Calico Kid's Pig spotted on the trail

[65swb45]

You can bug him for the specs. He spends too much time lurking anyways!;p

 

[MiniPigg]

Wow... looks like my old pig. Tell us more about this pig. Year, engine, suspension?

Mine was an 1974 FJ55. I had one of the first S/R kits MAF put out. I also used an add-a-leaf kit from MAF and 1.5" rear shackle lift from MAF. I replaced the old worn out engine with one from an 1987 FJ60 and then converted over to an electric fan. Front axle and rear axles as well as the brake master cylinder and booster came from and 1977 FJ55. As did the dash pad and the front bench seat. I had to replace the front bench seat floor mounts due to the PO had cut them out. I installed a rear disc brake conversion using new GM parts and the bracket from Bill Jackson. New brake lines. The rims look just like my old ones. They are no longer made. I forget the company but I dont think they make rims any longer. I sold the truck with 33" Yokohama Geolandars. We made the roof rack out of conduate pipe. I then adapted mounts from ski-racks. It covers about 2/3's of the roof. We had made a second rack to carry water and extra fuel that is taller. There was a considerable amount of rust in the rear rain gutter corners. I also replaced the vent plates on the fenders with those from and earlier FJ55 so to let in more air. So they are open slots and not a sold stamped out metal plate. And that front drivers side fender is dented in the same place. That would be way cool if that was my old pig.

 

[surfpig]

Dedeckera Canyon?

<edit> Question answered!

 

[calico kid]

Hey dude you just decribed my truck, add a leaf and all. Wonder if they are one in the same. Got mine from some guy in Lakewood CA. It's in Glendale CA. now. Put in a direct drive plastic fan, got an H41 to be installed soon, and three speed gears for the tranfer case. I'm stoked to find the guy who built this pig and I believe that guy just might be you.

 

[calico kid]

steel pass near eureka dunes

 

[MiniPigg]

steel pass near eureka dunes

I sold the truck to a a guy in Utah. He said he worked at a correctional facility (jail). I also had 3/8th inch channel iron bumpers front and rear. The front one used to be bent and we used a 20ton press to straighten it. I did a ton of work on that Pig. It also had a header, nonUSA Carb and non-USA Distributor. I replced the coil with and MSD Blaster II coil. I had Rancho 9000's on the rear. Cant remember what I had up front. Also the middle dash where the controls and radio went.... it was damaged. I had another I was saving. So I went ahead and used the bad one and cut the radio hole bigger so I could fit a radio in it. If it is my old Pig.... and the PO didnt remove any of the sound deadening materials..... it should have two layers of Dynomat Xtreme on the firewall and well as a layer inside the engine bay on the fire wall. And two strips in the rear doors. I dotn think I put anything in the front doors. But the Dynamat I used has the aluminum siding. The front fenders I replaced were solid. They had barely any rust. I also used Sylvania Extravisions inplace of the Hella's I had. You should have both the choke and idle control knobs and cables that control the choke and the idle rpm for the winch. Although the winch was no longer on the rig when I bought it. It was originally blue and white. The clutch kit was a Toyota TLC Heavy Duty clutch kit used on commercial FJ55's. So its plenty strong.

Dude if this stuff is on that Pig... then it is my old Pig.

Dave

 

[calico kid]

tats it,tanx for the graet stat shes a happy ca girl now still weeling

 

[calico kid]

daddy!!!!!

 

[MiniPigg]

daddy!!!!!

Phawkin A man.... Ive been trying to track down my old pig for the past two years. Cool to see its here in mud now. So tell me more about the rig... what have you done to it? Last owner do anything? More pics?

 

[65swb45]

Luke, I'm your father!;p







That' too cool! Glad I posted the pic.

 

[FJBen]

Very cool story...reminds me of Lassie or something like that...

 

[MiniPigg]

Very cool story...reminds me of Lassie or something like that...

Yaa but Lassie always comes home.


I was very bummed when I had to sale my Pig so we could build our new home. That Pig was my birthday gift from my wife. It used to be owned by a logger. I had around 385,000 miles on it when sold. At around 325K'ish I replaced the axles and brake rotors with Toyota. Clutch is also Toyota. I changed the engine out around 380Kish. That engine only had like 110K on it. My daughters godfather bought the 1987 FJ60 it was in. When the engine was pulled it was so clean you could eat off it. All service was done at the dealer.
Ive been trying to track down the Pig for some time now. I was going to see if I could reaquire it. I have a new pig now. It was also a birthday present from my wife and kids. But I still often think of "The Beast" as it was known.

 

[MiniPigg]

Calico Kid... will you be attending the Pig Run this summer? I would love to see my old pig again.

 

[calico kid]

This is all pretty interesting. It would be cool if we could check the vin. #. Did it have yellow sheet metal on floors??? Don't really think that I want to sell it , my girlfriend just started to like after the Pismo run 2005. And I had it for over three years. She says she has gained a new respect for it. It had a set of Idaho plates in the back when I bought it. For the first year that I had it every time that I came to a hill it would over heat, due to a bad rad cap. I’m no mechanic. The switch for the electric fan kept burning up, so I replaced with a direct drive fan. Then all the fumes were blowing in the car from the fan, so I had to fix that. One day a buddy and me were going to work and it took us all day to change a light bulb because of the fumes. The steering was very tight so it sat for about a year or two. Within the last few months with Mark’s help and guidance I have began wake this Pig from it’s sleep. Redid the steering with new and rebuild parts. That slide thing by the steering box wasn’t sliding. Replaced the header gasket. No more fumes… More later.

John

 

[MiniPigg]

This is all pretty interesting. It would be cool if we could check the vin. #. Did it have yellow sheet metal on floors??? Don't really think that I want to sell it , my girlfriend just started to like after the Pismo run 2005. And I had it for over three years. She says she has gained a new respect for it. It had a set of Idaho plates in the back when I bought it. For the first year that I had it every time that I came to a hill it would over heat, due to a bad rad cap. I’m no mechanic. The switch for the electric fan kept burning up, so I replaced with a direct drive fan. Then all the fumes were blowing in the car from the fan, so I had to fix that. One day a buddy and me were going to work and it took us all day to change a light bulb because of the fumes. The steering was very tight so it sat for about a year or two. Within the last few months with Mark’s help and guidance I have began wake this Pig from it’s sleep. Redid the steering with new and rebuild parts. That slide thing by the steering box wasn’t sliding. Replaced the header gasket. No more fumes… More later.

John

My floors were starting to rott. The upper and lower front fenders are being held in with self tapping sheet metal screws. And I think I have a sheet metal screw holding in the top tip of the front drivers side fender. You can see it when you open the door. Also if the doors were not replaced. And I am certain they havent been because there is a dent on the drivers door that is the same as the one I put there.... that doors hinges have been welded back on by the guy I bought it from.
The muffler should be a round one... I replaced it would a cheap factory replaceent muffler. Also the collector where the header meets the exhaust pipe isnt welded on very good. And I think he went from a smaller pipe into a larger diameter collector. The header gasket should have been kevlar. Plus the front still has the same lean from the body to frame. Also one of the body mounds should be missing on the front. Cant remember if it is the drivers or passengers side. The new owner might have replaced it... but I still have the body mount in a box somewhere. I blew the gasket between the transmission and tcase... so I rigged a couple pipes and hose so the transmission fluid would drain down to the tcase when it got to full. That way the tcase doesnt go dry.... but all in all.... I am the only one that had covered the engine bay firewall with Dynamat Xtreme and put a couple layer in the cabins firewall and then placed the original sound deadening current back on the firewall. Also should be on the kicker panels and the floor under the pedals. There also should be a strip in each rear door. It isnt a very big strip. But it covered enough. Im not sure if I have the VIN written down to compare it. But with everything listed there cant be any other pigs with identical upgrades, mods, etc.

Oh... also when I owned it the steering box was adjusted properly... and I had rebuilt the steering center arm so it should still be nice and tight.

oh.. and no worries about selling it.... It nice to see it again and know that it is getting used as I had intended it to be. But if you ever do decide to sale her... hit me up first.

 

[surfpig]

Finally found my pic, could be the same spot...

And a crappy shot of Steele Pass... I love the vastness...

 

[calico kid]

I totally agree. Not about the crappy shot. Pigs love this trail. Hows the new springs? Anyone else been here? I'll be in Calico this weekend if anyone wants to come down. We going to pick up trash. Also going to look for a piece of metal to replace the saline bat.

 

[MiniPigg]

John,
Do you have any photo's of the front rear showing the Reverse Shackle kit? I wanted to see if that shackle was at the same angle as it was when I sold it to that guy in Utah. If it is then I suggest getting a longer main leaf... maybe from a rear FJ55 spring packs. It will make the ride better.

dave

 

[calico kid]

Iwas thinking longer shakles my heep has same problem.shakles are stright up and down

 

[MiniPigg]

Iwas thinking longer shakles my heep has same problem.shakles are stright up and down

Heres the scoop... i installed that kit when MAF was just starting to sale it. So that is one of the first few kits sold. I installed it according to MAF's owner. I think it was the owner... cant remember his name... but he is the mechanic they have who knows everything...?
Anyway he told me to install the front hanger to the most forward bolt hole..... which I did... I questioned him before and after the install and he said it was correct. Well as you can see that shackle is vertical to the ground and its not suppoused to be... it should be as a slight angle towards the rear of the vehicle.... They never did anything to help me after that... I didnt even get the correct bushings for the install... so I used the ones I had been given and installed washers between the bushings to take up the gap. So.... the best thing you could do in my own opinion... would be to take an FJ55 set of rear springs.... remove the top two leaf 's with the spring eyes and wraps.... cut the eyes off the front leafs.... and then install them as a top leafs for the front springs... the extra lenght should correct this... I hope.... and give you a better ride. It might also lift the front up so be ready to correct the back. Or it just might level things off... I think I had adjusted the rear to be at least 1.5 inches taller then the front which is close to stock front to rear ride height.