FJ55 Deconstruction

[dieselcruiserhead]

Shoot I forgot to mention this. Bruce Miller of enchantedtoyotas.com (email him off that or bem "at" epocs.com ) has some FJ55s he is selling dirt cheap (like $300) on the Colorado / NM border that are late model like that one that are in MUCH better shape.. If you do restore this body, replace any sheet metal with rust and sandblast.. Good luck with it. After my second pig, not to be an A-hole, but I wouldn't touch that body with a 5 foot stick.. You have a lot of work cut out for you! Best, Andre

 

[pr0ject42]

Good luck with it. After my second pig, not to be an A-hole, but I wouldn't touch that body with a 5 foot stick..

Sometimes its not about the destination, but rather the journey where the real reward comes from.

Then again I'm more in the nay-sayer boat as well, however I'm not doing the work either. I'm excited to see what you can pull out of this!

 

[scorcher1967]

I like that. This project shall be about the journey. Although, I might just drop a note about those NM/CO cruisers...This journey is going to be long enough, a short cut here and there wont hurt the "experience".

 

[scorcher1967]

couple new pics up. Front clip is off. Main wiring is out. Steering column out. Doors and windows tomorrow.

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q...cher1967/fj55/

 

[n2666s]

have been followinfg this thread enthusiastically but could not get the link to come up..............any suggestions?

Lou

 

[Lucy_FJ55]

Link did not work for me either, curious to see the progress.

 

[scorcher1967]

Sorry about that, try again....many new pics again today.

http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/scorcher1967/fj55/

The body is ready to come off. Only the fuel filler neck is is still attatched. I need to torch around it, but feel the need to let the gas tank vent for another day. (fuel, vire, good combo?)

I did make a tactical error in this deconstruction. I pulled the main wiring loom before removing the tailgate, and with the window down. This is wrong Check out my solution. Basically, I hooked up a battery, wired it to ground. Ran the two blue wires from the rear main loom, to the hot side of the battery, and reattatched the tailgate safety switch. With the tailgate open, I pushed the safety switch (in my left hand) and the window rolled up (out?)

 

[toddslater]

Before you go poking around the general fuel tank area with a torch, I would suggest a healthy application of dry ice (aka CO2) to the interior or the tank to inert it. Otherwise, this thread may end prematurely...and no one wants that. Also, roll the window about half way back down and remove the retaining clips from the base of the window channel...then you can easily remove the glass. But seriously stay away from the tank with a torch or any device that could spark (ie sawsall) unless you really know how to properly inert the tank...death is permanent and irreversible.

 

[scorcher1967]

Before you go poking around the general fuel tank area with a torch, I would suggest a healthy application of dry ice (aka CO2) to the interior or the tank to inert it. Otherwise, this thread may end prematurely...and no one wants that. Also, roll the window about half way back down and remove the retaining clips from the base of the window channel...then you can easily remove the glass. But seriously stay away from the tank with a torch or any device that could spark (ie sawsall) unless you really know how to properly inert the tank...death is permanent and irreversible.

Excellent Idea! Its a great bit of safety, and it is cheap. I bought a pound of it at the grocery store for $1.13. Well worth it. In addition, (because of my intense fear of death), the tank had been drained, all fuel lines blown out with compressed air, all vents removed and blown out. You might be amazed at how much gasoline remains in those fuel lines even after you drain the tank. Another bit of safety that is well worth the effort.

 

[scorcher1967]

A philosophical question.

After taking the last couple days off the truck (to make room to put the body shell where my beloved mustang ususally resides) I took stock of the progress, and asked myself the ultimate question all vehicular enthusiasts must ask.

Is a vehicle merely the sum of its parts?

 

[ColoCruiserJeff]

I aggree with PrOject42, its about the journey! I'm excited to see how this one progresses! Think you'll have fun with the angle grinder cutting the rust out, and getting new stuff welded up! Best of luck, and keep up the pictures!!!
-Jeff (colorado springs)

 

[scorcher1967]

Little update. I am still waiting to get the body off. Trying to get 5 guys together for 10 minuts of work just isnt that easy. So, I been busy with little stuff. Anyone know where to get heater knobs? Should get all three, and a cig lighter....

 

[wct49]

Man, hope you had a tetanus shot before you got started.

Chris

 

[PabloCruise]

And Pablo, I dont remember being accosted, but no worries if you did....

Heh heh, I have a hard time staying away from Pigs!

 

[scorcher1967]

Man, hope you had a tetanus shot before you got started.

Chris

I will be due for a booster shot in july of 2007. (hehe, yeah, I checked that before I got started.)

 

[scorcher1967]

http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/scorcher1967/fj55/

Did a little work chipping out the old rubber undermatting. Put up some pics of The Good (clean solid metal), The Bad (6cm crack through front bench mount), and The Ugly(Rust, damnable, cursed Rust)

I am also trying to locate rear tail lens gaskets. Any leads on these?

Jason

 

[n2666s]

might drop an email to Ehsan; he is ehsankiani on mud and he has done awsome work fabricating panels for the 40s!...........check out the floorboard thread on this forum.......mine looks a bit worse than yours rustwise, if that was possible would prefer to get as many things as possible sheet metal wise rather than fabricating ALL of them!

Lou

 

[Wayneraintree]

I am also trying to locate rear...="https://slocruisers.com/splashPage.hg"]Here

 

[miletwo]

Here

That link is for the square style... i believe he has the tall boys.

 

[Wayneraintree]

whoops... I am not aware of any available for late model pigs.... is Toyota a possibility?