Thanks for the offer dragr1, but I really like the idea of building up a 1st gen. The fact that its already got a solid axle is a huge bonus, since I don't currently have the facilities or skills to do a SAS. It also needs to be street legal for the time being, since I still rent at the moment.

Hey Jim, you up for being my test driver at some point?

 

Sure d00d, just name the time/place.

Jim

 

David, Dragr's in Auburn. Auburn's not so far from Seattle, but then again Auburn is kinda far from Seattle at the same time. Auburn ALABAMA!

 

Thanks Jim! I got an email from the seller, he's here in town, I may try to get something set up for Sunday if he's going to be around.

Ben, it'd definitely be a bit of a trip to pick that 4runner up, no question about that!

 

Works for me.

Jim

 

Cool. I'll email you or give you a ring tomorrow or Saturday and let you know what the deal is.

 

im in pretty much the same position as you. I posted a wanted ad yesterday and got 2 calls today. one is a 81 truck with a 4runner conversion kit, 33s, no lift, really beefed-up frame for $500, and the other is a 84 truck that does not have the body on the frame. he took it off to fix the frame i guess. it has good 36" tires with it, on good wheels. he says that it doesnt have a lift but i think it must have some to fit 36s. just have to put the body back on it. $250.00

this is all what they said on the phone. the 81 is pretty far away, so im not sure if im up for driving there just to check it out. the 84 is only about 1.5 hrs away so im gonna go look at it tomorrow.

to save money, i think i would get an already built one.

if i had the money and required tools, id build one up from stock.

either way you go, good luck and have fun wheelin it.

 

How about one of these for a trail rig...

http://web.govliquidation.com/auctio...&convertTo=USD

I just found a reference to that site in my latest issue of one of the off-roading mags.

(on a side note, I did look for something a bit more usable...Hummer, older Jeep/Toy...but came up empty)

Jim

 

Just read the same article! Did you notice on the link you posted that it said "without wench" instead of winch. Guess you have to go trolling for your own wench....

 

Oddly enough I did see that too.

Jim

 

I saw an early Cruiser wagon in Marysville yesterday that was going for $3485. It looked fairly stock but I didn't have time to stop for a thorough look. It sure looked "purty" though.

 

I think i would buy a built one. If you know your stuff you can determine if the build is a good one or bad one. Ive seen alot of guys put tons of cash in a rig and then never take it off the road. Then they try sell it and no one wants it because they are leary about it. They end up letting it go for cheap in comparison to what it would cost you to build one yourself. It happens all the time with cars too. You can save yourself alot of money and go wheel the thing and not be on your back building it.
Building is definitely fun and rewarding but friggin expensive. What do you like doing more? Building or wheeling?
Ive seen lots of nicely done fj40s for sale at a fraction of the cost it would cost to build. Those are the ones to snap up. And frankly IMO fj40s are the coolest off road rigs you can have. Thats why guys build them.

 

I'm also gonna play the devil's advocate here and agree with Zedex. Seems to me the cheaper route will be to get the built one, assuming both are in the same shape drivetrain/body wise. Don't worry though, I'm sure you'll be able to get plenty of wrenching time in regardless which one you pick.

If you get the built, you can spend your time looking over what it has and changing it to what you want it to be. This is the cheaper route because in some cases you'll find yourself happy with what it's got already. When that's the case, you can put more of your money into other stuff most of us here spend a while saving up for, nice, strong body armor, possibly an engine swap, the sky's the limit.

Say both rigs are going for $1500. If you buy the stocker, you'll be spending about that much on bigger tires/wheels right off the bat. The modded one already has that stuff (assuming they're in good condition), so that's $1500 you can spend elsewhere.

Just my .02.

 

David,
Here's the reasons I bought a rig to build vs already built. First, it gives me something to do that takes some research and money(you'll always make more). Second, when I figure the route I'm taking I have yo do the work and that gives me a better understanding of how my truck works and doesn't work. Third, I am building a relationship with my truck
and that is important when you are far from home.

It is going to take me along time to get it the way I want and I have lots of time.

 

Well, I think I've found a happy medium. After building my 4runner up, I know the satisfaction of doing things the way I like it.


Turns out both of those vehicles weren't quite what I was looking for. I did find an FJ-40 that is a happy medium. Its been worked on a little, has had the engine swapped out with a V8, dual gas tanks, and auto trannie. However, there isn't anything done in the way of offroad mods, so there are plenty of things to do to make it "my" FJ, such as gearing, lockers, winch, exhaust, etc.

I'll let you know how it turns out!

 

 

Good choice.

Besides learning how the mechanics of things work that comes with doing it yourself, there is the fact that those things come piece wise and you learn how to be a better driver of the rig along the way.

I know that I am not a good enough driver to go straight from an open stocker to a buggy. I would feel like I am cheating myself in the learning process and would not be extracting the most out of the new rig without a lot of seat time.

 

Friend of mine could have died as a result of buying a pre built jeep. It was huge sitting on 42s but some suspension parts snaped while he was crusing on the highway sending him into the oncoming lane. Never know if it is truly safe unless you do it your self.

 

Hey Miles,
You do know that this thread is over a year old right?
Anyhow. Your input is another good reason to buy stock.

 

I'm new to the site but not to 4 wheeling. I just sold an 01 F250 4X4 CC with 4" lift, rims & 35's, 4:56gears, custom dual exhaust, plus many others. I lost about 4,000 in doing so. I for one have never made all my money back. I don't think I ever will. I'm now putting together a 91 toyota 4runner with SAS, alcan 8" springs, and I just "TEST FIT" the new 15X39.5X15 TSL swampers yester day. (fits good too with about 5" to any body part) I'm already over 4,500 in parts and still have a ways to go.
So, after saying all this the mod truck could be a good way to go. Bring it home and treat it like a stock rig. Take it apart, inspect it, clean it, paint it, fix it, and save money on the mod parts. Just something to think about.
But I never seem to do it this way!