[Scott Jensen]

what do you guys think in all honesty(sp?) would be cheaper to build and 81-86 cj-7 or an fj-40 l/c? thanks

 

[will-m]

i'd have to say the jeep

 

[Gen. Nonsense]

Hands down the Jeep is the cheapest to build, but then you would be like every other swinging dick and own a Jeep. I say live a little and get the FJ.

 

[71RCKCRZR RYAN]

it depends on how you are going to build it.

if you get a fj40 you probably would not have to mess with smog.

 

[sickfab]

it depends on how you are going to build it.

if you get a fj40 you probably would not have to mess with smog.

Yeah that and have to mess with swapping out a large portion of the drivetrain just to make it survive 2 trailrides:flipoff2:
If faced with a decision between the two, go with the croozer

 

[ghettojeep]

I made this same decision over the summer. I have a newer cruiser and had an FJ 60 b/f it. It was a hard decison but I finally settled on the jeep. This is why:

1. Initial cost, Jeeps are a dime a dozen, I found a solid 86 for about 2 grand. All the cruisers I looked at were 3 grand plus, and in way shitter condition and 10-15 years older in that range. This maybe b/c I'm in CO and they go for cash here. One's in similar condition to the jeep I found were about 4-5 grand.

2. Steering, power steering is a hard to find option on cruisers, and the early steering design is crap. Retrofitting power steering can be expensive.

3. Availablity and cost of parts. It seems that Jeep parts are cheaper, and easier to swap out parts, not to mention that there are alot of jeep parts that can be interchanged w/ other jeeps and other domestic trucks, ex, wagoneer steeing parts, motorcraft carb, ford ignition.

4. Eventhough the t-5 in my jeep is a weak tranny, for now its holding just fine, and its a 5 speed w/ overdrive. Cruiser's are 3 or 4 speed no over drive, and some of them have that funky dash linkage for the 4 wheel drive.

5. I have been able to find all my parts locally and cheap. When I had my FJ 60, I was mail ordering and paying a premium.

6. I knew I was gonna swap axles anyways, so I didn't care that the Cruiser's axles were initially way better.


I lover Cruisers and the 40 was my1st choice, when I ran the #'s it was chreaper to get the Jeep.

I'm at about 5 grand now, Including my imitial cost, I have new 35's, SOA Dana 44's w/ 4.56's, Detriot and Lockright, and an xd9000. Not to mention I think I am the first one to take this Jeep offroad. I wanted to build it myself starting from stock. I didn't want to buy somebody elses built rig, that I didn't know the quality of work, or what crazy type of Dukes of Hazzard shit they were doing with it.

I will have a 40 eventually, just not right now.

All my $.02

 

[misfortune83]

Cruiser........... too many jeeps out there :flipoff2: