What were the better years and why? I am looking for a FJ40 to be a trail truck. Probably put 33's on at biggest..

lots of people will say get a '76 for the front discs and 4speed w/ lower 1st gear than the 3spd, but you will most likely pay more for a '76 (and you have to deal w/ smog..unless you get a early title)/...if its gonna be a trail truck, just go for a cheap complete fj, running or not..you'll eventually go to a V8, no doubt about it..i'd get an older truck, then swap in later axles that are either factory disk, or ones you can put mini truck discs on, then swap in a V8 and sm420 or sm465 and spring it over w/ 35's and weld the back up...cheap and easy build up

IMO for a relatively stock truck (which will fit 33's with a shackle lift), '78 is the "best" year for wheeling. '68 and later will get you birfields up front, which means you can go do a mini disc conversion with minimum hassle, but with the early rigs you have to deal with the F motor, 3 speed, coarse splined axles, etc..

It comes down to your budget, features you want, rust aversion, and your local smog & inspection laws (if any). Look at the TLC FAQL to see what features were available over the years, and go from there.

TLC FAQL (http://www.off-road.com/tlc/faq/)

Originally posted by peterfj40:
<STRONG>lots of people will say get a '76 for the front discs and 4speed w/ lower 1st gear than the 3spd,
Not sure about this? The 4 speed came in '74 and some of those have lower geared TRANSFER cases through '75

you'll eventually go to a V8, no doubt about it..
There are a lot of 2F purists out there, he may love his tractor engine :P
i'd get an older truck, then swap in later axles that are either factory disk, or ones you can put mini truck discs on, then swap in a V8 and sm420 or sm465 and spring it over w/ 35's and weld the back up...cheap and easy build up</STRONG>

Yeah, i kind of wish I had done what Peter here says when I started. Start with a POS and build it to wheel, but it soulds like you really just want a mild trail rig (that's how we all start <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">)

If that is the case, any Cruiser after 1976 would be a good choice for a starting platform.

Unless I were going to do a complete hardcore rig from the ground up, I would avoid an early (Pre-75) rig unless I found one with disc brakes and a 2F or 350 in it already.