POTM Jan 08 - Nat's Iron Pig

[nat]

Well, here is my Pig to lead off 2008 Much of my progress and build pics are in my build thread, which is in my Sig. I do have a bunch of recent pics to show off.

I have had my Pig for a few years now. I fell in love with them when I saw the Toyota Trails article called, "The Running of the Pigs." I just knew I had to have one

I found one in Az that had many mods that I was interested in and I built on that. Here is my FJ55 today.

1972, was built in November of 71'
SBC 350 with TBI
NV4500
Split transfer case
AA twin sticks, so I have 2 wheel low
70 series full floater
4 wheel disks, FJ80 master cylinder, FJ60 dual diaphram booster
Bullbar with 8274 winch
All new seals and weatherstripping (I made ones for the fixed windows in the rear doors)
Silverado bucket seats
Tuffy console
Uniden CB
Pioneer CD/IPod/Sirius Satellite Radio
New carpet, headliner and panels
Spare Tire Carrier/bumper of my own design and Fabrication. (I made the parts and my buddy did the welding)
Beadlock rims, Goodyear MTR's 33x12.50
Cargo area roll cage that provides shoulder harness mounts for the rear seat

That is what I remember right now

 

[nat]

Rear tire carrier..........

is almost finished, but needs some key features added to it.

 

[nat]

The roll cage needs powder coating

but I will do that after I get the speaker mounts figured out

 

[nat]

My son helping out

 

[nat]

Some poser shots

 

[nat]

Up on the North Coast.

 

[nat]

More to come.

My Vintage Air unit is installed in its rough location.

Also my unique dash fix so all looks good with the SOR replacement pad.

 

[rsrai]

that thing is beautiful. nice work.

 

[nat]

Cool video - pre body work

God I love the way Flowmasters sound. For any of you that are thinking of V8 conversions...............

http://www.nis-photo.com/nat-fj55.AVI

The suspension creak is the very worn bushings between the spring eyelet and shackle.

 

[1973Guppie]

Nat, can you provide more info on your rollbar? did you make it yourself?

 

[SGT0311]

WOW!!! I sold my 80, now this has me rethinking the 55!!!! Nice work.

 

[nat]

More roll cage pics

You can see how I installed the shoulder belts.

The flexible netting was something my Mom-in-law had for her Navigator. She was pitching it and I grabbed it thinking it would be handy. Now after 3 years it has a purpose!

It keeps the dogs in back and serves as a giant pocket. We store the leashes and harnesses, plus binoculars for easy access.

 

[nat]

Now here is my plan to finish off the dash........

First this is what it looks like now

and this is the plan

That lower drop down panel interferes with the Vintage Air unit. The two indicator lights I just put there untill the dash insert is done.

The hazzard switch will go up in the dash insert. The lighter will be relocated and become accessory ports.

Notice the P.O. cut the dash for a radio. I have my Pioneer unit in there now, but it will be in the dash insert.

 

[nat]

It will look like this

This is a rough model, I have to measure the exact sizes, but 6" wide is perfect and it will be 32" long or something like that.

I have a 3/4" thick piece of aluminum and it will get a step machined down to 1/2" thick to match the dash geometry.

here is my raw material

 

[nat]

This is my mill/drill and my big cutters

 

[nat]

Some other pics to see how the dashcap looks.

This is the problem with the later style dashcap. It does not have the drop down for the rear tailgate switch.

That is what I am fixing by filling in everything with a piece of aluminum. Powder coated probably.

There will be a pocket machined into the backside to let it fit flush over the old switch area.

 

[nat]

My computer............

looks at my Pig.

This is the design of my scratch built independant suspension trailer.

 

[nat]

The wife listening for thunder today

 

[PScottBx]

Nat...awesome!

Where did you get these pipe clamps...sweet!


Bx

 

[OZCAL]

Nice writeup Nat.

Talk to me about the license plate holders