Advice for potential pig owner

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land crusher

land crusher

Morgen, morgen nur nicht heute...
10 Year 15 Year
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Feb 14, 2006
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Esteemed pig enthusiasts,

I have a line on a 55 that I'm thinking of buying and potentially doing a frame-off (not show quality, but preserve the frame and body and get everything working). Rust may yet be a deal-breaker, I've yet to see it up close. Anyhow, I understand parts are getting scarce so I'm wondering what are some of the main availability issues I'd be up against. Plus, anything FJ55 SPECIFIC I should look for? I'm well familiar with cruiser mechanicals, but I've never owned a pig.

Much obliged.
 
Rubber. You'll see others chime in shortly to testify. Vendors are few for these scarce rigs. The rear cargo rubber is still available from Cabe Toyota but the tailgate is the issue. Efforts are ongoing to fab up this much needed elastic problem. And its just so pricy to get it all (windows/doors etc) when you look at near 2K. I can't afford it all myself but have gotten the windshield and cargo rubber.

Looking forward to some pics on this potential pig!

EDIT: As for specifics.......just bear in mind the rust issue which these rigs are sooooo prone to.
 
make sure all electrical stuff works, including rear tailgate. watch the doors when you open them...if they drop, could be the hinges need rebuild, but could also mean the door is cracking away at the lower hinge and will need to be welded up.
 
All good stuff to know as I am looking for one as well
 
You'll need to be very, very patient. Parts, especially body parts, can be very hard to find. It may literally take years for a part you need/want to show up. There is no catalog you can just order from. Only about 5,000 pigs a year made it to the us and those that started life in the north have now been converted into lids on tuna fish cans. ;)

They are very unique and draw a lot of attention - but hey I've been addicted for years
 
They will ruin you for other cruisers.

I have no interest in owning a 40 again. It makes it tough to build a wheeling rig.

They have very short front doors. It puts the B pillar in your shoulder if you are a normal sized American. Some people really don't like that.

Windshields have gotten very expensive recently.
 
Get a better paying job

Just sayin'
 
Yep, lots of turning heads when driving it and comments when parking.

I expect that when I drive ours up from Guatemala next summer I'll have folks talking to me everywhere especially if it's sporting Guatemalan plates.
 
Yeah, some parts are hard to find. Depending on the year, stock brake parts are tough. Body parts are tough, but can be fabbed up by a good body guy. The rubber is expensive, but can be had. The turn signals can be rebuilt with some hollow, threaded lamp rod and locking nuts. And, restoration (even if it's not to show quality) can be expensive. But, as was said here, there is nothing like owning a pig. I'd do it again in a heartbeat (and probably will).
 
People also get out of the way when drivin a pig!!
doors, floor board and tail gait plus rubber are things to watch for......
 
89GASHOG said:
Is the legroom comparable to that of a 60 (kinda tight)?
Click to expand...

More leg room in a '60 (at least that's my opinion but it may be tainted by the tilt steering in the '60).
 
k9crazy said:
Yeah, some parts are hard to find. Depending on the year, stock brake parts are tough. Body parts are tough, but can be fabbed up by a good body guy. The rubber is expensive, but can be had. The turn signals can be rebuilt with some hollow, threaded lamp rod and locking nuts. And, restoration (even if it's not to show quality) can be expensive. But, as was said here, there is nothing like owning a pig. I'd do it again in a heartbeat (and probably will).
Click to expand...

Aren't the brake parts same as 40?
 
Lil'John said:
The other unique thing about a 55 is the amount of attention it draws. I've gotten more "wow that's a cool cruiser" type comments over the fence than I ever did with my FJ40:lol:
Click to expand...

Drove one for years and all I ever heard was "What the hell is that?"". I had people driving 40s amazed to find out it was a Toyota. How times change.
 
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