Torn between two rigs to buy...

[AKFJ80]

So I have had my eye on an 62 and a 60. The 60 is an 85, looks to be totaly rust free which is hard to believe, fresh paint, arb bumper, ome 3" lift, new 32's and apparently 4.88 gears (seems a bit excessive for 32's but who knows. Interior is promising but not exactly showroom...cracked dash, worn seats, not a big deal. Runs great, cold AC, passes smog (ca rig) and ready to go.


The 62 has a new 5.3 vortec swap, 35's, ome lift, 4l60e etc...pristine interior..really amazing but the exterior is due paint and has the imfamous rust bubbles on back fenders but the rest of the swap looks to be done well.

My concearn is buying another mans engine swap, I have read on this forum from time to time "never buy another mans engine swap". I have done so in the past with a 40, but this thing had a frankenstein swap that took some time to figure out when troubleshooting.

The question is, which would you choose? The pristine body, old motor but driver, do my own swap from scratch....or the truck where the guy is most likely losing is ass and essentially a turn key swapped 62...a potential bargain.

My gut instinct is telling me to buy both, but that is simply not necessary!

Thanks in advance for any input.

ps: If I did the 60, it would be getting a duramax or mercedes turbo diesel swap.

 

[klinetime574]

Hmm both have a catch. I see why you're asking.

The 4.88's in the 60 are REALLY going to limit highway speed. @ 60 mph you're looking at over 3000 rpm

The rust on the 62 kinda turns me off, but it does have a V8. What differential gears are in that?

I'd say go for the 60. Maybe you can trade thirds with someone when you get it?

It sounds like you want to do your own engine swap anyway

 

[AKFJ80]

It is a tuff decision! I have a 62 right now but the rust cancer has paid its toll over the years and we all know how $$ it can be to repair. I burned in new sheetmetal myself but it was a very time consuming, annoying tedious project and I honetly don't want to do it again.

I agree about the deep gears...not sure if it was a typo or they simply went too far.

The 62 has stock gears which i can imagine is the sweet spot for a 5.3 4l60e witht he .69 overdrive on 35's.

THat being said I have never owned a 60, and of course love the basic no BS aspect of the design. It will take much more $$ to get the 60 to the performance level of the 62.

On the other hand I will be using this truck as my Ca, Oregon adventures rig and am not sure if I want to row my own gears in CA traffic, check one up for the auto 62.

I think it boils down to how much rust is on the 62. Can you tell I hate rust?

Any 60/62 owners out there with a 5.3 6.0 swap? Was it worth it after all of the headaches if any at all?

 

[Kurtis]

A 5.3 swap isn't to difficult so if its in and drives it sounds like a good way to go. You'll save money and time as opposed to doing it yourself. Even worst case scenario as far as rework is concerned it won't be bad if its already a driver.

If you have the 10-15k$ and the skill set to get a Duramax in a 60 I defiantly wouldn't be concerned with buying a 62 with a 5.3 in it. Spend 2-3k and get any small rust taken care of and a quality paint job. You'll easily save that much buying something already converted.

 

[AKFJ80]

Thanks Kurtis, I agree with you on that.

The Duramax swap was something I thought about since they can be found dirt cheap up in Alaska where EVERYONE rolls around in a diesel truck... would be a donor truck and drivetrain swap etc... but as you said, takes skills and I honestly am limited to mechanical injected deisels at the moment and am not well versed on the high PSI stuff yet.

The 5.3 powered 62 deal is looking like it will go through smoothly, worse case like you said is fix the rust and just enjoy the truck.

Anyone else feel a bit guilty driving a GM powered yota? Just does not seem right but I dont link I could live with a carbed 2f. I guess I'm a snob haha

 

[Heckraiser]

Price being equal, I would go for the swapped one and use a fraction of the money you would've spent on a duramax swap to fix the rust.

If you went for the 60, a quick fix for the 4.88 gears would be to throw on a BL and some 35" tires

And I have no shame in wanting a swapped 60 (GM, Isuzu, Cummins, whatever). The way I see it, toyota shafted us by not giving us any of their factory diesel options, which I can sort of forgive them for since there wasn't much of a market for that in the 80's in USA. But they also withheld factory lockers, FF axles, and most importantly the 5-speed transmission, which would have been perfect for the American market. It's like they took the cheapest base-model land cruiser and said "there you go america." If we could buy a vehicle with a 12ht, we wouldn't need to swap in the first place, so I blame toyota /rant

 

[sl33py]

If you are looking - check out Alaska60's TONTO. FS (Sad, but beautiful truck). Not sure if it's in your budget, but you can see his build thread with everything done.

I'd get the clean body over rust every time. Easier to fix other - i hate bodywork.

GL!

 

[alaska60]

here I am!

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

Or you can buy mine. lol...and I'm in Alaska too.

TK

 

[Heckraiser]

Damn you Alaska60. If I were more gainfully employed right now...

 

[AKFJ80]

Price being equal, I would go for the swapped one and use a fraction of the money you would've spent on a duramax swap to fix the rust.

If you went for the 60, a quick fix for the 4.88 gears would be to throw on a BL and some 35" tires

And I have no shame in wanting a swapped 60 (GM, Isuzu, Cummins, whatever). The way I see it, toyota shafted us by not giving us any of their factory diesel options, which I can sort of forgive them for since there wasn't much of a market for that in the 80's in USA. But they also withheld factory lockers, FF axles, and most importantly the 5-speed transmission, which would have been perfect for the American market. It's like they took the cheapest base-model land cruiser and said "there you go america." If we could buy a vehicle with a 12ht, we wouldn't need to swap in the first place, so I blame toyota /rant

I totally agree with you on that and I like your rationalization!
I have essentiallly convinced myself that Toyota basically "borrowed" the original chevy design when they built the 2F (correct me if I am wrong) so a chevy V-8 is a simple tribute to the original design anyway right?

I am presently in Iraq, and it is amazing how many Land cruisers areover here still chugging away while all of the American made trucks are falling apart. The worst part is you see nothing but prados, cruisers, troopies, mostly all diesel....yes, Iraq is Land cruiser heaven! Go figure.

If you are looking - check out Alaska60's TONTO. FS (Sad, but beautiful truck). Not sure if it's in your budget, but you can see his build thread with everything done.

I'd get the clean body over rust every time. Easier to fix other - i hate bodywork.

GL!

Very ncie rig! I have lived in AK since 2005 and have not seen it I am suprised. I may actually know Alaska 60, is it a Whatley built Rig?

Or you can buy mine. lol...and I'm in Alaska too.

TK

You know I sold a PRISTINE FZJ80 to a gentleman on Lazy mountain, and I regret it every day. If I were in AK I would be up there checking out your 80... you WILL regret selling it..simply the best do it all vehicle ever conceived.

I am partial tot he 60-62 series because the are simple, and age very very well. The interiors are much more robust than an 80 series however the 80 series has much better corrosion protection from the factory.



I have decided to put in offer in on the vortec repowered 62.

It will be my Oregon/California rig when I am back home visiting (I am a defense contractor and work overseas 4 months on, 4 months off at a time) and I will be literally next door to all of the great fab shops for bumpers and such like 4x4 labs, man a fre etc...

I will be keeping my other 62 up in Wasilla and possibly doing a diesel swap on that, but not anytime soon as the 3fe in it has dead even compression and simply will not die.

I appreciate the input from all of you! I will post pics up of the progess witht he sale etc and future plans.

One quick question though. 5.3 v8- 4l60e trans and stock 4.11 gears. Will this be the "sweet spot" on 35's for a cruiser? Or should I look into 4.56- 4.88?

Luke

 

[Devils Paw 80]

You know I sold a PRISTINE FZJ80 to a gentleman on Lazy mountain, and I regret it every day. If I were in AK I would be up there checking out your 80... you WILL regret selling it..simply the best do it all vehicle ever conceived.

I am partial tot he 60-62 series because the are simple, and age very very well. The interiors are much more robust than an 80 series ..

I believe he's selling his 60, and this is it: Toyota Landcruiser FJ60 1985

What do you mean about the 60 series interiors being more robust?

 

[AKFJ80]

I believe he's selling his 60, and this is it: Toyota Landcruiser FJ60 1985

What do you mean about the 60 series interiors being more robust?

I remember finding that Cruiser on Craigslist, it looks beautiful, mine is white as well. I was interested but wanted to buy a truck closer to CA or Oregon which is where it will be living. But thanks for the link.

The 60-62 interiors in my opinion are absolutely more robust than the 80 series. Simply take a look inside any given example of a 60 and you see the fabric is generally still looking rather new, the dash intact, the gauges not as faded as they are slightly more recessed.
There is less plastic, even the glove box is steel althought he 80s is steel covered in vinyl.

This is simply my opinion based off of all of the trucks I have seen.

I take a look at the utilitarion interior of the 62 and ask myself "would I take this fishing?" Then I look inside a comparable 80 series and it just looks too soft for my liking.

Some people may beg to differ, but look inside the interior of any older and even classic american car and they have a timeless appearance to them. The 80 series looks like a Camry on steroids, the 60 series looks like a truck.

 

[klinetime574]

The 80 series looks like a Camry on steroids, the 60 series looks like a truck.

hahahahaha. I like that.

 

[AKFJ80]

haha I loved my 80 series...but it always came off as a little on the softer side of truck...obviously we all know its built like a brick S#&t house...but I will say this... WAY more chicks dig the 60 series. I have never had so much attention until I picked mine up. Maybe it's the seats that fold down flat?

 

[alaska60]

Very ncie rig! I have lived in AK since 2005 and have not seen it I am suprised. I may actually know Alaska 60, is it a Whatley built Rig?

No it is not a whatley rig.....It is MY rig. I built it and have had it for 15 years. Im down on the peninsula. Been there since 1987.I am currently in Utah for the winter. Bought a house in utah a few years ago and love my mild Utah winters with the best snow on the planet...


You may know me? How?

 

[darwink1]

I bought a 350 ram jet swapped 5 spd 60 last summer and believe me you will not regret it. I keep hearing that, power wise, the 1fz in my 80 is more potent than the 2f. Recently I have also driven a 2h diesel 60 and the 1fz seems to have that beat as well (maybe the 2h wasnt tuned but whatever). The v8 blows them all out of the water with ease. And thats turning 40's.

Its a pleasure to drive period.

In the 80 I feel like Im holding up traffic at times, in the 60 theres power to spare. As long as the swap wasnt a hack job Im sure youll love the v8.

D

 

[AKFJ80]

No it is not a whatley rig.....It is MY rig. I built it and have had it for 15 years. Im down on the peninsula. Been there since 1987.I am currently in Utah for the winter. Bought a house in utah a few years ago and love my mild Utah winters with the best snow on the planet...


You may know me? How?

Whoa put the Gun down!

I mistook you for a military friend I had a while back...we picked up a crashed c-17 together on Elmendorf and he had a white 60 like yours and had Mark do some work for him.

I read through your build thread, beautiful work! There is no better satisfaction than building your own rig. I picked up a welder about 5 years ago and it is quite the addiction!

I am with you on the mild winters. I love AK but am realizing in order to stay sane, you MUST escape the state several times a year or atleast most the winter if you can manage that.

 

[deucemonkey]

I would choose the one with the cleanest frame. Engine swaps are easy compared to a frame swap. Rust in the rear quarter usually shows after the underside rusts. + I'm guessing finding a good engine and parts would be easier to find than a clean frame to swap out.

 

[alaska60]

I believe he's selling his 60, and this is it: Toyota Landcruiser FJ60 1985

What do you mean about the 60 series interiors being more robust?

Thats my friend Andy's rig...down in seward, great rig. it came up from arizona bout 7 or 8 years ago....not sure about $12,000 though.