1976 FJ55 Rebuild

[greendale surf]

Hi Everyone
I recently acquired a 1976 FJ55 and have decided to restore it to is former glory and use it as a hunting wagon and for camping trips. These are such awesome old machines.
I down heaps of work on Toyota Surfs, but never attempted a restoration before.
So a brought the truck sight unseen and had it shipped to Christchurch near where I live and towed it home. The previously owner had park it running in a shed some years back and not looked at it since so I wasn't sure what to expect. Turned out is was in pretty good nick for what i paid and an really happy with it. Some rust but less than expected.
It was running LPG gas so that will be interesting, however I will converted it back to petrol. Last weekend we drag it into the shed and started looking at the engine to really see if we got a good deal.
I by-passed the fuel pump and rigged a fuel can to hang from the bonnet to feed straight into the carb. After some fiddling with the carb I got it firing, and with a bit more the mighty 2F fired into life. Once i adjusted the timing it started an ran real smooth. Great for and old engine that's been sitting for years. So stoked!
I try to keep updates.
Any help or questions would be great as there is heaps to learn.
Cheers, Ethan

 

[78fj40mg]

Nice 55 look forward to your resto!

BTW ~ Welcome to MUD!

 

[JungleBiker]

Say, is that "Dog" from the old "Footrot Flats" comic strip?

 

[Taha32]

Solid looking 55, with a bit of rust to sort out.

If you are after a hand/advise I am based at uni in Christchurch. Running a fj45 which is currently undergoing a 12ht conversion and a pzj70. Can help with parts too.

 

[greendale surf]

He's a bit of a character but hasn't had quite as many adventures but just as loyal
Thanks for the offer Taha32, I'll defiantly take you up on it. Awesome truck too, is it a 72?
Also my rigged fuel tank off a mower! Doesn't fuel the beast for long lol

Last weekend was another busy one. I have decided to strip the truck down and start removing the rust. It looks like there is pretty good and I pleased with the condition of the truck, looks like its bee well looked after by previous owners.
I removed the seats and floor mats first to check out the floor pans. Both look like they have been painted since new and as such are in really good condition. There is some surface rust and some in the corners but mostly it in great condition.

 

[jamesurq]

Looks like an IV drip Congrats on the beast - and good luck with the rebuild.

 

[greendale surf]

I removed the doors and started pulling out the roof lining. I have decided I'm going to strip it down and get the body sand blasted and painted to remove all rust future proof it for rust.
Im still impressed with the overall condition of the truck. Its a shame that Raymond never got to restore it, He sold it to me for a great price so I hope I can do good by the truck.
I would be keen to know a bit about the history of the old girl... Dad and I got it off Raymond, in Nightcaps. I also found a really old photo of the old girl towing a boat when I was lifting the floor.

 

[Feistl]

Hey mate,

Let me know if theres any specific 55 bits your chasing... There is a 55 in the local wrecking yard here (i grabbed the steering column from it), was in reasonable condition and 99% complete.

Plus i think ill be in wellington in a few weeks for work, so can bring some small items across.

Otherwise good luck with the build.

 

[scrapdaddy]

Greendale,

Welcome to the group, looks like you found a nice wagon to start with. If you want, click on the link and introduce yourself to the 55 forum. A lot of knowledge and parts to be had. FJ55 Iron Pig Preservation Society

 

[PabloCruise]

Greendale,

Welcome to the group, looks like you found a nice wagon to start with. If you want, click on the link and introduce yourself to the 55 forum. A lot of knowledge and parts to be had. FJ55 Iron Pig Preservation Society

x2! Come on over to the Pig Sty Ethan!

And post that old pic of your Pig pulling the boat!

That looks like quite the dog there! His (her?) head fills up the window opening - awesome!

 

[greendale surf]

Cheers for the welcome guys, the offers for help and the inspiration is great! There certainly are some great trucks around.
Fergus is quite the character; I’m not sure who was more excited when the truck first got home. He just loves going for a ride!
The photo doesn’t do it justice, but you can tell it’s the same truck by the number plate, it’s a cool find. What’s your take of finding back stories?

 

[PabloCruise]

I love the back stories! I ha some documents in my Pig when I got it, but managed to lose them :-( It looked like one guy owned it for a while, and then sold it to his brother...

 

[greendale surf]

It’s a shame you lost them . I’m hoping to find out a bit more about mines history.
Last weekend I started taking the tail door off. Was a bit of a challenge as there was a fair bit of rust.

I had real trouble with the hinges. Where they bolt to the door I ended up drilling them out as the heads were totally rounded and the bolts weren’t original anyway. Sure enough the spring still has some fair whack, as testified by my finger.
The philipps head screws the held the hinges to the body were problematic. The rust remover didn’t seem to help had to use the persuader! and some heat.
How do you guys go about loosening corroded bolts? as it did catch on fire a bit

 

[scrapdaddy]

Sometimes you can weld a hex nut on the head of the stuck bolt and the heat from welding helps to loosen it. Sometimes a drill and tap works.

 

[PabloCruise]

It’s a shame you lost them . I’m hoping to find out a bit more about mines history.
Last weekend I started taking the tail door off. Was a bit of a challenge as there was a fair bit of rust.
View attachment 1263212
I had real trouble with the hinges. Where they bolt to the door I ended up drilling them out as the heads were totally rounded and the bolts weren’t original anyway. Sure enough the spring still has some fair whack, as testified by my finger.
The philipps head screws the held the hinges to the body were problematic. The rust remover didn’t seem to help had to use the persuader! and some heat.
How do you guys go about loosening corroded bolts? as it did catch on fire a bit
View attachment 1263209 View attachment 1263211

View attachment 1263210

Those torsion bars for the tailgate are not fun at all. I think taking that apart is the worst. It is a little better when you go to put things back together, as you will have new hardware...

 

[greendale surf]

An other big last weekend stripping down the truck with my girlfriend helping. We finished getting the body ready to be removed.

I starting building a frame to mount the body once its off the chassis.
How do you guys deal with the rust inside closed sections such as the sills?
does anyone know the details of the steel in the body, I'm going to need some for making patches?

 

[greendale surf]

This week end Dad and I finished the frame and lifted the body. A technical issue with the crane lift control solenoid meant we all most dropped it

Emerging from the shed with body of the lift frame. My mate for scale!

safely on the truck Fergus though it was all sooo exciting!

 

[greendale surf]

Dad Looking very happy while lifting the engine out. I didn't realise it would be so heavy!
What have other done to remove the paint and rust from the body/chassis? I was going to get the body sand blasted but i can get a wet sand blaster for a similar price. Has anyone used one on a truck before? how did it go and recommendations?

 

[PabloCruise]

Fergus is awesome!

There is lots of info about what is behind the surface metal over in the Pig section...

 

[Taha32]

You still after a fuel pump? Ended up parting out bits off my 2f