Chet's 1974 FJ55 Build

PabloCruise · 12-08-08, 10:20 PM

Cool! Within ~100 of each other!

Regarding coolant overflow and winshield washer bottles; I heard someone say here that they found a parts store washer bottle that fit right in - and I can't find the post!

For coolant overflow, I was thinking Nalgene bottle, but Poser has had good luck using a 60 series bottle in 40's. I am trying to figure out if it will fit in a Pig...

cml25 · 12-12-08, 10:38 PM

I received my carb back from mark and it looks great. He ported it for the vac advance dizzy. PO was running gas thru the vent line... Mark said to ask around for a vent intake cap that threads right in to the top hole. He said the 72 carbs had them. So please let me know if you have one.

Here are some pictures,

Cap for this hole,

Ok enough carb porn

Here's my rear window regulator and motor that run but something was broke...Gear
ordered.

And some more fun stuff

cml25 · 12-12-08, 10:57 PM

I also ordered the 33" x 9.5" BFG AT from Costco. They killed everybody elses prices.
Mounted/Balanced and full hazard warranty for about 156.00 each including tax.
Discount tire wanted just under $1000 for 5. Tirerack was about $146 each plus shipping/mounting/balancing etc..

PabloCruise · 12-13-08, 07:23 AM

Sweet!!!

I know what you are doing this weekend...

cml25 · 12-13-08, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PabloCruise

Sweet!!!

I know what you are doing this weekend...

I wish, rubber will be in next week and I've been doing family stuff all weekend. Going to the Vikings - Cardinals game tomorrow. Go Vikings!
Next weekend is even more busy. I have off Christmas till New years so I plan on getting some stuff done then.

RHINO · 12-14-08, 08:02 AM

wow look at those factory parts. i wonder why the hubcaps are all black like that? are they painted or is that some kind of plastic protection or what?

cml25 · 12-15-08, 05:09 PM

The hubcaps are chrome with black on the recessed areas.

cml25 · 01-08-09, 11:37 PM

Well I finally got to work on the beast over the holidays. I got a 7hp 60gal Compressor for Christmas and wired it up (220v) and sandblasted the side vents, headlight rings, front grill and bumper. I primered everything and painted them all with the rustoleum silver hammertone. I think they came out really nice. I hope the paint lasts for a while. Can or should you clear coat over the hammertone? I'm using a cheap Harbor Freight 110 lb capacity media blaster, it seems to work well on little jobs. I started on the tailgate and cargo area... what a mess

It really takes the old paint and glue right off. It has a hard time with the leftover carpeting fibers. I plan on spraying a white rhino liner on the inside floor.

I also had the stock steel rims powdercoated white and had the rubber installed. The hubcaps were a pita to get on due to the powdercoat "glueing" the clips to the rim. A little hammering and all was well.
My dad helped me replace the brake shoes (I've never messed with drums before) all around and I also replaced the 2 front rubber brake lines. I didn't get the rear or the longer front brake lines yet. Once I get those I'm going to install the new MC and bleed them.

I also replaced the cracked rear window gear and figured out why the switch wasn't working (wires cut under the dash) got that all figured out. I do have a issue with the window going up cockeyed. I cant seem to get the 2 arms even. I took out the rear window channel and replaced the rubber (thanks Lou).

I'm waiting for the carb vent plug from Jim C, usps won't leave it without a signature so I'll be heading over the post office saturday morning.. Then getting the tank back in the truck.

Seems to be about a billion things still to do. My dad said thats why they're called "Projects" lol
I'm still looking for seats, I just don't think the bench is going to cut it for me. I'm 6'3" and my knees are wrapped around the steering wheel. Some local guys are selling brand new Honda Odessy Van seats realtively cheap so I might go that route, and there's nothing wrong with leather

I hope to pick up a used Con Ferr roof rack tomorrow, now I just need the rain gutter clamps. They are hard to find if you don't want to pay $200 for 8. Anybody have any let me know please.

Here's some pictures on the new rims & wheels

And of the grill, headlight rings, side vents and bumper

Kyle Leckey · 01-10-09, 03:14 PM

How much of a lift did you put on it to fit the 33x9.50's?

cml25 · 01-10-09, 04:03 PM

I didn't put any lift on, it may of had one already??

cml25 · 01-10-09, 04:23 PM

Picked up a set of Ford F-250 seats with built in seat belts. I have a question for anybody that used new seats. Do you need to hook some sort of power source to the seat belt to make it lock when braking? There is a deal attached to the seat by the seatbelt and it must hook into the ford's computer. I will need to come up with some sort of frame or bend the tabs so they will mount up ok. Very comfy seats

Gumby · 01-10-09, 07:03 PM

Most locking seat belts use a inertia switch inside of them to lock when they're at an angle or pulled on hard. It could be hooked into the body computer to lock when the air bags deploy or just to tell the computer the status of the seat belts.

cml25 · 02-10-09, 07:57 PM

I've been slowly plinking along on the pig. I finally finished ripping up the black plastic flooring that was cemented to the floor as well as wire wheeling and sandblasting any and all rust. I treated the floor with a rust prohibitor until I could spray in the Gator Guard II Bedliner. I used the Por-15 putty to fill all of the tiny sheetmetal screws that were used to secure the nasty shag carpet down. That stuff is pretty cool, hardens really well. I also made some supports for the long range gas tank and got them attched before doing the bedliner.
I sprayed in the bedliner using the undercarriage gun and it came out pretty good. Only issue was the temp here was lower than ideal and the stuff was going on thicker than I planned. I ended up using 3 of the .45 gal kits and still need another one. That stuff stinks something awful when your spraying it. Make sure and wear a respirator, I didn't at first and was seeing pink elephants for a while

Pictures.

PabloCruise · 02-10-09, 08:18 PM

Wow!

That looks amazing!!!

cml25 · 02-10-09, 10:50 PM

PabloCruise - Thanks, I still need to go back over a few areas. That's the bad part about spraying it and working my way back thru the tailgate. When I looked thru the passenger door I saw all the areas I missed. All and all I'm happy with it. It's the Gator Guard II White and it is gooey sticky stuff. You can see where I accidently sprayed the passenger door and glovebox area. That's going to be fun to clean

I need to do the back of the rear bench and then it's off to be re-upholstered. I'm just going with black vinyl to match the front seats I picked up. I'm getting anxious to drive this thing while it's still nice here. A/C is really something I need to start looking into.. Just so much $$$

cml25 · 02-28-09, 12:16 PM

I just wrote a long detailed description and just erased it....
Oh well pictures are good.

cml25 · 02-28-09, 12:19 PM

eventhough · 02-28-09, 12:37 PM

Looking very good! I'm now wishing that I sprayed some bedliner on the floor of my Pig!

PabloCruise · 03-01-09, 11:26 AM

What is the pewter color you used on the rear seat brackets?

Where did you source this?

Looks Good!

cml25 · 03-01-09, 03:34 PM

Thanks guys, the silver is Rustoleum Hammered. I used it on the front and back bumpers, grill, side vents, air cleaner, battery tray and the rear seat mounts as well as the rear seat trim. I bought it from Home Depot around $6.50 a can.

Here's a link. RustOleum.com

Rock Hill Fj55 · 03-01-09, 05:34 PM

What kind of floor liner did you use? Looks great in white.

cml25 · 03-01-09, 05:45 PM

Rock Hill FJ55 - Thanks, it's the White Gator Guard II Spray-In Bedliner. I used a cheap Undercoating gun to spray it on. I bought the .45 hal kits and ended up using 4 of them so Your better off buying the gallon kits they have. I'd also recommend thinning it a bit. Mine went on really thick. It goes on better when it's at least 70+ degrees outside. Make sure and wear a respirator...I forgot at first and was high as a kite for a little bit.

Eastwood Co. - White Gator Guard II Truck Bed liner

Rock Hill Fj55 · 03-02-09, 03:55 PM

Even though you got high spraying It soulds like you learned somthing!!

Thanks, I like the seats you found too.

1979fj40 · 03-04-09, 05:28 AM

wasnt really a 55 fan , but now I,m starting to want a piggy to build. Wish I could find one close. Nice truck!

cml25 · 03-05-09, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1979fj40

wasnt really a 55 fan , but now I,m starting to want a piggy to build. Wish I could find one close. Nice truck!

Thanks! It has been a learning experience to say the least. The 55 series is really a pain to find parts for compared to just about any of the FJ's around. I know it has to do with how many were sold but it still amazes me what you can get for the 40 & 45 series.

I hope to get the brackets made for the front seats this weekend, Inkpot on mud here has agreed to weld them up for me. I'm having all of the fluids flushed and changed tomorrow. I know I should do it but... I don't want to.

Messy, Messy. To change the front & rear diffs, transfer case, transmission and oil change they are charging $203.00 Seemed reasonable to me.

Still debating on doing the napa hinge repair or buying the rebuilt from SOR. Anybody here use the SOR ones? I think just the front's need to be replaced. I'm also trying to figure out the best insulation for the roof. I want to get the headliner in so I can get the rear cargo glass in and the windshield replaced. Second Skin is here in the valley so I might take a trip over and see what they recommend.

I also have a major case of "The Cruiser Lean" not sure if it's the shocks, leaf springs or body mounts. The rear looks like it's sagging a bit compared to the front. What is the most common cause and fix?

I know I take a lot of pictures but

I like them.

romegadave · 03-05-09, 09:14 PM

Lookin' great Chet. Really like the Gator Liner and your use of the "hammered finish" on different areas of your pig. Those are some shiny white wheels. Did I miss where you got those/or cleaned them up? Too many pictures? I don't think so! Thanks for sharing the many photos!!!!!Dave

cml25 · 03-05-09, 11:35 PM

Thanks Dave, the wheels are new old stock steel from toyota and I had them powdercoated white. If they would of come in the original grey I would of left them but they were black. Yeah I'm a fan of the silver hammered paint. We'll see how long it holds up. I just finished the back bumper the other day but haven't taken any photos recently.

PabloCruise · 03-06-09, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cml25

I know I take a lot of pictures but I like them.

I like Pig pictures too!!!

That is a happy looking little Piggy

PabloCruise · 03-06-09, 08:36 AM

PS: Take a lot of pictures of the headliner install - there aren't too many good How-To threads on Pig headliners

cml25 · 03-15-09, 11:46 PM

Well not much done lately, put new battery cables on. The old ones came apart in my hand when I took them off. Had all the fluids changed and brought it over to inkpots to see about welding up some brackets for my front seats. Still have to figure that one out.

I wanted to take the front turn signals off and sand them down and paint them but ended up destroying one of them... 35 year old plastic is a little brittle, add a rusted out bolt and you got hour plus mess :( My passenger brake light isn't working now. I'm hoping it's because the turn signal is gone in the front? I replaced the brake switch (broken in 2) but it didn't seem to help. I have a new set of the 75+ FJ40, 55 turn signals but need the correct foot for them. Anybody know who sells them or the correct front turn signals?

On a good note my daughter was born on Friday morning and we finally get to go home tomorrow.

Here's a pic. of Camille 9lbs 11 oz