You better.
78 Diesel FJ55; How Rare? Even Real?
- Thread starter toyotatruckjunkie
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- Thread starter
- #22
OK, OK, OK, I went and took some pics finally. I will post as many as Mud will let me
.
Alas, the VIN is FJ55-94605. I assume that means not originally a diesel. Can anyone/everyone confirm this?
As you can hopefully see, the front end/frame damage is considerable. Perfect candidate for the 80 frame swap to me. If I buy it, and decide not to rebuild this poor piggy, there seems to be some good pieces.
I would imagine someone would want the OEM tailgate WS, AM radio, some arm rests, window glass, etc...
. Alas, the VIN is FJ55-94605. I assume that means not originally a diesel. Can anyone/everyone confirm this?
As you can hopefully see, the front end/frame damage is considerable. Perfect candidate for the 80 frame swap to me. If I buy it, and decide not to rebuild this poor piggy, there seems to be some good pieces.
I would imagine someone would want the OEM tailgate WS, AM radio, some arm rests, window glass, etc...
- Thread starter
- #23
More pics. (3) at a time will take awhile.
- Thread starter
- #24
(3) More
- Thread starter
- #25
More
- Thread starter
- #26
Even more...
- Thread starter
- #27
I've got lots more pics, but this is a ridiculous way to try to post them. If you want to see more, let me know.
If I decide to bring it home, I'll let everyone know.
Oink, Oink
If I decide to bring it home, I'll let everyone know.
Oink, Oink
BJ55 ? Sounds real !
YouTube - Crossing the roaring river in Deosai
YouTube - Crossing the roaring river in Deosai
- Thread starter
- #29
Cool video. That definitely looks and sounds like a diesel FJ55 to me.
Josh, call me.
Josh, call me.
Bummer... I was hoping it was true. I was planning to go out there for lunch today and check it out...
nonetheless... looks like quite a few good parts...
nonetheless... looks like quite a few good parts...
I am a FJ55 fanatic. I have owned several 55's over the years. I used to have a lot of websites with factory information. From what I remember Toyota did make a few 55's with the B diesel in 1978. They were never marketed. But as everyone knows sometimes experimental vehicles make it to the hands of the general public. Who really knows.
- Thread starter
- #34
Hmmmmm, the plot thickens. Any idea how I might be able to tell, other than the VIN, if this is one of those? It is LHD, gauges/labels are in English and MPH, so I assume its US-spec.
There is so much stuff on top of the hood, I couldn't open it to look for stickers on the underside of it to get any info about the engine that used to reside there. I don't really know my Pigs well enough to know what else to look at. Any suggestions?
Not only is the frame bent down and towards the pass side, but it also appears that whoever took the eng/trans used a fire wrench to remove the motor mounts, so there is nice big ragged rectangular holes on both frame rails. In my opinion, it would need a replacement frame, be it 55, or tube, or 80 etc. Probably a big reason its been there so long.
From the front clip back, it's really in pretty good shape. With no offense meant, a lot better than others I see here on Mud that you guys have saved. Even the headliner is in pretty good shape.
The yard owner is looking to see if he still has the title for it. I told him that would make a big difference to me if I were to buy it. As much as I would love to take on this project, I have to be realistic about my time. I'm running my own business and just can't take on this big of project at this point in my life.
I would love to bring it home and part it out for you guys that are always searching for Pig parts, but again, I doubt I can realistically find time and energy to do that.
I have the card from the boneyard in my truck. If you all want, and I'm allowed, I'll post the name and number and you all can contact him directly.
Let me know what you think.
There is so much stuff on top of the hood, I couldn't open it to look for stickers on the underside of it to get any info about the engine that used to reside there. I don't really know my Pigs well enough to know what else to look at. Any suggestions?
Not only is the frame bent down and towards the pass side, but it also appears that whoever took the eng/trans used a fire wrench to remove the motor mounts, so there is nice big ragged rectangular holes on both frame rails. In my opinion, it would need a replacement frame, be it 55, or tube, or 80 etc. Probably a big reason its been there so long.
From the front clip back, it's really in pretty good shape. With no offense meant, a lot better than others I see here on Mud that you guys have saved. Even the headliner is in pretty good shape.
The yard owner is looking to see if he still has the title for it. I told him that would make a big difference to me if I were to buy it. As much as I would love to take on this project, I have to be realistic about my time. I'm running my own business and just can't take on this big of project at this point in my life.
I would love to bring it home and part it out for you guys that are always searching for Pig parts, but again, I doubt I can realistically find time and energy to do that.
I have the card from the boneyard in my truck. If you all want, and I'm allowed, I'll post the name and number and you all can contact him directly.
Let me know what you think.
I might finally get to check it out this weekend. bad week at work... I'll look it over and come up with some conclusions...
It would need to be a right hand drive model being they were only done in japan.... but... look to see if the vehicle used to be RHD and if the labels where changed to English.
I have owned Japanese RHD vehicles and they were all in japanese.
I have owned Japanese RHD vehicles and they were all in japanese.
Went and checked it out yesterday after work... Conclusions:
The "diesel" badges on the vehicle are Toyota badges. The look just like the badges on the 4 cyl 70's diesel pickups.
The label that states "Diesel fuel only" is the exact same "font" that other things on the vehicle are written in.
The filler neck does not look modified in any way. It looks totally factory and there are no welds or brazes to suggest it was modified.
Saying that, The VIN is FJ55 built in AUG 78'. It has a disc brake front axle and a siganaw PS box. As mentioned, the engine was torched form the bay so its impossible to tell if anything was modified as far as motor mounts go.
The shift pattern represented inside the glove box is that of any other 4-speed of the time period. The T-case shift pattern is also totally normal.
The owner of the junk yard knows exactly where he got and plans to go ask the original owner if it came stock with a diesel or if he had it put in. Until he does that, we will never fully know, but I really want to belive its what someone already mentioned in this thread and it was a "test" vehicle and somehow got loose as an FJ55 but is really a BJ55. You decide for yourself...
The "diesel" badges on the vehicle are Toyota badges. The look just like the badges on the 4 cyl 70's diesel pickups.
The label that states "Diesel fuel only" is the exact same "font" that other things on the vehicle are written in.
The filler neck does not look modified in any way. It looks totally factory and there are no welds or brazes to suggest it was modified.
Saying that, The VIN is FJ55 built in AUG 78'. It has a disc brake front axle and a siganaw PS box. As mentioned, the engine was torched form the bay so its impossible to tell if anything was modified as far as motor mounts go.
The shift pattern represented inside the glove box is that of any other 4-speed of the time period. The T-case shift pattern is also totally normal.
The owner of the junk yard knows exactly where he got and plans to go ask the original owner if it came stock with a diesel or if he had it put in. Until he does that, we will never fully know, but I really want to belive its what someone already mentioned in this thread and it was a "test" vehicle and somehow got loose as an FJ55 but is really a BJ55. You decide for yourself...
I think a cruiser head needs to talk to the past cruiser head....i elect you 
to go and talk to the past owner...you would know the questions to ask....especially if the junk yard owner comes back and says he got it new with a diesel in it.
we need more info...now go get it ( I meen this in a good way )
to go and talk to the past owner...you would know the questions to ask....especially if the junk yard owner comes back and says he got it new with a diesel in it.we need more info...now go get it
( I meen this in a good way )
Howdy! I hope it turns out to have been an original Toyota diesel, but I'm betting that since it has a Saginaw steering box in it, that it was either a 5.7 gas, or 5.7 or 6.2 diesel from GM. Anybody know what GM used for diesels before they started using the Detroits? John
Howdy! Duh, I forgot to mention that an engine transplant may be indicated if the stock motor mount brackets have been removed/replaced. John