Looking at a Pig

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grngoat

grngoat

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Jul 19, 2010
Threads
24
Messages
63
Location
Darlington, SC
I am the proud owner of a 1974 40, my first car got it in 1987. I have always wanted a Pig to park beside her. I think I might have found the perfect candidate. The vehicle is three hours away from me so I am relying on photographs to make my decision. The truck is a 1971 owned by the grandson of the original owner. The grandson claims 50,000 original miles on the truck. Even though I am somewhat familiar with the nuances of the 40, I am blind when it comes to 55's. If this truck is original would it have three on the tree or floor shift? what areas are of particular concern on this model year? My main concern is when was the switch from ball and claw axles?
Sorry for the long post, if all goes well I will be posting pictures of my new Pig soon.

thanks,
Lee
 
Mine is an early 72 and it has the three on the floor. There are a lot more knowledgeable people on this forum that can say if a three on the tree is possible but I'm thinking 72 is a bit late for it.

Regarding the 3 speed, make sure you know what you're getting into. Mine has the three speed in it and I am cautious about where I drive it. This town is fast and I make sure to stay away from the main roads as 50 mph is as far as I like to push it. With the three speed anything above 50 mph really feels like the engine and transmission are being pushed somewhere they don't want to go.

Parts for a 55 are a whole different issue. Parts for an early 72 can be more difficult to get than parts for a late 72 because of a production change somewhere after the middle of the year. A good number of the "mechanical" parts do interchange with the 40's so they are not to hard to come by but there is a whole pile of stuff that was specific to the 55. They can cause some serious headaches as there really isn't anybody out there making reproduction items for the 55. Just to mention one, weatherstripping is a big issue. :bang: Not trying to steer you away from a 55 but it is a unique vehicle and it comes with the problems associated with owning something unique.

Can't help with the axle question but I'm sure somebody else hanging around here knows. :cheers:
 
Your axles are fine. Ball and claw were eariler, '67 or '68? I have a '69 55 and the axles are the same as the 40 for the same year. Pinion gear is corse spline but will work great unless it is driven hard core rock climbing.
The 3 on the tree is probably origional. Look around the steering column for abandoned shift linkage if you have a floor shifter. On a floor shifter look at the tunnel where the shift stick passes through. Does it look like a factory cut out? Depending on what kind of rig you want, the 3 speed will work fine for most uses.
Drive it the way it is and enjoy it. You will learn if changes are needed. Don't rush into a bunch of mods.
Just make sure the breaks are safe and the engine is reliable.
 
crackedup said:
Regarding the 3 speed, make sure you know what you're getting into. Mine has the three speed in it and I am cautious about where I drive it. This town is fast and I make sure to stay away from the main roads as 50 mph is as far as I like to push it. With the three speed anything above 50 mph really feels like the engine and transmission are being pushed somewhere they don't want to go. :cheers:
Click to expand...

Three speeds and four speeds have the same top gear ratio. 1:1.
 
pigs are essentially like 40s. they had their powertrain changes when the 40s did. the pig was produced after the ball and claw axles went away, so you have birfield joints, but they are course at the hub. the axles are fine spline and the diff is course spline at the pinion. all four wheels will be drum.

71 is a column shift non synchro 3spd with vacuum shift transfer case. as mentioned, look at the tranny tunnel. the shift boot on a later fact floor shift was round until around 75, iirc. the rubber floormats were also marked where the factory shifter would poke through.

baseline what you have for now, then i'd look into a disc swap in the front (unless you like adjusting your drums constantly, drums really are a better stopper, just high maintenance). four speeds are a much quieter, nicer shifting transmission. from there, the sky's the limit.
 
I haven't picked up the truck yet, waiting on some pictures to comfirm some things. The seller says it has factory a/c, original mats both front and rear, bottle jack, tool bag and tools. Just waiting to see the rust pictures before I send a roll back up to pick her up. I do have a spare 4 speed trans and transfer case, i have purchased front disc setup from a 86 60, was going to put it on my 40, might go on this instead!
 
I thought the later models only had factory AC. I purchased my 72 from the orignal owner and he said AC wasnt an option, hence the aftermarket FrigiKing on top (see sig for build thread and pics). As long as it's not a complete rust bucket where your entire hand could go it, I say get it!
 
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