Sell the Tacoma for a 60 series cruiser?

[p nut]

You're definintely going to want to keep the Tacoma for all those parts runs to Autozone for the 60. If you're going to keep just one car, definitely keep the Tacoma.

I find the 3.4L very adequate, but if you need more power, TRD supercharge it.

[DCH109]

I picked up a nice well built FJ60 from a member here. Great truck needed nothing to speak of. drove it from Colorado to Virginia with zero issues.

Then I bought an FJ Cruiser. Took me 2 weeks to make the decision to sell the FJ60 (currently it is in South Carolina with it's new owner and well loved). There is a lot to be said for creature comforts. And the AC works better.
But it is up to you. If I buy another old vehicle, it will be a hot rod. Just nothing i need to rely on every day.
Oh wait, does my M416 count. Figured that works just fine for hauling stuff.

[Kermit]

Driving the vehicles back to back will mostly likely help with your decision.

I also thought I wanted a 60 as well, until I drove my buddy's and then jumped backed into mine, forgot how nice my Tacoma is. I do own a '73 VW Westy as well, while charming, I'll never take it on a long road trip.

I dunno, I would look at a LC 100, 4Runner, or a double cab (for the dog) Tacoma, than a 60. Maybe even a double cab first gen. Tundra.

[Youngunner]

Thanks for the great input gentlemen! I have been looking at a few 350 v8 powered 60s with over drives and such. I guess I will keep thinking. I will admit, I have never actually driven a 60 series cruiser...I'll start there.

[Applejack]

The dog issue can be a big one, I understand. We had an '05 Taco DC and most of the time our dog could ride in the cab with the rear seats folded down but on camping trips which = long drives he was all alone in the back and in the heat. Ended up getting another SUV for that and other reasons. He's a part of the fam too!

[WheelyAddicted]

I had a mildly built Tacoma for a few years before I had to upgrade to a fullsize for work. I have since downsized to a first gen 4Runner. I had major reservations about the move but due to a divorce and slow work I needed something without a note. I've had the '86 for 1.5 yrs now and haven't regretted it a moment. I put some money into the motor before realizing I should have just scrapped it and upgraded from the start. Oh well, live and learn. Just got the lift done today and the new tires/wheels mounted and I'm loving the oldschool styling!

[Kermit]

Thanks for the great input gentlemen! I have been looking at a few 350 v8 powered 60s with over drives and such. I guess I will keep thinking. I will admit, I have never actually driven a 60 series cruiser...I'll start there.

They are a hoot to drive, but long hauls down wash board roads gets old quick in a leaf sprung vehicle....now if you linked the front and threw some coil overs on there, still not going to be as smooth as IFS.

I have owned a couple few fully leaf sprung 4WD's in the past, and "now" since I have been driving IFS 4WD's for the past 20 years...can't say I want to go back. I still like shifting my own gears, but power windows, great AC, EFI motors, nice ride, etc...go long way. Not having to reach across the passenger seat to roll down the window has been nice.


Go drive a few.


I always wanted a Jeep too...I test drove about 15 or so of those things, looking for the "right one"...thought to myself...man, they are all crap. I'll stick with Toyota trucks.

[hornytoad]

I feel your pain, 10 years ago I bought a local 60 and started tinkering with it. She was my first off-road vehicle and my first Toyota. Unfortunately the "hey it's simple so it's easy to fix" slogan dose not work backwards with older cars. You WILL have to fix everything,.... Long story short a fuel injection upgrade and lots of maintenance gained me 2mpg an I had to sell it to afford to finish school. If you can afford a restored 60 and keep it maintained do it! They are beautiful trucks.

After looking for a field vehicle and renting a bunch for work I settled on a DC SR5 Taco, with some better tires it has the best of the 60's feel (solid, good visibility, it just rolls along in 4wd, the doors close with a solid thunk ) with everything that works (AC, fuel injection, gas mileage, Highway cruising speed of 70+, It starts every time!).

Kermit hit's the nail on the head, if it's going to be a daily driver IFS and modern amenities are nice to have. Hell I drove a 2011 Jeep Wrangler unlimited for the bast two month in the oilfield and I was ready to kill that thing by the time I was done, it had awesome 4wd, tight turning radius, good gas mileage, cold AC, but a SA = crap steering geometry and the body felt like you had to me mad at it to get doors to close. Little things but it wore you out driving it 200 miles a day.

[Kermit]

I would be looking at 100's...

http://www.ronaldbrunner.ch/projekte/hdj100.htm

2330860670093498191mFzWud_fs.jpg

[Dipodomys]

Having spent the first 20 years of my adult life in search of the perfect vehicle with a number of "iconic" and "legendary" brands such as FJs and Land Rovers, I've now gone boring and conventional with a 2008 DC Tacoma. I've made a few sensible modifications and it is by far the best vehicle I've ever had. Plenty of power, 80 mph over hill and dale, cool AC, comfortable ride, much safer, more fuel efficient, and supremely reliable. Blame it on middle age pragmatism, but I'd never go back to an older vehicle. I can't believe I suffered for as long as I did. Still, I occasionally find myself getting nostalgic about older vehicles until I am reminded of what I already know from past experience...

FJ60's were one of the toughest and best vehicles ever built, and for many years it was my dream vehicle. But they are, after all, a vehicle that was designed in the late 1970s, and vehicles have come a LONG way since then. Compared to a modern vehicle, the negatives of owning a vehicle of that vintage (the newest FJ60s are now 25 years old) greatly outweigh the supposed benefits. Yes, they are easy to work on (a good thing, because you'll be working on it a lot!), but in their original forms they were dogs; underpowered and slow with hideous gas mileage (try 12 mpg on the BEST day). They are prone to rust in body and frame, and the suspension wallows and sags and rides like a turnip wagon. There were a myriad of other deficiencies that often get overlooked until you have to live with them.

I know what your're thinking: "No problem, I'll swap out the straight-six for a turbo diesel and I'll add a five-speed. I'll find a rust-free example (now getting scarce), and I'll add a beefy suspension, maybe even a coil spring conversion. Then I'll add lockers and a bunch of other goodies. Easy!"

Yes, the FJ-60 has lots of potential for improvement if you have the time and money. But if you are going to go to all of that trouble and expense to create a modern vehicle, why not just go out and buy a modern vehicle in the first place?

All told, between new purchase price and the mods, I have about $30,000 invested in my Tacoma. You could easily spend that much purchasing, fixing, and modifying a 25 year-old FJ60 and still be looking to spend a lot more before it was all said and done. And major modifications like a turbo-diesel swap are no picnic. You'll be forever messing with it and it will never be exactly right. Plenty of folks have been down that rabbit hole, and a very lucky few end up with something that lives up to their expectations or is as reliable as what they started with.

Your older Tacoma is underpowered and lacks a few creature comforts. Going back in time 25 years to an older vehicle seems to be an unlikey answer to your problems. The newer Tacomas have successfully dealt with most of those previous deficiencies. From the looks of the photo of your current Tacoma, it looks like you know what you are doing insofar as sensible modifications are concerned. Strap that stuff on a late-model Tacoma and drive off into the sunset. Just my two cents.