New FJ55 Owner - Got some Q's

[MBOffroading]

Recently picked up a '76 FJ55, great condition, runs good, 2F, 4sp, etc... and hardly no rust (that I've seen).

Just a few questions.

Towing - Can I tow a '40 on a trailer with it? My '40 doesn't have a hard top, body cut up (comped rear, comped front). I would want to tow it to places like JV, Moab in the future.

Do most axle parts straight bolt on to the front/rear axle? Items like lunch box lockers, SOA parts, from what I have found, most parts do.

 

[bigfj62]

I would think you could tow but may be a little slow on hills and such.

 

[John Smith]

The FJ55 in stock form, will do a very poor job of towing a trailer with a FJ40 on it.

 

[LAMBCRUSHER]

most axle stuff is the same as the similar vintage 40 series, as is the rest of the drive train. body parts, some steering, all the rubber and interior parts are their own beasts, and mostly hard to come by new. the leaf springs are also unique to this wonderful monster. It won't have much reserve power for towing after it uses what it needs to move itself around. it'll handle smaller trailered loads no prollem, but a whole other truck, is going to be a strain. the brakes aren't great- not bad by itself, but not the best with extra loads. The diffs will all swap over up to 1990 but after 79ish, the pinions are fine spline so you'll have to address the flange to keep your driveshaft. lockers, LSDs, no worries. I've got a 77 with a single cab/flattish bed and keep all my tools on it- weighed in @4900# = or - 50, without any material weight. I have concern for the loading on the semi float shafts, so I am in the process of shortening/installing a full float FZJ80 Elocking axle with disk brakes- all I need is the coin for the custom length shaft. springs require either having customs made, or modifying the mounting points on the frame and using some other trucks springs, as there are no longer aftermarket springs offered to bolt right in. Floorpan reproductions and some other body panels ARE now being produced back east by Bobm and this is a HUGE advancement in keeping these rigs going. window seals are VERY expensive as there is virtually no demand for them, but they are out there. go to the main forum page and scroll to the last sub forum heading-Iron Pig Preservation Society, take a few days off, use the search key and in a few short months, most all of your questions on this subject shall be answered...

 

[MBOffroading]

Cool, Thanks for the info guys. I've gone back and forth on what to do with this. My original plan was to swap the drive train into my '40 (my 40 has a '65 F motor, and a 3sp, and drums up front), and front axle, but I'm pretty sure my wife likes the '55, so I might end up keeping it.

 

[subzali]

If the pig is complete I would try to keep it that way! Drive trains and axles from other part outs are readily available without scavenging from a running pig!

 

[MBOffroading]

Its very complete, a few little things here and there that need work, but what rig doesn't need work? Wife might force me to keep it, she wants/needs a rig for the kiddos!