Builds 69 fj55 rebuild

[dcarpenter]

im starting my fj55 rebuild project and would love any suggestions what worked and what didnt work. I want something that is going to be dependable and that I can take hunting/exploring in NV. Im going to put in a new engine and any other modern amenities I can. Any help with engine suggestions, tire sizes, lift height im open to ideas. Thanks for the help!!!

 

[greenbeast]

Looks like good starting point, never can post enough pics!! Welcome to the PIG PEN, this place is so full of pig knowledge (not me) it will make your head swim!!

Looking forward to your adventure!!

I too have a 69, so far 3" lift from Alcan, swapping axles from 77 to convert to disc brakes for safety, 60 series 2F with sniper and H55 ready for swap. New paint and interior

Budget = $5000

 

[Pighead]

What engine is in it now?
How fast do you want to go?
Pics of your toolbox too.

 

[120mm]

I'm a big fan of the Toyota engine. If you can keep the 1F that's in it running, great. If not, the 2F should fit right in.

Keep it as stock as you can to begin with, to figure out what you have, and what you think you need.

These trucks are not super fast. But they are cool as heck.

 

[Lifelong40Fan]

Congrats on the find! Looks like you got a great pig. The bad is they are very addicting and can easily drain your bank account. The good is there is no cure for the disease.

 

[dcarpenter]

I forgot to mention I have two of them. One im keeping as is and just fine tunning so I can put around town but I want one that can do 80mph and get me where I want without having to worry about leaving me stranded. I agree on the disc brakes and upgrading the axles. I was leaning towards a LS swap as everything I read about diesels is that they are loud and expensive to put in?

 

[dcarpenter]

greenbeast what size tires are you running with the 3' lift?

 

[greenbeast]

greenbeast what size tires are you running with the 3' lift?

I will be going 33 or32 x 10.5 x 15's. I have 33x10.5's on my other cruisers and love them.

 

[DTC72]

Where in NV are you? I am in Las Vegas and just completed the restomod of my 1969 FJ55. Here is what I did to mine over the last year:
- frame on restomod including media blast down to bare metal
- rust/metal repair followed by paint
- replaced 1F with a 1985 2F from a FJ60
- new H55F 5-soeed
- 1987 rebuilt split transfer case
- disc brakes on all four corners
- power steering from a FJ60
- Vintage Air for AC and heat
- Tires BFG K02 33x10.5x15
- I did not do a lift

I am about 125 miles into my shakeout test drives. I can now do 85mph which is better than the 50mph max I was doing with the 1F and 3-speed.

 

[scrapdaddy]

I was leaning towards a LS swap as everything I read about diesels is that they are loud and expensive to put in?

I would suggest doing some intense reading of some of the great builds going on right now. We can link some for you. I went with a 5.3 Chevy thinking I had to do a SOA for the Cummins 4bt, J Mack proved me wrong. Megadoomer and Rush both have some awesome builds without breaking the bank. It all depends on what you're willing to do yourself. In the coming days we can link you to a ton of reading.

I look forward to seeing your progress.

 

[bobm]

Ron knows

 

[Lifelong40Fan]

@DTC72 are you running 4.11s? What rpm’s are you running at 70-75?

 

[dcarpenter]

Im in reno fyi...
I stripping it down now and im in line to have the body and frame done. I was thinking about bedliner on the lower half to keep those NV pinstripes from leaving a mark. Has anyone done the bedliner? at a min want it on the inside of the rig.

 

[dcarpenter]

please link me up with info the more the better

 

[DTC72]

@DTC72 are you running 4.11s? What rpm’s are you running at 70-75?

Yes original 4.11 axle gearing. At 70-75 I am around 2300 or so. I will double check next test drive.

 

[DTC72]

Im in reno fyi...
I stripping it down now and im in line to have the body and frame done. I was thinking about bedliner on the lower half to keep those NV pinstripes from leaving a mark. Has anyone done the bedliner? at a min want it on the inside of the rig.

If you make it down to LV I can show you my pig. I did not do bed liner and def not on the outside…not the look for me. I did do two coatings each of Lizard Skin heat and sound on the ceiling, inside firewall, entire floor, all doors, and under hood. Sort of happy with the quality and the heat/sound but I did add Dynamat to the roof as once I installed the headliner, I didn’t want to second guess. I was hoping for more of a bedliner look on the inside floor like I have seen in a TLC truck, but the texture is not quite the same.

 

[Pighead]

Has anyone done the bedliner?

Bedliner?! Are you nuts?

 

[Lifelong40Fan]

Yes original 4.11 axle gearing. At 70-75 I am around 2300 or so. I will double check next test drive.

Oh, that makes sense. I missed the h55 in your description. Couldn’t believe those rpm’s, so I figured I missed something. Really nice build!

 

[RUSH55]

Tintable SEM bed liner on the underside

 

[LJRay]

...reno is a great place to be, a couple other of us pigsters here but maybe not as ambitious...

...just finished keeping myself awake reading @wngrog Warthog build threads, that might be what you're looking for...