New 1971 FJ55 in TX

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KillerPea

KillerPea

10 Year 15 Year 20 Year
Joined
Jan 13, 2005
Threads
114
Messages
620
Location
Dallas, TX
I'm completely new to the the Fj55 world, but years ago I had a buddy with a Pig and I've always wanted one since. I've got a few other cruisers stashed, but recently got the opportunity to sell a few FJ40s and buy a Pig.
A buddy told me about a 71 FJ55 sitting beside a shed starting to rust. It had been supposedly been stored inside for approx 10 years, and moved outside in the last year. I believe i am the third owner. I got the old girl home about 1pm on Saturday. Even though it hadn't been driven in 10 years, I had it up and running in just over 8 hours! Pulled the plugs, lubed the cylinders, cranked the engine over by hand, cleaned the plugs, gapped the points, filled the tank and flushed the fuel lines, flushed the brake and clutch cylinders, and swapped in a fresh battery and it fired right off. What a tank! It even came with an original owners and service manual, original jack, original and complete toolkit, and that ever elusive original crank handle! There is rust...but since it has sat for so long there is rust in the floorboards, but the roof is clean! And....for those wondering...the new Pig will be stored inside safe and sound from now on!

Just for reference, the parts I need:
Front bumper
Front windshield
Fuel Filler neck
Front seat
Rear seat
LF fender
Radiator
Rear Glass
Rear window weatherstrip
Luggage compartment inner panels
Front/rear floow mats
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What is the standard procedure for a completely ratty headliner? Just cut out the top portion if the A and B pillars are ok. Are replacements available and affordable? It looks like a huge piece of fitted material...can't be cheap.
 
Welcome! Looks like you found a well preserved one. The headliner is a biggy. To put a new one back in, you have to remove the window rubber. Your's will be dry rotted and need replacing, $$$$, Your dash looks like mine and nobody makes a cap for the older ones.

Good luck with it and do some reading in the 55 forum, alot of good stuff to learn.
 
Nice score man! You can get headliners from Cruisercorps and SOR, good time to do it if you are replacing the WS but the cargo glass has to come out :-(. That rear bumper is original and looks salvageable, IPOR makes an aftermarket one else its fab time. The 60 series PS box is a good swap, otherwise load her up and have fun. I'll have my '79 at Roundup ;-)

Jason (CruiserYard) has a pig here in Austin he is parting, and Butch has a few up on his back 40 ... Good luck!

Tucker
 
rear glass is flat, so easy to have shop cut it

as everyone mentioned, replace entire headliner. they're not too expensive and, even if the front is good now, it will start to shrink and rip apart...both of mine have in the last two years.

rear panels, make your own. i tried, and a few have succeeded in making hardboard backs with vinyl and a thin foam, or get a chunk of plastic and drill where the stock holes are, insert a quick nut and screw them on.

i see you found the thread in classifieds on a front seat...too bad it wasn't a year ago...i pitched a pretty decent rear seat.

windshield, pro source auto glass

either way, good luck. as mentioned, i know texican has some pig stuff stashed. ;)
 
Thanks for the advice everyone.
I spoke to Texican today and he has some stuff that I could use, but I also happened across another Pig today that I may go try to grab as a parts donor....the 55s are just as addictive as the 40s, aren't they??
In the end, it's all about the budget. I've got so many projects going at once that I just can't dump a ton into anything. Maybe with a little buying and selling and a bit of bartering, I can get this swine back on the road!
 
Piggy is back on the road! I replaced the water pump, installed an FJ60 radiator, replaced al of the hoses, removed the headliner, installed a dual diaphragm booster, cleaned the Weber carb, and installed the new wheels and tires.
Honestly...I was planning to get this truck running and driving and then turn around and sell it. Now that I've got the wheels and tires installed and it is running great, the piggy is really starting to grow on me.

Is there any chance that anyone has a nice matching lf upper and lower fender or a bumper available??
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Hey KillerPea,

Looks like you've been busy. It seems working on them IS the hobby and driving them is just gravy. Keep checking the classifieds, you'll turn up what you need.

Good Luck, Ron
 
Keep an eye out for parts rigs here on Mud to get a fender. Though, with a little work you could probably take them off and beat on them for a while or take them to somebody with some metal staightening ability, and get them looking better without spending alot of money. The rest of it looks straight as an arrow.
 
scrapdaddy said:
Hey KillerPea,

Looks like you've been busy. It seems working on them IS the hobby and driving them is just gravy. Keep checking the classifieds, you'll turn up what you need.

Good Luck, Ron
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Yep..you nailed it. As much as I like driving a cruiser, the best part is dragging a rig that someone has given up on out of a field or barn and getting it running and driving again. On that note, I drove the FJ55 to the gas station today....it was the first time it had been on the road in at least 15 years and it drove great!
 
Looks serious :) I like the look of a little superficial oxidation and some crinkled sheetmetal myself. What size are those swampers?
 
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