Builds 1978 FJ55 BATPIG

[gonzopancho]

Another pig that looks ready to drive, but……, surprise!

They’re all like that until they come to the Sty.

 

[bobm]

1929 Niagara model 362.
Model 362 is 50" cut, 10g capacity.
Model 362 ran from 1907-1937.

Weighs about 3,000lbs.
Shears 4' of 10ga without a hesitation.

95 years old. Was designed to cut nonstop at full capacity. New machines cant do that for 10years.

Was originally belt-driven off an overhead jack shaft. Someone in the past converted it to a 3-ph motor.

“Made before stupid people.”

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All the stuff I learned on. Built like a Brick s***house

 

[tucker74]

Man - more live action in this thread than I’ve seen in a long time! Love the cleanup, this pig is going to be sweet. I’m betting SOR had a 55 version of that bar, Marv was a big fan of the pigs (had a 20min conversation with him about 55 mirrors when ordering new screws for mine back in the day). Amazingly in-tact end pieces on that rear bumper. What is this magical Vegas gold (chrome)?

Digging this rig @gonzopancho

 

[gonzopancho]

What is this magical Vegas gold (chrome)?

Vegas Gold is a powder coat color that is quite close to the original pewter paint.

Digging this rig @gonzopancho

Me too! Thanks!

 

[tucker74]

I spy some Dave Gore handy work Color looks good, these are going to look great!

 

[gonzopancho]

I spy some Dave Gore handy work Color looks good, these are going to look great!

If you’re referring to the front bumper there... that’s just a pic I found here on mud of the Vegas Gold powder coat vs the stock pewter paint.

This truck keeps its stock bumpers. Trying to keep this one “questionable stock”.

Since you mentioned Dave … spent part of the day tearing the swingouts off a 40 bumper of his.

Plan is to go back together with zerks toward the body, and a channel for grease in the bushing.

This one was on the 76 fj40 I had (@PabloCruise drove it a couple times when he was in Austin.)

This bumper is headed for the 72 fzj40. I have a different one on the 74 fj40 that I’ve owned for > 20 years that @samc2447 can attest is nearly frozen solid.

IDK why Dave won’t install zerks. I’ve mentioned it to him a couple times over the years.

Otherwise, they’re fantastic pieces. Very stout. The 74 fj40 got rear-ended on H1 in Honolulu when the traffic ahead of me stopped but the woman in the Honda Accord 300’ behind me did not.

She hit me hard enough to push me (brakes still on) into the minivan in front of me. (Turned out to be a neighbor of mine.). Collapsed the rear door on the minivan, and the Accord fender was pealed open from the DS strut tower to the A pillar. Her airbags went off. I’m sure they totaled the Accord.

I just brushed some paint flakes off the bushing on the PS and the bulb in the license plate light. No other damage on the 40.

 

[gonzopancho]

Fuel tank leaks at the drain and looks like probably above, has been for a while by the size of the residue.

Maybe why the truck arrived with less than 1/8th tank of fuel.

Thinking about fabricating an aluminum replacement fuel tank. No lower than the bumper at the back, (try to keep it above the frame rails), angled to the front for a sump, baffled, accommodate the stock vapor lines, sender and pickup, plumb for a return.

Rough sketches and calcs show 35 gallons. Probably relocate the spare to do that, but I’m doing that anyway.

If that all works out, I’ll duplicate it for the other fj55s I have, make provisions to mount an in-tank pump for those that want/need that, and maybe put it into production at Boyd’s.

(I know about the LRA 55 gal tank, but it’s huge, and mild steel.)

 

[PabloCruise]

Knew Shews

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Much mo' betta!

 

[PabloCruise]

2 short. Will replace.

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Oh holy Hannah!
Are those original?!?

 

[PabloCruise]

Brighter eyes (RMS LED conversions). Has that "old skool cool" look but you can see at night.


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I can't wait to see the front done up in Vegas Gold. I don't the blacked out front on a Pig.

 

[PabloCruise]

Did you aim the low beams nice and proper?

 

[PabloCruise]

In other news, the lift is up and running, and it looks like it's time to fix the PS rack on the Taco.
It's always something.

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How many miles on the Taco?
Is there play in the inner and outer rod ends?

 

[PabloCruise]

Brush guard reworked.

I’ve allways thought the FJ55 bumper sat low and forward. It needs something upright to bridge the gap.

Relocated the lower tube up, added nuts on the tube mounts for more thickness and drain holes.
Lower where it wraps under will get a 3rd tab to attach to the bottom of the bumper.

Ditched the rubber pads on it. Pass side of the bumper will get portapowered back into place. Extra holes in bumper filled.

The piece had some stampings. SOR used to make a similar piece with a huge guard for the 40-series, maybe they made them for 55s, too.(?)

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Also much mo' betta!!!

 

[PabloCruise]

.

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They are doing some nice work!!!

 

[PabloCruise]

We have 2 FJ62s that I'm pretty sure we know the 'original' milage on. We're the second owner on the 89, and we bought the 88 from TLC back in 2004.

I have a small collection of 1955s that I've never been concerned about the milage.

Yup, but this was an opportunity to get to a running/driving pig, that appears to be 'questionable stock'.


don't know that I'll flip it, but I get your take.

Mileage... If you see a Cruiser (or other vehicle) that calls to you, You pays your money and you take your chances...

It's nice to know, but life is a series of choices and consequences.

We have always gotten second-hand dogs, this is the first batch of dogs where we know their original names and actual birth dates!

 

[PabloCruise]

DS frame horn had a twist. Quick yank and some relief hits and the bumper slips right on.

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Sounds like you found a good shop!

 

[PabloCruise]

You should see today’s upgrade.

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It looks like these guys do things the right way - craftsmen!

 

[PabloCruise]

This one was on the 76 fj40 I had (@PabloCruise drove it a couple times when he was in Austin.)


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The Green Goblin!
Tell her "Hi" for me...

 

[PabloCruise]

Thinking about fabricating an aluminum replacement fuel tank. No lower than the bumper at the back, (try to keep it above the frame rails), angled to the front for a sump, baffled, accommodate the stock vapor lines, sender and pickup, plumb for a return.

Rough sketches and calcs show 35 gallons. Probably relocate the spare to do that, but I’m doing that anyway.

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If that all works out, I’ll duplicate it for the other fj55s I have, make provisions to mount an in-tank pump for those that want/need that, and maybe put it into production at Boyd’s.

(I know about the LRA 55 gal tank, but it’s huge, and mild steel.)

Nice!
I remember one time @J Mack offered to share his plans for a tank he fabbed, but I don't recall ever seeing said details.
Did you see the inner plumbing of a tank that was cut open recently?

 

[PabloCruise]

Fuel tank leaks at the drain and looks like probably above, has been for a while by the size of the residue.

Maybe why the truck arrived with less than 1/8th tank of fuel.

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Whoa! That looks very moist.
I missed this post and now your post about making an aluminum tank makes more sense.
Is it wet by the fill hose?
If the fill hose is as old as the brake lines, that could be a source of trouble...
And it would run down and perhaps gravitate towards the drain plug.
I think I have the drain plug gasket p/n in my build thread.