Builds 1971 FJ55, "Bucky"

[roadstr6]

Finished Bucky’s seat mounts. Seats are in and secured. They are really comfortable too. I wish they were black, but we can always cover them. The gray isn’t bad. Bucky’s Original mats were totally roached, but there were enough pieces that I was able to use them as a rough template for new mats. I found a 4’x8’ work mat at Home Depot to use as flooring. It is 1/4” thick with a grainy top surface. It works nicely.

 

[wngrog]

Man I bet those seats are comfy. What out of? I missed it

Got room for a Smittybuilt console?

 

[roadstr6]

The seats are from a Chebby Trailblazer. Integrated belts kill two birds with one stone. The buckets forced me to relocate the rear heater to the center of the truck between the front seats. A smittybuilt console won’t work if I keep the heater. I plan to fab a riser bracket with legs that straddle the heater and provide a mount for an ammo can console.

 

[wngrog]

@dnp

 

[roadstr6]

Finished the mount for my DIY ammo can console. As I said before, the heater had to be moved to between the front seats. I had to use some 3/4” risers to gain enough clearance under the heater that the motor would not rub on the floor. The console mount straddles the heater with 1/2” clearance over top of the heater.

 

[roadstr6]

Cut the clamp off the rear of the ammo can and installed a door hinge. 1/4” plywood, two tee nuts, a piece of foam and a piece of vinyl wrapping up the console arm rest cushion.

 

[wngrog]

Awesome. Being lazy here but remind me what the drivetrain is like in this beautiful pig.

 

[roadstr6]

Awesome. Being lazy here but remind me what the drivetrain is like in this beautiful pig.

2F, four speed and front axle from a ‘79 truck. Everything else is as it came in 4/71.

 

[roadstr6]

Console finished and installed. Took Bucky for a drive around the neighborhood (not tagged yet) and the old truck runs good. We’ve got a little exhaust leak at the manifold somewhere I’ve got to trace down (probably that pesky J pipe that always leaks on the later 2F’s) but overall, I’m happy with it. I think it going to be a good truck. Fingers crossed.

 

[scrapdaddy]

You've been doing some good work it and yeah, she'll be a great wagon to hang on to.

 

[RUSH55]

Must... add.... cup holders....

 

[RUSH55]

Seriously though, always loved the Rocket Box center consoles, ever since my old pal @RHINO had one in his rig.

 

[roadstr6]

I have searched and searched for the proper color code for this truck and by accident I just stumbled across some information that I believe to be pertinent. I am pretty sure the color is T-451 Colorado Beige. I have also seen it called T-451 Coronado Beige. Some folks just call it "band-aid" beige. Apparently the color is listed in some of the FJ45 and 45 LV literature. It looks like the T-451 was a wagon only color (not used on the pickups). I believe the color was carried over into the early 55 series wagons as well. It's a dead ringer for Bucky's paint.






640 × 480

 

[roadstr6]

More info: Paint Codes

 

[wngrog]

Very cool find. What have you been using on your patches?

 

[roadstr6]

Very cool find. What have you been using on your patches?

I just had the local paint shop to mix up some rattle cans. They tried to match the paint as best they could just based on the color of the gas filler door. It's an okay match, but not great. I'm not losing any sleep over it.

 

[roadstr6]

You can see the paint mismatch pretty well in this pic. As I said, with this old truck, not going to sweat the details too much. At 10 feet, nobody will notice anyway. There are plenty of warts on this truck that are far worse than this.

At 10 feet the eye pretty much overlooks the paint mismatch:

What is noticeable, however, are the rotted out rear quarters. Maybe I will fix them some day, but right now I just want to drive this pig like it is and have some fun.

 

[wngrog]

55s almost need a little mess to be real.

 

[roadstr6]

55s almost need a little mess to be real.

via Imgflip Meme Generator

 

[roadstr6]

Bucky had a stellar weekend. Took a trip to the DMV. He’s officially street legal now. Tagged and insured. I installed a set of 60 series scuff plates (thanks @cruiserjunktion). Did a little surgery to get the rears to fit. Installed a set of Tuffy cup holders. Got all the lights working (including the dome light). Got the horn working. I put new wiper blade rubbers in the original stainless wiper arms. Cleaned the headliner. Changed all the hoses and flushed the radiator. Took the family for a drive. Good times!