73 Pig looking for direction

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bparker

bparker

10 Year
Joined
Jun 3, 2011
Threads
70
Messages
568
Hey mud, I've restored a few 40s and now I've got the swine fever (not flu yet). This is a 73 with 3 speed on the floor, PTO, and factory installed AC. Mechanically its in great shape, just spend $800 replacing the clutch, rear main seal, oil pan gasket, and fresh front brakes. It runs REALLY WELL. The front chassis has POR15 rust preventative but the rear has not. It needs a full paint and the right rear quarter needs a patch panel and the side bottom panels need a little work. The interior is all there and the headliner is GOOD, but the PO replaced it with a dark red color and not the factory white. The tailgate is in shambles but the metal is good and it has MOST of the parts minus the rear glass. It will need new weatherstripping throughout and a new windshield. All other glass is good and all the doors are complete minus door panels. The AC system will be taken out and replaced at a later date (if I undertake the full resto). Other than paint and body work it just needs a new set of shocks to be complete. Also forgot to mention it has an AAL kit in the rear. I have the stock steelies in factory grey that I will be adding rubber to as well. I'd like you guys to take a look and offer up some opinions and thoughts. I'd like to do some traveling this year, so I don't want this project to suck up all my funds and time. If there's a mudder who has the time and money, I would be willing to discuss selling it as is. Right now, it's at a paint and body shop (that I trust) getting quoted for the paint and body work. Also has about 3 bins of new and used as well as duplicate parts from lights/lenses to brand new apron panels.

I am on the fence about tackling this project because
1) the expense of the weatherstripping kit
2) the tailgate and window parts available
3) the labor involved in paint/body work on a truck this size

Thanks and here's the photo link:

1973 FJ55
 
Welcome BParker,

I can't help with your decision, mine are never right! It takes time and money, can't get around those. The photo link didn't work for me.

Good luck with it
 
Nice looking. After also doing a 40 I got the swine fever. It sucks up my time and my money. No matter what the intentions or thoughts I just think that's what happens. Settle in and enjoy the therapy there is no cure.
 
AAL I just shortened for add-a-leaf.
My apologies on the photo stream it could be Apple-specific here's some a few good photos.

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I really want to make this guy my daily driver. Mechanically it is ready for that, but cosmetically I have my work cut out. I'm considering just having the shop repair the rear quarter and lower sides and just going at it myself with an orbital sander, primer, and a lot of Cygnus white spray paint. With that being said I'd make a helluva deal right now for both cruisers in the last photo :D
 
PO replaced the headliner a few years back, it looks well enough to leave alone but I'm exploring the idea of painting the vinyl...any thoughts on that?
 
Hi Bparker, On the first sentence you say you have the swine fever, and at the end you are ready to sell your piggie to a mudder... Why not make it just driveable (minimal cost), an go slowly for the resto, as far as your money and time allow you to do? So you keep it and once it is good for a ddrive, use it. As long as you do nothing, it costs nothing and takes no time...
Just my opinion.
 
Hey BParker - very nice swine you have there. You're starting off in much better shape than some/most others here. Get it drivable - so you can enjoy the beast instead of looking at it in the garage every day as a beached whale - that can be depressing. All the parts are findable; some will take longer than others but they're out there. I can get you the names of a few places where you can get the guts for the tailgate and the pig farmers here on Mud are a very sharing group. I'd replace rather than try spraying a vinyl headliner - but that's just me. It looks like you don't have a lot of rust to deal with - that will save you big American Dollars when you get to painting. Yes, the weather stripping is spendy but 10 years ago it was unobtainium. Any decent auto glass shop can cut the rear window for you as it's flat glass - you'll just have to ask around

Take it slowly and enjoy the ride - literally.

Welcome to the sty.
 
tatat said:
Hi Bparker, On the first sentence you say you have the swine fever, and at the end you are ready to sell your piggie to a mudder... Why not make it just driveable (minimal cost), an go slowly for the resto, as far as your money and time allow you to do? So you keep it and once it is good for a ddrive, use it. As long as you do nothing, it costs nothing and takes no time...
Just my opinion.
Click to expand...


That's my plan now....I just need more meds for the fever. I feel like once I start this thing I will have 10k in it before I turn around..

I am traveling to Indonesia in July for an extended period, so I wanted to throw the option out to mudders on both of my cruisers. The pig is getting a new rear quarter patch panel from bob (thanks for the referral Delancy) and all the body work done next week. After that, I will take it back home for a month and knock out the paint myself so I only lack soft parts and glass.

I'm up for the challenge and I'm stoked that it runs and drives so well. And you're totally right, just go slow on the restore. Make it driveable and cruise it on backroads, beaches, and camping trips.
 
Ming89FJ62 said:
Hey BParker - very nice swine you have there. You're starting off in much better shape than some/most others here. Get it drivable - so you can enjoy the beast instead of looking at it in the garage every day as a beached whale - that can be depressing. All the parts are findable; some will take longer than others but they're out there. I can get you the names of a few places where you can get the guts for the tailgate and the pig farmers here on Mud are a very sharing group. I'd replace rather than try spraying a vinyl headliner - but that's just me. It looks like you don't have a lot of rust to deal with - that will save you big American Dollars when you get to painting. Yes, the weather stripping is spendy but 10 years ago it was unobtainium. Any decent auto glass shop can cut the rear window for you as it's flat glass - you'll just have to ask around

Take it slowly and enjoy the ride - literally.

Welcome to the sty.
Click to expand...


Thanks! Yeah it's so naked and bummed without it's front fenders. I put those on a couple days ago and it definitely lifts the spirits. Thanks for your help on finding parts. What I am looking for now in particular are:

1) front extended bumper gussets for PTO. I was thinking about having them fabbed, but I haven't really asked around yet. I have a great stock front bumper but those extended brackets didn't come with
2) stock rear bumper assembly

Thanks again for your encouragement and help :beer:
 
if you go to Indonesia check on Kaskus and Tokobagus sites of used objects, search fj55 or fj 55 commando, there are some nice jewels...
 
bparker said:
Thanks! Yeah it's so naked and bummed without it's front fenders. I put those on a couple days ago and it definitely lifts the spirits. Thanks for your help on finding parts. What I am looking for now in particular are:

1) front extended bumper gussets for PTO. I was thinking about having them fabbed, but I haven't really asked around yet. I have a great stock front bumper but those extended brackets didn't come with
2) stock rear bumper assembly

Thanks again for your encouragement and help :beer:
Click to expand...

Not stock, but I will have a nice rear bumper available in about a week if you are interested.
 
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