my pig journey

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Pygmalion

Pygmalion

Joined
Feb 10, 2007
Threads
6
Messages
167
Location
Chico, CA
Howdy everyone.
I'm newly registered, but a long-time lurker (since probably about August of last year). I finally bought my pig this morning, and thought I'd share my story.

I got the pig bug last summer as I started looking for an old-school 4WD to use as a DD, and though I had come across a couple pigs, money was a bit tight and sellers impatient, so I always went away empty-handed.

Anyway, I was feeling all forlorn (as any empty-handed pig addict will know), when to my surprise I stumbled upon a 1974 pig newly listed on CL. It was advertised at $2K, but after I looked over the pig, the seller told me he would let it go for $1K, without any prodding from me other than asking how flexible he was on the price... :eek:

The pig is very straight with minimal body rust aside from the typical front-fenders and a bit on the underside of the drip rails (no holes completely through the sheet metal, though the fenders are close). It's got a small block 283 retrofit, out of a 1965 Chevy pickup, that was newly rebuilt right before the current owner bought it about 7 years ago. The pig also comes with a 74 F engine that the CO purchased separately, but it's been sitting outside in the weather for the past couple years and most likely is going to need some serious machine work if it hasn't already degraded simply to 'core' status. The CO bought the pig as a project, but shortly thereafter moved out of the mountains and into the city, so he never got back to it. It's pretty much sat for the past 7 years.

Of course the weatherstripping is shot, the rear window gear needs repair, and there's some electrical anomalies, but nothing that I can't handle. The undercarriage looked pretty good, though the brake cylinders are leaking and need rebuilt. Overall it looks really good.

I have a couple questions, though. Since I'm in California, am I going to have problems with the title transfer being that the engine has been swapped, even though the 74 model year is exempt? The CO thought that there may be an issue with title transfer that doesn't apply to the current exemption status, so I figured I'd ask those 'in the know'.

Also, the pig currently has the stock radiator on the 283... is this enough cooling capacity, or should I start looking for something a bit heavier-duty?

Unfortunately the CO is working a backbreaking schedule this next week, so I won't be able to pick up the pig until a week from Monday, and I'm already jonesing to get started on it.
I'm hoping to have it road-worthy by the end of March, provided the weather holds out (weather is kinda unpredictable this time of year in northern Cali), or the end of April if it doesn't hold out (April is much more predictable).

Anyway, just wanted to say howdy and let everybody know that there's going to be a new addition to the fold here soon. I've been sucking the knowledge out of this site for the past six months or so, and the information proved invaluable when it came time to look for a pig to call my own. Thanks!
 
Seek therapy fast!!!! only kidding. Welcome and glad to see another pig saved
 
LOL! :D

I hear ya on the therapy. I thought I was going to get a pig a couple weeks ago, and the addiction kicked into overdrive. Unfortunately that deal fell through, and I found this one the same day... and this one is nicer (and half the price).

I only have one pic of it so far, and it doesn't show much... I swiped it from the craigslist post. The little spot on the fender is typical rust, though it's kinda interesting that some moss has taken up residence between the rusted layers.

A couple small dings in the rear driver's pillar (jackknifing a boat trailer probably).

The only thing that really set me back a bit was the cracked LH taillight lens. It's still usable, but definitely needs replacement.

The 55 is stock except for the engine, and the PO even added in a hill brake. :)
It's also got twin CB antennas, so it looks like an RC Toyota. ;)
FJ55.webp
 
looks good. dents are better than rust. Foxfab is making replacement lenses, look in the 55 classified section. I think 99% of fenders are rusted through. They are easy to fix. What are the ultimate plans for it?
 
My ultimate plan is essentially do a 'stock-ish' rolling restoration.

I haven't yet decided whether the 283 is going to stay or go... I think I actually prefer the I6, though if I'm going to go that route, I might as well find a 2F to drop in. The main problem is that the 283 is so close to the steering box that in order to pull the plugs on the driver's side, you pretty much have to pull the exhaust manifold first.

I've been looking at some modern upgrades such as bear claw latches and such, but nothing's set in stone. I mainly want a semi-comfortable, dependable, bulletproof daily driver that is easy to work on, and fun to drive. It will also see some offroad use, since I live at the base of the Sierra Nevada in northern California... plenty of offroading to do up here. :)

Plus I wanted an FJ40 for years, but now that I'm a family guy I have to keep practicality in mind, and it's a lot easier to fit four people in a 55 than a 40, and still have room left over.

I'll add a bunch of pics once the pig is in my possession. I'm an amateur photographer, so I always have the camera out. I would've brought it today when I went to look at the pig, but it was raining cats and dogs.

Thanks for the tip on the tail lights... I thought that was only a limited run, but if they still have them in stock then I know where I'm spending some of my cash. :)
 
Last edited:
Watch for a green and white '76 Piggie to be rolling by on I-5 in a month or so! 3B turbo-diesel powered.
 
Nice Piggy find. Glad to have another pig herder around the sty. Welcome to the obsession :flipoff2:
Mike
 
Thanks for the welcome, guys. :flipoff2:

Ugh... I don't know if I can wait 8 more days. I think I've finally experienced 'eternity'. :)
 
the old chevys are close looking to the stock cruiser motor, but i've never experienced cali emissions stations. will they really know that it's not a stock motor:confused:

here in colo, they probably wouldn't even catch it.
 
nuclearlemon said:
the old chevys are close looking to the stock cruiser motor, but i've never experienced cali emissions stations. will they really know that it's not a stock motor:confused:
Click to expand...

I know here in B.C. they wouldn't have a clue. When I had to get my BJ60 tested they went looking for a catalytic convertor. I told them it was diesel and didn't have one but it wasn't until the computer told them so that they gave up. They never caught that I run without a muffler though!?!?
 
Thanks for the information, guys.

Well, I'm not that concerned about the engine now, since something else has come up that could prove to be a real nightmare.

Basically the guy bought it from the PO and then never got it registered in his name, since at the time, California's rolling 30-year smog exemption window didn't cover 1974 (it was bought in 1999), so he never could get it smogged. It's sat unregistered and untitled for the past 8 years, though now it's smog exempt so that should not figure into the problem.

From my research into the problem, it seems that getting a replacement title shouldn't be too hard (since it's a 1974 vehicle and didn't require title that long ago), but I don't want to delude myself.

I've read that after a certain period of time (like 5-7 years), California expunges the vehicle's VIN# from their computer system, so all you have to do to 'revive' it, is to take the VIN# to the DMV, declare yourself the legal owner, fill out the necessary paperwork, and receive the new vehicle title. I think an inspection goes along with that to prove that the vehicle actually exists, but I'm unsure about that.

Does anybody have any advice or has anybody gone through a similar situation? Should I wait for the owner to have clear title to the vehicle before I take possession of it? (I know that sounds like a no-brainer question, but I thought I'd ask...)

Thanks.
 
Last edited:
Okay, a small update on the situation...
Apparently the CO has the original request for title signed by the PO, and the vehicle was non-opped by the PO in 1999, so that takes the anxiety down a couple notches.

The only gotcha now is that the pig has a salvage title, but that doesn't really concern me since the pig has obviously never been wrecked, so there's most likely another reason why it has the salvage tag.

I'm not planning on getting rid of it anytime soon, either... it has to suck my wallet dry for a few years before I even contemplate that. :D
 
Yeah, that's a bummer, but I don't think it's anything insurmountable. I don't think it's that hard to have it redeclared a 'rebuilt salvage', which means that the car, while still a salvage vehicle, has passed an inspection determining it's roadworthiness, and is almost the same as having a clear title.

Actually, an offroad vehicle with a salvage title is kinda like having a badge of honor, isn't it? :D
 
Title

If the PO owner has a salvaged title all he should have to do is go to DMV and get it titled then sign it over to you. As for resale value, have a real close look under the 55 and check the frame. Make sure it wasn't pieced back together. Its my understanding but I could be wrong that salvaged title usually means it was hit hard or had flood damage and was not repaired but sold as a salvaged, wrecked.....
I work at a Lexus Dealership and we sell damaged cars to salvage companys when the car is not totaled by the insurance company and the owner doesn't want it repaired, he gets a check from is insurance co. and a check from the salvage co and walks away from the wreck. So check it real close for previous damage. You won't have to worry about resale value cus after you drain your bank account you'll have a great rig that any Mudder would want.:D Good Luck

Lou
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom