Wanted FJ55 for full restoration project.

UPDATE: Found an FJ40 instead.

Hi,

I'm in the Seattle area and am looking for an FJ55 to restore. I intend to do a frame-off restoration myself, and to get my kids involved. We homeschool so yeah we're weird like that. I'm looking for something around $5,000 depending on quality.

I looked at one nearby this week but the frame and under-body were in really bad shape even though the outside looked mostly ok. I could not come to an agreement on price.

So, any pointers or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Delancy]

I looked at one nearby this week but the frame and under-body were in really bad shape even though the outside looked mostly ok.

The nature of the beast.....all of them.

Pigs hide rot like no other, never revealing the extent until it's too damn late to stop.

So, any pointers or suggestions would be appreciated.

40/60/70/80/100....

 

[theamigo]

The nature of the beast.....all of them.

Pigs hide rot like no other, never revealing the extent until it's too damn late to stop.

40/60/70/80/100....

But the 55s are so cool looking! But, yeah, I've also looked at an FJ60 or two.

 

[Ferntucky]

Howdy,

I am up in Bellingham, and have a '76 55 that is a runner, and I also have a couple of parts trucks. I am working on a '79 that I will keep, so the '76 needs to go, and I pretty much have all good metal for the bad spots on the '76.

-Ryan

 

[theamigo]

Howdy,

I am up in Bellingham, and have a '76 55 that is a runner, and I also have a couple of parts trucks. I am working on a '79 that I will keep, so the '76 needs to go, and I pretty much have all good metal for the bad spots on the '76.

-Ryan

Thanks. Your inbox is full. Got any info and pics?

 

[JToobe]

Love it when this happens! A nearby possibility! Lived in Tacoma many, many years ago and miss that area! No weirdness in home schooling! Great respect for that and gives you more opportunity to do cool stuff like restoring a pig! Would love to see pics of what you end up with and hope you document the restoration on MUD for us to enjoy! I am co-sharing a 79 pig with PS and A/C that's in pretty decent shape and we even have another body with ambulance doors that came with it! We are conflicted as to which direction to go in, restore current body or swap them and go with cool/uniqueness of ambulance doors......first step is to get it running as it's been sitting for 8+ years. Boil out gas tank next step as we have motor pretty much ready!

 

[Delancy]

Love ambi doors, so much so I spent an embarrassing amount on a rear cut of pigass with them and might replicate the same bad decision (not insinuating yours was) and buy a complete body just as you have.

That said, there's nothing quite like the feel if air rushing through my last three hairs, with the rear glass down, at 85mph. Priceless. (Granted, there'd be nothing I'd appreciate more than getting the damn glass up on a day like today)

The irony is, for a long time I wanted ambi doors on the Pig.....yet, found myself wishing I had a tailgate on other cruisers WITH ambi doors, so think it's a 'what I want is what I've not got' conundrum.

 

[theamigo]

Howdy,

I am up in Bellingham, and have a '76 55 that is a runner, and I also have a couple of parts trucks. I am working on a '79 that I will keep, so the '76 needs to go, and I pretty much have all good metal for the bad spots on the '76.

-Ryan

Ryan, the system says your inbox is full so I can't send you a private message. Can you provide me more info? Thanks.

 

[JToobe]

Love ambi doors, so much so I spent an embarrassing amount on a rear cut of pigass with them and might replicate the same bad decision (not insinuating yours was) and buy a complete body just as you have.

That said, there's nothing quite like the feel if air rushing through my last three hairs, with the rear glass down, at 85mph. Priceless. (Granted, there'd be nothing I'd appreciate more than getting the damn glass up on a day like today)

The irony is, for a long time I wanted ambi doors on the Pig.....yet, found myself wishing I had a tailgate on other cruisers WITH ambi doors, so think it's a 'what I want is what I've not got' conundrum.

I hear ya! If we keep the current body with electric window will need to spend $1k+ on rubber/gaskets for back window! We know that in itself is cool but also have the draw of having ambulance doors which are so rare but again, a 55 is freakin rare here in Greenville! I have only seen one in the 19 years I have been here!

 

[theamigo]

Love it when this happens! A nearby possibility! Lived in Tacoma many, many years ago and miss that area! No weirdness in home schooling! Great respect for that and gives you more opportunity to do cool stuff like restoring a pig! Would love to see pics of what you end up with and hope you document the restoration on MUD for us to enjoy! I am co-sharing a 79 pig with PS and A/C that's in pretty decent shape and we even have another body with ambulance doors that came with it! We are conflicted as to which direction to go in, restore current body or swap them and go with cool/uniqueness of ambulance doors......first step is to get it running as it's been sitting for 8+ years. Boil out gas tank next step as we have motor pretty much ready!

Cool. So do you have one for sale?

 

[JToobe]

No, got a complete vehicle & then just a body with it that has the ambulance doors. Looks to have come out of S. Or C. America as it has natural gas plate in engine bay. Painted an olive color whereas original body is the cool red & white which I love!

 

[Project Rusty Gold]

I have a 1971 toyota land cruiser for sale that is very solid so it will save you some money on metal for 7k. you can see my build as project rusty gold. If interested DM me and we can exchange numbers.

 

[Pigeaten]

Hi,

I'm in the Seattle area and am looking for an FJ55 to restore. I intend to do a frame-off restoration myself, and to get my kids involved. We homeschool so yeah we're weird like that. I'm looking for something around $5,000 depending on quality.

I looked at one nearby this week but the frame and under-body were in really bad shape even though the outside looked mostly ok. I could not come to an agreement on price.

So, any pointers or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

If your still looking , I have a 72 I would sell for $4000, i was going to restore it, then found a better one.

 

[theamigo]

Just to update the thread - I AM still looking. I really, really hope I'm getting one through a member here who found one somewhere in Nevada. But, if that one falls through, I'll look through one or two of the FJ55's mentioned above. Thanks everyone.

Ferntucky, your inbox is still full. I've still not received any info about yours. Pics would be great.

Everyone else, I'm still interested.

 

[theside00]

Now that I have spent way to much on rubber and gaskets I would say rust is easy and cheap find one that has good gaskets and seals.

 

[theamigo]

Now that I have spent way to much on rubber and gaskets I would say rust is easy and cheap find one that has good gaskets and seals.

Based on the prices of some of the kits I've seen I completely understand.

Thanks to all. Still looking. One month in.

 

[theamigo]

Las Vegas fell through. Moving on.

 

[theamigo]

Final update: I found an 1981 FJ40 instead. Sorry guys! It was, I think, a great deal that I couldn't pass up.

 

[Pigeaten]

Final update: I found an 1981 FJ40 instead. Sorry guys! It was, I think, a great deal that I couldn't pass up.

Congrats, sorry you won't be a Pig farmer, but glad you found a project. Keep us up to date on Mud. Good luck