1970 FJ55

[WoodButcher79]

Looking for some advice about body removal on my FJ55 project. Would like to begin prepping to lift tub and front assembly off frame with gantry crane. Dos and don'ts, bracing, order of steps, door removal?, etc.... Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[kbahus]

I don’t have any advice on pulling the body, but that looks like a great 55. Have you seen the patina appreciation thread?

 

[RUSH55]

Wow, yeah! That is a great looking rig! I’d leave the body alone and lift the mirrors off.
That color is rare-rare. @wngrog

We gonna need a bunch more pics too!

 

[jestlurnin]

Check out @WarDamnEagle thread he did a great job documenting the removal of his body.

 

[samc2447]

Remove the grill, hood, fenders, doghouse and everything attached to them - radiator, battery, etc.
Disconnect firewall accessories - brakes, clutch, heater, speedo cable, etc.
Remove the doors and tailgate.
Remove the trans hump and shifters.
Drain the fuel tank.
Depending on what your plan for the tub is, remove all interior bits and cargo glass.
Remove the windshield. Cut the seal and you can save the glass.
Remove the body mount bolts.
Lift away.

 

[WoodButcher79]

Thanks @WarDamnEagle. My plan is only to lift and replace after rolling chassis work. Clean up very slight rust issues on body and then matte clearcoat to preserve patina.

 

[WoodButcher79]

Thanks @jestlurnin and @samc2447

 

[riderjgs]

Remove the radiator, battery, etc.
Disconnect firewall accessories - brakes, clutch, heater, speedo cable, etc.
Remove the trans hump and shifters.
Drain the fuel tank.
Remove the body mount bolts.
Lift away.

If you're not going the full restoration route...here's what we did while doing a simple body swap between two Pigs. You'll also have some wiring to disconnect. LIfted bodies off chassis with a two post lift.

 

[riderjgs]

If you're not going the full restoration route...here's what we did while doing a simple body swap between two Pigs. You'll also have some wiring to disconnect. LIfted bodies off chassis with a two post lift.

should have included disconnect steering shaft

 

[WarDamnEagle]

Can you show us a photo of the gantry crane you plan on using? Don't underestimate the weight of that body. It's a heavy biatch. Will you be using one or two chain falls?

 

[PabloCruise]

Man, just drive that Pig!

She looks ready to go!!!

 

[RUSH55]

Since tagging NG produced no results, here’s his thread for patina preservation

Preserving Patina - How To Tips and Tricks

I keep retyping my “formula” for old Patina preservation so I decided to make a thread so I can just link my response to how I preserve my old Land Cruisers the way I do. For the last 3 years I have been learning how to preserve Land Cruisers in their original state. Protecting their original...

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