Pig Newbie Questions

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toyotatruckjunkie

toyotatruckjunkie

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Feb 4, 2007
Threads
12
Messages
240
Location
Fort Myers, FL
OK, I'm not new to Cruisers, but am now contemplating taking the plunge into Pig-dom, and I have a few questions.

First, are they even more addicting than Cruisers in general? Is it true that once you go Pig you never go back? I have found an interesting Pig for sale, with lots of interesting work already done, but the rust is starting to show it's ugly head.

Does anyone make replacement sheetmetal patch panels?
I think IPOR makes rocker /slider replacements, but how about rear quarters?
What about roof/rain gutter rust? Floorpans?

Any suggestions/advice?
 
I'm certainly addicted. There has just been some recent action in replacement sheet metals. One of our members has just made some extremely nice replacement floorboards for the front. I think he may be working on the rear too. Check out the swine resource section too. :)
 
start looking for another one already;) you can't have just one.
 
I gotta tell ya, maybe like many of you have felt; the pig is sucking me in. I can't get it out of my head. They are rare enough that you have to explain what it is, and unique enough that it will always attract attention, good or bad.

How do most people tackle the roof/rain gutter rust? Cut out and weld in bent flat stock? Can't imagine someone is reproducinging patch panels for this area.

Well, as luck would have it, another one has come up here local supposedly w/o rust, but no drivetrain. Inquired of the seller to go see it. They are multiplying already!!!!
 
Pig ownership consists of more than just finding repair parts. You have to get creative. Pig ownership requires us to MAKE repair parts many of the times....Haven't seen patch panels for the gutter, but if you find someone cutting up and ol 55 w/ a decent roof, you can swing a deal w them and patch in the places that need it most. You mention the rig you were looking at had had some "interesting" work done to it. What kind of "interesting" work? It may be better to start w something closer to stock rather than modifed. (some POs don't do the best work)
 
Yeah, I've seen some bad hack jobs too. I've struggled with this issue. I typically prefer a stock starting point, but I'm trying to take advantage of some cost savings this time.

Seller sent me pics of receipts for most of the work done at a shop in Raleigh, NC that totals over $20k. At least the work was done at a shop, not that that insures non-hack job, but it helps. I never expect to get all my money back out of the vehicles I build, but I know we can usually buy something done, or partly done, for far less than the sum of the parts used to build it. I'm trying to take advantage of this reality this time. Call me cheap or lazy.

Many of these mods I would have been interested in doing myself. It has a TBI SBC, 700R4, Lokar shifter, PS, Vintage AC, PB, Disc F&R, replaced front seats, Manafre add-a-leafs, inversion shackles, 33x10.5 BFG ATs... I haven't seen it all in person yet, but it looks good in pics. Looks like a decent start to a restomod type build.

If I have to fix some of the things, I'm probably ok with that. If I have to reengineer all of it, maybe at least I have some hard parts (ie.expensive) to work with already.

Is my rational all twisted? Thanks in advance for the input.
 
No, your rationale is just fine. Better to favor one with mechanical issues versus one with rust issues. Be sure to crawl under her before deciding though. Look for rust while your down there. Don't start daydreaming about the amazing ground clearance while your there and let it distract you. And don't let anyone tell you different. You are about to buy the finest 4 wheel drive to ever roll the surface of this planet.
 
toyotatruckjunkie said:
I gotta tell ya, maybe like many of you have felt; the pig is sucking me in. I can't get it out of my head. They are rare enough that you have to explain what it is, and unique enough that it will always attract attention, good or bad.

How do most people tackle the roof/rain gutter rust? Cut out and weld in bent flat stock? Can't imagine someone is reproducinging patch panels for this area.

Well, as luck would have it, another one has come up here local supposedly w/o rust, but no drivetrain. Inquired of the seller to go see it. They are multiplying already!!!!
Click to expand...

Ugly!! I don't know what your talking about. I want to make lov to my tailpipe!
rolling.webp
 
toyotatruckjunkie said:
Is it true that once you go Pig you never go back?
Click to expand...


It's true. The 55 is just better looking, nicer to drive and carries mass quantities of stuff. I had a 40 for a while and never drove it, always took the 55.
IPOR used to make sliders, don't know if they've made any more. I have one of their last pairs in storage.
 
TTJ,

I saw the pictures of that rig too, it's pretty nice over all but unfortunate that the rust was coming back so quickly after the restoration.

I'm falling for the 55s too, though. That is, unless a 45 shows up first!! :hhmm:

Good luck,
 
Pighead said:
It's true. The 55 is just better looking, nicer to drive and carries mass quantities of stuff. I had a 40 for a while and never drove it, always took the 55.
IPOR used to make sliders, don't know if they've made any more. I have one of their last pairs in storage.
Click to expand...

I agree I have a buddy with a 40, its ok but I really enjoy driving the 55 much more than his 40. IPOR doesn't have any more of the sliders but lots of us piggy owner have sets around. I installed them on mine and they look really good, work well on rocks too.
 
Well, I think I have a delayed case of the 'swine flu'. I want one, or a 45 LV, but I'm going to hold off for a little while. Thanks for the input. Best of luck to all.
 
BTW, htownfire, your rig looks like it's going to be awesome, please post more pics. I dig the roofline crash bars.
 
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