Should I buy this 65 cruiser or is it a waste of TIME & MONEY?

[josh.bunch]

I have the opportunity to buy this 65 land cruiser that is very rusty. I dont want to restore it to original quality, at least not right away. I only want to get it running so I can make it into a rock crawler. I realize I will have to rebuild the transmission, all new suspension, brake components, belts hoses, etc. It has been 10 years since the motor was started. It has just sat. I can get this for $400. Any input from those who have done this would be much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Deleted member 9101]

Yeah, for 400, it would make an awesome piece of yard art. Other than that, save your money.

 

[DCH109]

$400.... Pass on that. It will cost you lots more than that just to get it road worthy. After putting my with through not one but two of these nightmares, never again trust me it is not worth it.

Very rusty means a new body. add that to everything else and by the time you are done and 8+k later, you should just buy one that is less work.

 

[RR1]

Might be worth it for the VIN and title...

 

[josh.bunch]

There is no title. The thing was sitting on a farm 50ft from a house that was destroyed by a tornado and this thing survived. The title was in the house that was destroyed. Like I said I dont care about the body aside from the floor pan which is actually in pretty good shape. I would be willing to put 1500-3000 into it to get it back on the road.

The guy basically got the price from a scrap metal yard. That is how much they will pay him for it so he wanted to see if someone wanted it before he crushed it. I hate to see one of these go to the crusher but I dont wanna make a poor decision either.

 

[fowldarr]

tell him $300 and he doesn't have to haul it to the scrapyard....

 

[josh.bunch]

He actually sounded like he was looking forward to crushing it. This was a character. His name was Junior, he had a mullet, and his profession is demolition derby race car driver. He is buddy's with the guy at the scrap yard bc when his "race" cars are ruined to takes them there bc they guy gives him a better rate.

For about $1500-2000 more I can get a 91-92 80 series. Ill sink at least that much into this one. I think I am talking myself out of it slowly.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Its worth $400 in parts... people build rustier Cruisers!

 

[lostworldexpedition]

I agree, that thing looks awesome as is!


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=0.825378,-77.639908

 

[josh.bunch]

I guess I could always grab it, spend a few weekends trying to get the motor running, and if it's shot I'll just part it out. That way I'll only be out of pocket time and a few hundred bucks of engine parts.

 

[josh.bunch]

I just realized I didn't notice a transfer case on the floor next to the shifter. I'll move forward at the risk of asking a dumb question. Is it possible this is a 4wd without low range? I know it can't be a 2wd.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

2-4WD & Hi-Low is a lever & knob on the dash, vacuum operated 2-4wd and mechanical on the hi-low.