fj40 land cruiser

[jeff10049]

Just bought a 1963 fj40 Toyota Landcruiser rolling but no engine trans. Almost rust free for $500 these things seem to bring big money nowadays.
Trying to decide if I want to keep it or restore,sell ,and use the money to fast track the 1950 chevy p/u that we are for sure keeping.
It'll probably get a small block chevy with a 4l60 transmission and  208 t case. Maybe fuel injection but not likely I think I will keep it basic and simple with this one. Will for sure get power steering.
Pictures to come later.
If anyone is interested in this vehicle let me know as I'm up in the air on whether or not I want to keep it.
I just could not pass on the price. I could restore it to your liking partially or fully. Im not looking to just pass it on as is though I'd like to either restore it for someone else or keep it.

[BruceK]

Congrats on your new Landcruiser.    Like Porsche 911s, those vehicles seem to have really appreciated in value like crazy over the past 5 years or so.    I've seen nice ones go for well over $25K, and up to $40K.    If you are not intent on keeping it, perhaps it would be worth it to try to find a rust bucket one and transplant the Toyota drivetrain into the good rolling chassis you have.  The purists seem to turn their noses up at the ones with the swapped Chevy engines.

[jeff10049]

Thanks Bruce,
I'm undecided on the drive train I have a complete stock setup out of my old fj. I have driven with  a six and v8 configuration.

The six maybe has a little more low end grunt off road but pretty much sucks on road and off road in conditions that require some tire speed to keep the treads clean. Some purists will argue the six is better off road but we (friend and I) with v8 cruisers often went where the six cylinders could not make it even with one of us driving when you need response and wheel speed now! The six just can't deliver.

That said I also kinda like a stock rig it's a different driving experience and as the value increases and non modified ones are harder to find it makes me kinda want to put it back stock.

Just depends on what kind of driving you want to do these fj40's are getting valuable enough that hard off roading probably is not on the list for most owners these days.

When my six burnt the valves I ordered the advance adaptors kit put in the sbc and never looked back got better fuel economy as well.

Another thought I had was newer Toyota drivetrain not sure how the purists feel about that but a newer Toyota six would probably be great aside from mileage, I see it gets done quite a bit. Also had the thought of a Toyota I- force engine or something but I don't want to get too complicated or expensive with this project. I'm into it but want to keep it fun and not overly involved.

To me it's alot like comparing a 850 mini to a 1275 mini I kept my 60 all stock three sync magic wand 850 10" wheels single leading brakes. I thoroughly enjoy driving it and would even take it long distance. But is it the daily driver my 1275 rod change disc brake car was? no way not even close.

If this toyota were complete I would keep it that way but I have a choice to make and don't have to feel guilty about messing up a stock unit if I go v8.

[MiniDave]

I like the idea of dropping the Toyota V-8 in, if it will fit - with a modern 5 or 6 speed transmission - keeping it all in the family so to speak.

And one of the late model Tundra motors make a lot of torque and power.

BUT

Wouldn't you run into the same issue I'm having with the Ecoboost project?

[ADRay]

very cool! second to Mini, I am also a Toyota 4x4 guy

[jeff10049]

I like the idea of dropping the Toyota V-8 in, if it will fit - with a modern 5 or 6 speed transmission - keeping it all in the family so to speak.

And one of the late model Tundra motors make a lot of torque and power.

BUT

Wouldn't you run into the same issue I'm having with the Ecoboost project?

Dave,
That is my biggest concern with that idea I really think it would be neat to buy a wrecked tundra and put the drivetrain in the fj. But yea all the computer issues would suck with a Toyota they just don't have the software support even less than for the EcoBoost. I could do standalone computer if I did a manual transmission but I would lose some of the smoothness and driveability of the stock system and that somewhat defeats the point for me. And the cost would sky rocket all the same stuff you are up against.

As much as I'd like to do late model toyota I'm leaning towards simple and chevy. Somewhat from a cost standpoint as well.
If I were doing it for a customer with lots o money and they wanted late model Toyota I would figure it out we have done it with other makes. The newer you get the harder it gets though sometimes to a point that it's just not feasible.

That and part of owning a fj to me is simple and trail fixable, like strap a gas can to the hood if the fuel pump goes out kinda thing or pick up a brand new alternator at any parts store anywhere for 40-60 bucks and change it in the lot with a crescent wrench.

[John Gervais]

Would an old Celica engine fit?  20R or 22R type? 

Such an engine could probably be found really cheap, and I know from experience that they run really well without the EGR system.  Exhaust headers are available (Quicktrip, if I recall correctly), and Weber did a really nice 30/32 DGV/DGEV carb at one time.  Crane also makes a nice torquey camshaft and Hayes did a clutch...

[MiniDave]

I think you need a six or preferably a V-8......

[John Gervais]

This is my brother-in-law's land cruiser, maybe he's got some spare parts:

http://www.nhms.com/media/headlines/alton-bay-native-shows-off-dream-ride.html

[jeff10049]

love the color.

[ADRay]

Hey, I've seen that FJ!

I've been at the same shows in Rye and I believe Bow, NH.

That thing is clean.

[jeff10049]

I don't think I'll be going to that level that is one straight amazing looking fj. Mine will get a nice paint job and basic interior something you can still use in the woods if you want to.

[John Gervais]

My sister E-mailed the original link to me years ago, called it a 'restoration'.  I called it a 'renovation', as I don't believe Toyota ever built one that looked like that.  Personally, I don't like it, think it looks tacky.  We don't speak, but he might have some spare parts.

Fast forward a couple of years, and I had my mini's rear seat removed in preparation for ordering the roll cage from England.  As Anne & Rick have a marine canvas company and have made covers and upholstered seats for boats and restaurants/diners, I asked her if she could do my rear seat if I sent it over.  I've seen her work, and it's really top notch so if anyone is local and needs something done, their shop might be an option. 

She said she'd 'get back to me', which I believed.  I called her back 8 weeks later, as the roll cage was nearly finished and would soon be shipped.  I was told that she didn't actually think that I'd take her literally and thought she'd actually get back to me and be waiting for an answer - when I explained that I take people for their word and was told that they're really busy and barely getting by - then she started crying (as if it were my fault).  Of course, they'd bought 2 more shop buildings, a pair of vintage Airstream campers for renovation, have a really nice boat and of course, she sold her Harley Sportster but he still has his Road King and they do the Daytona Bike Week thing every once in a while.  (Unbelievable, since I'm the one who hasn't had a job in over 2 years, have zero income, have sent over 750 applications (qualified and unskilled, every conceivable type) and visited many companies, yielding 5 interviews where 'they' were extremely impressed with and intrigued by my background (the intel officer bit throws them off), I was well-liked but overqualified and would eventually become bored.  I recently sold my daily driver, cancelled my pensions and some other stuff, as I couldn't afford it any longer.  If anyone needs en electric guitar, let me know...) 

So, since my roll cage has been installed and I needed to have the rear seat installed to retain 'road' status, I can't get the rear seat back out of the car; it looks like hell, all sun-cracked hardened and chipped, and I even had to apologize to my sister - apparently for being mean to her.  I'll likely fold the seat in half to remove it, and fabricate some sort of hinge for the upper rail and have a local marine canvas shop make something which leaves the center portion 'un-stuffed' where I could mount a fire-bottle.