To sell or to fix - advice please

[chandra]

I have a 1984 FJ60. I've had it for 15 years and have taken pretty good care of it.
Still, it has rust on the frame and doors from being on the east coast a few years. The door handles stick. Some lights went out recently and after replacing all fuses I could find, they still aren't on. So it also has some electrical problem but I haven't taken it to the shop yet. Aaaand now its time for emissions testing which likely means a new catalytic converter and a lot of adjustments.

My question is: Should I sell it and buy another without rust on the frame? How much can you sell for if the frame is rusted? Is it worth continuing to invest in a car with a rusted frame? I don't actually want to sell it but I think it might be dumb to continue to put money into it.

Thanks for your advice!

 

[studawg]

I would say it depends on how bad the rust is. Post a few pics of undercarriage.

 

[chandra]

Thanks - I will post some pics.

 

[micruz60]

For the lights, check your grounds, one wire/screw fastener is located in the middle of the rear tailgate area underside, and is usually a culprit with wonky lights. Can you do any maintenance yourself? Saves $$. Take small steps and projects, bring it back from the dying phase.
X2 on the underside photos. Most of the time, the rear frame c channels show the worst, and the remainder of the frame 'could be' surface rust...
HTH

 

[unklwedy]

Hang onto it for a parts buggy, and pick up another from Arizona.

 

[onemanarmy]

where are you located? That will determine how easy it will be to find a replacement, rust free 60 near you.

As far as the frame goes, take a screwdriver and poke around on it, esp. in the areas that look especially crusty. If you are able to poke through it, then that is bad news. toyota put pretty good frames under the 60s, so it's usually the body that gives up way before the frame. And as mentioned before...check around and above the rear shackle hangers....where that extra C channel is riveted in, rust forms between the frame and channel and gets messy.

And for the lights.....always check the grounds. Common problem on Cruisers, especially where rust and corrosion is common.