First attempt at this so bear with me. I bought this 10/73 55 in 1989 when I was living in ME. It cost me $100 and a new clutch. I drove it for a couple years until I moved back down to VA. I decided it needed to be fixed but making 25K a year doesn't get that done so I put it in the local VoTech program. Well, 18 years later they closed the school and I got my 55 back in only slightly better shape. After about 8 months of trying to get the body back together with some very nice parts from BobM, I decided there was a better way. I bought a '72 55 from Snowteller and switched the bodies.
My Old 55 from Maine rides again!
- Thread starter JLawson
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Can't wait to hear more!
- Thread starter
- #3
It started with rebuilding the engine that was running fine when I drove it to the school. The rebuilt carb disappeared and I noticed the plugs were gone and a lot of sand blasting grit around the sockets!! 
. Well it turned out to be a good thing in the end because the cam and lifters were badly worn as well as the cylinders. So I got the cam and lifters reground, honed the cylinders, got the head reworked and discovered the crank to all be in good shape but the block numbers don't match my vehicle! I guess was not the original engine I had thought it was. Oh well. Got a new carb and electronic dist. from Trollhole and I was up and running... well sort of. Things I learned from the engine rebuild: Mud wasp eggs do not dissolve in gasoline they swell! And will let enough gas through the line to start and idle but not run. The other is that is that Trollhole is worth his weight in gold! I am not a mechanic and have been standing on the shoulders of many giants to get this done. 
This entire site has been the inspiration and the means by which this project got done! Thanks to all! More pictures to follow!
. Well it turned out to be a good thing in the end because the cam and lifters were badly worn as well as the cylinders. So I got the cam and lifters reground, honed the cylinders, got the head reworked and discovered the crank to all be in good shape but the block numbers don't match my vehicle! I guess was not the original engine I had thought it was. Oh well. Got a new carb and electronic dist. from Trollhole and I was up and running... well sort of. Things I learned from the engine rebuild: Mud wasp eggs do not dissolve in gasoline they swell! And will let enough gas through the line to start and idle but not run. The other is that is that Trollhole is worth his weight in gold! I am not a mechanic and have been standing on the shoulders of many giants to get this done. This entire site has been the inspiration and the means by which this project got done! Thanks to all! More pictures to follow!- Thread starter
- #4
I have been driving around with a stupid smile and chuckling while I watch the gas gauge go down! Which is great because I know it works! I have been going back and forth with the brakes for a while. Did something stupid and got a disc brake "kit" from Cruiserparts.net without checking mud first 
They sent me most of what I needed, the wrong hub bearings, the wrong break hoses and no directions what so ever! A long and aggravating story short, Frank, a friend and fantastic mechanic, got it all put together and working very nicely. I had the typical issues of the discs always being on enough to heat up the breaks so I removed the residual valve for the front brakes. Another problem solved by MUD! Ended up trimming the push rod and getting a 60 master since the inside of mine was pretty pitted upon inspection. Now they are working great! I put in three point set belts as well. Found a nice thread on those and that seems to have turned out great as well. Replaced all the tierod ends and am looking to replace the drag link as well. I believe there is a mudder who makes them with replaceable and greasable ends? The steering is pretty tight for a '73. No problem at highway speeds. She tracks well. Original suspension with the everpresent lean to the driver side. The 72 body had A/C at one time so I had to remount the heater valve and use a choke cable to work that but it seems to be good as I had to use the heat this morning. Another fun mistake was throwing out the dash because I new I had a brand new one in a box somewhere I had bought years ago.....well that was only the skin! again ! Which leads me to my first contribution to MUD. As I stated earlier, I am not a mechanic, but I can make a few wood shavings and I do love that foam in a can! So here is what I did. I made a piece of angle plywood that attached to the dash with bolts and put it in place over top of a piece of plastic that covered the whole dash. I then filled the dash skin half full of foam and put a good amount on the plywood angle, enough to cover it. I quickly put the two together and taped the everything in place. I had to put some clamps and little pieces of wood to keep the dash cover in line because the foam wants to push it all around. After curing for a day I pulled it off and trimmed the excess and it seems to have worked pretty well? My two cents.....
They sent me most of what I needed, the wrong hub bearings, the wrong break hoses and no directions what so ever! A long and aggravating story short, Frank, a friend and fantastic mechanic, got it all put together and working very nicely. I had the typical issues of the discs always being on enough to heat up the breaks so I removed the residual valve for the front brakes. Another problem solved by MUD! Ended up trimming the push rod and getting a 60 master since the inside of mine was pretty pitted upon inspection. Now they are working great! I put in three point set belts as well. Found a nice thread on those and that seems to have turned out great as well. Replaced all the tierod ends and am looking to replace the drag link as well. I believe there is a mudder who makes them with replaceable and greasable ends? The steering is pretty tight for a '73. No problem at highway speeds. She tracks well. Original suspension with the everpresent lean to the driver side. The 72 body had A/C at one time so I had to remount the heater valve and use a choke cable to work that but it seems to be good as I had to use the heat this morning. Another fun mistake was throwing out the dash because I new I had a brand new one in a box somewhere I had bought years ago.....well that was only the skin! again ! Which leads me to my first contribution to MUD. As I stated earlier, I am not a mechanic, but I can make a few wood shavings and I do love that foam in a can! So here is what I did. I made a piece of angle plywood that attached to the dash with bolts and put it in place over top of a piece of plastic that covered the whole dash. I then filled the dash skin half full of foam and put a good amount on the plywood angle, enough to cover it. I quickly put the two together and taped the everything in place. I had to put some clamps and little pieces of wood to keep the dash cover in line because the foam wants to push it all around. After curing for a day I pulled it off and trimmed the excess and it seems to have worked pretty well? My two cents.....
- Thread starter
- #8
Driving in the rain today! 
Windshield wipers work and the defrost is good for the windshield but the rest of the windows are pretty fogged up. Could be the two dogs in the back panting away? Going to try some rainex. The 72 does not have the rear side light vents but I have a set and wonder if they would help or hurt the problem? Any advice? Bobm I will be driving for another week at least and then the nephew gets involved. It has been my idea and his from the beginning to get this 55 up and mechanically sound and then give it to my nephew. He is tasked with finishing the body and interior, with help of course. That is where you will come in very handy Bobm! As you can see she has the typical bad spots that you conveniently make patches to replace. This is my attempt to pass on the love of the cruiser to the next generation. If this works as planned, Jonathan will get the bug and after a few years pass it down to his younger cousin that is only 8. His Dad, my other brother, drove a '73 55 all around Australia for 6 months back in his younger days. So the "Pig Blood" 
is strong in the family. Crossing my fingers for three generations but I'll be happy with two. Ah, but don't feel so bad for me. I will be soothing my sadness with the next project.......
Doesn't look like much is needed to get this one on the road right? Well it now looks a little different!
what have I gotten my self into!! I am not sure but Bobm do you do 45lv parts?
Windshield wipers work and the defrost is good for the windshield but the rest of the windows are pretty fogged up. Could be the two dogs in the back panting away? Going to try some rainex. The 72 does not have the rear side light vents but I have a set and wonder if they would help or hurt the problem? Any advice? Bobm I will be driving for another week at least and then the nephew gets involved. It has been my idea and his from the beginning to get this 55 up and mechanically sound and then give it to my nephew. He is tasked with finishing the body and interior, with help of course. That is where you will come in very handy Bobm! As you can see she has the typical bad spots that you conveniently make patches to replace. This is my attempt to pass on the love of the cruiser to the next generation. If this works as planned, Jonathan will get the bug and after a few years pass it down to his younger cousin that is only 8. His Dad, my other brother, drove a '73 55 all around Australia for 6 months back in his younger days. So the "Pig Blood" is strong in the family. Crossing my fingers for three generations but I'll be happy with two. Ah, but don't feel so bad for me. I will be soothing my sadness with the next project.......Doesn't look like much is needed to get this one on the road right? Well it now looks a little different!
what have I gotten my self into!! I am not sure but Bobm do you do 45lv parts?
Is that 40flipper's old LV? Nice!
Very nice shop space.
Are those 31x10.5 tires on the 55?
Are those 31x10.5 tires on the 55?
- Thread starter
- #12
Yes, the LV was 40Flippers. I wanted to keep the patina and get it on the road but the engine needed rebuilding and a buddy and I worked a trade for the blasting and coating so I took the plunge sooner than I had planned.
I wish that was my space. That is a friends shop that did the blasting and coating. Those are 9.5's on the 55. It has been repainted once to a similar color to original. You can see the original color coming through in a couple spots. This looks a little more yellow. As far as measurements, I am not sure how I would get all of those to you. With out an LV for you to look at and see what I am measuring , it could be impossible? The floor is pretty well shot and the rear valance/ tailgate mount is shot. The tailgate needs a new outer skin and a host of other small spots. All in all though, she is not bad for a '65 LV. Roof is good and only one spot on the gutter is bad.
I wish that was my space. That is a friends shop that did the blasting and coating. Those are 9.5's on the 55. It has been repainted once to a similar color to original. You can see the original color coming through in a couple spots. This looks a little more yellow. As far as measurements, I am not sure how I would get all of those to you. With out an LV for you to look at and see what I am measuring , it could be impossible? The floor is pretty well shot and the rear valance/ tailgate mount is shot. The tailgate needs a new outer skin and a host of other small spots. All in all though, she is not bad for a '65 LV. Roof is good and only one spot on the gutter is bad.
Nice! What seat belts did you end up going with?
- Thread starter
- #15
I used the surplus humvee ones from Sportsman Guide.
Military Humvee Seat Belt Kit, 4 piece - 622852, Field Gear at Sportsman's Guide
They seem like a good product and are working well. The stories are true that you get a huge box of extra parts and bolts you won't need. I have a pair on order for the back seats just haven't had time to put them in yet. There are good threads on both installations.
Military Humvee Seat Belt Kit, 4 piece - 622852, Field Gear at Sportsman's Guide
They seem like a good product and are working well. The stories are true that you get a huge box of extra parts and bolts you won't need. I have a pair on order for the back seats just haven't had time to put them in yet. There are good threads on both installations.
Hopefully you found Mark @65swb45 and called him? He has one left and said he got a call on it recently... Who sells drag links for FJ60 PS Conversions in FJ40
- Thread starter
- #17
The nephew and I have been working on the 55 and she is looking better and better. We decided to try out the Lizard skin heat and sound coatings on the inside. Stripped her all clean and put some stiff wire brushes on the 41/2' grinders. After about an hour with the wire wheels she was clean and ready for some ospho and a few beers. Well, beers for my brother and I gatorade for the nephew. Next day was primer, dry time and then coating. we did a quick tape job. We bought he kit with the gun and it worked well. Splatters like bedliner but not too messy. if you are careful, you probably wouldn't need to tape. We did up the fire wall and inside the quarters and tailgate. Basically anywhere we could spray. It was a cold weekend and thankfully this is water based so we could run the electric heaters the whole time or it never would have dried. There is a lot of moisture that has to come out before it dries! We actually opened the garage door to let in some dry air at one point.