I really want a piggy

[RogueBetty]

I need two rigs one to daily drive the other to fix up. And I really want a piggie to be that second vehic. So here is the deal I found one with a 350 chevy conversion in it for 2k. It is a 1978 pig with about 20k on the new from the crate engine. The body and paint looks pretty good, not like my oxidized 60.

So what should I be looking for when I go check out this rig? What are the best 55 years? etc...

So my plans would be doing a SOA on the piggie, making it the long expedition vehic and keeping the 60 relatively stock but with a lift...
I would like to regear the piggie and a whole bunch of other stuff that I will probably figure out as I go. But for now the piggie could be the daily and the 60 could be getting the much needed attention it needs, including a lift and paint job.

Nucelar or K9 I know you ladies are fans of the 55 any suggestions???

 

[nuclearlemon]

is the paint fresh or original? if fresh, take a magnet to it. watch front fenders behind the wheel and up where the turn signals bolt in. also rear sill. lift up the floormat and look at the body mounts (under clutch heel and same area on passenger side) and in the rear just inside the rear door where the floor angles from the cargo area

crawl underneath and look at the floorboard.

open the doors and make sure they dont' drop when you open them..if so, look at the door around the lower hinge...they tend to crack there.

obviously make sure everything works, including the rear window at both the key switch and the dash switch.

best years are dependant. post 76 gets you disc brakes, but they will be the smaller pattern knuckles and longer thinner birfs than a 60/mini has. a step above drum yes, until you break.

you plan on building a rig, so either will work. i like earlier models for the thicker steel and the vent windows in the front door, but the doors also tend to crack where the vent window support goes down.

for soa, pick up a set of fj60 axles and put em underneath...better stability and upgrade to the heavier duty and far easier to find knuckles/birfs. this will involve outboarding the springs in the front...proffitts and ipor have the mounts to do this.

good luck and post up pics!

 

[sirenmoses]

I have dogs that snore like piggies, does that count?

Got 3 seranading me from 2 couches right now. I'm feeling very very sleepy....

 

[Ratpuke]

How much work do you want to put into fixing up a 55? Think about that when you're looking at a potential rig and keep in mind what type of work you want to be doing - do you want a pretty pig with a great body but is a mechanically sound? Do you want only to work on mechanical bits?

A 350 isn't exactly my first choice for an expedition vehicle, but I'm from the N and have been spoiled by driving diesel Cruisers long distances.

Anyway... have you seen the vehicle yet? Take any pics? The masses need to know!


C.
(legal guardian of a red and white Canadian pig born in 1973)

 

[DSRTRDR]

don't we all they so fantastically ugly that I'll have to have one at some time just for the WTF look from others

I saw one on Craigslist here - reasonable shape, reasonable price

that was before Christmas, and I was too busy to move on it