LJ50 - worth buying?

[DUR71 THOUGHTS]

Hi guys

looking at getting another smaller 4by. Was looking for a cheap sierra but came across an LJ50, cheap. Was wanting to know how they go for an old car. How easy is an engine swap? In the latest 4wd monthly there is one in there that has a F10A in it. How much would this engine cost?

Just asking as I can pick up a sierra for around $2000 with a 1.3L in it and would save me the hassle of doing an engine swap, but where's the fun in that hey?

[Beastmavster]

So long as you're able to tow it behind the Lux it wouldn't matter.

LJ50's are outstandingly narrow - something like 8" narrower in the diffs than a narrow track Sierra.

Of course if it runs good, is cheap enough or if it has the cool canvas doors then buy it.

I loved the old canvas doors the early LJ's had - were they still on the LJ50?

[DUR71 THOUGHTS]

yeah still has the canvas doors. In pretty good nick. Just got to convince the missus now.

[Beastmavster]

well that's always the biggest challenge anyway

[Midget]

Just buy it,and drive home.
Park it in the drive way,and when she ask's,just say it must have followed you home..
They always fall for that.

Jamie

[greg]

I think you should get the sierra and the LJ... Put the LJ body on the sierra and you'll have a great little truck.

The LJ body will also allow you to run some big tyres as the headlights are closer together

One of the fellows on here has a similar project (LJ body going to be put on sierra chassis) that he is working on at the moment - but his name currently escapes me (sorry)...

[greg]

I remembered - it was Germo He has the LJ Body and Sierra Chassis project

[germo]

your very good greg,
yes it is me. haven't completed that yet, but yes it is the way to go, the front end is easier to work with, the lights are closer and there is no inner and outer guard, sierra diff will give plenty of width and you have a lighter car. mounts are different.
at the moment I am doing up my sierra until I roll it or the body gets too mangled, I have a spare 1.3narrow track chassis to swap all my running gear over to.

oh and they look awesome and it will look really wide.

[becky]

LJ50s are fun, if you know (or are) a good 2-stroke mechanic, you can really get those motors to hum & because they have no sumps you car drive them through the rough like a buggy. The LJ chasis is shaped slightly different to the sierra one & it makes for a better 4wd, they handle seems to handle better.