Thinking of an FJ40, value question Overpriced? (1 Viewer)

[Eddy20]

Going to look at a FJ40 this coming weekend. Here is the sellers description: "72, stock 6cyl engine with a Weber carburetor, electronic ignition. SM420 4 speed transmission with the 3 speed transfer case, dual stick t case levers. Custom drivelines front and rear. Spring over suspension lift, shackle reversal, hi steer in front with chromoly tie rod and steering rod, Saginaw power steering, 4 wheel disc brakes with dual diaphragm booster. Smittybuilt seats, all lights work. Small amount of rust on the drivers side door opening, have a doner vehicle for replacement piece." Asking price $22,000 listed for 31 weeks on FB MP.

My background, Toyota fan have had an FJ80 (should have kept that one!), currently wife drives a series 100 LX470. I'm not a mechanic but love old trucks and been looking at Wranglers, but dont get excited about jeeps and scared of reliability. I like to tinker with old things, but leave the heavy lifting to mechanics. Live in a rural area behind the Redwood curtain.

 

[1911]

Need more photos and more info.

What are you going to use this 40 for?

The spring-over and high steer could be great, IF it's been done well, and if you're going to 4-wheel this rig a lot. If you're just going to drive this around home/town on the weekends, the springover will make it top heavy. If the springover and high-steer has not been done well, it could be a nightmare to fix properly. The shackle reversal is not to everyone's taste either.

The Weber carb would be a turn-off for me; YMMV.

Look at it with a critical eye, especially to the quality of work for those mods. Take a magnet with you and use it on the body to check for bondo. Better yet, take someone with you who knows 40's.

 

[pb4ugo]

What is your intended use for the vehicle? This one is modified for some wheeling. You would need to get more info on some of the mods. Chromoly tre's and drag rod? What are the custom drivelines front and rear. Lockers? Alloy birfields? He says he pays someone to do the heavy mods. Who did the work? The owner may not know what's technically been done. It's sprung over with hi steer, but what else was done to help with the steering geometry. You need to drive it and see how it handles. It's good it has power steering and disc brakes, but I'd be curious what type of power steering. I run a SM420 with a SBC, but I think folks with the stk engine complain about the spread between 2nd and 3rd. 1st gear is a granny gear and is as low as it gets. It's missing the stk frt seats and the dash appears to be hacked a bit. Someone added a roll bar and jump seats. I wont speak to value because I'm not in the market. Its probably a little high. Look for hacks amongst the mods. Its been on the market for a long time so he probably willing to deal. How it run. If your interested in it and take pics and post them up.

 

[pb4ugo]

He does mention another vehicle.

 

[Eddy20]

Thanks for the quick reply! Not heavy into to off road. But, were we live need a 4x4 just to get around the property. Will primary drive around town and do some off roading on the ocean and Samoa Dunes. just wanted something to tinker with and have something unique and cool-love the looks of the FJ40s. Just with the responses; I'm thinking stick with stock as it's very capable stock. Would probably drive it less than 150 miles per. month and mostly taking the dogs for walks and hiking locally. In Humboldt everything is 20-30 minutes away with Zero traffic.

 

[pb4ugo]

If you're not familiar with 40's, you should go and look at it and possibly drive it just for the experience.

 

[pb4ugo]

Have you looked in the classified section?

 

[MDH33]

That one is definitely more 4wheeling than casual driver. Based on what you've said, if you're willing to spend over 20k, you can find a pretty nice stock 40 in that range that will be easier to drive and easier to work on.

 

[Eddy20]

Yes thinking I need to take it for a drive since I have never drove one. I checked out the classified, just looking for something close to home.