my 53,000 mile (all too original) FJ40 than my 80,000 mile desmogged (but otherwise mostly original) FJ55. All mechanical work so far. Thing is--they are old and things will go down. That said, we have had newer vehicles that go down as well and the FJ's are much easier to diagnose and repair (for the most part and unless you have one to far away from original). My 40 is pretty dependable at this point and over the last 3 years my 55 has only been down for very short periods 3 times...igniter went down (but it was a stupid aftermarket attempt at improvement by the PO), voltage regulator (a 10 min swap) and the slave clutch hose burst (well, after 30 years not bad). Opps, there was also, the silly desmog volkswagon accelerator cable breaking. So, I have never worked much on the 55 since buying it though I have lots of plans for it...unfortunately, so does my wife (BEWARE of the wife...you never know when one will start saying things like "I like the pig" which morphs into...when are you going to work on "my pig".)

 

[Pighead]

That's a lot of questions...
1) Of course you can DD a 30 year old LandCruiser! I've been DDing mine for over 20 years....
2) Highway speeds? learn to like slow. or get a Celica. I could drive faster but I don't see the need and the Pig does not care for it.
3) Autozone has radiators for a 55?!? Maybe for a 40, probably not a 55..
4) Parts are hard to find, sure. But it seems there's always one getting parted out somewhere.
5)Accurate MPG figures are hard, what with tire size and all. But I've gotten 13 or so on long trips with 33" tires.

you're not much of a mechanic? you will be. No desire to mod it or take it off-road? That'll change...

 

[nuclearlemon]

first of, dont' think...do

driving a pig daily changes you. you will become that strange person with the strange vehicle, but you really will like being that strange person.

do keep a second vehicle as a backup and if you can't diagnose, do get aaa.

paint...have you seen the great $50 paint thread in the paint forum. don't waste your money on maaco. it's not like you're painting a ferrari, it doesn't have to be perfect.

interior...there's been a few threads on good seats that people are getting rid of, for side panels, make your own with hardboard and vinyl. dashboard cracked? get a cap for $90.

learn to diagnose and fix the common things, like packing birfs and replacing regulators, etc. from there, you will gain an understanding and be better off.

 

[Pighead]

https://forum.ih8mud.com/sale-parts/204156-fj55-parts-portland-oregon.html
See?

 

[weeboo]

first of, dont' think...do

paint...have you seen the great $50 paint thread in the paint forum. don't waste your money on maaco. it's not like you're painting a ferrari, it doesn't have to be perfect.

WOW on that $50 paint job... I think I'll have to try that.

 

[tyama]

I think using the pig as a dd would depend on a couple of things:

1. Your attitude towards the truck. If you get really mad when the truck sputters and dies on you for no apparent reason and you hate calling some one to come get you or taking a walk back home/office, you might want to consider a newer vehicle. Also if you're one of those anal types like me who used to get weirded out after seeing small fluid spills under the vehicle every once in a while, you might consider something newer. If you get a pig, You'll develop a sixth or seventh sense for id'ing strange noises and figuring out whether they're significant or just your pig talking to you in a new way.

2. Your attitude towards getting around. If you need/want to get around pretty fast and get up to speed after stopping at a light, you might not want to drive a vehicle called a pig. Also you will have to get used to people riding on your butt cause you've got to go through 3 gears before you are at fourth at 40 mph.

As you have said you don't drive much and might only use in winter, I'd recommend garaging it and also checking out the systems (hoses, belts, fluids, etc...) every so often just for peace of mind when you do need it. Rust issues can sneak up on you pretty fast, and seems to be a common fight among most all pig owners.

If you have a second vehicle or a person who can cart you around in a pinch, a dd pig might not be too bad. Finally, if you like the outdoors, live in a rural/semi-rural community, and you've consistently lurked on this forum for more than six months, you need a PIG!

Best wishes and good luck, ty

 

[jessewmcgregor]

I bought my first LC as a DD and yes, every one is right, it can be a PITA. it is slow, it is noisy, it can and will break down, and AAA is a must. that being said i drive a lot 60 mile round trip to work 100 mile round trip to town twice a week all in the pig with orig. 2f, and i love it. i get freakishly good mileage about 18-20 highway, but dont count on that. parts can be hard to find, but they are out there, and 55 mph is high end speed for me. I have learned more about cars than i ever knew before especially with this forums help and i am eager to always do more to my 55 its like another child, or at the very least a life changing purchase. so i say do it, do it and dont look back just let the cruiser lust take control. you wont be sorry

 

[n2666s]

and there is always something to repair........ALWAYS need a good set of tools and forget gas milage
Lou

 

[cruiser_guy]

It will take a while until it is in true daily driver status. We drive our BJ60 as a daily driver but I've had it since '89 and I know it intimately. When something doesn't sound right I hear it right away.

 

[MiniPigg]

Ive owned a number of FJ55's but only two were became my DD's.

Questions I have:
1) Can a 30-yr old vehicle even be considered as a DD?

Well... H2 and H3 people are in a world of their own. Ofcourse the FJ55 is not an H series GM product. It is a unique animal in its own right. You "WILL" get looks and questions about owning the FJ55 as well as using it as a DD. I love driving my pig. Although due to some health issues I am still not able to drive. I would not worry about what other people think. DO this for yourself not for them. And in years to come your vehicle with its limited production will always be worth more then their ever dropping resale value.

2) Highway Speeds.

The Land Cruiser engine was meant to get the miltary from point A to point B as reliably as possible. The FJ55 was the first TLC made with both the military and civilians in mind. So it was designed with a radio and other so call creature comforts if you can call them that. I think tar for sound deadening and a rubber mat are about it. The interior is extremely spartan like. I always drive my pigs like a farm tractor. Infact the F series is also used in other Toyota industrial applications. A taller tire will get you better highway speeds but the slower speeds in town will become more noticeable the taller the tires get. 31's fit great, 32's are getting a bit tall for stock and a 33x9.50 should fit stock depending on your suspension sag.

3) Maintenance.
You can still get all the normal parts for tune ups and wear items. They share the same parts as the other cruisers of their day.
Keep up with your normal maintenance like oil changes, timing, dwell, and valve adjustments. This is a solid lifter cam and you have to keep up with valve adjustments.

4) Interior.
You can still get some of the parts here and there new or reman'd or copies. The headliners can be bought new as with most the rubber. I think one of the only things you cant buy are the seat covers. Then again I never looked for new seat covers. As mentioned above the interior is spartan like.

5) MPG
With my 1974 FJ55 that Calico Kid now owns, I was getting 13-14 mpg an average with city and highway driving mix on a daily basis. Long trips on the highway I still got 14mpg at 60mph. This isnt a fuel economy vehicle by any means. It weighs a good amount and isnt exactly aerodynamic. But it is a unique vehicle and you wont be sorry for owning it. Out of all the cruisers series I have owned I love the Pig the most.

 

[weeboo]

Well, I did it

Now I am prioritiizing and soaking up the info here on these boards like a sponge.

I think first, reliability and road worthiness goes to the top of my list:

1) fix gas tank leak (My theory is that it leaks out of the top where the fuel pump goes or where the filling tube enters the tank)
2) fix taillights & running lights (used to work recently, probably a ground problem somewhere?)
3) Close up the drafts! lots of cold air comes in from the vents in the center console, and will not shut off when I pull/push the heat knob. Could use weatherstripping and a door hinge pin replacement too.
4) Defroster hoses. I heard these can be recreated with black rubber plumbing lines and elbows
5) Rear heater fan does not run. Could be a ground problem also? It's cold so this all matters
6) Fuel gauge! I think I'll just poke around under the dash and clean every electrical connection I see...

 

[porkysan]

Nice! Glad to hear it!

Check your fusebox under the dash, I'd probably replace the fuses......when I first got mine, all kinds of hilarity ensued as I tried to track down electrical gremlins, all of which worked perfectly when I bought the truck, and then stopped working following the long drive home.

Good luck!

 

[weeboo]

Thanks, I'll start there! I did a quick visual check, but I'll pull and clean and inspect under a lamp...

Nice! Glad to hear it!

Check your fusebox under the dash, I'd probably replace the fuses......when I first got mine, all kinds of hilarity ensued as I tried to track down electrical gremlins, all of which worked perfectly when I bought the truck, and then stopped working following the long drive home.

Good luck!

 

[weeboo]

The fuses all look good and intact - should I replace them anyhow?

Nice! Glad to hear it!

Check your fusebox under the dash, I'd probably replace the fuses......when I first got mine, all kinds of hilarity ensued as I tried to track down electrical gremlins, all of which worked perfectly when I bought the truck, and then stopped working following the long drive home.

Good luck!

 

[porkysan]

I would. At least any that control the lights you're having issues with.
I'm not sure that you can always tell if a fuse is bad just from eyeballing it.

 

[n2666s]

get your head underneath the dash, my ducts were gone; also check the conectors for the rear heater and the heater control cable + valve that is controled by the cable; check the heater blower the control cable might be disconected and the outlet to the blower might be in the open position; also check the heater box itself; make sure there is engine water going into the heater box; originally there was an inline shut off valve to the heater inlet hose; it might be switched to off......most I have seen have already had this removed but yours still might have it; check your rear heater fan motor.......my fan motor was gone??!!..........about 6 ft of double strand braided 16 gauge wire with alligator clips and a test light is very helpful.....good luck!

Lou

 

[weeboo]

Thanks Lou!
I did just that- I pushed the front seat fwd as far as it would go, crawled under there with a big light and pulled out the heater. tested the power line - I had power. Looks like there has been leakage in the past- so I'd better get that coil checked out. Also the blower motor was 100% shot. The wires were melted together where they went into it, brushed bad, brush springs permanently compressed, etc.

So I'll need a new motor for that. Am I allowed to post a "part wanted" around these forums? Time to go read the forum rules

 

[cruiser_guy]

Parts wanted, or parts you have available go here FJ55 Classifieds Corner - IH8MUD.com Forum so long as they apply to the '55.

Good luck on finding some of that stuff!!