Thoughts on '88 FJ62

[mrgollih]

Hey Forum,

Long time lurker, first time poster . I'm in the market for a '85-'88 FJ60/FJ62. I came across this one on Craigslist and wanted to get the opinions of you fine folks. I haven't gone and seen the vehicle, so these pictures are from the seller. I know I'll need to dive deeper and take it to a mechanic, but wanted the opinions here to make the decision on whether it's worth the time to investigate.

Craigslist info:
1988 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ62. 235,000 Miles

New Grill and headlight borders
New Shocks
New All Terrain Tires
New Rims
Purchased new transmission back in 2007
Salvage Title, Repairs made and fixed from accident.
Have worked on replacing items as needed over the years, all original Toyota parts were used.

Photos: 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser

 

[Paul DiNapoli]

honestly - pretty rough. if they're giving it away for super cheap maybe...but you've got a lot of work to do here. the fact that it has branded title - you'll never get your money back out of it. so maybe it's fine for turning into an off road wheeler?

are you looking for a serious project to restore? or looking for a simple camping rig?
do you have space/tools/skills to do this work yourself - or you paying someone else for most of it?

you'll put many thousands into this truck even if you do it all yourself....and some day if you want to sell it - you'll have a branded title rig that will steer many people away.

• Hard to tell what the original color combo might have been.
• I see white inside the door frames on passenger side.
• I see grey of some sort at the rear.
• Which side got patched in with donor parts after the accident?
• Obviously a very cheap respray in black - barely bothered to mask it off -
  EDIT/UPSDATE: I can see overspray inside passenger door jambs - speaks to very poor quality work - which makes general care and maintenance suspect to me.
• Can't quite tell if it was originally a grey interior or brown?
• Seats have been recovered...carpet is rough
• Serious corrosion at the rear hatch - which means there is more elsewhere.
• The left rear mudflap appears to be hanging onto rotten lower quarter panel by a thread.
• Frame shows some rust.
• The photo of the wife & kid in the background is kinda funny.

This is on the lower end of a 2 to 3 thousand truck at best.

 

[Seth S]

I see 30 photos that don't really show anything of value other than that the interior has been used and the paint looks like a crappy respray. Rust on the tail gate is probably indicative of lots more rust elsewhere. The picture showing the shock absorber also shows that the frame is all pitted with rust. I would want to measure the frame to make sure it was straight after its accident. I'd also want to see the underside and the engine bay. What was the original color? Also what is the asking price? New wheels and tires are often a great way to make a crappy truck look nicer and make it look like it should cost more money.

Edit: With a clean title this might be a $5000 truck, but with a salvage title $4k max and thats assuming minimal resale value to someone else who wanted one just as badly as you did Otherwise my gut says keep looking.


I suggest going to your local shoe store and picking up a nice pair of these:

Then use them to run as far from this truck as you can.

 

[Seth S]

I looked at the photos again....very first photo you can see clear signs of rust on the lower rocker/fender area. See more signs of bubbling in other photos. I amend my price to the $2-3k range as a parts machine. Having looked at a lot of sketchy CL ads in my life this thing is like a porcupine wearing a cheap bunny costume.

 

[tmxmotorsports]

Where in Nc is this located? I live in Currituck Nc if its close i could take a look at it...but salvage title and the respray uggg

 

[mrgollih]

I looked at the photos again....very first photo you can see clear signs of rust on the lower rocker/fender area. See more signs of bubbling in other photos. I amend my price to the $2-3k range as a parts machine. Having looked at a lot of sketchy CL ads in my life this thing is like a porcupine wearing a cheap bunny costume.

Thank you! Greatly appreciate your insight! I knew it was going to be a project to get to where I want it, but you've pointed out wayyy more than I caught on my first pass through the pics.

 

[Paul DiNapoli]

Thank you! Greatly appreciate your insight! I knew it was going to be a project to get to where I want it, but you've pointed out wayyy more than I caught on my first pass through the pics.

1988 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ62 235K Miles

1988 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ62. 235,000 Miles New Grill and headlight borders New Shocks New All Terrain Tires New Rims Purchased new transmission back in 2007 Salvage Title, Repairs made and fixed...

raleigh.craigslist.org

$10,000 ???? HOLY SH!!TBALLS!!! beyond cray-cray

 

[mrgollih]

honestly - pretty rough. if they're giving it away for super cheap maybe...but you've got a lot of work to do here. the fact that it has branded title - you'll never get your money back out of it. so maybe it's fine for turning into an off road wheeler?

are you looking for a serious project to restore? or looking for a simple camping rig?
do you have space/tools/skills to do this work yourself - or you paying someone else for most of it?

you'll put many thousands into this truck even if you do it all yourself....and some day if you want to sell it - you'll have a branded title rig that will steer many people away.

• Hard to tell what the original color combo might have been.
• I see white inside the door frames on passenger side.
• I see grey of some sort at the rear.
• Which side got patched in with donor parts after the accident?
• Obviously a very cheap respray in black - barely bothered to mask it off -
  EDIT/UPSDATE: I can see overspray inside passenger door jambs - speaks to very poor quality work - which makes general care and maintenance suspect to me.
• Can't quite tell if it was originally a grey interior or brown?
• Seats have been recovered...carpet is rough
• Serious corrosion at the rear hatch - which means there is more elsewhere.
• The left rear mudflap appears to be hanging onto rotten lower quarter panel by a thread.
• Frame shows some rust.
• The photo of the wife & kid in the background is kinda funny.

This is on the lower end of a 2 to 3 thousand truck at best.

Fantastic input! I'm really looking to pull the trigger on one of these, appreciate you keeping me from buying a lemon. To answer your questions, I'd like a blend of both (project and camping rig...i'd like to get something that needs some minor manageable work at the most..outside of cosmetics). I'm definitely not looking for something that would turn into a money pit.

The title concerns me as well. I don't plan on selling the car, but if the time came i wouldn't want anything that would hurt the resale value.

 

[Seth S]

1988 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ62 235K Miles

1988 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ62. 235,000 Miles New Grill and headlight borders New Shocks New All Terrain Tires New Rims Purchased new transmission back in 2007 Salvage Title, Repairs made and fixed...

raleigh.craigslist.org

$10,000 ???? HOLY SH!!TBALLS!!! beyond cray-cray

I'll throw that one up in the in the "Dreamer of the week"

 

[RodrigzCrzr]

Unfortunalty most of these are going to be money pits. Once you start baselining on them.
Your gonna want to do this while doing this or that. What you don’t want is anything with rust or rust holes. You want something with a little bit of history on it. Like receipts and or logs on servicing. You will find something take your time. And ask a lot of questions here and to perspective rigs.

 

[Seth S]

Totally Cray Cray....but as was once said: "There is a sucker born every minute"

 

[Seth S]

Here are a couple I found that might be ok:

1988 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ62

This one has some body issues but at least the owner seems to be aware and sounds willing to deal:
Land Cruiser FJ62 Toyota 1988


Basically just be patient and keep looking. I just went through a dozen or so Fj62 ads and all were priced way too high for the vehicle condition and many were referencing some sort of KBB type of value document...which gives low value that people seem to think is the basement price when in fact their trucks should be less than that low end price

 

[Randy88FJ62]

I looked at 6 cruisers before I bought one. 12 years ago you could find them in good shape for $3,500 and back then I felt I overpaid by $500

 

[NCFJ]

That particular truck has been for sale on and off for a while. In the current market for the 60/62 that fact alone says a great deal.

Go here and introduce yourself
NC- Olde North State Cruisers

There are quite a few members in the Raleigh area in the club that most likely would be willing to go look at a truck with you. Buy them lunch if they do.

In regard to not wanting a money pit, you are looking at the wrong vehicle sir. On average I would expect aprox $2K to baseline most after purchase so keep that in mind. Nothing is cheap on a 30 plus year old Land Cruiser.

Welcome

 

[BlackCat]

Unfortunalty most of these are going to be money pits. Once you start baselining on them.
Your gonna want to do this while doing this or that. What you don’t want is anything with rust or rust holes. You want something with a little bit of history on it. Like receipts and or logs on servicing. You will find something take your time. And ask a lot of questions here and to perspective rigs.

Agreed. I have a very original, low mileage 60 that is in very, very good condition. It’s a money pit. There’s literally ALWAYS something it could use, and if you add it up over time I’ll basically pay for the truck again in repairs and maintenance. Plus, you get the “while I’m there” sickness. Need an A/C compressor? Well, while I’m there I may as well do all the belts. And the condenser. And this. And that. It adds up QUICK. Then you get all that stuff fixed and you blow a heater hose. May as well do them all. It’s a sickness.

 

[DickM]

Spit the hook. With the best ,most optimistic outcome you will be out of time and money before this one fits your desired outcome.
Keep looking, and good luck!

 

[mrgollih]

That particular truck has been for sale on and off for a while. In the current market for the 60/62 that fact alone says a great deal.

Go here and introduce yourself
NC- Olde North State Cruisers

There are quite a few members in the Raleigh area in the club that most likely would be willing to go look at a truck with you. Buy them lunch if they do.

In regard to not wanting a money pit, you are looking at the wrong vehicle sir. On average I would expect aprox $2K to baseline most after purchase so keep that in mind. Nothing is cheap on a 30 plus year old Land Cruiser.

Welcome

Thank you! I guess the term "money pit" is a relative one. I'm in the market for a FJ60 knowing full well I'll have to dump some funds into it to get it where I want it. What I don't want is to spend 10k on a lemon, then have to put more than that approximate 2k into it...or even more.

Great call on the Olde North State Cruisers...I'd like to hit every forum possible to broaden my search and knowledge.

 

[Seth S]

@mrgollih This one just posted in the classified section and looks like a deal. Even if you have to do a fly and drive:

For Sale - 1990 FJ62 Landcruiser

 

[Saucerman]

mrgollih I paid half of that for my 88 and it was ugly as shiznet but has a great frame, and a good running engine and transmission. The ugly you can fix or embrace. The rust you can not. Well you can not easily nor cheaply.

 

[Cruzerman]

Looks like a crappy paint job to cover up the rust. Move on.