68 Pig Build

[Front Range 4x4]

Hi All,

I guess it's time for me to add my build thread. It's a 1968 on a 1977 frame with a SBC, Toyota 4 speed and Atlas Overdrive. It needs a lot of work and will never be a resto project.

Redline Motorsports in Calhan Colorado just completed some work for me including a full roll cage, shackle reversal, knuckle cut, turn, rebuild, 60 series springs with add-a-leaf, shock mounts, FJ62 power steering, etc.

 

[Front Range 4x4]

Also added Toyota pickup seat to a new mounting bracket

 

[Front Range 4x4]

Cage Pics

Some cage pics

 

[Front Range 4x4]

More cage pics including an FJ62 Oh Sh*t bar for

 

[Front Range 4x4]

Shackle reversal, shock hoops and power steering. We used the FJ62 power steering and Chevy pump.

 

[Front Range 4x4]

First impressions: It drives like it's on rails on the highway, 80 mph and no wander at all, I wish my 62 drove as well. The PS rocks, smooth and easy and a real delight. The resulting lift is perfect for me, the 33's fit nicely with room for flex. 35's would easily fit I'm sure. The cage is very nice, made the way I wanted it, mounting space above the front seats, grab bar behind the front if I ever has a back seat and passenger.

The FJ62 grab bar is a requirement for my wife to ride along, the pickup seats are comfortable enough for the price (free) and the FJ60 seat belts are mounted to the B pillar of the cage. The door bars are unobtrusive and don't interfere with getting in and out. The 60 springs with add-a-leaf are fine, rear shackle angle may need to be changed but we'll give it a bit of break-in first. It rides like any rig with AAL's.

It doesn't look like much but it's cool. The green door is a huge improvement over the previous one, replaced the hood with a correct year not all bent to hell like the previous. The front brakes (disc) are very nice, the rear drums are marginal right now. The wing windows of the early pigs are great, always wanted wing windows. My exhaust system is trash so driving with the windows down is required until fixed. My electrical system is kind of a mess but not as bad as I initially feared, needs quite a bit of cleanup but overall not too bad.

That's about it for now...

 

[3_puppies]

were you just able to add a booster for the brake master? or was it complicated? looking at adding discs to my 69 non-boosted

 

[RLMS]

adding a booster is quite easy, the one in this build was out of a toy pickup, and the master was out of a celica. drilling 4 holes for the booster will more than likley be req'd. this one already had the holes!!
good luck


justin

 

[2badfjs]

whats up with the rear shackle angle?
geeeeez

 

[hicruise55]

whats up with the rear shackle angle?
geeeeez

First thing I noticed as well, he stated he's aware of the issue though

Looks to me as a great platform to start with. I have to agree with you about the wing windows, my newest 55 doesnt have them-but thats the only thing I really miss. Anyway, will be following this thread thanks for sharing

 

[3_puppies]

adding a booster is quite easy, the one in this build was out of a toy pickup, and the master was out of a celica. drilling 4 holes for the booster will more than likley be req'd. this one already had the holes!!
good luck


justin

so it's not like the early 40's?? pedals being to close and the booster hitting the clutch master? any need to re-inforce the firewall area?

 

[Front Range 4x4]

so it's not like the early 40's?? pedals being to close and the booster hitting the clutch master? any need to re-inforce the firewall area?

Sorry I missed this. No space problem at all, booster & clutch master have no clearance issue. The PO did the initial brakes so I'm not sure about any reinforcing that was done there. I'll check on it this weekend.

Replacing the rear brakes this weekend and starting the wiring cleanup if it's not too cold. Plan on removing the trailer harness and getting my front turn signals to work. I'm hoping my "new" turn signals will fit properly on the grill.

 

[Front Range 4x4]

Nothing really significant but after numerous replacements I now have good brakes all the way around, a new exhaust system and the rear shackle angle is now corrected. I decided the side-mount turn signals deserve to be on instead of sitting on a shelf.

What turned out to be a minor problem with the wiring melting on the manifold resulted in cleaning up additional wiring which is always a good thing. Doing some work on the surface rust on the floor and cleaning up the firewall that was previously covered with sound dampener. Next will be filling the various firewall holes and putting some sound dampening to attempt to deaden some of the noise in the cabin. Along with that I'll be mounting the seatbelts and painting the cage.

 

[n2666s]

please check on the firewall reinforcement as am looking at having to do the same..........great to see another piggy brought back to life


Lou

 

[Front Range 4x4]

Thanks Lou, I should have been clearer, the firewall holes I was referring to aren't rust holes just miscellaneous ones once used but no longer needed.

 

[n2666s]

Chris; am looking at doing something like you have; a 68 body on a 77 frame except mine is a 69 body on a 79 frame.....wondering how to modify the firewall on the 69 to place the 79 booster?; was thinking of going with rivnuts to mount the booster but was wondering how you had handled this problem; by the way this is a great thread with a lot of practical info

Lou

 

[Front Range 4x4]

Lou, since the PO did the swap so I'm short on details as I figure things out piece by piece. I'll be getting to my firewall today but I suspect it's the 77 firewall by the way it fits and the existing holes that appear to have accommodated A/C which is long gone. The booster was a simply bolt in which is the main indicator of it being 77.

Chris

 

[n2666s]

darn..the firewall on the 69 is paperthin and rusted with fist sized holes in several places was thinking of using rivnuts to install the booster but.......wondering how you did it

Lou

 

[cruiserbrett]

The body looks like the 69. Its got the side reflectors, no side markers, the panel below the dash, vent window doors, and other little clues towards the 69 vintage. Looks like the PO used the later heater, the steering column, and somehow got the center dash panel to attach to the early dash... Firewall graft wouldnt be too hard.

 

[Front Range 4x4]

Brett-

I've gone back and forth on this myself and would like to know how to distinguish between a 68 and 69. The side mount turn signals indicate 68, did they have these in 69? Please explain the year appropriate side markers and reflectors relevant to these years. Also expand on the dash details please.

Thanks, Chris