To build or to buy? That is the question.

[Skillet]

I have a 1973 40 that has treated me well for 12 years, however, it needs some TLC and I would really like to modify for greater off-road ability since my 80 is more for expedition.

Being in California, I need to think about smog, for which this one is exempt. I would like to upgrade to 2F.

Question is...

Do I start tearing into this one and working on it or just bite the bullet and buy a built rig.

My mechanical skills are about to so I can do most stuff myself but I have never really torn into a rig that deep before.
Like, frame-off kind of stuff and my welding skills are questionable.

Just thinking out loud here, what say all of you 40 aficionados?

 

[bustanutley]

What are you looking to do? Mechanical skillz are easily gained when you start doing larger projects, practice makes perfect, and you will find things are so much simpler once you tear into them. Building my own truck is a big part of the fun for me.

 

[fj40z]

I say keep the one you have, do the upgrades you want and get it the way you want it. If its treated you well for 12 years im sure it will treat you well for another 12. Youll feel better knowing you did it yourself and also upgrade youre mechanical skills.

 

[Skillet]

What are you looking to do? Mechanical skillz are easily gained when you start doing larger projects, practice makes perfect, and you will find things are so much simpler once you tear into them. Building my own truck is a big part of the fun for me.

That is what I am thinking, I build it, I know it. My big problem now is I don't have a garage. I like doing the work but it gets frustrating when you have to pack it up because it gets dark or wet.

I want to get fairly in depth, pull everything apart, fix rust, etc, etc.

Throw some lockers on it.

Probably biting off more than I can chew but I have always had a thing about doing it myself even if it takes a lot of learning.

However, it would be nice to be turn key RIGHT NOW.

 

[bakelite]

I think the trouble with buying a built rig even though it probably will be cheaper is that you don't know what you got and may end up spending a lot more. Better the devil you know kinda thing. Unless you are buying from someone close or a reputable shop of course.

 

[Weedhopper]

X2 There is nothing like the feeling of an expensive surprise. At least you know what ya got!

 

[woooody]

I've seen both.

I bought mine for dirt cheap, but then dumped $20K into it, and I still find little "PO" issues from time to time. But I know what has/hasn't been done, and for the most part, I'm happy with it, and it's served me well.

A friend of mine bought a built rig for ~9K. Would have cost him 16 easily to build it. But in the end he wasn't happy with it, as the PO had done things his way, vs what would have been better for my friend.

example -- on his rig, the owner went with a fuel cell. Sounded good at the time, until he had a kid and wanted a place to put the car seat.

My thinking would be that you already know what is/isn't working on this one. You know it's quirks. If you do it yourself, you'll know what has/hasn't been done. You could also farm out the "tough" stuff (SOA for example) if you don't feel comfortable doing it. Then work on what you do feel that you can.

 

[yzftaco]

45 run got you itching to wheel huh... ;p

What Woooody Said....

 

[Ziffdaddy]

I feel ya on the garage space. I'm sure the apt. I live in is at it's last straw with me. Do you know anyone with a garage that would rent it to you for a while? Craig's list? A couple buddies you can rent a space with? These are just some of the things I've been thinking about as well. Good luck, and I say do it yourself.

-Steve

 

[cruiserloser123]

Sometimes I say buy... just because I am trying to build.

For me, I have been working bit by bit to build, buying tools, buying parts. My project isn't complete yet, and it has been 2+ years.

I think sometimes you can find a good deal by buying already built. Like Uno_racing's rig
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=165335&highlight=fj40

Even with things I'd change on his rig, I'd still be into cheaper, and I would have it now...

If you don't have a garage space, or another good space to put up a shop (like the nice canopy sold at Costco ) then maybe you should buy...

 

[peesalot]

If you got 8,000K plus just waitin to be spent buy a rig and go from there.
IMO start with what you got, looks like a great platform and make it happen.

 

[oldIron]

If you do not need to rely on it for regular transportation then go ahead and tear into it on your own since you know what you have and will know what you get. The worse case is you ultimately have to pay someone to put something back together, but since you do not need to rely as a DD that would not be a huge issue either. In the end you will have what you want and you will not have to settle for some mods you may not want or like cause you are buying a built rig.

As for a shelter there are many options depending on where you live. I have a portable green garage that is great. probably not the best looking in the front lawn of a 400 k house neighborhood, but then again you would likely have a garage in that case.

 

[Skillet]

45 run got you itching to wheel huh... ;p

What Woooody Said....

Oh man! You got me.

Everytime I go to one of those damn runs or just see a nice 40 rolling down the road, it starts all over again.

I go home and stare at the old girl and dream of things to come.

Surf n' Turf is going to finish me off.

 

[bustanutley]

not have a garage is tough, i'm kinda in that same boat right now

 

[fj40_73]

not have a garage is tough, i'm kinda in that same boat right now

My solution was a tarp garage, from pepboys, was on sell.

Would rather have a big garage, but fawk it.

 

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

"Skillet," X2 what "FJ40Z" said!

Regards,

Alan

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I say keep the one you have, do the upgrades you want and get it the way you want it. If its treated you well for 12 years im sure it will treat you well for another 12. Youll feel better knowing you did it yourself and also upgrade youre mechanical skills.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Skillet-You are about where I was last year. Check out my ROTW to see what happened last winter. After that experience, I would say definitely build it yourself. You will learn things you will learn no other way. Plus, you are starting with a smog exempt truck. That makes it a no-brainer.

One other thing, unless the motor is bad, I would just keep running it. A 2F, even desmogged completely, isn't exactly a powerhouse.


My ROTW/Build: https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=165549&highlight=rig+week

 

[Skillet]

Skillet-You are about where I was last year. Check out my ROTW to see what happened last winter. After that experience, I would say definitely built it yourself. You will learn things you will learn no other way. Plus, you are starting with a smog exempt truck. That makes it a no-brainer.

One other thing, unless the motor is bad, I would just keep running it. A 2F, even desmogged completely, isn't exactly a powerhouse.


My ROTW/Build: https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=165549&highlight=rig+week

You are my hero. Thanks for that.

 

[Ian Rogers]

build it then YOU know what is going on.. you become one with the truck... your blood is its oil.

 

[Fast Eddy]

I see a lift and a roll bar already. Does it have power steering? It looks to me like it just needs a good drivetrain. A 2f/h42 is easy, get an orion, rebuild the axles with ARBs, Longs, Polys and new seals, get some beefy Swampers and you're pretty much there, right? What do you need to weld?

To me there's something to be said for the 12 years...

Fixing the rust ain't going to make it wheel any better...