1978 FJ40 Restomod V8. No expense spared restoration. $67k invested.

1978 Toyota Land Cruiser

Up for sale here today is one of the finest FJ40 Restomods on the planet. This no expense spared project tallied up to $56,312 and that was on top of a rough, non-running but RUST FREE 1977 donor truck. This is not a random hodge-podge of slapped on catalog parts with white knuckle driveability issues, on the contrary this was a carefully planned and perfectly executed restoration using only the best aftermarket goodies available and where those could not be found they were expertly designed, fabricated and installed to meet the overall objective of creating the smoothest, most luxurious, most reliable, best handling off road or on street V8 conversion FJ40 you may ever find.
Mission accomplished.
The allocation of money spent on this build is as follows:
$13,391 for parts
$16,379 for engine, transmission, power steering and AC
$9147 body & paint (including material and body shop labor)
$16,825 329 hours of mechanical and assembly labor
$56,312 Total Investment not including Donor Truck
At the heart of this build is the bullet-proof Chevrolet 5.3 liter Vortec V8 with a full functioning ECU, its 4L60E automatic 4-speed overdrive 4x4 transmission, transfer case adapter and Lokar shifter. This is not some run of the mill ZZ small block crate motor, this is a late model, low mileage transplant from a 2012 Chevy Silverado donor. The only thing more reliable than these GM motors is well, maybe a Toyota 2F 4.2? This FJ40's driveline operates perfectly; starts, idles, pulls strong, shifts smoothly in both 2WD and 4WD (on locking Warn Hubs) and sounds great through a pair of Flowmaster mufflers out back. Air intake is made via a roof high Safari Snorkel connected to a K&N Air Box. This engine along with the aluminum radiator, Optima Yellow Top battery and AC components all look at home under this Land Cruiser's light weight fiberglass hood.
Driveability is enhanced by its Saginaw power steering conversion and factory power brakes (front disk and rear drum). An Old Man Emu Dakar suspension kit provides 2 inches of chassis lift under an additional 3 inches of body lift giving those 32" x 11.5" x 15" Mickey Thompsons all the travel they could ever need. These top of the line components are properly engineered to make any prospect of "death wobble" a non issue on this vehicle. This is a civilized Cruiser that won't beat you up on the street and a fully capable off roader up to whatever challenge you have the nerve to navigate.
This truck is fully accessorized with a Garvin Safari Roof Rack equipped with tire holder, mounted 5' jack, additional brackets for shovel and axe and the requisite full width LED light bar. The front brush bar bumper has its own pair of LED fog lights and a 15,000 pound Warn Winch to drag your buddy's Jeep out of the muck on the darkest night; on the rear a 2" receiver hitch and another LED light. Lots of other cool details contribute to the beastly appearance of this awesome rig; billet hinges, custom tailgate, contrasting silver and black finish and a nostalgic tow rope hanging on the roll bar for good effect.
Inside, a full six point roll bar protects all occupants without intruding in the least. The two-tone Corbeau front bucket seats provide serious comfort and support under all driving conditions. It's got a Tuffy center console down low and another custom console overhead. The matching front facing rear bench seat folds forward for extra cargo space when needed. Custom Auto Meter instrument cluster includes a tachometer and all critical monitors. Aircraft style toggle switches are at hand to control lighting; a modern climate control system including cold AC, heat and defrost with three speed fan. A double DIN high power JVC A/V head unit with Navigation, Bluetooth, Sat Radio and hands free phone integration pumping through four hi fidelity speakers and a sub woofer provide everything you would expect in your restomod FJ40 infotainment center. It's even got remote start, lock and alarm! The heavy duty canvas soft top is fully convertible and just as quiet as any hardtop FJ when zipped up.
This truck is complete and ready to go, it needs nothing and will not disappoint. Toyota FJ40 Land Cruisers are among the most iconic collectible automobiles available. They can be found in all price ranges and degrees of condition and originality. They built millions of them and there are more being recommissioned and restored all the time. This is not the dedication to originality that makes for a raucous daily driver or high dollar 100 point restoration that you can't afford to drive daily or enjoy off road. It is certainly not a lipstick on a pig dressed to flip either. This is as high a quality restomod daily driver as you will find that should perhaps not be compared to a 2F powered FJ40 but instead to a late model Jeep Wrangler in terms of overall performance, creature comforts and reliability. And it's way cooler and will likely cost you less. So long as this Cruiser is taken care of it will never lose money.
This FJ40 is located in Scottsdale, Arizona with a clear Florida Title. It is offered as is where is with no warranty implied or otherwise. If the ad is up, its for sale, low ballers and sales assistants need not apply. Questions?? Call 214-695-9878.

• Make: Toyota
• Model: Land Cruiser
• Trim: FJ40 Restomod
• Year: 1978
• Mileage: 19,000
• VIN: FJ40240966
• Color: Silver
• Engine size: Chevy 5.3 Vortec V8
• Number of cylinders: 8
• Power options: Air Conditioning, Cruise Control, Power Locks
• Fuel: Gas
• Transmission: 4-speed auto w/overdrive
• Drive type: Chevy 4-speed Auto adapted to Toyota Transfer Case
• Interior color: Black
• Options: 4-Wheel Drive, Convertible
• Vehicle Title: Clear
Want to buy? Contact seller!