20 years in the making. 72-fj55
- Thread starter trainbufftony
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RUSH55
SILVER Star
There’s a bunch of non-factory modifications and molestations done to this!! The spring hangers are from whatever truck the axles came out of most likely. There is also a wonky looking steering box. I would pay close attention to that area.
Remember that when those tires are aired up, that thing is going to sit giraffe pusay high(
)!
Are you really sure you want to tinker on a modified rig?
Remember that when those tires are aired up, that thing is going to sit giraffe pusay high(
)!Are you really sure you want to tinker on a modified rig?
- Thread starter
- #283
100% Positive that I do not want to drive or own a pig with that type of dangerous scab work done to it. Probably good that the last dude stopped where he did. Did he sober up, did he find a nice young lady who likes crystal meth as much as he does? Perhaps the world will never truly know.There’s a bunch of non-factory modifications and molestations done to this!! The spring hangers are from whatever truck the axles came out of most likely. There is also a wonky looking steering box. I would pay close attention to that area.
Remember that when those tires are aired up, that thing is going to sit giraffe pusay high(
Are you really sure you want to tinker on a modified rig?
What I intend to do if I get it, would be to cut the frame up in little pieces once I get the body moved to the correct frame. My current parts truck body also needs to get cut into little pieces, and I got started on that yesterday evening by snipping out a section of body I needed using my cutoff wheel.
My friend who found this, she found it while at work and there are a bunch of hoops to jump through in order to share his contact information even though he has expressed a desire to sell. I want my friend to follow the rules, cross every t and dot every I so that she doesn't get in trouble at work. It's a process, it takes time, I have patience. From scouring the photos, it looks like the frame is also not landcruiser. There appear to be home made brackets connecting the factory body mount holes to the donor frame. This observation has me optimistic that there may be fewer modifications to the body itself. Naturally I can't know much until I go check it out, and that's going to have to wait.
Wise man once said. If you can't wait, you'll pay. If you can't pay, you'll have to wait.
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- Thread starter
- #284
Last week I got the wild idea to pull the transmission cover on the parts rig. Once it was removed, I noticed that there wasn't a whole lot keeping me from pulling out the transmission. Driveline were already gone. So I set to work to have the trans out by sunset, and I did.
Hardest part was disconnecting the e brake cable without damage. Once it was out, I set about cleaning it up.
Sure the rig was a rust bucket, but it's a low mileage rust bucket. The trans and the case are both coated in thick black tar, just like the one in my good fj55.
I lifted the entire unit up onto my welding table and started to degrease it. Dish soap, and hot water, wire brushes, scrapers, and a few hours later it's looking pretty clean. My old friend Matt used to say that you want to find them leaking oil from every orifice and this indeed does. There's evidence that oil has leaked out every possible way including seeping through the gaskets. Perfect. If keeps the rust off. More oil dumped out in the process if cleaning it, so we can assume it probably never ran without oil.
My driveline has a lot of noise to it, and I'd like to build this driveline with new bearings, new seals, and a double seal in the output flange. Then I plan to fill it with 140w gear oil (instead of 90w) and when I swap it back I'm, I'm going to cut a foam sound deadening pad to wedge between the transmission cover and the driveline to help keep gear whine out of the cabin.
When pops and I did the clutch years ago, we resealed the trans and t case. It needed bearings too, but at that point we cheaped out. Now the bearings are really making noise and I'd like to get them all changed out, for a hopefully quieter ride.
Hardest part was disconnecting the e brake cable without damage. Once it was out, I set about cleaning it up.
Sure the rig was a rust bucket, but it's a low mileage rust bucket. The trans and the case are both coated in thick black tar, just like the one in my good fj55.
I lifted the entire unit up onto my welding table and started to degrease it. Dish soap, and hot water, wire brushes, scrapers, and a few hours later it's looking pretty clean. My old friend Matt used to say that you want to find them leaking oil from every orifice and this indeed does. There's evidence that oil has leaked out every possible way including seeping through the gaskets. Perfect. If keeps the rust off. More oil dumped out in the process if cleaning it, so we can assume it probably never ran without oil.
My driveline has a lot of noise to it, and I'd like to build this driveline with new bearings, new seals, and a double seal in the output flange. Then I plan to fill it with 140w gear oil (instead of 90w) and when I swap it back I'm, I'm going to cut a foam sound deadening pad to wedge between the transmission cover and the driveline to help keep gear whine out of the cabin.
When pops and I did the clutch years ago, we resealed the trans and t case. It needed bearings too, but at that point we cheaped out. Now the bearings are really making noise and I'd like to get them all changed out, for a hopefully quieter ride.
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Might be time to retire that poor brush 
- Thread starter
- #286
Recent life events have had me needing another trip up to the wilderness. My good pal Ron, has agreed to go with me back up to the Ishi again. This time we're headed to a homestead called Facht place, which is lower on antelope creek from our last 2 outings. McClure place, and Fischer camp. As you can see, I've got all of the latest state of the art High tech overlanding accessories professionally upfitted, and covered under factory warranty. Lol.
Really I'm just glad to be able to do this: Jump in the truck with a good friend and their dog and go reconnect with nature.
I'll be playing with a set of new to me $10 yard sale binoculars this round. They're enormous and came in a nice leather hard case. They look right at home in the landcruiser but I can't seem to find the USB port to charge them with...
I may also take a Sony Handycam video camera to get some 4x4 action shots.
My first trip to ishi in the fj55 I took off down a sketchy trail and decided to turn back because I had about 2 hours in the driver seat at that point and hadn't put it in 4x4 in Like 20 Years. I backed out, turned around and I'm not ashamed that I did. As it turns out, that "Facht" road is actually the one that takes you to Facht place.
This trip I will be trying to navigate out via "facht road" I'll try and get video of the fun sections.
Photo dump upon my return.
Cheers!
Really I'm just glad to be able to do this: Jump in the truck with a good friend and their dog and go reconnect with nature.
I'll be playing with a set of new to me $10 yard sale binoculars this round. They're enormous and came in a nice leather hard case. They look right at home in the landcruiser but I can't seem to find the USB port to charge them with...
I may also take a Sony Handycam video camera to get some 4x4 action shots.
My first trip to ishi in the fj55 I took off down a sketchy trail and decided to turn back because I had about 2 hours in the driver seat at that point and hadn't put it in 4x4 in Like 20 Years. I backed out, turned around and I'm not ashamed that I did. As it turns out, that "Facht" road is actually the one that takes you to Facht place.
This trip I will be trying to navigate out via "facht road" I'll try and get video of the fun sections.
Photo dump upon my return.
Cheers!
EWheeler
GOLD Star
Enjoy reading humorous posts such as this one! Hope its a good trip.
- Thread starter
- #288
I'm back safely from another fun trip to the ishi wilderness. Ron and I got to our spot on antelope creek in 2 wheel drive. There were some washout on the way in, but we made it in 2 wheel hi range. Starting from Paynes creek, we took plum creek road to the cutoff over to hogsback road. Right turn and about a mile down the road is a left turn at finnely lake onto the ishi road. The ishi road takes us to fisher campground which is also previously called Paynes place. We don't stop this time, instead we cross over antelope creek and go up to the to of the next ridge. At that point the ishi road is called the "grapevine" there's a bit of rough terrain but like I said, we were in 2 wheel the whole way in, right up until the Ford in the creek. At the Ford, just before camp I couldn't tell how deep it actually was so i put it in low range and proceeded to carefully cross without incident. On the north side of Antelope creek is a beautiful flat spot, several camp spaces and a vault toilet, complete with TP.
The high life!
The road out the north side is brutal. Ron didn't think it even was a road until I showed him where it was. He was filled with doubt. I was not filled with confidence.
Anyway we stayed at Facht place for a few nights, ate well, slept marginally took a few hikes and played with Rons dog Willow. This morning we decided to 4 wheel it out the hard way. (We saw a Toyota sequoia coming down it when we first arrived)
I had walked it the night before, and I had some doubts. There were big deep washout that were going to throw the truck violently sideways towards a cliff...
No way arround and virtually no turn around spots. Towards the top theres a overgrown area near a spring with a well trod trail in and out. A mountan lion lair most likely. I announced my presence with a few claps so i didn't surprise the cat. It took me an hour to walk the trail.
Many car parts were strewn along the trail.
About the time i got back to camp a guy on a quad arrived, totally freaking out that he had just driven down that Facht road, and wondering if he could get out another way. (It would've taken til after dark)
I've had a number of trikes and dirt bikes over the years so I told him " I don't know you so don't take this personally but if you're afraid to ride that on a quad, why do you have a quad?" Thinking to myself this is what quads are for! We both had a good belly laugh, and we're both glad he left, and decided not to bring his friends down.
This morning I was having some doubts, but I figured this is what FJ55s are made for, and we pointed it right up the hill. There were a few really gnarly sections where I was basically idling over some deep ruts and the engine came to a near stop. Didn't stall, torqued right through it and with swine like finesse, it pulled me right out of that canyon. There's one section where it throws your passenger sideways at the passenger window, violently, while overlooking a sheer dropoff. It scared Ron. Ron was in the marine corps, and he was real uncomfortable with the situation for a minute. I had the wheel, so I had to stay cool as a cucumber, which I do pretty naturally. After the worst of the washout the trail got better and within a few minutes we were at the top.
That trail intersects with hogsback road. My first trip to the ishi, I tried to drop that trail, and backed out, as soon as I saw the first washout. I just didn't feel comfortable doing it with that little experience behind the wheel.
it was a big accomplishment for me to 4 wheel that road, get out safely and not damage my truck. At one point there was a brutal sounding slam when my ass end came down in some rock. It was not the place to stop so I continued. At the top I Checked the body and it seems that the spare tire must have been what hit. There's no damage I could find.
I think this place has a lot of potential as a pig party destination.
The high life!
The road out the north side is brutal. Ron didn't think it even was a road until I showed him where it was. He was filled with doubt. I was not filled with confidence.
Anyway we stayed at Facht place for a few nights, ate well, slept marginally took a few hikes and played with Rons dog Willow. This morning we decided to 4 wheel it out the hard way. (We saw a Toyota sequoia coming down it when we first arrived)
I had walked it the night before, and I had some doubts. There were big deep washout that were going to throw the truck violently sideways towards a cliff...
No way arround and virtually no turn around spots. Towards the top theres a overgrown area near a spring with a well trod trail in and out. A mountan lion lair most likely. I announced my presence with a few claps so i didn't surprise the cat. It took me an hour to walk the trail.
Many car parts were strewn along the trail.
About the time i got back to camp a guy on a quad arrived, totally freaking out that he had just driven down that Facht road, and wondering if he could get out another way. (It would've taken til after dark)
I've had a number of trikes and dirt bikes over the years so I told him " I don't know you so don't take this personally but if you're afraid to ride that on a quad, why do you have a quad?" Thinking to myself this is what quads are for! We both had a good belly laugh, and we're both glad he left, and decided not to bring his friends down.
This morning I was having some doubts, but I figured this is what FJ55s are made for, and we pointed it right up the hill. There were a few really gnarly sections where I was basically idling over some deep ruts and the engine came to a near stop. Didn't stall, torqued right through it and with swine like finesse, it pulled me right out of that canyon. There's one section where it throws your passenger sideways at the passenger window, violently, while overlooking a sheer dropoff. It scared Ron. Ron was in the marine corps, and he was real uncomfortable with the situation for a minute. I had the wheel, so I had to stay cool as a cucumber, which I do pretty naturally. After the worst of the washout the trail got better and within a few minutes we were at the top.
That trail intersects with hogsback road. My first trip to the ishi, I tried to drop that trail, and backed out, as soon as I saw the first washout. I just didn't feel comfortable doing it with that little experience behind the wheel.
it was a big accomplishment for me to 4 wheel that road, get out safely and not damage my truck. At one point there was a brutal sounding slam when my ass end came down in some rock. It was not the place to stop so I continued. At the top I Checked the body and it seems that the spare tire must have been what hit. There's no damage I could find.
I think this place has a lot of potential as a pig party destination.
Pigeaten
GOLD Star
When you say”throws passenger towards door violently, I’m thinking Roof top tent, probably going over
- Thread starter
- #290
After the hard section, i let ron drive. I want him to get a feel for the truck in case he ever needs to get me home after an accident. He enjoyed it.
This is willow. Willow is a very good boy, relaxed and smart.
That's not a dog footprint.
This is the ford at Facht place.
Ron Rollin a cig and Willow waiting for his stick to be thrown.
This is what it's all about here guys!
bobm
WTF, WTF, WTF!!!!
Willow looked stressed. Bet a $ it is 
RUSH55
SILVER Star
Yes it is
Pigeaten
GOLD Star
Tony here at the pig emporium, got a few morsels
Pigeaten
GOLD Star
Great meeting you Tony, and love that pig!
- Thread starter
- #295
Had a nice drive and a nice visit with Don @Pigeaten. I got a full set of 4 fender emblems, and 3 complete seat belts.
Someone earlier on this thread, thinks that my new Toyo Open country mud terrain tires are going to age out before they wear out. Challenge accepted.
I put 200 miles on them today and that last trip to the ishi, the bedrock roads weren't exactly nice to them. At this rate these tires will be racing slicks in another 2 years.
Someone earlier on this thread, thinks that my new Toyo Open country mud terrain tires are going to age out before they wear out. Challenge accepted.
I put 200 miles on them today and that last trip to the ishi, the bedrock roads weren't exactly nice to them. At this rate these tires will be racing slicks in another 2 years.
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Pigeaten
GOLD Star
Nice nuts on the hood!
- Thread starter
- #297
For those interested, I got ahold of the guy with the other iron pig, the one my friend found... He wants a bunch more money than my friend mentioned, but I got an appointment to go and look at it this afternoon.
It really could go either direction.
I may buy it and build a second landcruiser. I may try and talk the guy down to a more, reasonable price. Or I may just need to walk away, and forget about building out another pig.
I'm a bit nervous about it, but I shouldn't be.
I always sleep on a big decision and I don't get the sense that the seller is in a hurry.
Still nervous though.
It really could go either direction.
I may buy it and build a second landcruiser. I may try and talk the guy down to a more, reasonable price. Or I may just need to walk away, and forget about building out another pig.
I'm a bit nervous about it, but I shouldn't be.
I always sleep on a big decision and I don't get the sense that the seller is in a hurry.
Still nervous though.
- Thread starter
- #298
Photo dump
I think I'd be a fool not to go and get this pig, considering I've got just about all of the hard parts to put it back into service.
They don't show up in the wild with this little rust.
It's been tarped...
The owner had a lifted pig at one point on 35s that he would rip around the hills in, and he wanted to build this out with his boy, but they lost interest.
I'm going to sleep on it, and probably end up buying it...
More photos coming.
Comments welcome.
I think I'd be a fool not to go and get this pig, considering I've got just about all of the hard parts to put it back into service.
They don't show up in the wild with this little rust.
It's been tarped...
The owner had a lifted pig at one point on 35s that he would rip around the hills in, and he wanted to build this out with his boy, but they lost interest.
I'm going to sleep on it, and probably end up buying it...
More photos coming.
Comments welcome.
- Thread starter
- #299
More photos of today's swine.
I really dig that license plate frame, and if I get it, I'm so putting that on my green FJ55. I bought it in Oroville, it lived its whole life there, I wonder where they bought it...
Probably from McFerrin. Anywho. Oink oink.
Apparently the totes, all are full of parts, but the guy hasn't dug them out to see what. So there's several mystery totes full of who knows what, included. Is this interesting at all?
Have any comments or helpful words of advice?
This is where a more competent person would photoshop an image of Johnny Depp as Hunter Stockton Thompson, sweating bullets with his signature cigarette holder and green visor with the caption "Tell me what's in the god-damned totes"
Oink oink
I really dig that license plate frame, and if I get it, I'm so putting that on my green FJ55. I bought it in Oroville, it lived its whole life there, I wonder where they bought it...
Probably from McFerrin. Anywho. Oink oink.
Apparently the totes, all are full of parts, but the guy hasn't dug them out to see what. So there's several mystery totes full of who knows what, included. Is this interesting at all?
Have any comments or helpful words of advice?
This is where a more competent person would photoshop an image of Johnny Depp as Hunter Stockton Thompson, sweating bullets with his signature cigarette holder and green visor with the caption "Tell me what's in the god-damned totes"
Oink oink
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Well that is way more solid than most, it really comes down to time & money…usually have one but not the other in life.More photos of today's swine.View attachment 3634278
I really dig that license plate frame, and if I get it, I'm so putting that on my green FJ55. I bought it in Oroville, it lived its whole life there, I wonder where they bought it...
Probably from McFerrin. Anywho. Oink oink.View attachment 3634280View attachment 3634282View attachment 3634283View attachment 3634284
Apparently the totes, all are full of parts, but the guy hasn't dug them out to see what. So there's several mystery totes full of who knows what, included. Is this interesting at all?
Have any comments or helpful words of advice?
This is where a more competent person would photoshop an image of Johnny Depp as Hunter Stockton Thompson, sweating bullets with his signature cigarette holder and green visor with the caption "Tell me what's in the god-damned totes"
Oink oink
