Buy a 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser?
 

I'm looking for a tough 4x4 for the winters now that my old suburban has finally kicked the bucket (tranny gone at 290,000 miles). One thing I see for sale is an old Toyota Land Cruiser for sale. I believe it's 1988 or 1989. FJ62 I think the code is. 180,000 miles.

The price is cheap, real cheap, so I'm thinking of worst case. What are parts for these things like? I mean how much am I going to have to spend if I need to rebuild the transmission, transfer case, diffs? The owner tells me the 4x4 is not working the moment so I suspect transfer case at the minimum. I understand that these things are near bulletproof, but I expect some stuff to be wrong with it for the price and the age.

I hope to see it on the weekend. Any land-cruiser particular things to look out for?

I'd be swapping out the engine for a GM v8 so the rebuild costs of the 6 cyl toyota won't be an issue.

Re: Buy a 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser?
 

Why not just rebuild the suburban's tranny? What's it got, the th400?

Re: Buy a 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser?
 

I could buy another suburban of the same year cheaper than a tranny rebuild. I just want something new (or old in this case). The FJ62 has a cool look to it and a reputation for being very sturdy off road so I thought I might give it a shot this winter.