Discussion

[Fireman]

Mine is stock in the sense that I haven't cut the sheetmetal and hopefully never will. As far as mechanical, that is a different story. I have gone to a V8 and auto tranny with a 2" body lift to fit the tranfer case way up high and extended shackles. I have only 1/2" sticking down below the frame rails. I still have the stock axles but will be adding a locker to the rear. I run 35" tires and only occasionally rub. This Pig has gone places that I never thought that it would. I really love the look of a stock body, but they have got to get raised up a liitle. Don't mind others who cut theirs up, just love to see Pigs!!!!!

 

[Lucy_FJ55]

I bought my first pig in basically stock condition and have made several mech upgrades. I started with a rusty pig and had never seen a real nice one in person before until, while I was searching for a clean, stock FJ40 for a good friend, I came across a semi-restored FJ55 that I had to have. So, now I guess I get to have my cake and eat it too. I now have two money pits...one for trails and one to DD. As for mods, I like the look of a stock piggie, a chopped piggie, a tubed piggie, a rust bucket, a princess,...Uh, you get the idea.

 

[FJBen]

ahhh...I LOVE PIGS!!!!

Fell in love with a 55 the first time I saw one, just knew I was going to get one! I guess I'm definitely not in the pure stock area, but I love pigs as long as they are out and going, stock modded etc.

I upgrade mine to get it to do what I want, daily driver, capable trail rig, camping machine, shaggin' wagon... I have my wife and two girls and want something we can go into BFE with and have plenty of room. That being said I want it reliable comfortable and capable. I'm getting to the power steering, but 4 wheel discs are great, I'm happy with the tractor motor, (especially when I get the new carb...THANKS MARK!!!) and of course ARB's make it highly capable with 35's.

Still sitting on the tired bench that my wife wants me to leave in...I was looking for some FZJ-80 leather seats...BIG maybe get around to working A/C....but thats pretty

But there is nothing on the planet like a Pig on 35's, stock body, KC's, winch, beefy bumpers!!! My favorite looking all time wheeler!

 

[Wayneraintree]

IMO, evalutating the individual pig quickly tells me what I will do with it. When I bought my 55, it had a 350 conversion done back in the pioneer days, angle iron brackets for the driveline (bent, the entire engine/tranny sat tilted from years of successful V8 power way before the days of AA and others), '68 350 out of an impala... lifted, 33 X 9.5's, little carnage hear and there, 45 gal. fuel tank, had been wheeled all over the west, rubicon, etc.... kind of a "no brainer" mod it further, so with the help of a knowledgable cruiser head, we SOA'ed, 4 wheel disced, 465'ed, locked f/r, winch, bumper... I took the time and TBI'ed in place of the worn out carb'ed 350.... the 55 was already on the "dark side" before it was the "dark side".. in fact, it was probably trail breaking in a sense for it's time. So in short, my 55 was asking for more mods... now I am looking forward to trimming and armor...

On the other hand, when I find a stocker cruiser with little to no rust, since I have my trail truck, I will keep it intact and work to have it stock, that is my philosophy. Let the cruiser dictate it's path... if you want a highly modified trail truck, find a less than perfect one if you can, if not... then oh well, find what you can and make it suit your needs. There are no regrets in cruiserdom, just next steps on the trail whether forward or backwards, and the cruiser will like it's path your just the driver

 

[BushBoy]

Well, i prefer somewhere in between, like keep the overall original "PIG" look the same, just add to it to make it better and customised to suit my own likings.
i plan to get rid of the bench seat for bucket seats, cd player etc.
i have already ditched the original roof lining for rust reasons, old door skins are out for custom replacements.

Cheers,
Dan.

 

[bonzai]

Great question

I am picking up my pigg 74' this week

Over the past year i have compiled a sizable picture library of 55's.
Just to get an idea of what I like. You know possibles.

While I can reall appreciate the aggresivle sophisticated lines of a totally restored pig. It just does not make me as hot as a customized 55 that someone put their hart and sole into.

I like many of you am torn between the two.

 

[RUSH55]

I myself like all versions of 55's, but it is cool to see a slightly modded one out on a trail with 40's and J**p's. I think there are some mods that should be considered even by those who want to retain stockness, like power steering. There's just no comparison, and when you do it, you wonder why you didn't do it sooner.