I've been slowly searching around for a 70s fj40 to buy. i dont want one in restored condition as i want to buy one cheap and plan on restoring it over the years. i would prefer that it is running because the amount of experience i have with hardcore engine work is limited. i dont mind so much how to body looks as long as the frame is good. i found two that seem to be pretty good deals.

one is a 73 with a 350 chevy smallblock mated to a turbo 350 transmission (manual v. auto is unknown to me right now). it comes with a soft top and soft doors. the frame (this is all according to the ad) is in excellent condition, axles are good, 31" tires have plenty of tread, glass is all good, interior looks decent, but the pics are kind of far away. body is fair. the things it needs before it can run are tranny mounts, adapter from tranny to t-case, and radiator. does that sound good for $2000? heres a pic


the second one is a 74 with stock 2F engine and im assuming stock tranny. owner says it ran last time he started it (months ago) but it needs some carb work. from the pics the interior (at least the seats) look perfect and the exterior looks pretty amazing too. he is asking $2500, and i dont have any pics online yet.

do either of these sound good?

 

With FJ40's you need to look for rust in back floor area and the corners by the taillights. Once rust starts most people end up replacing all the metal with fiberglass. If either of those is solid metal then I would take that one. My personal preference would be to lean towards the 2F truck as it is a good engine that can produce a nice flat torque curve with minor mods. The condition of the frame and the body should be your deciding factor.

 

DoOd....

Get the one with the Yota Motor!! I guess I'm just hardcore but I dont like the I put a chevy motor in my Yota to build a trail rig thing...lol. If you've got a toyota, then make a toyota. Not a Chevota.

Sure 'Mullet Motors' are cheap and easy....but so are fat girls.

 

Thats the best thing i have heard in a long time!!!!!

 

Prices unfortunately sound about right, check eBay to get a better idea on value.
I personally would go with the second one, its more original and hopefully more functional, if you want a chevy in it, better that you do it and then you know whats done and how its done, plus you can sell the original drivetrain to someone looking for restoration parts.
I really LOVE these old tanks and have always wanted to build one myself, someday I will, hell now that I gave up on the GTO's everything HAS to be cheaper to build, that is until you see the FJ's on Barrett-Jackson, that will suck!

 

Prices sound like par to me also.
Get one with a 2f motor.

 

some updates: the one with the 350 was sold so now the only option, and the better option, is the 74 with the original engine. heres what ive found out through slow email correspondence (finally asked for a phone #). i expect (as does the owner) there to be rust behind the diamond plating. i dont have the money to fix that right away but i can at least get rid of the rust and cover it up with the diamond plating until i can afford to fix it right. the floor has been replaced with heavy weaved fiberglass (if its the ENTIRE floor or just the cargo area or front floor i dont know yet). the owner had about $1700 of drum brake work and wiring done over the past 2 years and just replaced the gas tank and steering wheel. the upholstery looks to be in excellent shape. it comes with hard doors and a bikini top (no complete hard top). she said the carb would "need some work" in order to get it running smoothly again. ill ask on the phone if it runs smoothly with no rod knocks or low oil pressure or anything. im also going to verify that the frame is not rusted. i got the price down to $1900. how does that sound? here are a few pics:

 

Looks good to me Man!!! Get it, and get it soon! Before it sells!!!

 

fiberglass over the floor.... run away this is a rust bucket. FYI 75 and later fj40 have 4speeds and disk breaks, with 2F motors, early-74 have drum breaks 3 speeds, 1F's or 135 F's, but have thicker sheet metal. All the disk stuff and the 4 speed can be swaped. Get the most rust free truck you can find and say good by the the beer fund.

 

all that checker plating = rust.

 

Uh, YUP. Thats the first thing I thought. Fiberglass is just as bad.

 

i thought i updated this by now, but i guess not. im assuming it ended up selling because she stopped responding to me, but i decided not to get it anyway. its just not practical right now with limited funds and with me physically moving from city to city every few months. thanks for the input though guys! i WILL get one one of these days