Aussie pig update

[shmukster]

Finally got a few days off work, among other things have had a little time for my new piggy. Got a nice set of stock wheels, had em blasted and painted and now have them on the 55. The tires are BFG 10.50 Mud Terrains, when they were on 8" wheels they looked wiiiide. On the stock 6" wheels they look nice and narrow. The truck rides and steers great with this combo and I really like the stock look.

Actually the original tires on this truck were 16" on split rims. Those things must weight 70 pounds each, two of them had a 14 ply rating!!!!! I gave them to John Merkey to be used on his FJ25 (future project for John), was glad to get those heavy SOB's out of my yard!

The pig is running well, with the Silverado seats it is comfortable. I bought a right hand drive 60 series PS box on EBay and am waiting for it to arrive from Australia. There's a Tuffy console in there now with a quality stereo hidden inside. Other than some normal maintenance I've not had to do anything to the truck. It has drum brakes all around and they work quite well. Got the "Iron Pig" license plate from orange and white truck transferred, too. I did notice an oddity- the threaded mounting holes for the license plate have a different spacing than what our plates have!

Been thinking hard about paint. While the old girl deserves a good modern paint job I am hesitant to remove and/or cover up what I feel to be the original paint on this truck. An untouched rust free survivor might be more interesting than a professionally repainted old truck. I haven't decided what, if anything, to do yet.

Check out the photos, taken today after a rainstorm. Gary S

 

[shmukster]

Last photo

One more photo from today

 

[nuclearlemon]

drool..looking sweet.

 

[stash12]

sweet

thats one sweet pig

 

[toddslater]

Looking good Dr....now I am wishing I held onto my stock wheels and hub caps for Pigwald. Then again, I am swimming...ok drowning in cruiser crap. Do you still have the tuffy console for me we talked about at the pig run ? Also, I am pretty screwed as far as the fall crawl. May be able to run up Thurs. night and wheel the Hybryd Synergy Drive on Friday. R U planning on making a showing ? Youngest daughter is having parents weekend at Shippensburg...so Friday would be a comprimise

Also, maybe trying a light compound on the buffer and see where the paint shakes out. I agree if it's original and with a little light compounding brings it out...call it good.

 

[onemanarmy]

clean that fuel off or you'll need a repaint

 

[PabloCruise]

Gary, Do you have any lift on the Pig to clear those 33x10.5's?

 

[Wayneraintree]

Looks great Gary!

An unrestored original is has more value than a repaint, my two cents

You better store that thing from Oct to April in one of your stalls! No PA winter unless you are banging it up the mountain behind your house in a snowstorm

 

[shmukster]

pig stuff

No lift on this truck that I can see. The tires clear everywhere-no interference anywhere. I ran 33 x 9.50 muds on FJ60 wheels on both my 72 pig and my orange and white truck (before the SOA) without any problems, either. For a stock pig I believe this is about the optimal tire/wheel combo. Thanks to Jeff and Todd for the wheel donations!!!

I don't plan to drive this piggy at all in the winter. I'll be driving a 60 I bought (back!!!) this winter and daughter Jenna will be driving my Toy truck. Hopefully this piggy will never see any salty roads.

The damaged paint under the fuel filler door was like that when I bought the truck. I'm thinking about just having my body man snad and prep that area and primer it. there are two dents that could be addressed at the same time and again I am unsure just how to proceed.

Todd- will sned you an email about the Fall Crawl. I plan to wheel both Friday and Saturday and to be at the raffle Saturday evening. Gary S

 

[Fast Eddy]

An untouched rust free survivor might be more interesting than a professionally repainted old truck.

x3 - I'm kinda partial to that 653, just as it is.

That stain may come off with some careful wet sanding.

Quit fooling around and send my parts.

 

[nathank]

Hi Shmukster,

How did you manage to get a RHD pig?? Hello from Australia by the way.

A question regarding your tyres, are they 33x10.5x16's ? Have found the BF Goodrich Mud Terrains KM2 in a 255/85/16 (about 33x10.5x16 in imperial size) as i too wish to retain my 6inch rim (aftermarket alloy, not factory steelies) and my local tyre shop has said that they would fit them to the 6inch rim. just want to get an idea of what they will look like. Found Expeditions West (another U.S. site) that have the metric version on their Tundras for the same reason, running the narrow rim.

Looks great any way. Mine currently has a 2inch body-lift and 2inch extended shackles so should be great.

Thanks,
Nathan

P.S. regarding the fuel stain, try polishing it with a medium cut cleaner. Take it you should be able to get hold of Mequire's range of polishes/buffing compounds easy enough. I usually use this medium on most areas (deeper scratches/tree sap/bitumen) as the idea is to try and leave as much material/paint on as possible, especially with original paint-finishes. Better to work with fine-medium than heavy first.

 

[40Flipper]

I think that the value of the truck will remain the same if you repaint. Let's face it, 55's never really skyrocket in value and you've documented a legit reason for a repaint. I would obsess over that fuel door area till it was fixed. A fresh coat of paint will brighten her up and make her feel pretty.

 

[OldBeachBob]

Update

Great looking pig Gary I really do love those doors. I'd do the polish and wet sand stuff before you start messin with the paint. Haviing lived a number of years in areas where you have seasons (read winter) I'd wait for spring before doing any serious paint stuff. Wheels look great!

Any trouble gettin an Aussie Pig into the country? I'm sure here in So Cal they'd want a left nut, and big $ before sending me away.

 

[SAWTOOTH 55 LC]

nice

That is a great looking 55.The paint looks good.I was about to clean my grill,bezels,and side vents to the bare metal the other day,but I couldnt get myself to clean history,so I decided to go with the weathered original patina.Are your light bezels on backwards.I thought the wide side went up against the grill.Good luck with the project

 

[Lucy_FJ55]

Are your light bezels on backwards.I thought the wide side went up against the grill.Good luck with the project

WOW! Yep, Eagle Eye.