New to FJ55s. . .

[Tom FJ55]

Pighead - Thanks for the "F" engine info.

The purple Pig is spending its first night inside in 15 yrs. tonight! I hope it's happy to see some love and will return the favor.

I started on the interior and I've never seen so much mouse $hit in one place in my life. Definitely a wear-a-respirator activity. I feel like I need to disinfect myself and I'm not even done. I need to figure out a way to lower the rear window so I can open the tail gate to really get in there. . .

I've poured some Marvel's Myst. Oil in the cylinders and just about got the carb off to see if I can get it clean and loosen up the butterfly. There was even some mouse turds inside the carb!

Getting comfortable in its new home:

 

[subzali]

Excellent! Can't wait to see the progress!

 

[SAWTOOTH 55 LC]

What an awesome find!Congrats

 

[Pighead]

I need to figure out a way to lower the rear window

If you're lucky, put a battery in it and hit the switch...
If not, there is a way, but it's hard to explain. It's been described here before so see if you can find it via search...

 

[jtrock26]

I was able to lower the rear window by pulling off the interior tailgate panel and taking it off the tracks. Tight fit, but I was able to pull it down.

 

[Pighead]

Yup, someone caught me doing that just the other day...
I tap out the two sliding clips between the tracks, but you kinda have to know that they're there 'cause you usually can't see them. You do it by feel.

 

[Tom FJ55]

Pighead -

Your pic. shows exactly the position I was in for 3 hrs. this AM, except I was sitting in and breathing (through a respirator) 15 yrs. worth of mouse $s*** and cursing like a sailor. I found the perfect storm of broken pieces, but prevailed in the end - the tailgate is down!

I first tried to operate the window motor normally with the switch on the dash and with the key in the tailgate. No joy. Then I popped off the tailgate cover and tried to hotwire the motor directly. I was able to get the window to shift up and down slightly, but not lower. Then I read in the workshop manual about the clips you mention and was able to free the glass from the arm mechanisms and lower it. Still no joy, the tailgate handle/latch would not release the sides of the gate. Then I managed to remove the entire electric motor assembly so I could get a visual on why the latch was not releasing - the handle was broken on the inside right where the rod attaches to it. Finally, with the glass held up, I was able to MacGyver the latch on each side from being able to close itself, lower the glass and push out the tailgate - success.

I opened up the electric motor gear cover and sure enough, the gear is broken. So, broken plastic gear + broken latch handle = hard to open the rear gate!

Anyway, I won that round, but not without significant suffering. So I need a new gear and rear door handle - added to my (growing) list. Where is a good place to source stuff like that from?

I need a break now. Time for a (root) beer & lunch.

Tom

 

[CandyPants]

Ah, welcome to the sty. I've spent many hours digging around in my pig and taking pictures just like that! I have a '73 and still have a few parts and pieces laying around. I also had to source all the parts when I worked on mine.

The answer to your "where to get them" question is: Multiple places. Search here for suppliers and if you get stuck, post up. We piggy people have parts stashed here and there too, so sometimes someone might have something you need and be willing to part with it.

 

[Pighead]

Very good, Tom. The tailgate is one of the very worst things on a Pig to disassemble. It's even worse going back together. You did memorize the position of those two arms before you took out the motor, right?
Check with Beno or Santa on availability of new handle. There was a design change and later handles work better than early handles. There are a few handles stashed, but you have to know people.
The gear, which used to be so much fun to get (https://forum.ih8mud.com/fj55-iron-pig-preservation-society/49268-fun-dealers-trace-pig-content.html) has finally been discontinued, maybe a year ago. Metal reproductions have been made, look for those threads, also see classified. Or, get really friendly with people who have tailgates stashed...
Congratulations are due though, many people could not remove a tailgate window motor without losing a finger.

 

[PabloCruise]

Mouse turds in the carb?!? That is awesome!
As for the gear and handle, less awesome.
There are multiple threads in here about people reproducing the window gear.
The handles seem to be of a cheap quality, and the linkage does not seem to be the most intuitive mechanical design. I have often wondered about having someone set up a CNC file to machine new handles out of billet aluminum. I have never pursued this, I am sure it would cost a few $.
I do have a broken handle if this will help your cause in any way.

 

[jtrock26]

Tom, I am not going to reinstall my electric rear window in my '72. I'm going to fab up a hatch for mine. I replaced my gear in mine when I still used it and still have the entire motor and assembly in a box somewhere. Will be up for sale eventually, but it its here in Minnesota. You may be able to find one closer to you...

 

[Tom FJ55]

The answer to your "where to get them" question is: Multiple places. Search here for suppliers and if you get stuck, post up

I have scrolled through the endless list that is the "Vendor Directory/Market" on the site here. There are a lot of vendors. I was hoping for suggestions to help me narrow it down - nice places with nice people to deal with, preferably in the Western US. I understand if it's not PC to list your favorite vendor/source as it may not be fair to other vendors (or you may not want to give up your secret source for the good stuff!). I'm hoping to find a few Vendors to frequent as I find it's best to start up a relationship with a shop. . . I have a few great places to buy Porsche parts but Pig stuff, not so much.

The tailgate is one of the very worst things on a Pig to disassemble.

Check with Beno or Santa on availability of new handle.

Congratulations are due though, many people could not remove a tailgate window motor without losing a finger.

Well I guess I'm glad I started w/one of the the worst jobs - hopefully it will go up from here. Honestly, after spending the day fighting the tailgate, sitting in and cleaning up toxic mouse waste (that will rival any Mike Rowe Dirty Jobs episode), my "an FJ55 would be a fun project" goggles are off. I did not have fun today and the main reason I work on stuff like this if to have fun. I think that the tailgate reassembly will be easier as I can at least work from the outside. . . although I fully realize that statement will come back to haunt me.

Beno & Santa - I'm assuming you are referring to user names? beno & santacruzer? Thanks for the lead. I will start making some inquires.

And thank for you for the congratulations. . . I do appreciate it.

Mouse turds in the carb?!? That is awesome!

I do have a broken handle if this will help your cause in any way.

The mice in this Pig left no place untouched w/their turds - everywhere. . . in massive quantities. . . can you tell it's made me a little crazy? By the end of the day I had turds in my hair, down my sleeves, in my shoes, ground into my pants. . . Even though I wore a respirator, I will be smelling and tasting it for a few days to come I suspect. Even if it's just mental!

Thanks for the offer for the broken handle, but I already have one! I was going to try to weld it, but I don't know if it could be welded - it didn't seem magnetic.

I replaced my gear in mine when I still used it and . . . Will be up for sale eventually. You may be able to find one closer to you...

Thanks Justin. I will start searching and be in touch if I come up short.


Thanks again everyone for all the help. It's nice to have folks to commiserate with and lean on for help. I wouldn't even dream of tackling this w/out such a great source of information and helpful people.

Tom

 

[Pighead]

Beno & Santa - I'm assuming you are referring to user names? beno & santacruzer?

Nope, Beno & Cruiserdan (who just looks like Santa). Parts guys in NM. They know their stuff and give us a discount.
I have no problem telling you my favorite vendors or who I would not order from, but it depends on what I'm looking for...

 

[Tom FJ55]

Nope, Beno & Cruiserdan (who just looks like Santa). Parts guys in NM. They know their stuff and give us a discount.
I have no problem telling you my favorite vendors or who I would not order from, but it depends on what I'm looking for...

Awesome, thanks for the clarification. I found a thread w/a pic of Cruiserdan - he does look like Santa!

 

[CandyPants]

I also use Rick Arflin at Ralph Hayes Toyota in SC. He ships and gives TLCA discounts.
For some harder to find parts, I've used Spectre Off Road (SOR), but they are not really "nice" or cheap. But they have some stuff that I couldn't get elsewhere.
For a new carb, try Trollhole here on MUD. He has new carbs.
Weather stripping is tough, but you'll get there. There is a whole thread here dealing with that. It's expensive, but doable these days.
Mark's Offroad is a good alternative to SOR and is a small business and that makes a big difference in my book.

 

[SAWTOOTH 55 LC]

One of the first things I had to fix was also the tailgate and window motor.Once I had finally removed all the guts and had the motor in hand I opened it up and found a brass gear inside.At the time I didn't realize how valuable this piece was and figured it was a stock gear.Shortly after,I found MUD and realized it was a replacement far superior to stock.In my case the window motor was tired and needed to be replaced.The weird thing is that my 55 was a pure stocker and had sat for 10 years before I got it,so not sure when the brass gear was installed.I know of a 55 at a wrecking yard in Ogden,Ut(Howell auto wrecking)it may have some of the parts you need.There is also a handful of pig owners in the SLC,Ut area.Uglyoinker on this site may have a TG handle.Good Luck

 

[nuclearlemon]

get really friendly with people who have tailgates stashed...
.

or, if you talk nicely to pighead, maybe he'll go down in the cellar and get the extra loose motor i should have stashed down there and see if it has a good gear

 

[Pighead]

Pighead has exhausted his own supply of gears...used to sell 'em for face price when I could still get them. Looking for a just-in-case spare even now...

 

[nuclearlemon]

Pighead has exhausted his own supply of gears...used to sell 'em for face price when I could still get them. Looking for a just-in-case spare even now...

then i guess pighead isn't giving up the spare in my cellar sorry tom. watch for the group deals that pop up on brass ones every so often.

 

[Tom FJ55]

then i guess pighead isn't giving up the spare in my cellar sorry tom. watch for the group deals that pop up on brass ones every so often.

No worries at all. I didn't expect to show up here and immediately have folks throw their hard-to-find, secret stash type parts at me. I will keep looking. . . my needed parts list grows daily as I dig deeper and deeper into this thing. At some point, I'll need to start buying stuff so I can start reassembly.

One quick question on the weather stripping - are there any pieces that are no longer available that I should really try to save? Most of the door and window seals are pretty dried up, but I don't want to rip them all out and pitch them if one or two are not replaceable.

I spent today scrubbing the (previously burried in mouse poop) floor mats with lemon scented ammonia, spraying/cleaning the engine bay and under carriage and washing the outside w/lemon scented dish soap. There was a rather large pile of yuckiness on the ground when I was finished. I almost went to town on the entire interior w/the hose, but couldn't quite bring myself to do it. I might be able to get my nerve up to open the flood gates inside after I remove the front floor mat. It was cold enough outside today that my driveway became a skating rink on the shady side of the truck - both my boys wiped out on the ice! (no major injuries). . .

I still haven't been able to turn the engine over w/the hand crank - I'm starting to explore my options on that. . .

Finally, I am starting to realize that this is going to be a big project to get back on the road. I think EVERY system is going to need attention, if not a full refurb. I put in a battery and tried some of the electrical items: The headlights do not work, the turn signals light up but do not blink, the horn works, the radio kind of works, neither of the blower fans (heat) would turn on. . . looks like I won't be using it get our Christmas tree this year!

Tom