Which Has More Value? (1 Viewer)

[FloridaLife]

Being new to the FJ40 scene, I'm wondering if I should rebuild the original straight 6 cylinder, or do an LS Chevy V8 swap with automatic transmission?

If I were to decide to sell it one day, or desperately needed to for the money, which would have the higher value either for a personal sale, or at the MECUM Auction in Kissimmee Florida which is close to me?

Thoughts?

Thank you!

 

[coinoperated40]

Keep it as close to original as possible.
Just an opinion from someone who didn’t.

 

[charliemeyer007]

Not an automatic fan. I was to a built 283 Corvette motor, put in a 4 sp and use my 3 sp's transfer case for the 1/2 gear lower low. I would fix your 6 if it can be done cost effectively as in maybe some crank work and new bearing...

 

[FloridaLife]

Keep it as close to original as possible.
Just an opinion from someone who didn’t.

Thank you!

 

[igotta40]

That would depend on who’s buying it. Generally, it would be worth more in original form, especially for someone who appreciates a classic truck, vs some toothless Jacksonville hillbilly who’s looking for something to race in the mudpits with his beer buddies.

 

[FloridaLife]

That would depend on who’s buying it. Generally, it would be worth more in original form, especially for someone who appreciates a classic truck, vs some toothless Jacksonville hillbilly who’s looking for something to race in the mudpits with his beer buddies.

LOL! Thank you.

 

[70fj40]

I would get the original motor running first. You can always do an LS swap. If you have a rebuilt and running F motor it will have a lot of value whether you keep it in the truck or sell it if you do the LS swap.

 

[Geezer Cruzzer]

As in any classic vehicle, an unmolested original/restoration is worth more than someone's V8 dream. The vehicle wasn't designed to accommodate that kind of power. Kind of like a fourteen-year-old boy meeting a Las Vegas you know what for the "first" time. Sounds good initially but not for the long haul.

 

[Sky King]

My first FJ40 bought new in 1978 didn't make it a year before it needed rings and valves, fortunately under warranty. It was then that I learned why the chevy V8 swap was so popular as mine was not an Isolated incident. A Chevy V8 that is not built to the hilt will give you more power and less weight without shredding the drive train, (I think Charlie's plan of using a 283 is ideal) add to that easy parts availability at your corner auto parts store and it's not such a bad thing. A close to original garage queen will more often command top dollar but a changing market is showing a downward trend currently price wise, building one from a pure investment stand point may not pay off as well as it once did. There is a good recent thread here on the current market trends. Build it to your personal taste and enjoy it. With the big push toward EV's who's to say how much longer we will even be able to use these vehicles, they may quickly become white elephants. I've owned and restored my share of classic trucks and motorcycles over the years and once in awhile I actually made money when I sold them but I enjoyed all of them and used them as intended. YMMV.

 

[Sky King]

That would depend on who’s buying it. Generally, it would be worth more in original form, especially for someone who appreciates a classic truck, vs some toothless Jacksonville hillbilly who’s looking for something to race in the mudpits with his beer buddies.

Somewhere in Jacksonville there is a hillbilly who just read this and has a tear in his eye.

 

[archie73]

I’m in the ls crowd and love it, but there’s a lot of factors from a value perspective:

1. How long do you think you’ll own it? What’s the longest you’ve owned a vehicle? If your a short timer keep it oem. If you hold onto it longer AND you enjoy more power, swap it. You’ll get the enjoyment out the modifications. Your enjoyment will offset any negative effects on value.
2. A you do the mod yourself? If not, I have a hard time believing you can get the money back out of the swap.
3. What kind of condition is the rig in in? The worse it is, the more I’m inclined to swap it. This may sound counterintuitive, but I tend toward beaters that people care less about.

Sounds like I’m saying a v8 is worth less right? It is exactly- it depends. Conversations can raise the value to some people, but the overall market would rather have an oem vehicle. UNLESS, the buyer has a specific plan that’ll match your vehicle.

 

[h82crash]

You're asking a crowd of purists here. It's like going to a Chevy dealer and asking if you should buy a mustang. They're gonna tell you to keep it stock. Which is fine, if that's what you want. My advice is if your rig is complete as it sits and you don't have to scour the classifieds for the correct seats and jack handle clips then keep it stock. But, if it is got a bunch of modifications already and you can build cars, do it correctly and tastefully, then build what you want. Well done restomods bring in as much as nice stock examples. I agree with Archie, if you have to pay a shop to do it, the cost will exceed the value.

And coming from a guy who built a LS swap, 5 spd OD, frame off, I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[1969FJ]

Seems this subject comes up all the time on mud. These were last brought in the mid 1980s. They went through the 60s, and 70s with emissions , recycled steel , and gas mileages stuff. They were a 4x4 and a real good one, in fact , timeless. Since their user friendliness , they were inviting to the crowd of endless modifications, even engines. This is still here, and for any make / model. I have even seen 240z with LSswap. As the generations go on many remember the time when they loved a car but could not afford it. That is one type. Anyway , I am a purist because of love and understanding of the work and time of the day. That said, I also love the design of restomods and creativeness. I believe the FJ40 is one these items that covers all of these. I look at FJCO and am really in awe of there designs. (Out of my price range , but nice). So, these are a canvas , waiting for you.

 

[pb4ugo]

That would depend on who’s buying it. Generally, it would be worth more in original form, especially for someone who appreciates a classic truck, vs some toothless Jacksonville hillbilly who’s looking for something to race in the mudpits with his beer buddies.

I have all my teeth and I don't live in Florida.

 

[trainbufftony]

Another one for leave it.
The inline 6 is a perfect match for a 4x4 vehicle, it makes low end tractor grunt power and can be loaded to a near stall and still pull out and keep going because of its oversquare. The stroke distance is greater than the bore. Perfect for slow efficiency filling of the cylinder, and the production of low speed controlled torque.
A GMC V8 doesn't act the same.
In terms of resale value, original and working always gets good money.
In my opinion you should be making these Decisions based on your own potential enjoyment, forget about the next guy.
Whatever you end up with, men will be jealous, and wanting to know the price.
"You can't afford it" is my canned reply.

 

[pb4ugo]

New to FJ40 Scene

Hello everyone. I've been driving a 1999 4Runner and a 2004 Sienna for many years (4Runner is daily driver with 1/4 Million miles on it and still going strong). But I have ZERO experience with the FJ40, and I've decided to take the leap and get into the game. I can't afford one of those nice...

forum.ih8mud.com

If you're looking to flip this, the most you'll make as a percentage would be to sell it now. It's a long way from big money. How deep are your pockets? Most folks here are in it for the long haul. It doesn't really matter if it's a modded or stock.

 

[sogafarm]

Looks like a nice start for $5k. Congratulations!

 

[70fj40]

Floridalife
My situation was very close to yours. Paid 6K initially. Mostly original, all there but hadn’t been run in no telling when. I got it running and realized it needed rebuilt, decided to stay as original as I could so I had the F motor rebuilt locally. I have done some work myself and paid to have some done. Basically I have a great running safe FJ40 that still needs a few bits here and there and could use a paint job. It isn’t as nice as some of the 40’s on mud but mechanically it is in great shape. To get it to this point I am about $21K invested.
So that should give you an idea of what it takes to get one of these rigs going and dependable doing some work yourself and farming out some to shops.

 

[DeskJock]

Being new to the FJ40 scene, I'm wondering if I should rebuild the original straight 6 cylinder, or do an LS Chevy V8 swap with automatic transmission?

If I were to decide to sell it one day, or desperately needed to for the money, which would have the higher value either for a personal sale, or at the MECUM Auction in Kissimmee Florida which is close to me?

Thoughts?

Thank you!

When you wander from OEM - you complicate diagnosing any future problems, fitment issues, etc.

Drop in a modern short block and set it up with an amazing amount of torque- can the drive train handle it (no).

 

[FloridaLife]

My first FJ40 bought new in 1978 didn't make it a year before it needed rings and valves, fortunately under warranty. It was then that I learned why the chevy V8 swap was so popular as mine was not an Isolated incident. A Chevy V8 that is not built to the hilt will give you more power and less weight without shredding the drive train, (I think Charlie's plan of using a 283 is ideal) add to that easy parts availability at your corner auto parts store and it's not such a bad thing. A close to original garage queen will more often command top dollar but a changing market is showing a downward trend currently price wise, building one from a pure investment stand point may not pay off as well as it once did. There is a good recent thread here on the current market trends. Build it to your personal taste and enjoy it. With the big push toward EV's who's to say how much longer we will even be able to use these vehicles, they may quickly become white elephants. I've owned and restored my share of classic trucks and motorcycles over the years and once in awhile I actually made money when I sold them but I enjoyed all of them and used them as intended. YMMV.

Thank you for the input. I'm not trying to get political and for many years I haven't considered myself Republican or Democrat because they both seem to be like kids on a playground throwing rocks at each other and filling their own pockets instead of looking out for us. I wish there was a good, viable, 3rd party that would get us back on track. That said, I think the slump in the market is Bidenomics. My family and I have felt it the past couple years in everything from gas to groceries, especially now on only a disability income.

I'd really like to bring this FJ40 back to life and enjoy it taking my 14 & 10 year old son's fishing locally, run to the store a mile & half up the road for milk, and so on. And I'd REALLY like to get a 2nd FJ40 and do the same, having the boys help me bring them to life (they could be my hands, since my hands don't do what I tell them correctly anymore), and then someday, if I'm still alive (my wife and I met late and got a late start) give each of them an FJ40 as their wedding gift. I make sure I buy my lottery tickets every week to try to finance that!

As for the EV's and the current president's push to eliminate all combustion engines, I actually for a millisecond thought about finding a totaled Tesla in getting the electric motors and battery packs and things out of it and building a Tesla electric FJ40. But then I thought, that would have to be some kind of a cardinal sin and taking it across a stream or Creek. Or any of that fun stuff that they're made for wouldn't work out with a whole bunch of electrical motors and battery packs and stuff.

Ultimately I'm leaning towards trying to go original on it, drive and enjoy it, if I decide. I need a little more pep than doing something like the 283 but keep the original running gear in good condition storage so that it could always be put back or if sold the buyer would have both options.