FJ55 newbie

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Trying to do it myself as I'm pretty much totally broke as can be for at least a few more months. I'm really hoping it's not too bad. If it is I will have to have it boiled out, but I'm just trying to do as much myself as I can right now to save money for tires and hoses and stuff that I can't reuse.
 
nuclearlemon said:
a chain is easier than the bolt trick...easier to get the chain out than all the bolts;)
Click to expand...

AWESOME tech, thought the bolt idea was good too, but also wondered about getting em all out. figured whatever didn't come out would get captured by the sealer:meh::hillbilly:
 
Good deal, I've heard about the chain trick before. Sounds like a plan. First things first though, going to pull the sending unit today and see how much I can see with a flashlight and see if I even want to bother pulling it. Don't know if there is a baffle or anything in the way, but if I can get a look inside and it doesn't look bad I may not bother pulling it yet. We'll see this afternoon.

Finished getting the motor ready for the Pig today, now about to head out and get the Pig ready for the motor.

I'm getting pretty excited about this, I feel like I am almost there as far as being able to drive it. I know once I start driving it I will be more inspired to work on it more. As much as I'd love to tear it down to the frame and rebuilt it from the ground up, I know myself well enough to know if I don't get to use and enjoy something I lose interest in it.
 
The one negative on the chain, that I've seen, is it won't get under the baffles, to the other compartments. Bolts or nuts get around pretty good and you do have to keep moving it, to get them out.

Nobody said it would be easy. :)
 
There are baffles in a Pig tank.
 
Well, tomorrow was going to be the big day, but turns out it's the brother in law's birthday so it will be a half day of working on getting the motor in the Pig. Still hoping to have the old motor out, and the new motor in and bolted down by the time we leave for dinner.

Good news is I got 4 hubcaps finally after looking forever for them. Not in great condition, but plan on widening a set of stock wheels to put on my 40 at some point so I'll switch these to the 40 when the time comes and get nicer ones for the Pig. But for now, I have hubcaps finally. Now I just need one more stock wheel... which hopfully I'm taking care of Tuesday.

Hopefully I'll have some pictures of the new motor sitting in the Pig tomorrow to share. :)
 
Still have not been able to get the motor in, mostly due to the fact my parents have had family over for the last two weeks and I didn't want a ripped apart truck in the driveway while they were there. They are all leaving tomorrow and hopefully this week I will tow the Pig over there and get the motor swapped and it finally on the road.

Now... I have a dilemma. I've had a desire to build a expo type truck for a long time. For the last few months I've been going back and forth and thinking a lot about what it is I really like and want to do, and I enjoy dirt road exploring, and would love to do some long range road trips/off road adventures around the US. I wanted to buy a 62 or an 80 for this. However... it occurred to me the last few weeks that I already have a really sweet wagon... why not modernize the 55 for an expo rig. 3FE/5 speed, AC, disk brakes, power steering, some nicer seats, and some sound/heat protection and I think it would be just as nice as a 62 and way cooler of a truck.

My issue is, I really had wanted to do a full restore on this and keep it 100% stock. I think both would be awesome, totally stock drive around town and light camping truck, and a stock looking but modernized 55 for expo road trips and back country camping.

What do you guys think? I just love this Pig and am trying to figure out what is the right path to take on this. If I did the expo it would get a small lift, but nothing crazy and a roof rack and some kind of a pull out drawer system, but I'd leave the wheels and hubcaps, and not modify the exterior at all other then the rack and maybe a bumper for a winch. I don't envision hardcore wheeling at all with it, just back country stuff and solo I'd want a winch.
 
Hairy,

You pretty much nailed it for me. That's what I'm trying to do with mine. A dirt road camping wagon. It will still look fairly stock, but some comforts and not break down, hopefully.
 
I'd LOVE to restore it 100% stock, but drivability will suffer for sure... I'd love to have it up to 62 standards as far as drivability and comfort. I absolutely love this truck, and I just am starting to think I'd drive it around and enjoy it a lot more if it was a little less stock and a little more modernized.
 
Don't know what you did with your fuel tank, but I had mine serviced recently. There was 2" of gunk in the bottom. They cut a hole in the corner and put a pressure washer tip in and sprayed out a bucket full of trash. They also found 6 holes in the tank. All holes were patched and then sealed with the red stuff....$125. I thought that was a heck of a deal.
 
There's nothing wrong with a stock restoration. Having a dirt road camper is great as is a dog hauling, grocery getter. Pigs are reliable, they just take a little longer getting where you want to go - and give you more opportunity to enjoy the experience of getting there. Comfort, well, that's a different subject.

Go stock and don't look back.
 
Yep, I think I will keep this one stock. I love it too much the way it is. Also helps that I already have an engine waiting to go in it. Still waiting for life a calm down a little before I can tow it over and get the engine swapped... but should be sooner then later. I got distracted painting my 40.
 
Well, it's been a while since I updated on the progress of the pigs... which is basically... there hasn't been much. I just have either been too broke or too busy to get much done.

I actually started taking apart my rusty 55 to part it out. I had been looking for a 2F for my 40, and found someone who wanted to trade doors and the automatic out of the pig for his 2f, but the dude flaked on me and I am happy about that as I found a cheap 2f with 85,000 on it. Still has cross hatching and no lip on the cylinders. :) My 40 will be Toyota powered again soon.

And that leaves me with my 55s still not getting worked on. However, I finally got a couple more stock wheels, so this week or next I'm going to get them sand blasted and painted. I've been trying to find some good used 30ish tires for it, I have hesitated in putting the new motor in because I can't afford new tires right now and it's going to make me sad to have a good running pig I can't drive.. somehow with it not running I'm not so bummed.

After a lot of back and forth and trying to figure out what route I want to take with my 3 cruisers, I have figured out that I've always wanted a stock 55. So I can't do the expo rig out of the blue one, it's just too clean. So it's staying stock.

The 40 is going to be getting a trailer to become our dirt road/desert exploring truck. I want to retire it from rock crawling and give it an easier life. Truth it, it's my first love and I'd be devastated if I rolled it or damaged it badly rock crawling it.

So that means that my rusty 55 gets a new lease on life. It's going to become the crawler. Most of the parts I take out of the 40, the 350 and the SM420 will go into it. I just put that 283 in it, but it's too much high RPM motor and not enough low end grunt.. and it's too nice of a motor of a crawler anyway. I'm giving it to my dad with the automatic for his willys wagon. I love the 420 in my 40 and it will work well in the 55 as well.

Spring over, disk brakes, PS, ect will be happening as well as a lunchbox locker for the rear. It will be nice to have a crawler I don't care about body damage.

It's also going to get tube doors and going to finish up the chopping I did in the back.

Now that it's cooling down again I'm looking forward to getting some major stuff going on the trucks in the next few months.
 
I've been a bit inspired today. My brother just bought a FJ62 a few weeks ago and wanted to go up to the woods and play with it a little. My 40 needs it's vacuum advance diaphragm replaced, so I rode with him... and I'm not going to lie, I totally fell in love.

I think my blue pig's fate is decided. I think I'm going to put the 2F/4 speed/split case I have sitting here into it and not keep it stock. Keep it stock looking, 31's and no lift or a shackle lift. But I would really love to bring it up to 60 drivablity and comfort.

I am totally excited to start working on it again. I had just got distracted fixing my 40 and have kind of put the pigs on the back burner again, but now I'm excited to have a wagon after today. So much more comfortable and nice bouncing around then the 40...
 
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