What Should I Do? Please Help

[MISFIT]

I finally got my cruiser home today. It's an ALL ORIGINAL '74 FJ40. This thing is extremely clean except for the rust under the tailgate and the blown head on it. I felt that this was a great deal for $1000.

I have reached a dilema. I could build a rockcrawler (dana 60/14B, 350TBI, 42s, etc.) OR, i can do a frame-up factory resto. I just don't know what to do. Any thoughts or ideas? Please help.


EDIT: sorry about the pics. here's a link to the thread in my "hood".
http://www.reno4x4.com/forum//showthread.php?t=2063

 

[Varty Yo]

pics no worky............... if its in as good as shpae as you say you should restore it to stock and find a more worse off one to convert to a rock crawler. then it wont be such a shame to cut up a very rusty body and what not....

 

[numtel]

That question can't really be answered here on the forum. Its up to you, do you want to rock crawl with it or do you want to have a vehicle that will see very mild trail use?

 

[rusty_tlc]

That question can't really be answered here on the forum. Its up to you, do you want to rock crawl with it or do you want to have a vehicle that will see very mild trail use?

But this is a great place to come for advice that will help him make the decision.

 

[MISFIT]

I really want a "hardcore" rockcrawler, but something tells me that i shouldn't start hacking away on such a nice rig. "What would YOU do?", is what i'm really asking.

 

[rgentry]

1. Get the head fixed and start driving your cruiser the way it is.
2. Post some pix so that we know what you have and can offer some better informed advice.
3. If it's really in good shape you can probably sell it, make a good bit of money, and find a better candidate for a rock crawler.
4. Of course the stock ones get more and more rare as the others get converted to "hardcore".

 

[F-junker]

don't hack up a nice truck. check out these toy class rock crawlers.
They are a low buck all toyota drive line event. NOT 100,000 dollar trailer queens seen on tv (not that they don't work hard)

This class is becoming more popular across the US. basically you fnd a 79-85 mini truck take off the body, tube it, regear it, and finally beat the unholy heck out of it. Your FJ is a beautiful truck off-road but buy a beater if thats what you intend to do.

IMO anyway, which is probably like my all of my rusty neglicted projects, worth less and less everyday!!

good luck and welcome to this site, there is a wealth of knowledge available here.

 

[Romer]

How about fixing it up with a 4 inch lift and 33's and just doing intermediate trails. Then you have the pleasure of a great looking cruiser and the ability to wheel. I have a great time with my 40 and it's not built to be a rock crawler. Look at the ROTW link in my sig line, maybe it will give you a few ideas or look at others ROTW and see what others have done.

 

[MISFIT]

there's a link to the pics in my first post. i tried posting them as attachments, but this site will only allow pics that are extremely small. :dunno:

 

[Gumby]

I regret every mod I did to my clean body. Fix it and drive it or sell it and buy a rusty POS to rockcrawl with.

 

[MISFIT]

thanks for the opinions guys. still don't know what to do though. either way, this bastard is getting a frame-up resto. just don't know how to build it back up once i get it taken apart. i'll get it all figured out some day.

 

[Full_M3tal]

How about fixing it up with a 44 inch lift and 33's and just doing intermediate trails. Then you have the pleasure of a great looking cruiser and the ability to wheel. I have a great time with my 40 and it's not built to be a rock crawler. Look at the ROTW link in my sig line, maybe it will give you a few ideas or look at others ROTW and see what others have done.

44" Lift Eh? Hey I Know Make It a Monster Truck.... , J/k

 

[ducktapeguy]

I had a similar question about my FJ40, and someone gave me some very good advice. Buy two cruisers. Problem solved

 

[coolcruiserfj40]

my cruiser was rust free and the wheel wells were cut but i do regret cutting it up farther granted i think i cut more off then you would, but in the end it is your cruiser

 

[trainrech]

I'm teetering on that edge as well. I have too much fun getting into trouble, but have gone through an Aqualu tub replacement and now shouldn't be hacking up the 40. I have an el cheapo mini-truck that'll probably become my hardcore beater and I'll save the 40 for family wheeling (i.e. full roll cage, more creature comforts, etc.

 

[Romer]

44" Lift Eh? Hey I Know Make It a Monster Truck.... , J/k

4" Oops

 

[H2o]

I agree, don't chop up a good truck. sell it, or keep it and get another one to trash. one that already is in bad shape.

 

[DSRTRDR]

I wouldn't cut it up.

 

[cruisertom]

I don't know about you but I love monster garage... but it sometimes just makes me sick to see those guys cut up beautiful Model T's, Vettes, Broncos or anything else that is not made anymore. Like everything else fourwheeling changes and someday rockcrawling will change also and there will be lots of half tube buggy cruiser things and very few nice cruisers. Don't get me wrong I think they are very cool, but I would by a pos to rock crawl with since by the time you modify the hell out of it there won't be much/any cruiser left of it. Just my opinion. Tom

 

[HawkDriver]

Unless I had endless amounts of money and super nice clean cruisers were plentyful in my area I'd keep a nice one nice.

You can build up an extremely capable rig that maintains a mostly stock unchopped body.

I'd keep it nice and find somewhat of a beater to chop up. Just me.

Congrats on the new Cruiser.