Builds 1971 FJ55, "Bucky" (2 Viewers)

[roadstr6]

Last Saturday the kids and I took Bucky and led a small group of relic ‘cruisers on a day of driving and hiking at 40 Acre Rock in Kershaw, SC

 

[PabloCruise]

Last Saturday the kids and I took Bucky and led a small group of relic ‘cruisers on a day of driving and hiking at 40 Acre Rock in Kershaw, SC

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Looks like a great day in the Pig!

 

[roadstr6]

Bucky continues to be a fun truck to own and drive but it is not without a hiccup or two along the way. I've been having some electrical issues, specifically with the wiring from the alternator to the voltage regulator to the starter. I'll get it figured out. Meanwhile, here are some recent Bucky pics. Several of you follow me on IG, so you may have seen them. If so, my apologies.

 

[RUSH55]

No apologies Dave! Bucky is one of the hottest models around!

 

[roadstr6]

Back in June, the kids and I took Bucky on a little road trip that ended poorly. We had driven the truck all day without a hiccup until our trip home. We were driving along at about 55mph when all of a sudden the engine cut out. A split second later, BOOM! and then the whole cabin was filled with smoke. I kicked it in neutral, switched it off and eased off the road into a vacant parking lot. The main power wire from the battery to the starter was completely burned into. Not a trace of insulation on it either. The loud boom tuned out to be a backfire which blew Bucky's oval shaped muffler into a big round balloon.

Apparently the engine harness came into contact with the exhaust manifold back at the #6 exhaust port. The insulation melted off and the main power wire shorted to the manifold. Of course, all the engine management wires run alongside that main power wire, so they all got melted and burned. I have cut and spliced wires, replaced the starter and decided to upgrade the alternator to an internally regulated alternator from an FJ60. After many trials and tribulations, I am pleased to announce that Bucky is finally back in action!

 

[bobm]

Glad you guys and Bucky are all safe

 

[roadstr6]

...and tonight ‘Ol Bucky got cornea transplants!

 

[RUSH55]

Be good Bucky! Be good.

 

[wngrog]

Wow. Glad you got it back rolling.

 

[PabloCruise]

Back in June, the kids and I took Bucky on a little road trip that ended poorly. We had driven the truck all day without a hiccup until our trip home. We were driving along at about 55mph when all of a sudden the engine cut out. A split second later, BOOM! and then the whole cabin was filled with smoke. I kicked it in neutral, switched it off and eased off the road into a vacant parking lot. The main power wire from the battery to the starter was completely burned into. Not a trace of insulation on it either. The loud boom tuned out to be a backfire which blew Bucky's oval shaped muffler into a big round balloon.

Apparently the engine harness came into contact with the exhaust manifold back at the #6 exhaust port. The insulation melted off and the main power wire shorted to the manifold. Of course, all the engine management wires run alongside that main power wire, so they all got melted and burned. I have cut and spliced wires, replaced the starter and decided to upgrade the alternator to an internally regulated alternator from an FJ60. After many trials and tribulations, I am pleased to announce that Bucky is finally back in action!

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Wow, crazy!

Glad everyone is safe and you got things all sorted out. Plus a few upgrades too!

 

[wngrog]

@frismantis

 

[roadstr6]

Since I have owned the truck, Bucky has suffered a super annoying exhaust leak from the thermoreactor flapper shaft. I finally got tired of listening to it. The fix something went something like this:

Pulled the carb and all the smog bits (none of which were actually functioning). Pulled the manifolds. I used a plasma cutter to remove the exhaust flapper (which was missing a screw and rattling around inside the manifold) and cut out and removed the flapper shaft.

Machine shop resurfaced the manifold and
tapped the shaft holes in the exhaust manifold for set screws.

Sandblasted the valve cover and sprayed it with VHT cast aluminum engine paint and finished it off with a couple coats of VHT clear engine paint.

Before:

After:

I’m waiting on some Jim C desmog bits to show up so I can start reassembling this pig.

 

[RUSH55]

Yeah Bucky!!

 

[wngrog]

Holding out the red TEQ tho

 

[roadstr6]

Holding out the red TEQ tho

CHA-CHING! Money shot:

 

[scrapdaddy]

Perfect!

 

[onemanarmy]

looking good!

School me on that FJ60 alt upgrade.

 

[wngrog]

looking good!

School me on that FJ60 alt upgrade.

Take the Alt gauge out of the mix

Run a wire directly to the battery off the post on the back of the battery.


Done. 55 Amps.

 

[onemanarmy]

take the AMP gauge out of the mix? What about the external voltage regulator? Not needed either?
Just one wire is needed from the ALT to battery?
That simple?

 

[wngrog]

take the AMP gauge out of the mix? What about the external voltage regulator? Not needed either?
Just one wire is needed from the ALT to battery?
That simple?

Yep. Let me link my 45....

Builds - Goat. A 1967 survivor FJ-45 LWB

Baby is out of the corner!

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