Nurture My Pig!

[MiniPigg]

.....

I think this (FJ55 6x6) was made by a company in Oz. Has a Chevy motor and an automatic transmission. I spoke with the guy that made it. At the time the rear axle was not attached to anything. He said it drove like a dream. Later when he wanted to sale it he contacted me through email prior to putting it on the market. I think he was asking something like 20-25K AUD.

 

[Fitzgerald]

More work today...

... frame stripped of axles and assorted bracketry...

... axles stripped of springs and wheels...

... everything labeled and moved to the shed...


Thanks to the wife for letting me play in the garage all weekend!!!

 

[LAMBCRUSHER]

Still something along these lines:

View attachment 833831

Also thinking of maybe a roll bar to the back and a removal vinyl cover like a JK.

and fido can watch your 6 that'll look good. Gunna try to make the lower bulkhead removable and use the roll up window(housed inside removable rear bulkhead...)

 

[scrapdaddy]

Travis,

You're really going at it. Frame first?

 

[Fitzgerald]

and fido can watch your 6 that'll look good. Gunna try to make the lower bulkhead removable and use the roll up window(housed inside removable rear bulkhead...)

Still playing with how to work the back end. I'm gonna have to stick the fuel cell back there somewhere, so I'm sure I'll want it's pretty stout... but I do like the idea of a window back there, a motorized one would be awesome, but will probably go the simpler mini-truck sliding glass option. ???

Travis,

You're really going at it. Frame first?

Since I chopped a few feet off the rear of the tub, I'm planning on chopping a few feet off the frame as well. So, I'm going to leave the frame for now and see how the body turns out. I figure if I hack up the body too much, I can try to find a donor tub to fit the uncut frame. ???

 

[88chevota]

Looking good Travis! Are you still thinking a Chevy 350?

 

[Fitzgerald]

Looking good Travis! Are you still thinking a Chevy 350?

Hey thanks Tony. Yeah still like the idea of the TBI 350......although I do like those 5.3 Vortecs too (even with all those wires).

 

[88chevota]

Just let me know when you are ready. The guy I get my engines from has 5.3's too.

 

[scrapdaddy]

I want to see some sparks flying!

 

[Fitzgerald]

Just let me know when you are ready. The guy I get my engines from has 5.3's too.

Oh I definitely will. My plan is to try to get the body ready by spring, at which time my wife will let me have the whole garage back, bring the frame back in from the outside, and really get going on the suspension/drivetrain. I should really start a project list!

I have to do some more research about what I really what engine-wise. I know your buddy had a great deal on those TBI 350 - 700R4 combos.

I may also be trying to talk you out of those 60 axles... just have do do a bit more research in that area too.

I want to see some sparks flying!

More progress pics should be arriving shortly.

 

[Fitzgerald]

I may also be trying to talk you out of those 60 axles... just have do do a bit more research in that area too.

Ahhh... just read through your "Flying Terd" thread and see that you've already sold them. Cool ass build by the way!

 

[88chevota]

Ahhh... just read through your "Flying Terd" thread and see that you've already sold them. Cool ass build by the way!

Yep gone. Guy picked them up today. I'll keep an eye out for you though. It's gonna be fun.

 

[Fitzgerald]

Nothing like working in an unheated garage in winter...



Amazing though, how fast some welding really heats thing up. Used some square inch tubing to brace the body (what's left of it) so I can cut out and replace the rockers and floor boards. Hopefully when all is completed, the doors will at least sort of line up.



Only problem I see is that I hope I left enough room between the tubing and the body to get tools in there to work easily. We'll see...


.

 

[bobm]

Travis, looks like you got it braced good so doors shouldn't be a problem. Make sure to replace 1 floor-pan at a time it will help keep it structurally sound. Climb right in and work around that tubing.

Thanks Bob.

 

[Fitzgerald]

Thanks for the info Bob. Happy to finally be getting around to putting some of your steel in my rig.

 

[bobm]

Travis, any questions let me know.

Thanks Bob.

 

[Fitzgerald]

Well... spent a little time working on the 55 lately. I was intending to clean up the firewall (after revisiting Ron's thread) and started making some patch panels. I recently purchased a bead roller and a shrinker/stretcher set and thought this might be a nice opportunity to play with my new toys.

 

[Fitzgerald]

Playing with the bead roller was fun and didn't take to long to get the hang of. Here are a few pics of the patches in place. Not perfect, heck....not even pretty, but not bad for my first few attempts. I'll probably end up scrapping these and using flat patches, but it was fun playing with my new toys.

 

[Fitzgerald]

After sanding the firewall (making a big ol' mess in the process) and looking at the rest of the tub, I've decided to get her sandblasted. Justin from Redline gave the info for the guy he uses. Me and another club member are going to trailer our stuff over there in the next week or so.

I just hope there's something left after he's done blasting.

A little reminder of my rust issues:

 

[Pighead]

...maybe you won't need a trailer to bring it home.