New Pig aKa "Sandy the Pig" coming to Florida

[Pathfinder]

So I thought I would post up a quick teaser and give myself a start to my "new" pig.

I've been looking for the right one for sometime and believe I've located it.

She is a '78 Fj55 with Cold Factory AC. Just had a complete body sand to metal and re-paint. I am flying out this Wednesday to drive her back with my Dad from AZ to her new home in Tampa, Fl. This tread will serve as a mini blog and documentation of Sandy coming home to her new family. More history of Sandy coming soon.

The drive will be 2,000+ miles of fun. I'll post up some progress and pictures as we get underway.

Looking forward to the 4 days with my Dad and the open road to bring her home.

I purchased a road ready report and would highly recommend anyone looking at a car long distance spend the $300. Its very detailed and gives you a good overview of what your buying.

This is not my first long distance cruiser purchase with long road trip home. Here is my old tread of my old Fj60. https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-...new-used-1984-cruiser-what-should-i-take.html

Here is a picture of Sandy the Pig and the route she will be taking this week.

 

[greentruck]

Red is not my favorite color, but if a FJ55 was parked under it, I'd manage.

Beautiful looking Pig. How many miles it have on it, near as you can tell?

This trip will tell you she's made of. My longest trip in a 55 was Illinois to Phoenix and back. That bench seat got awfully hard.

 

[Pathfinder]

It has 35k miles on it. 2nd owner purchased from first owner of 34 years. Have a copy of original title from 78!

Spent its whole life in AZ so little to no rust! "Florida will fix that"

 

[scrapdaddy]

Congrats! Enjoy the adventure with your Dad. Make it a fun trip and take alot of pictures, You'll look back on them the rest of your life.

Good Job!

 

[Delancy]

Awesome Pig, man. Nice score.

 

[Pathfinder]

So i've been doing some trip preparation. My Dad is flying in from Washington state and me from Florida on Wednesday then getting up early the next day and meeting the owner.

I'm looking for suggestions on what items to bring. I plan to bring a few specific tools but purchase the majority from wally world in Tucson drive back and only use what I need. This way I can keep my packing down to a minimum.

Vehicle preparation: I am going to use Blue 3m painters tape and mask the front areas of the pig to reduce rock chips that will occur on the 2,000 mile odyssey. (gotta keep the clean) Owner will have the pig's oil changed, lubed, and replace the drive belts for me today.

Route:

• Wednesday: Fly into Arizona.
• Thursday: We will be leaving on Thursday and trying to get with-in 2-3 hrs of San Antonio (12 Hour drive on day 1). Stay the night.
• Friday: Drive and spend some time in San Antonio with Davy Crocket, eat mexican, tour a little. The Drive remainder to Mobile Alabama.
• Saturday: Tour USS Alabama and meet some good friends for lunch/breakfast and drive remainder of way.
• Sunday: Rest, stretch, and spend day with family at Church fall festival.

Days/times subject to change should we want to take longer, driving goes slower than anticipated.

List of items I will be carrying:

• Brake fluid
• 5 qts. motor oil
• 2 gallons antifreeze
• 10 gallons of water
• 10 bottles of fuel cleaner
• rainX
• WD-40
• brake cleaner
• starting fluid
• grease gun
• fuses
• screw driver set
• box wrenches - Metric
• 1 roll duct tape
• 2 rolls blue painters tape
• 2 rolls paper towels
• carpet knife with blades
• bailing wire
• hammer
• tire repair kit
• electrical wire
• rubbermade container

Other items:

• FSM (year and body specific)
• GoPro camera
• iPod with portable speakers (drown out road/wind noise)
• snacks
• gps
• trigger point massage kit (think we are going to need)

Lots of:

• Redbull, snacks, and prayers

Let me know your thoughts on what else I might be missing or need to think about. Also if there are things we should see along the way back home please let me know. Its as much about getting the pig back home as it is about having fun and seeing some of our great nation.

Both my Dad and i are really pumped and looking forward to spending time together and would wecome your thoughts, ideas, insights, and prayers.

 

[Pathfinder]

Reserved 1.3

 

[shmukster]

55

Nice pig, great truck to buy! Best of luck with the long drive home hope all goes well. Gary S

 

[tucker74]

Congrats on the pig! That stretch from El Paso to San Antonio is desolate, plan your fuel distances and choose your overnight spot (Junction or Kerrville will be best). Keep in mind the smaller towns will be closed down at night other than maybe a gas station, I'd recommend buying a AAA membership if you don't have one . Might think about one of those portable battery booster boxes, hopefully it's got a new battery. Good time of the year for traveling, shouldn't be too hot during the day ... have fun windmill spotting out there

Tucker

BTW: Full iPod or SAT radio are recommended, your radio dial will spin on AM for most of that first day

 

[Devils Paw 80]

Congratulations! It's a beauty. Tucker's tip on planning your gassing stops is a good one. I'd be curious what the range of a stock 55 is. Longer than that of a 40 for sure, which is a very good thing. Look forward to your updates.

 

[davegonz]

Good looking truck!

With the factory AC, I'm curious to know if it has rust in the roof/gutter area.

 

[nuclearbeef]

My brother and I picked up my pig in Vancouver about a year ago and drove it back to Memphis.

When we crossed over, we hit the Harbor Freight in Bellingham and loaded up on tools we might need. We picked up most of what you mentioned, plus a few things.

All we wound up doing was putting fuel and 2 qts of oil in it on the entire drive back. Never used any of the tools. Hope you have as good of luck.

Things we took that you haven't mentioned:
Multi-meter
Dykes
Kit with electrical connectors and misc. wire
Inverter
Jumper cables

We flew out with nothing and got all this stuff at Harbor Freight.
Used the jumper cables as power cables for the inverter.
Bought el-cheapo powered computer speakers at WalMart and hooked the ipod to them for entertainment.
Don't forget to load some new books on tape onto your iPod!

Good luck!

JW

 

[landcruisnman]

That's awesome....I'd love to take my kids on a road trip in a pig. Serious bonding. You'll never forget it....
Enjoy the drive and take your time !!

 

[Ming89FJ62]

Congrats on the nice looking pig. I did a similar trip when I purchased Chester - drove from Des Moines to Chicago (not quite as epic as AZ to FL). About 25 mile east of Des Moines the carb starts acting up (it was fine when I was driving around town the night before). Back to the Toyota dealer who played with it for an hour. All was fine until it crapped out again about 75 miles from home and I had to pump the gas peddle the rest of the way home. Needless to say it made for a memorable trip.

BTW - ear plugs might help if the portable speakers aren't up to drowning out the road noise.

Can't wait to hear about the drive. Best of luck.

 

[Pathfinder]

Congrats on the nice looking pig. I did a similar trip when I purchased Chester - drove from Des Moines to Chicago (not quite as epic as AZ to FL). About 25 mile east of Des Moines the carb starts acting up (it was fine when I was driving around town the night before). Back to the Toyota dealer who played with it for an hour. All was fine until it crapped out again about 75 miles from home and I had to pump the gas peddle the rest of the way home. Needless to say it made for a memorable trip.

BTW - ear plugs might help if the portable speakers aren't up to drowning out the road noise.

Can't wait to hear about the drive. Best of luck.

I am hoping that the only event I encounter are where to stop for gas. Sounds like a fun trip and made for some great memories.

 

[Pathfinder]

That's awesome....I'd love to take my kids on a road trip in a pig. Serious bonding. You'll never forget it....
Enjoy the drive and take your time !!

My 4 year old daughter really wants to go with me and her poppi. I would love to take her however i think that after she watches the entire collection of Dora she will wish she had stayed at home rather than be strapped in a car seat.

Plus the cost of a 3rd ticket makes it more prohibitive. Think I'll reserve future trips to shorter florida jonts with the girls.

 

[Pathfinder]

My brother and I picked up my pig in Vancouver about a year ago and drove it back to Memphis.

When we crossed over, we hit the Harbor Freight in Bellingham and loaded up on tools we might need. We picked up most of what you mentioned, plus a few things.

All we wound up doing was putting fuel and 2 qts of oil in it on the entire drive back. Never used any of the tools. Hope you have as good of luck.

Things we took that you haven't mentioned:
Multi-meter
Dykes
Kit with electrical connectors and misc. wire
Inverter
Jumper cables

We flew out with nothing and got all this stuff at Harbor Freight.
Used the jumper cables as power cables for the inverter.
Bought el-cheapo powered computer speakers at WalMart and hooked the ipod to them for entertainment.
Don't forget to load some new books on tape onto your iPod!

Good luck!

JW

I knew I was missing something:
added multi-meter, jumper cables, inverter, and other misc electrical items.

Thanks for reminding me of them. I've got all my home stuff packed and ready.

-insurance done
-FSM
-computer stuff
-bill of sale
-copy of ad
-copy of pre inspection report

really getting pumped. Just need some walking around cash and should be good to go.

 

[htownfire]

So I thought I would post up a quick teaser and give myself a start to my "new" pig.

I've been looking for the right one for sometime and believe I've located it.

She is a '78 Fj55 with Cold Factory AC. Just had a complete body sand to metal and re-paint. I am flying out this Wednesday to drive her back with my Dad from AZ to her new home in Tampa, Fl. This tread will serve as a mini blog and documentation of Sandy coming home to her new family. More history of Sandy coming soon.

The drive will be 2,000+ miles of fun. I'll post up some progress and pictures as we get underway.

Looking forward to the 4 days with my Dad and the open road to bring her home.

I purchased a road ready report and would highly recommend anyone looking at a car long distance spend the $300. Its very detailed and gives you a good overview of what your buying.

This is not my first long distance cruiser purchase with long road trip home. Here is my old tread of my old Fj60. https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-...new-used-1984-cruiser-what-should-i-take.html

Here is a picture of Sandy the Pig and the route she will be taking this week.

If I new you was coming through Houston. We could has met up off I10 for a pig feast. I know a nice old school dinner where all the car guys hang out for burgers. The parking lot is a car show daily.

 

[Pathfinder]

If I new you was coming through Houston. We could has met up off I10 for a pig feast. I know a nice old school dinner where all the car guys hang out for burgers. The parking lot is a car show daily.

I'm in for a burger and talking pigs if the travel gods allow. Once we get on our way on Thursday and see how far we go I'll update and we can see if the time will work for you.

Would be great to talk swine over a burger.

Let me know the name of the diner.

Hopefully we can meet up.

 

[Pathfinder]

More Pics

Attached are the few pages from the Road Ready inspection I ordered. Thought you all would like to see a few more. Sorry for the PDF as thats all I've got at this point.

Look at the photos of the gas tank where the spare tire usually goes. Looks like an extended range tank. What do you all think? Anyone seen one like this?

I'll get better pics once I meet her in person in a couple of days.



Things I know I'll need/want to address: (
-new door and tail gate weather stripping
-replace weber carb with OEM rebuilt card (owner has a stock one and stock air cleaner he is allowing me to pull from his other FJ55). I'll post a couple of photos so if you all want to give him a call you can. per owner it Needs tranny and transfercase (body from AZ with little rust). ok base to resto.
-new door cards
-odds and ends (handle plates and other interior bits)
-new turn signal, marker, and brake lights
-yank newer stereo/speakers
-want to do something newer with speaker grills that look classic not "new sony" and ipod hookup
-get AM radio working
-oil pan gasket
-service front axel (inner axel seals leaking) and rebuild birfs.
-replace all shocks & re-arch springs and add a leaf (still thinking on this)
-fix interior items and get looking close to show quality
-rebuild/recover seats
-at some point replace all carpet and have custom carpet made by auto interior company.
-I'd like some steel wheels with the dome center caps to get it looking more classic rather than 80's.
-detail engine
-tint windows (florida is hot and want to give the factory AC every chance to succeed!!)
-maybe add a rear bumper/tire holder (looks like there is an extended tank under the cruiser)
-clean underside of cruiser and PQR-15 entire underside (lift body up and address under body mounts) also would like to replace body mounts with new rubber and hardware.
-tall skinny BFG/AT's with new wheels
-oil pan gasket and maybe rear main seal and clutch while I have tranny removed.

well I think I have enough on the list to keep me busy for the next 2+ years. now that i type all this out I am starting to think that I might have been sniffing glue when I decided to buy a FJ55!

Well let the insanity begin. Its going to be fun either way and be some memories.

Off to work to pay for this madness.