Dilemma - I need to cash out one of my FJ40s but which one?

[madorbit]

Hello! I'm posting this here because I trust you all and your feedback. I need to cash out of one of my FJ40s in anticipation of moving to another state (Michigan) & improve my mortgage application position.

My dilemma is which one should I sell? They are both really amazing 40s for their own reasons.

1978 FJ40. I've owned it since 1997. I've done a lot of really great things to it including a 5.7L (1989 TBI) swap that I absolutely love. It has an aluminum tub, so it'll never be a museum piece but it's a really fun trail and town vehicle. I think if I were staying here in Colorado I'd probably keep this one because it's appropriately built for most trails out here. The aluminum tub is is amazing shape, trail quality 10 year old paint. It has both hard and soft tops, a Metal Tech cage, power steering, emissions approved in Colorado v8 swap, ready to drive. It needs a few details, but nothing more than an afternoon project here and there. Typical trail rig. It would come with a bunch of sheetmetal spares and some other parts that belong with this vehicle.



1976 FJ40 hard top - full restoration project. I have a full restoration mid-project that has come really far, but absolutely needs to be finished. Before I sell it I would definitely get the engine running. Not a problem, it's really close to that right now. I pulled the tub, built a rotisserie and fixed every speck of rust. New rear sill, new quarters, new fender tops, and plenty of patches between all of that. It is 100% rust free. It's been epoxy primed the firewall was finish painted before I put it on the frame. The interior is painted and finished with color matching bed liner on the floors & fender top/sides. I have rebuilt both axles, seals and bearings, epoxy primed and painted. OME heavy springs, new shackles. I've re-sealed the transmission. there were no issues with the transmission at all. it's original and ready to go. I rebuilt the transfer case with a kit from Kurt Williams. The driveshafts are original and just need to be refinished. They're fine, just a little goopy and original. The frame was refinished, epoxy primed, and coated with POR15 then top-coated with a hotrod black. I have 99% of everything ready to reassemble after paint. I would buy some new door seals, cards, seat covers, and lights to make the restoration complete. It's an awesome project, but I'd struggle to finish it before we move. When it's finished it will probably be one of the finer examples of a restored FJ40 that would be comfortable next to Jeremiah Proffit's work. Lots of original hardware that I've had replated, so refinished metal pieces that are original. I'd include all of the paint and body-stuff with this project. I have about a complete gallon of Rustic Green and a bunch of primers, including polyester build primer.






Dragging two FJ40s to Michigan is just a little silly. I really want to improve my credit position before getting a mortgage. These adult decisions are brutal.

What's your take on this dilemma?

No wrong answers... just looking for not-attached to these vehicles perspectives. TIA

 

[nakman]

my $0.02 is push to get the green one finished up and sell that one. Having a 40 in Michigan seems even worse than a 40 in Colorado, and I wouldn't want my only 40 to be not only too nice to wheel, but too nice to even take out in the winter... the aluminum tub seems like a better fit for up there, and you like driving it. Keep the 78, sell the 76.

 

[MDH33]

I think you'll take a huge loss selling a partially finished project, so i would sell the running 40. Running 40 is also more appropriate for CO. I'm from MI and you'll get more smiles per mile in your restoration after you finish it once youre settled. No where to wheel there, so a 40 will be a sunday driver anyway. Where in MI?

 

[madorbit]

I think you'll take a huge loss selling a partially finished project, so i wiuld sell the running 40. Running 40 is also more appropriate for CO. I'm from MI and you,ll get more smiles oer mile in your restiration after you finish it once youre settled. No where to wheel there, so a 40 will be a sunday driver anyway. Where in MI?

I think this is a solid take. It will be a weekend/parade vehicle. Michigan doesn't have tons of off-roading opportunities.

we are looking at the Ann Arbor/Chelsea area. Pretty stoked to get some land.

 

[madorbit]

my $0.02 is push to get the green one finished up and sell that one. Having a 40 in Michigan seems even worse than a 40 in Colorado, and I wouldn't want my only 40 to be not only too nice to wheel, but too nice to even take out in the winter... the aluminum tub seems like a better fit for up there, and you like driving it. Keep the 78, sell the 76.

That would absolutely be ideal. I think considering that makes the absolute most sense. I've put a bunch of money into it and it's going to be amazing when it's finished. Thanks Tim.

 

[MDH33]

I lived in AnnArbor for a bit. U of M go Blue! Cool town.

 

[Hulk]

You'll have a hard time selling a project 40 that isn't driveable. If you can finish the '76 enough so that it looks good and a buyer could drive it home, you should have no problem selling it. Otherwise, it may be hard to sell and you may not get the $$ you are hoping for.

The '78 will be fun anywhere. You'll probably run the hard top a lot more in MI than you did here in CO.

My prediction is no matter which one you select, you'll drive it less in MI than you did here. The wheeling opportunities in the midwest just aren't as plentiful and easy to get to as they are in the west. But the opportunities to wrench on a cool old vehicle will be available wherever you live, so long as you have a garage to do it in. So if you love those days in the garage, maybe keep the '76 so you can finish what you started.

 

[madorbit]

You'll have a hard time selling a project 40 that isn't driveable. If you can finish the '76 enough so that it looks good and a buyer could drive it home, you should have no problem selling it. Otherwise, it may be hard to sell and you may not get the $$ you are hoping for.

The '78 will be fun anywhere. You'll probably run the hard top a lot more in MI than you did here in CO.

My prediction is no matter which one you select, you'll drive it less in MI than you did here. The wheeling opportunities in the midwest just aren't as plentiful and easy to get to as they are in the west. But the opportunities to wrench on a cool old vehicle will be available wherever you live, so long as you have a garage to do it in. So if you love those days in the garage, maybe keep the '76 so you can finish what you started.

I think this is a really good take as well. I lived in Illinois and Indiana before moving here in 2015. 100% correct the offloading out there is all but nonexistent compared to here. It would be a warm-day ice cream shop trip and a parade here and there kind of vehicle. They're exceedingly rare out there especially in top shape.

I think I'm leaning more towards selling the 78 at this point. Although Tim's idea of selling the 76 after finishing it would be ideal, financially, and emotionally.

 

[wesintl]

I would sell the ls 78. It's built more for wheeling out here. The 76 is a smiles truck when you finish for nice days. You have the other rigs for the winter.

If you want to sell the 76 and i can finish it let me know It seems to be my jam lately.

 

[Corbet]

I wouldn't drive either in the winter up there so my advice is assuming you're only going to drive summer months.

I'd probably keep the project truck, unless I planned to trailer the trail truck out to places that offer real wheeling. The finished stock rig will be more fun to Sunday drive. The 2F will feel "powerful" at 1000' verse out west. It will hold value better in the long term. Trail truck should be a pretty easy sell out here.

Either way you'll miss the one that got away.

 

[justcruisin]

I would put both of them on the block and see which one attracts more interest. I definitely don't "NEEEED" another 40, but that rustic green is just so gorgeous. DM me with more details of the build if you're serious about selling it as is.

 

[madorbit]

I would put both of them on the block and see which one attracts more interest. I definitely don't "NEEEED" another 40, but that rustic green is just so gorgeous. DM me with more details of the build if you're serious about selling it as is.

This is an interesting idea.

& I will let you know if I go that way.

 

[madorbit]

I would sell the ls 78. It's built more for wheeling out here. The 76 is a smiles truck when you finish for nice days. You have the other rigs for the winter.

If you want to sell the 76 and i can finish it let me know It seems to be my jam lately.

Will do. Thank you.

 

[DanInDenver]

You probably know but get a bucket.

 

[madorbit]

You probably know but get a bucket.

Oh absolutely! I have a gallon can that I used on my 100 series. We’re looking at at properties that have or can have a pole barn. I’ll be installing a two post lift.