Question from a wannabee

[Paratrooper]

I live near Kingman Arizona which is home to at least 2 Pinzgauers . I think they rock and are totally suited for this area . I mentioned to a hunting buddy that I would love to own one . He asked me about parts availability . I told him that I have heard that they can be "civilianized" but I was not sure how much can be converted . So let's take a generic vehicle and examine the options . Say an early 70's 710M . How much can I do and about how much cost is involved ? Also with respect to tires . Can I run generally available tires or are they "odd ball"?
I have the option of getting an older pick up with 4X4 and doing a bunch of trick stuff with knowledge that parts are , in worst case scenario , on another truck at the salvage yard which will require me climbing under and removing . Any help/advice will be greatly appreciated . Thanks .

[pinztx]

The only thing limiting you is imagination and pocket book. I use mine for hunting and love it. I am in the process of having a rack built for it. I have a 710K that I had the back cut down for this.

By the way there is a 710M with hunting racks on it for sale in South Texas. I think they want 17K for it. It is at Precision top drives in Three Rivers Texas. I looked at it the other day. It looks real clean. I don't have their number but could get it if you would like.

[Paratrooper]

Perhaps I should have been clearer . How much of the ignition and other systems can be replaced with stuff that I can buy from the local auto parts store ?

[Kirby]

Drive a 710 and drive a 712.... I drove both before my purchase.... 712 won!

But others prefer the 710, so drive them both. I will be in Havasu June 8-11 - if you want to come down and try a 712.

[pinzwheeling]

I'm assuming that you are referring to failed parts being replaced? First of all, complete failure of items isn't that common. I have been around dozens of Pinzi's and would say that they are some of the most reliable vehicles you can buy, assuming that you buy one in good shape and aren't afraid to do the maintenance.

Most items that break are minor and can be replaced with non-stock parts. Your inginuity is the limit when it comes to upgrading parts of the truck such as seats, lighting, interiors, etc. The drivetrain is very well made and pretty durable. I personally have yet to do any damage beyond breaking a couple of limiting straps and wearing out a set of carbs.

Mogs are great if your primary purpose is off road, and you want to tow them there. A 404 is a great platform for offroading, but will never be a very capable pavement pounder. Pinzi's are 80% as capable as a Mog in extreme rockcrawing and their equal in light to moderate wheeling. The difference is that you won't mind driving your Pinzi 75 miles to the wheeling spot.

[texas pinzgauer]

Thilo Kass (T-Lo's Ultimate Offroad) is in Prescott, AZ and he would be an excellent resource for you if you're looking for parts and technical assistance.

[pinztrek]

I have the option of getting an older pick up with 4X4 and doing a bunch of trick stuff with knowledge that parts are , in worst case scenario , on another truck at the salvage yard which will require me climbing under and removing

You need to factor in the cost to get front & rear lockers, probably gears if your uping your tire size. Easily $1500 - $2000 per axle.

Then you still have to tackle the suspension. It is very hard to get the ground clearance of the pinz and still have decent street manners on conventional 4x4. Even if you install it yourself, you are looking at $500-1000 minimum for a decent spring/lift kit, more if you are dealing with an independent suspension.

Once you do all that, you still do not have a pinzgauer. Trust me, with multiple 4x4's in the past, including two very capable FJ-55 landcruisers, a box stock pinz can give most modified 4x4's a very good run for the money.

So you can buy lot's of pinz parts for what it would cost to get a jeep or pickup close to the pinz capability range. And it still won't be a pinz.

Meanwhile, most routine items on the pinz are quite reasonable. Many of us have done civilian plug/wire/coil conversions for under $50. You can too, if your dist cap is in decent shape. Filters are widely available, etc.

Even pinz specific parts are not unreasonable when compared to anything but $100 junkyard TH400's. Go buy a 4 or 5 speed tranny for a civilian 4x4, and you are in the range of what rebuilt pinz trannies cost.

Steering box rebuild kit on ebay right now for $149. Shocks are reasonable.

transfer case & diff repairs can get expensive, but most of us have not had to deal with that, and it's still cheaper than adding lockers, gears, etc to Dana's if you pay a shop to do the work.

For an all around vehicle, that you would drive on the street, then take off-road, it's very hard to beat a pinz. Use it like a pickup and carry a full ton, then flip the seats up and carry 8 passengers. Canvas up or down.

Add EFI & distributorless ignition, and it's even better yet. I love the factory engine, and really feel the whole vehicle design just works well. To the point that I get in other 4x4's and just have no interest. Even the rock crawling trailer queens. So specialized I can't get interested. I have more fun loading kids & camping gear in the pinz, driving as far as needed, offroad hard, then drive home. You won't want to do that in most heavily modified conventional 4x4's.

Just a data point.... probably not a surprise since it's a pinz board. But I've had mine since 2000 or so, and would never go back to a conventional 4x4. (I do have 3 other 4x4's at the house plus the pinz for the kids & daily driving)

Have fun,

Alan