My new 55 - intro and future build thread!

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motomodz

motomodz

Joined
Aug 5, 2008
Threads
29
Messages
148
Location
Baltimore, MD
:pig:Hello....Just wanted to introduce my new 1971 FJ55 to the fellow pig enthusiasts here! Thanks to a bunch of mud members for their help, advice, leads, etc.....I have found the perfect pig for me! It is VERY Original, and more importantly (to me), VERY rust-free!

I don't have a grand plan for it just yet. For now, the plan is to take my time and gather a few parts, weather-stripping, and other parts then as time permits, fine-tune a little body work, paint it, shackles for now then lift springs to put some 33's under it, maybe convert the column shift to floor shift!?

I also need to diagnose the turn signals, diagnose the rear glass operation at the tailgate (dash switch works), if anyone has any suggestions as to likely cause / fix for these issues, I would love to hear your ideas!

I will be creating a seperate post soon with some parts I am looking for....right now, I know I need a nice (early) dash pad and original choke cable, some weather-stripping (which I think I have read enough of the w/s guide thread to know where to get most of the stuff - when the budget allows!)....

so, that's it for now...here is a quick pic, more to come!:pig: -Lee
lt frt corner.webp
 
Lil'John said:
Nice looking pig with potential.

On the rear glass, the dash switch works in making the glass go down but not the rear keyed switch?

With the turn signals, do the hazards work also? 71s had a funky hazard/turn setup:o
Click to expand...

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome! ....Lil John, yes, the dash switch operates the rear glass but not the keyed switch....any ideas? The hazards work but no turn signals.....what was funky in particular about the setup on the 71's? I have not had time to look into any of this yet. Thanks again guys! -Lee
 
brass gear from cruiser_guy

Lee; congrats on a nice looking rig with a ton of potential:clap:...........the rear window gear is available from Toyota USA; you might give C-Dan a call..........I went with Charles Wirrel's brass gears and they are awsome..........good luck;

Lou

motomodz said:
:pig:Hello....Just wanted to introduce my new 1971 FJ55 to the fellow pig enthusiasts here! Thanks to a bunch of mud members for their help, advice, leads, etc.....I have found the perfect pig for me! It is VERY Original, and more importantly (to me), VERY rust-free!

I don't have a grand plan for it just yet. For now, the plan is to take my time and gather a few parts, weather-stripping, and other parts then as time permits, fine-tune a little body work, paint it, shackles for now then lift springs to put some 33's under it, maybe convert the column shift to floor shift!?

I also need to diagnose the turn signals, diagnose the rear glass operation at the tailgate (dash switch works), if anyone has any suggestions as to likely cause / fix for these issues, I would love to hear your ideas!

I will be creating a seperate post soon with some parts I am looking for....right now, I know I need a nice (early) dash pad and original choke cable, some weather-stripping (which I think I have read enough of the w/s guide thread to know where to get most of the stuff - when the budget allows!)....

so, that's it for now...here is a quick pic, more to come!:pig: -Lee
Click to expand...
 
I don't have a grand plan for it just yet. For now, the plan is to take my time and gather a few parts, weather-stripping, and other parts then as time permits, fine-tune a little body work, paint it, shackles for now then lift springs to put some 33's under it, maybe convert the column shift to floor shift!?

Lee; am running BFG AT 33x9.5x15s with no problems stock lift......HTH

Lou
 
Thanks Lou....The rear window works by the dash switch just not the with the key at the tailgate....I may upgrade to Cruzer_guys gear as a preventative measure since I have to get in the tailgate to diagnose the problem with the keyed switch.

John, thanks for the tip on the tailgate glass issue.....regarding teh relay for the turn signals, shall I assume from the sandpaper in the photos that the problem with the relay is that the contacts need to be cleaned or is it the relay itself that goes bad??.....if it is the latter, is there a way to test it? are they available?

I just applied to join the PPG. I'd like to be able to help all of the pig owners keep these old rigs looking and running their best in any way I can! I have 2 close friends with access to some impressive metal fab equipment which may come in handy.

Lastly, I have not been able to inspect things very closely but I see that the drivers side rear is sagging, any thoughts on what I should look too as a possible cause?......Lou, I bring this up because I want to resolve this before I consider bigger tires, and I thought it might be a good time to do shackles and shocks to give me a little increased ride height until I can afford a lift.....unless of course the sagging is caused by an issue with my current springs on that corner....in which case, would'nt it be strange for just one corner to be affected? How do I tell if the springs are shot? In every picture I see of the old 55's, the springs have VERY little arch to them, mine included.....I'd like to hear some opinions on this. Thanks again guys.....Lee
 
Welcome Lee....looks like a nice rig/very solid looking:cheers:
 
romegadave said:
Welcome Lee....looks like a nice rig/very solid looking:cheers:
Click to expand...


Not to dis John but first if the dash switch is working do two little things before going off to the wiring. 1) inspect the safety switch at the tailgate to see if it is working (is it frozen or disconnected?) (2) which could be 1- put key in switch and push against tailgate on left side...sometimes the tg does not close all the way and seat such that the safety switch is engaged.
.............then on to wiring.
 
motomodz said:
I don't have a grand plan for it just yet. For now, the plan is to take my time and gather a few parts,
Click to expand...


That's a good plan for now....

motomodz said:
Lastly, I have not been able to inspect things very closely but I see that the drivers side rear is sagging, any thoughts on what I should look too as a possible cause?........I'd like to hear some opinions on this. Thanks again guys.....Lee
Click to expand...

Hmmmm...ever heard of "'Cruiser lean"? It happens in Pigs, too. Try a search for that. Mine used to have that, I had my rear springs re-arched & added a couple leaves. Cured it.
As for the turn signals not working, maybe bad grounds...(one of my most frequent answers). Try running a wire from a good ground to the metal in the turn signal and see if that helps.
I'm afraid I cannot recommend a brass gear for the rear window, especially if your window does work. Early gears failed often, the upgraded plastic gears don't fail nearly as often. I replaced my plastic gear 15 or 20 years ago, still works. Also, the round plastic gear is available, the plastic worm gear that drives it is not. If the window were to jam somehow, I'd rather break the round gear than the worm gear.
 
Lil'John said:
Eric,
Sitting here looking at my FSM, I see the following:
The safety switch is wired to the motor and not the front or tailgate switches.

Thus, if the front switch is working, that only leaves the tailgate switch wiring to be an issue or the tailgate switch itself being bad.

Once the tailgate is opened up, you will find three wires available:

  • blue: this is the power wire that goes to the tailgate switch. Should always be hot
  • blue with white stripe: this is the up to the motor. It goes to the motor, to the front window switch, and the rear tailgate switch. Stock they will be all joined together on a junction in the tailgate.
  • blue with black stripe: this is the down to the motor. It goes to the motor, to the front window switch, and the rear tailgate switch. Stock they will be all joined together on a junction in the tailgate.
The two things I would check immediately upon opening the tailgate up is:

  1. +12v at the blue wire
  2. tailgate switch wired up to the junction in the tailgate.
If I were a betting man, I'd say the junction got burned up and the previous owner hardwired the motor to the front switch while leaving the tailgate one unwired:doh:

If you have the +12v at the blue wire and the tailgate switch is wired up, I'd believe the switch is bad.
Click to expand...

Thanks John, I'll check it out this weekend. What about the relay for the turn signals??.....do they go bad or do the contacts just need cleaned? Is their a way to test them? are they available from someone if it is bad? thanks again for the tips! -Lee
 
Eric Ellis said:
Not to dis John but first if the dash switch is working do two little things before going off to the wiring. 1) inspect the safety switch at the tailgate to see if it is working (is it frozen or disconnected?) (2) which could be 1- put key in switch and push against tailgate on left side...sometimes the tg does not close all the way and seat such that the safety switch is engaged.
.............then on to wiring.
Click to expand...

John this is such a common problem as respects the TG safty switch that years ago there were multiple write ups on the old birfield...it is why you can drop the tailgate and push in the safety switch and turn your key to raise your opened TG window. Likely your wiring issue but this is the obvious cheap check first.

Try it. If your TG is open the "safety switch" was designed to stop the window from going up and down.
 
Tail window

Guys- obviously the "tailgate closed" switch works- the window goes up and down with the dash switch. Obviously the gears in the motor/gearbox assembly are fine, too- else the window wouldn't work with the dash switch. As the schematic shows, the "tailgate closed" switch completes the ground circuit to the motor and has to be made for the motor to function in either direction or from either the dash switch or tailgate key switch. My bet is either a bad wire going to the tailgate key switch or a bad tailgate key switch.

Does anyone know offhand what issue of Trails my tailgate window article was in? Must be three or four years ago anyway.

And Lee- where's ya get such a nice 55? Gary S
 
"Eric,
The tailgate safety switch has to be working. ":doh::whoops::o yep;) Thought about it as I went off to work and should have been thinking of work. That was two things: 1) an IIR-IC ( part premature arrival of senility) from bout 4 or 5 years ago so, I forgot that my dash switch had not worked as well and (2) always defer to the guy with experience and an FSM...always, always, always. But :flipoff2: anyway. :D

just kidding john (on the last part).
 
shmukster said:
Guys- obviously the "tailgate closed" switch works- the window goes up and down with the dash switch. Obviously the gears in the motor/gearbox assembly are fine, too- else the window wouldn't work with the dash switch. As the schematic shows, the "tailgate closed" switch completes the ground circuit to the motor and has to be made for the motor to function in either direction or from either the dash switch or tailgate key switch. My bet is either a bad wire going to the tailgate key switch or a bad tailgate key switch.

Does anyone know offhand what issue of Trails my tailgate window article was in? Must be three or four years ago anyway.

And Lee- where's ya get such a nice 55? Gary S
Click to expand...

Lol. :D
 
A possibility for the tailgate key switch not working is that the contacts inside aren't connecting properly. Mine was filled with sawdust and grease so much that the contacts weren't touching when the switch was turned. A little cleaning and I got it working great again.
 
I had a thought about the turn signals, On my '71 40, there is a switch box that the turn signal relay rod goes into, On mine if it is rotated around the steering column in just such a way, It wont make contact in the switch, Rotate it the other direction and only one turn signal will flash.
Im no master tech. Just an idea and what has happened to me.
Good luck!
 
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