68 Pig Build

[cruiserbrett]

I didnt even notice the side mount turn signals, so 68 maybe? I cant remeber exactly when they went to low mount, but I would guess in very early 69. As for the side markers, I had a 69 with no side markers, only reflectors, and a 71 with side markers, so somewhere in the late 69-early 70 would be the change tp sidemakers.

Steering column is definetly later than 68/69, since the key is in the column. As for the center dash part, that is the later style, since the tailgate switch is not in the dash pad depression.
Also, it has the lower dash panel below the center dash area that blocks the center heater vent of the later heater you have.

 

[Front Range 4x4]

My guess is the frame, firewall, dash, heater, steering is 77 like the frame if that makes sense. The turn signals, I'm told, make it a 68.

 

[Front Range 4x4]

Mentioning the heater - I pulled it today and found it used to be multispeed but the wires were toast so I wired it to one speed - high. Looked like a hurricane when it came on spewing who knows how many years of dust and dirt out. Now that Spring is approaching I'll have heat once I get the ducting put back together.

Also patched 95% of the firewall holes. Another couple hours and the engine and cabin should be separate again.

 

[RUSH55]

Post some more pics! Too much yakkity yak.

 

[Front Range 4x4]

Sure, what do you want pics of?

 

[RUSH55]

Whatever man. Usually wheeling pics are the coolest, but whatever you're working on at the moment is fine.

 

[Front Range 4x4]

Wheeling pics would be cool, wheeling the pig would be cooler. Unfortunately I'm working towards getting it trail ready and more important getting it drivable. I should have the clutch fixed this week so I can at least drive it. I hope to have the clutch master replaced, the cage painted and sound dampener on the firewall this week. Not exciting stuff to take pics of though.

I have committed my 62 to a friend so he can drive it to Moab the 4th of July weekend while I drive the 55. This trip will be very important to pull off since we will be scattering his son's ashes in the place his son specified.

 

[Front Range 4x4]

Made some more progress, finished patching the firewall, used a liquid rubber over the whole firewall and started adding eDead to the firewall to calm the noise a bit. Also finally got to raising the seats to proper height and painted the roll cage.

The clutch master will be here on Monday so I'll be able to drive it again. A week or two ago I had the exhaust system replaced which is nice and quiet. Nothing fancy, single exhaust, 2" pipes, no hot rod exhaust for me.

I don't think I mentioned the front springs, like the rear, are 60 rears for better ride. That's it for now.

 

[Front Range 4x4]

I've been working on the interior and am lucky not to have rusted floors. A bit of surface rust was ground off and painted then covered again with a fresh coat of paint and a layer of eDead sound deadening. Much to the dismay of some of you I'm sure I painted a layer of liquid rubber over the floorboards and then applied the eDead rubber/aluminum sheeting over that. My focus was the firewall which I previously patched, filling in all the excess holes from previous owners, equipment, etc.

I haven't applied the sheeting to the back which eventually will be covered with a plywood floor/sleeping platform and small storage box where the back seat used to be.

Pics are the "rubber" in the back and complete in the front. This combined with my new exhaust system makes such a huge difference it feels like a new truck.

 

[Lucy_FJ55]

Sweet. Your rig is coming along nicely. Love the cage, always wanted one, someday. How does all that sound-deadening work? I've never heard of eDead, but it makes sense. Did you roll or spray it? Have you been driving it yet? How's the engine noise now? Thanks for the updates.

 

[Front Range 4x4]

I never heard of eDead either until someone I know used it and was happy with it. It's less expensive than the big name dampeners like Damplifier or Dynamat which have prices I can't really justify. I also know some people use closed cell aircraft foam but again I was trying to keep the cost down.

I did the roll on rubber first, it's a thick liquid which I think is quite effective for my need since it filled all the little screw holes, seams, etc and provided a consistent base for the pads I applied over it. The pads as I'm calling them come in a cut to fit roll. It's a foil/rubber combination with adhesive backing. Pull off the plastic to expose the adhesive and press it into place.

It's thinner than the more expensive products but multiple layers are an option. The PO used something thicker which I had to remove because it was holding moisture and causing rust. I filled the holes and re-applied this stuff.

The engine noise reduction is significant, at slow speeds of around 30 it's quite quiet and I was quite surprised at how big a change it made. As my speed increases the noise does too obviously but since I effectively don't have any door weathersripping it gets pretty noisy. I'm looking forward to getting that in and seeing how quiet it is then. I'm not expecting Lexus quiet but I expect to be able to hear my radio easily.

 

[Front Range 4x4]

Today I installed my new radio from an 1982 Toyota Pickup which is an exact fit. The install is a snap, even the side mounting screws from the dash support to the radio line up and it fills the slot perfectly. Now I have a working AM/FM that looks like it belongs there.

 

[OregonCruzer]

What did you do for an exhaust? Self-fab? Off the shelf?

 

[Front Range 4x4]

A friend of a friend who's an Cruiser owner and exhaust guy fabbed it for me.

There's no off the shelf option for a 55 with a sbc.

 

[Front Range 4x4]

I've been distracted by wiring issues which I took a break from today to install 4:88's and an ARB in the front. Back's still open while I see what the budget allows.

The passing of an FJ60 brings new life to an old pig.

Thanks Mark!

 

[Front Range 4x4]

I got my patch panels from RareSpares today, very nice quality. These will do a lot for the truck's cosmetics.

 

[Front Range 4x4]

Also as a diversion I installed a "headless stereo" yesterday. Used a $10 amp, 5 speakers for $10 and about $20 in misc parts. Now I can play my iPod through the amp and not have to put in a new stereo. Prety cool setup that I was told can't be done. The pic shows everything, just need to wire the back speakers and tuck the wires away.

 

[nuclearlemon]

I got my patch panels from RareSpares today, very nice quality. These will do a lot for the truck's cosmetics.

those look awesome chris. what was total $?

 

[Front Range 4x4]

RP1024 FRONT FENDER LOWER TOYOTA FJ55 RH $52.07 1 $52.07
RP1025 FRONT FENDER LOWER TOYOTA FJ55 LH $64.80 1 $64.80

+ $70 Shipping

Not too bad IMHO, 6 weeks delivery time

 

[Eric Ellis]

RP1024 FRONT FENDER LOWER TOYOTA FJ55 RH $52.07 1 $52.07
RP1025 FRONT FENDER LOWER TOYOTA FJ55 LH $64.80 1 $64.80

+ $70 Shipping

Not too bad IMHO, 6 weeks delivery time

Chris, could you post a picture of the bottom edge of those patches. On Rarespares sight the seem to have the later model fastening lip, but in your photo they seem similar to Ehsan's which do not have that lip.