Fulfilling a childhood Dream...

[OregonCruzer]

So, first time post, first time pig owner--figured I'd kill two birds at once!

I didn't really mean to set out to buy a pig a month ago after a 75 foot steel beam tried to take the top off of my 6.2 diesel suburban (and my head along with it). In the doldrums of dealing with the insurance company and trying (unsucessfully) to find a diesel 'burban as nice as the one I had, on a lark I typed in "land" (cos I thought I might find me an old rover) in the Craigslist and up popped a pig. I honestly had never seen one before. And yet something clicked inside, a weird sort of longing. So, first I googled FJ55 and ih8mud appeared. Like Pandora, something just drew me to click and read. And Read... And Read... I was hooked, long before I found the posts talking of "the sickness". I had tasted that sweet heroin, and there was no going back. I guess I'd have to blame my father. When I was seven, my parents divorced, so my dad and I went shopping. We looked at three cars: a VW Vanagon, a Diesel Jetta, and a red (emphasis on the RED) FJ60. I can clearly remember the first glimpse of that car and how much I begged and begged my dad to buy the FJ. Instead he settled for the Vanagon (it was a grand cheaper...). I thought about that FJ, every time we climbed Monarch pass at 20mph while the world passed us by at the speed of light. But IM not bitter...

Aight, enoguh about that. Lemme finish my

So, the specifics are a December 1973 Pig with stock F engine, holley carb (with some issues), a partial desmog, and minimal/normal rust (It was a CA rig, then went to Bend, OR, then came over in the valley around 2000-2002). The driveline is tight and Xfer case seems solid (it engages and desn't seem to be leaking).

Priorities? I'll post some pics once I find out where the missus took my digi camera (or if I can find my damn cellphone charger...). It needs a tune up awfully bad. It misses under load unless I choke it down a bit. The ball joints in the steering system are a little toasty. usual rubber issues. It will be my DD until I amass the stuff to begin the derusting. I guess the final goal is a 2-4" lift, bigger tires, power steering, Aisin carb and vac advance distributor (JimC?) and chemo. FIrst, I'll probably try to tackle completing the desmog and the tuneup.

Well, thanks for showing me there are other crazed fanatics like myself.

Hello, I'm Darren, and I'm a Pig Fanatic.

[D'Animal]

Welcome to MUD!

Piggs are so ugly they are actually good looking.

Post some pics.

[RHINO]

background stories are cool with vehicles, welcome to the heard.

[usmcruiser]

<- offical mud welcome

Good to hear some background and how you got the sickness.

My only advice is to go to some sort of meeting. There you will be able to meet other people with this disease. There and only there will you find help. And by help I mean wrenching.

[D'Animal]

Originally Posted by usmcruiser

<- offical mud welcome

My only advice is to go to some sort of meeting. There you will be able to meet other people with this disease. There and only there will you find help.

TLCA Meeting or attend Surf and Turf 2007!

Join a local club for your addiction. Check the club hosue corner here on MUD to find a local one.

[Lucy_FJ55]

Welcome to the 'Sty'.

Great story. We wanna see some pics! I wonder if I have seen your pig before (I live in Bend). What color is it? If you ever get back over to Bend let us know, we'll have to get the piggies together. Congrats and welcome to the addiction.

OINK! OINK!

[Lucy_FJ55]

Oh, I forgot to mention, there are a couple Toyota specific clubs in Oregon that I know of (maybe more??).

Check out:
http://cascadecruisers.com/

or:
http://cootanet.com/
<shameless plug>

Seek and you shall find solace.

[OregonCruzer]

Ok, so i promised some pig porn, so here it is:

I apologise for the crappy pic quality-using my boss' old sony 1MP (it writes to a floppy).

So, my first assesment on the rust I think will need to be revised a bit. The previous owner installed a new roof liner, and after last nights rain, I think I have some saggage. Oh well, I'll just go from the roof down.

[OregonCruzer]

... and one of the dash:

Well, it looks like its time for me to go silver already . I'll post more once I get my good camera back (and a silver star). Today I'll be bleeding the brakes and beginning my assesment of what needs to be tackled first.

[Lucy_FJ55]

Wow! She looks pretty good. Is she an Oregon truck?

[n2666s]

welcome to the trough....that don't look like no rust..........I gots du rust................nice piggy;

Lou

[PabloCruise]

That is in good Piggy shape!

You picked a winner!

Welcome to MUD!

FYI: no ball joints on a 55, but there are tie rod ends.

Do a search for Jim Chenoweth or Jim C. I think his online name is FJ40Jim. Read his posts on de-smogging. Also search Mark Algazy. Mark and Jim are the two people to source a Aisin carb from. They are expert Aisin carb rebuilders. If you are thinking about going to a 2F, you might find one w/ am Aisin on it and go from there. I am not sure if Mark A. has written any threads about desmogging...

[PabloCruise]

Jim C on de-smog: http://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/80445-vacuum-line-tips.html

[OregonCruzer]

Originally Posted by Lu:beer:cy_FJ55

Wow! She looks pretty good. Is she an Oregon truck?

Originally, it was a California truck. When I peeled off the old reg stickers on the plates to put the new ones on, they went back to '98. It went from CA somewhere to Bend and then to the valley, but I'm not sure how long is been here in the rain cloud.

Oh, and off subject, but Jubelale is out for the year for all you PacNorthwesterners!

[OregonCruzer]

Originally Posted by PabloCruise

That is in good Piggy shape!

You picked a winner!

Welcome to MUD!

FYI: no ball joints on a 55, but there are tie rod ends.

Do a search for Jim Chenoweth or Jim C. I think his online name is FJ40Jim. Read his posts on de-smogging. Also search Mark Algazy. Mark and Jim are the two people to source a Aisin carb from. They are expert Aisin carb rebuilders. If you are thinking about going to a 2F, you might find one w/ am Aisin on it and go from there. I am not sure if Mark A. has written any threads about desmogging...

Yeh, thanks for the clarification. I'm the tool/parts guy at an FMS (a military auto shop) here and I'm notoriously terrible about proper nomenclature. I think they just keep me around 'cos they can't fix the computers

I, like many it seems, have been mainly waffling between how "stock" I want to keep it, and reading multiple threads on the subject just makes me more and more indecisive. Everyone on side x, y,or z seem to have excellent reasons why they did what they did. I guess my dream engine would be some sort of diesel conversion, but I like the F so far, even with it needing a tune up somthin fierce and backfiring throught he carb under load sometimes. I wouldn't mind doing a 2F swap out if I can find a decently strong motor for a reasonable price.

[n2666s]

keep one that nice stock...........very few now in this condition.......my 0.2


Lou

[D'Animal]

Originally Posted by OregonCruzer

I, like many it seems, have been mainly waffling between how "stock" I want to keep it, and reading multiple threads on the subject just makes me more and more indecisive.

"STOCK" is a picture of time when a group of engineers agreed to built what they thought was the most capable thing. It is a good platform to start from.

[Lucy_FJ55]

Mmmmm, Jubelale.

[nat]

Piggies are the best! Yours looks sweet, very nice.

[OregonCruzer]

So, today i spent most of the day driving all over Eugene trying to find any shop manual for a '73 Cruzer. Finally found one at Kenechts. Finished ripping off most of the smog equipment and battening down any air leaks I found. I am thinking I'll be getting a valve job done here soon as I'm blowing some black smoke. Funny thing is I don't seem to be leaking oil anywhere as the dipstick has been rather steady. Not sure what to make of it.

[PabloCruise]

You could be running rich.

Set mix and timing before spending $ on valve job...

[OregonCruzer]

Originally Posted by PabloCruise

You could be running rich.

Set mix and timing before spending $ on valve job...

lol yeah--well it sure is amazing what 6 new plugs a new set of wires, cap and rotor do for ya! Went out this morning to start on a tuneup. Pulled all the plugs to inspect-solid black crud and a couple missing insulation. The plug wires were hard and brittle and tons of scoring on the dizzy cap. Went to NAPA, got the stuff I needed, and installed them in the parking lot. Turned it over and it sounded like a new engine! No more backfiring. I'm still thinking I am going to go back to the AISIN carb--I think the Holley that's on there is pretty thirsty. I'll tinker with the timing/dewll and mixture probably on Tuesday when I can get her undercover. Was reading in the HAynes manual that valve lash needs to be set also-I'll check that out too. Otherwise, the main stuff I had to get done to drive it is complete!

[PabloCruise]

Sounds good man!

You are on your way.

Glad to see you have a star already.

[OregonCruzer]

Originally Posted by PabloCruise

Sounds good man!

You are on your way.

Glad to see you have a star already.

Best deal running!

[rsbcruiser]

Originally Posted by OregonCruzer

So, first time post, first time pig owner--figured I'd kill two birds at once!

I didn't really mean to set out to buy a pig a month ago after a 75 foot steel beam tried to take the top off of my 6.2 diesel suburban (and my head along with it). In the doldrums of dealing with the insurance company and trying (unsucessfully) to find a diesel 'burban as nice as the one I had, on a lark I typed in "land" (cos I thought I might find me an old rover) in the Craigslist and up popped a pig. I honestly had never seen one before. And yet something clicked inside, a weird sort of longing. So, first I googled FJ55 and ih8mud appeared. Like Pandora, something just drew me to click and read. And Read... And Read... I was hooked, long before I found the posts talking of "the sickness". I had tasted that sweet heroin, and there was no going back. I guess I'd have to blame my father. When I was seven, my parents divorced, so my dad and I went shopping. We looked at three cars: a VW Vanagon, a Diesel Jetta, and a red (emphasis on the RED) FJ60. I can clearly remember the first glimpse of that car and how much I begged and begged my dad to buy the FJ. Instead he settled for the Vanagon (it was a grand cheaper...). I thought about that FJ, every time we climbed Monarch pass at 20mph while the world passed us by at the speed of light. But IM not bitter...

Aight, enoguh about that. Lemme finish my

So, the specifics are a December 1973 Pig with stock F engine, holley carb (with some issues), a partial desmog, and minimal/normal rust (It was a CA rig, then went to Bend, OR, then came over in the valley around 2000-2002). The driveline is tight and Xfer case seems solid (it engages and desn't seem to be leaking).

Priorities? I'll post some pics once I find out where the missus took my digi camera (or if I can find my damn cellphone charger...). It needs a tune up awfully bad. It misses under load unless I choke it down a bit. The ball joints in the steering system are a little toasty. usual rubber issues. It will be my DD until I amass the stuff to begin the derusting. I guess the final goal is a 2-4" lift, bigger tires, power steering, Aisin carb and vac advance distributor (JimC?) and chemo. FIrst, I'll probably try to tackle completing the desmog and the tuneup.

Well, thanks for showing me there are other crazed fanatics like myself.

Hello, I'm Darren, and I'm a Pig Fanatic.

Hi Darren, my name is Richard, I am playing the role of the pusher man (*** damn the pusher man), What you have is infatuation, To stick the needle in first drive to where you know the burb will go no further, keep going, now you are a little scared, keep going, now you are scared to death, stop, at this time notice that the pig wants to keep going, you are almost there feel it flow, turn back, as you drive back from the brink NOW notice the real point, piggy gets you back! Now you are doomed for sure, welcome to the club. Forget the AA meeting only death will truly part you from this torment. When your wife sreams with truth in her voice "we are going to die" , thats' the clue you have gone far enough! A couple tips, check the rubber flaps covering the rear frame mounts. Keep those affixed, area clean, and the underside of the body (huge shelfs down there) mud free. The brakes.... consult these guys before going there, I recomend the stock toy brake tool, the brakes are all manual adjust, your job. Own a greese gun? Just know that there are 16? greeze zerks on the pig.

ps best avatar ever