Fourtraks

[marshfarmer]

Picked up a C reg one today 35k on the clock. Last on the road in 96. Stood in a hedge since. Fired straight up and drove on my trailer. Chassis looks fair enough. Body not so much. I'm told the na engine is more desirable for off reading? Seems a shame to just break the engine out, any classic value to these?

 

[TripleSix]

Yeah they seem to be making strong money on eBay.

I loved them, proper reliable lump of jap scrap.
Wish I still had one, sold mine and bought a transit van...

 

[spark plug]

Fourtrak’s, although rot boxes are probably the most underrated 4x4 made. Very capable and extremely reliable.

They do seem to be fetching strong money on eBay these days.

 

[celtis man]

we had one a f55 pick up type imported from Saudi arabia really reliable but it sadly rusted out

 

[ed574]

I still run one, an N reg independent forester but I had an old leafer before that, loved them both. Also welded quite a few up now, me and a few mates have run plenty over the years. Miles more comfortable and driver friendly than a Defender. Got another old leafer which is a straight turbo waiting to be restored too. My old one was N/A but I put a turbo lump in, definitely a lot better. I suppose the appeal with the N/A is less to go wrong but they are a dopey old thing with no turbo on, leafers appeal to the off road enthusiasts too as the back axles in the later independents had a habit of breaking trailing arms and panhard rods, but they can be strengthened up. The whole thing is worth saving as there's not many left, especially those old leafers with round headlights. Chuck it on ebay as a whole and you might be pleasantly surprised.

 

[roscoe erf]

Picked up a C reg one today 35k on the clock. Last on the road in 96. Stood in a hedge since. Fired straight up and drove on my trailer. Chassis looks fair enough. Body not so much. I'm told the na engine is more desirable for off reading? Seems a shame to just break the engine out, any classic value to these?

no

 

[TripleSix]

They used to go like the clappers with the pump opened up and a bit more boost.

 

[gatepost]

I had 3, great things, not so good when the kids grew up and you had to get a dead sheep in, got my first one parked up in shed chassis covered in oil and only one small hole in sill, going to retire on proceeds

 

[melted welly]

Dad had 5 of them, put over 120,000 on them all but they were buggered by the end. They were tough trucks, but they handled like bouncy castles above 50mph.

He bought an L200 when his last T reg four track died with 135,000 on it. The L200 lasted 3yrs and 50,000miles and was on the 2nd turbo in the 2nd engine when it went.....what a heap it was.

 

[Gwynllwyndu]

Any pictures? The early leaf sprung ones are quite valuable and are quickly reaching the rolling 40 year MOT & tax exemption so well worth keeping in one piece. The early ones are are far tougher with two proper axles & have better build quality than the later Independent models which are prone to rusting to the point where pieces of the rear chassis & axle literally fall off. Best thing is to steal the turbo & intercooler and relating parts off an independent & bolt them onto an 84-87 truck with the earlier engine which has cam gears to eliminate ever having to faff about changing cam belts & idlers ever again. Also worth stealing off an Independent is the bigger brake booster & master cylinder and vented front discs, makes a big difference. Another uprade worth doing is to tack weld the gearbox's mainshaft nut before it loosens and kills the box. I also always machinine the bellhousing's shaft that the release bearing slides on off and replace it with a steel sleeve, this eliminates the rattle most Fourtraks have by now as the original alloy shaft wears over time causing the bearing to stick resting against the clutch.

 

[marshfarmer]

I'll PM if you're interested

 

[TripleSix]

 

[marshfarmer]

Found this one yesterday

 

[marshfarmer]

This one today

 

[roscoe erf]

how much for both

 

[marshfarmer]

Thought they were worthless lol

 

[fermerboy]

We had a short wheelbase Fieldsman, what a machine, the old fella gave it some abuse and it took it all, I've seen all 4 wheels clear of the ground when rounding up particularly wild limmy heifers, never failed him.
Well, it never failed him till the day it ran low on oil cause he never checked it and it seized!
Dragged it home with tractor, got a 50k engine from a breaker and I got job of fitting and it was good again. the second engine was a cracker, it went really well then.
Rot eventually killed it though.