And the herd gets bigger

[snailwagon]

So my dad is an absolute garage sale/auction/estate sale hound, and he knows of my Toyota addiction. Since I've realized that my fj40 project is a piece of crap that has been PO'd to death, I've been looking for a new cruiser to replace it for the harder wheeling duties, with plans to restore my fj55 to nicer condition and save it from any rust.

So he gets the newspaper, sees an fj55 in it, and is in the middle of the desert (Newberry Springs) by 8 a.m. The fj55 is an unmolested 1977, blue and white. The interior is intact, besides the headliner, and the only rust is one tiny bubble on one fender. It has spent it's entire life in the middle of the desert. The engine has been pulled, and an AA chevy adapter was purchased and never installed. So a deal was done, $500 and some tools that were obtained by my paps for free. No dents, no rust that actually go much past the surface, original paint, even still has the hubcaps. So there really are mint cruisers still hiding. Good watching out, he originally found my free 1969 fj55, and my $1000 fj40 that was frame off'd, but then wrecked. I guess I owe him a fat one for fathers day.

Now time to get it home this weekend! I will post some pics then. My 1969 will become the wheeler and probably suffer a springover now. The 1977 will need a 2F and complete smog equipment, or a nice 5.3L fuel injected vortec that I can work the carb exempt stuff with.

 

[3_puppies]

good score!

and of course PICS

 

[snailwagon]

Pics will come on Saturday after I trailer it home. Just got so damn excited I'd thought that I would share. The paint is oxidized, but for some reason the rubber is intact, and I don't even have to slam the doors for them to close. Very unlike the other pig. Sorry 1969 pig, it is time to beat the hell out of ya.

 

[clemson55]

Sounds awesome man cant wait to see some pics. I wish I could find something like that. Of course the only way it wont have rust here is if it has been inside its entire life.

 

[snailwagon]

Here are a couple of pics, they are not that great since they were taken on my phone's camera.

 

[snailwagon]

So there are 4 lights on the front, and each has its own individual switch. Big ugly bumper too.

 

[snailwagon]

So this is the rust on the vehicle. Doesn't go through the metal and is the only rust on the entire thing. The headliner is long gone, but it is amazing how new the roof looks.

 

[snailwagon]

So the good: It is super clean and came completely full of fj55 parts from other vehicles. It even came with the old yellow bottle jack and the tool bag. On top of that, it has 62,000 original miles. It also has an AA adapter for a GM motor. THe original mats and insulation are there, when you pull them up, it looks like brand new paint, no rust.

The bad: The firewall was molested for a chevy swap. I am going to have to remove the metal Tecate sign used for part of the firewall and weld in something nice. The hood has been damaged from flying up before, it has two creases that may be very hard to repair. The driver's side door is bent, like it flew open before, and it has a dent. There is also a small dent in the rear.

So the fj55 was purchased for use as a ranch vehicle in Barstow, Ca, in 1977. In 1984, it was sold to a gentelman in Newberry Springs, Ca. He registered it once in 1995 and did the engine swap and soon removed it. It has been tucked deep into Newberry Springs since then, way off the beaten path. $500 well spent.

My plans are to restore the interior to its original glory, as also the body. I'm not a stickler for keeping things original, so it will get a 2F, or more likely a 5.3 fuel injected vortec. I also really like the black cherry pearl the new fj's come in, I would like that color while keeping the 2 tone so it still looks fj55.

 

[PabloCruise]

Wow - you are a lucky Pig owner!

 

[hatfieldcb]

Pretty nice! The driving lights on the bumper look kind of gay, but other than that....... Oh, yeah. Ditch the mirrors, too.

 

[AZkick-n40]

Snailwagon,

That is a GREAT looking truck. Congrats!

Brian

 

[snailwagon]

and I promise not to flip this one, it will become a daily driver of sorts. It is too nice to f@ck up. It will probably take me a year or two, but it will become the official money pit.