How about some pig storys who has em.
Pig Tails
- Thread starter calico kid
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My pig story is ongoing, the main gist of it is that I bought it for a dollar on ebay and have been sinking time and money into it ever since. Still with no consistent success at keeping it running and driving well.
My pig story isn't too exciting, but here it goes.
I used to be quite into my chevy 2wds when I was a young snapper. My pride and joy at the time was a very mildly built 1985 silverado sb, which my current wife destroyed by hitting a toyota pickup pulling a boat. Then came the 76 shortbed, which got the kick ass engine/illegal smog treatment and a very hefty and stiff suspension lift, allowing me to jump like I was on a dirtbike. That lasted about a year until the frame began to break in many pieces, I think it would have ended up being six pieces exactly.
After this I wanted a 4wd shortbed cheby, and let my deal hunting dad know about this. A few months later he called me up and said he bought a toyota wagon and wanted to know if I was interested. He kept warning me "it's ugly, it looks like a tank, your mother won't let me park it in the yard, and it is ugly". Before this I had no idea what an fj-55 even looked like, but strangely knew I needed it when I first laid eyes on it. It had rust holes in the fenders, a thick haze on all the glass, no door or cargo panels, no headliner, remnants of seats, no seatbelts, a non-synchro column shift, and smelled like exhaust, it was freaking perfect! It was new to me, I never before saw a canister oil filter and such primitive mechanics in anything but a tractor. Now my paps paid $1400 for it, and it did not run for the previous 10-15 years. The previous owner was a father-son team who planned on restoring it, but could never get it running. I have no clue why it was parked originally, it only had old fuel that had turned into napalm in the fuel lines. It was an ideal restoration candidate because the only rust is on the lower front fenders, the roof is solid, the floor has very minimal rust, zero rust on the rear half of the vehicle.
My dad saw my enthuisasm for this pig and made me an offer, I could have it for free if I promised to never get rid of it. DEAL. Off to my friends garage, he had it running like a champ in a day. It drove straight and over anything. Since then it has received a lot of work, it truely did look like it was sitting in the middle of the desert for 15 years. But almost all of the mechanical work has been kept toyota, just mainly upgrading with newer cruiser parts. The interior is not stock, but it works. Unfortunately I have completely destroyed one rocker and rear panel (part of it was a dirtbiker who hit me), torn apart the bumper, cracked the frame, and ripped a fender. At least the frame was easy to repair.
So the story is long and boring, but it is mine. My pig brings me anywhere I want to go, and even brings me back, sometimes pulling a jeep.
Everytime it breaks, it still runs, just not as well. The numerous memories I have gained from the 4 years of fj55 ownership are priceless, it has done so much that most other vehicles cannot. The bad part, now I'm hooked to cruisers. Since then, I've acquired an fj40 and plan on getting an fzj80 when the right one falls in front of me. If I see any fj55 for a good deal in my area, I will buy all of them.
I used to be quite into my chevy 2wds when I was a young snapper. My pride and joy at the time was a very mildly built 1985 silverado sb, which my current wife destroyed by hitting a toyota pickup pulling a boat. Then came the 76 shortbed, which got the kick ass engine/illegal smog treatment and a very hefty and stiff suspension lift, allowing me to jump like I was on a dirtbike. That lasted about a year until the frame began to break in many pieces, I think it would have ended up being six pieces exactly.
After this I wanted a 4wd shortbed cheby, and let my deal hunting dad know about this. A few months later he called me up and said he bought a toyota wagon and wanted to know if I was interested. He kept warning me "it's ugly, it looks like a tank, your mother won't let me park it in the yard, and it is ugly". Before this I had no idea what an fj-55 even looked like, but strangely knew I needed it when I first laid eyes on it. It had rust holes in the fenders, a thick haze on all the glass, no door or cargo panels, no headliner, remnants of seats, no seatbelts, a non-synchro column shift, and smelled like exhaust, it was freaking perfect! It was new to me, I never before saw a canister oil filter and such primitive mechanics in anything but a tractor. Now my paps paid $1400 for it, and it did not run for the previous 10-15 years. The previous owner was a father-son team who planned on restoring it, but could never get it running. I have no clue why it was parked originally, it only had old fuel that had turned into napalm in the fuel lines. It was an ideal restoration candidate because the only rust is on the lower front fenders, the roof is solid, the floor has very minimal rust, zero rust on the rear half of the vehicle.
My dad saw my enthuisasm for this pig and made me an offer, I could have it for free if I promised to never get rid of it. DEAL. Off to my friends garage, he had it running like a champ in a day. It drove straight and over anything. Since then it has received a lot of work, it truely did look like it was sitting in the middle of the desert for 15 years. But almost all of the mechanical work has been kept toyota, just mainly upgrading with newer cruiser parts. The interior is not stock, but it works. Unfortunately I have completely destroyed one rocker and rear panel (part of it was a dirtbiker who hit me), torn apart the bumper, cracked the frame, and ripped a fender. At least the frame was easy to repair.
So the story is long and boring, but it is mine. My pig brings me anywhere I want to go, and even brings me back, sometimes pulling a jeep.
Everytime it breaks, it still runs, just not as well. The numerous memories I have gained from the 4 years of fj55 ownership are priceless, it has done so much that most other vehicles cannot. The bad part, now I'm hooked to cruisers. Since then, I've acquired an fj40 and plan on getting an fzj80 when the right one falls in front of me. If I see any fj55 for a good deal in my area, I will buy all of them.
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calico kid... let me tell you a story about your pig. 
It all started a long time ago in a land far far away....[ well... maybe not so far away... but it seemed like it when I was driving back.
] Just north of Concrete Washington lived a Pig. He wasnt a very happy Pig because his owner sucked some serious arse. He never adjusted the Pigs valves or did a tune up. And when his radiator was leaking he tried to patch it with some kinda back woods puddy. The owner was a logger. He work take the Pig to work everyday. All the other loggers were not about to beat up their trucks driving to a clearcut site. So they would all park and then load into the Pig. The Pig being the awesome beast he is would haul their sorry arses up the side of the mountain and thru creeks and other obstacles.
Then one day the Pig decided to just say phawk it and left the arse of an owner stranded. He had to be towed back to the owners home. Then sat for weeks. Until one day when the cruiser gods hear the loansome prayers of a young fellow on Whidbey Island Washington. They knew the Pig was not happy and with his owner and that night a storm cross over the owners home and blew off some branches blocking his driveway. The owner looked at the Pig and thought if he could get the Pig running maybe he could move the branches blocking him in. But alas, the Pig had a will of its own and was not about to budge. The Cruiser gods knew this of FJ55's, hence the tree limbs. The owner finally gave in and placed the Pig up for sale.
As the Cruiser gods say in the great, mystical , and universal TLC FSM, "There are those, that in their own blissful denseness, just happen to live with a Pig. Unknowing of its greatness. Subsiding down to the lowest depths of vanity. Their minds eyelessness clouded and allowing them to wander into error"
The owner of this Pig is such a man.
It is also said,"Blessed are those,who with abundant devotion, seek a peacefull and bountiful coexistence with a Pig. Pig and mankind ongoing throughout time."
With that said the owner placed an ad in the paper. The wife of the young man called on the Pig. They shortly came to a reasonable price and date to pick the Pig up. That week her and the family drove up to the owners home. Her husband was very pleased and the Pig started for him. The owner also said there were some boxes with items. The young man looking into the first box spotted a Fairey Overdrive with rebuild kit. Another box contained factory service manuals for the Pig. As well as other items. The young mans wife and kids gather around him and shout out, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY".
Well thats all for tonight. The meds that my doc gave me are causing me to fall tp sleep while attempting to focus on the screen. I read over it tomorrow and see if it sounds stupid. Then again maybe its ok.... Well nite all.
Chapter Two later tomorrow. ;p
It all started a long time ago in a land far far away....[ well... maybe not so far away... but it seemed like it when I was driving back.
] Just north of Concrete Washington lived a Pig. He wasnt a very happy Pig because his owner sucked some serious arse. He never adjusted the Pigs valves or did a tune up. And when his radiator was leaking he tried to patch it with some kinda back woods puddy. The owner was a logger. He work take the Pig to work everyday. All the other loggers were not about to beat up their trucks driving to a clearcut site. So they would all park and then load into the Pig. The Pig being the awesome beast he is would haul their sorry arses up the side of the mountain and thru creeks and other obstacles.Then one day the Pig decided to just say phawk it and left the arse of an owner stranded. He had to be towed back to the owners home. Then sat for weeks. Until one day when the cruiser gods hear the loansome prayers of a young fellow on Whidbey Island Washington. They knew the Pig was not happy and with his owner and that night a storm cross over the owners home and blew off some branches blocking his driveway. The owner looked at the Pig and thought if he could get the Pig running maybe he could move the branches blocking him in. But alas, the Pig had a will of its own and was not about to budge. The Cruiser gods knew this of FJ55's, hence the tree limbs. The owner finally gave in and placed the Pig up for sale.
As the Cruiser gods say in the great, mystical , and universal TLC FSM, "There are those, that in their own blissful denseness, just happen to live with a Pig. Unknowing of its greatness. Subsiding down to the lowest depths of vanity. Their minds eyelessness clouded and allowing them to wander into error"
The owner of this Pig is such a man.
It is also said,"Blessed are those,who with abundant devotion, seek a peacefull and bountiful coexistence with a Pig. Pig and mankind ongoing throughout time."
With that said the owner placed an ad in the paper. The wife of the young man called on the Pig. They shortly came to a reasonable price and date to pick the Pig up. That week her and the family drove up to the owners home. Her husband was very pleased and the Pig started for him. The owner also said there were some boxes with items. The young man looking into the first box spotted a Fairey Overdrive with rebuild kit. Another box contained factory service manuals for the Pig. As well as other items. The young mans wife and kids gather around him and shout out, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY".
Well thats all for tonight. The meds that my doc gave me are causing me to fall tp sleep while attempting to focus on the screen. I read over it tomorrow and see if it sounds stupid. Then again maybe its ok.... Well nite all.
Chapter Two later tomorrow. ;p
PabloCruise
SILVER Star
FJBen will have to chime in with his story.
My first close encounter with a Pig was when I saw his parked in town. I got out of the 40 and just started walking around it. He came out to ask if he could "help me." I just told him no - the sickness had begun...
My first close encounter with a Pig was when I saw his parked in town. I got out of the 40 and just started walking around it. He came out to ask if he could "help me." I just told him no - the sickness had begun...
Ok... all goofiness aside.... Here is the real story.
My wife bought found the 1974 FJ55 that is currently owned by calicokid.
It was my birthday present. We drove just north of Concrete WA. I looked the pig over and was very happy. Even with the rust and cancer I was happy. Because my wife bought the pig for my birthday and that was way cool in my book. The guy brought out some boxes. One box contained a complete Fairey Overdrive with a rebuild kit and instructions. It also had the PTO gear for the Tcase. Be it known that later in the year I removed the tcase cover and it already has the gear so you can install a PTO as is..
He also had a box with old TT's and other cruiser rags. A box with some new OEM parts and misc stuff. I loaded everything up and we headed back to the house. I didnt get out of town before it started to overheat, in cold weather might I add. It stopped running a few times and I couldnt get over 35 mph. Needless to say it took most of the remainder of the day to get back to the house. I had to fill her up with water several times on the trip back. And there was almost zero power. I think my old MBZ 240D could out perform the pig the way it sat. As soon as it cooled off I started to assessing what needed to be done.
Truck came with a non-US Carb and Distributor and a MAF Header. Plugs and wires were old. So I started to make a list. I replaced all except the points cause they were different. I pulled the points and went back to the parts store and grabed the correct ones. I adjusted the valves. When I first started I couldnt ever get the thinnest feeler gauge in there. I ended up adjusting them and then running the engine for 30 min and then readjusting them again. I adjusted them a third time a week later. Yeah a bit of overkill but they were right on. I patched the radiator and replaced some hoses. Changed the oil and other fluids. Bled the brakes and clutch. Cleaned the pig up and then took it for a test drive. Ran fricken great! Then I started working on another paint scheme. The pig was originally blue and white. Then I removed the front fenders and did an ok repair on the drivers side fender at the headlamp. I found another pig and took the fenders from it and used them on the '74 pig as they were pretty solid. I also used the vent covers from the brown pig so it would allow more air to vent into the cabin. When summer hit I wet sanded and repainted the pig with Kryon Forrest Green and Ivory. The Hella headlamps soon failed after one was busted by a rock and the other started to retain water. I thought about replacing them with similar lamps but went with the Sylvania lamps instead. Anyway I did a ton of work to that rig. I have been seeking it since I sold it back in or around 2000'ish. Glad to see another mud member has it. calico.. if you ever roll it or wreck it... I would like to be first in line to buy it back.
thanks
Dave
PS.... the '77 Pig I own now was also a B-day gift from my wife and kids.
My wife bought found the 1974 FJ55 that is currently owned by calicokid.
It was my birthday present. We drove just north of Concrete WA. I looked the pig over and was very happy. Even with the rust and cancer I was happy. Because my wife bought the pig for my birthday and that was way cool in my book. The guy brought out some boxes. One box contained a complete Fairey Overdrive with a rebuild kit and instructions. It also had the PTO gear for the Tcase. Be it known that later in the year I removed the tcase cover and it already has the gear so you can install a PTO as is..
He also had a box with old TT's and other cruiser rags. A box with some new OEM parts and misc stuff. I loaded everything up and we headed back to the house. I didnt get out of town before it started to overheat, in cold weather might I add. It stopped running a few times and I couldnt get over 35 mph. Needless to say it took most of the remainder of the day to get back to the house. I had to fill her up with water several times on the trip back. And there was almost zero power. I think my old MBZ 240D could out perform the pig the way it sat. As soon as it cooled off I started to assessing what needed to be done.
Truck came with a non-US Carb and Distributor and a MAF Header. Plugs and wires were old. So I started to make a list. I replaced all except the points cause they were different. I pulled the points and went back to the parts store and grabed the correct ones. I adjusted the valves. When I first started I couldnt ever get the thinnest feeler gauge in there. I ended up adjusting them and then running the engine for 30 min and then readjusting them again. I adjusted them a third time a week later. Yeah a bit of overkill but they were right on. I patched the radiator and replaced some hoses. Changed the oil and other fluids. Bled the brakes and clutch. Cleaned the pig up and then took it for a test drive. Ran fricken great! Then I started working on another paint scheme. The pig was originally blue and white. Then I removed the front fenders and did an ok repair on the drivers side fender at the headlamp. I found another pig and took the fenders from it and used them on the '74 pig as they were pretty solid. I also used the vent covers from the brown pig so it would allow more air to vent into the cabin. When summer hit I wet sanded and repainted the pig with Kryon Forrest Green and Ivory. The Hella headlamps soon failed after one was busted by a rock and the other started to retain water. I thought about replacing them with similar lamps but went with the Sylvania lamps instead. Anyway I did a ton of work to that rig. I have been seeking it since I sold it back in or around 2000'ish. Glad to see another mud member has it. calico.. if you ever roll it or wreck it... I would like to be first in line to buy it back.
thanks
Dave
PS.... the '77 Pig I own now was also a B-day gift from my wife and kids.
- Thread starter
- #9
I had that pto gear in my hand yester day as tc and tras are out to make room for h41 tc will get 3 speed gears i'm working over at marks off road so it will be right.I have always felt this old pig was spechael and some one had done a lot of work.me and my famly love this old piggy.I kooked for more then one year to find her.75 or 80 truck traders!went to look at her money in hand as I handing it over he says"don't you want to test drive it first"this had not crossed my mind.this was the one if i ever have to sell this little piggy I will bring r to ya!drove in snow last weekend see LA trail crew in clubs by for now john
RUSH55
SILVER Star
Our story began back in 95, when my Dad bought this Toyota something or other (whatever it was). All I knew is that it smoked like hell going down the road. When he bought it (~$1500 totally stock) he had the front seat reupholstered, bought some 31" Kelly Safari Mud terrains (wish they'd re-release those with some 3ply sidewalls....great tires), and did an inframe rebuild on the old 2F.
Afterwards, he putted around with it a little going on some short hunting and fishing trips, but mostly it just sat in the back yard.
The first time I got to take it out was with a couple of friends of mine. We went out this dirt road, and I decided to take it "off-road". I went thru a couple of small gully/washes and pulled the muffler off. I stuck it back on and we drove home huffing fumes.
Our first real outing was not too long later after a pretty good snow. The Cruiser sloshed thru the mud and snow like it was born to do it. After that, I was hooked. Whenever I could, I would work on it to get it in better shape for the next outing (it was a real piece of sh*t), take it out, have some fun, work on it some more, ect..
A year or so later, my Mom and Dad split up. My Dad and I moved to the town we worked out of. My Mom threatened my Dad to come get the Cruiser or she'd run it off a cliff! I went and got it, since I had become rather attatched to it. And since I was now paying for the insurance, it had become rather exclusive to me, and I began doing some real work.
Then, while driving thru Phoenix with a friend, I spottede the most beefed 55 I'd ever seen. After talking with the owner and getting permission to take a few pics, I had then come to the realization that there were some people out there doing some serious stuff with these 55's. He had told us of the numerous trails he'd done in Az., as well as the Rubicon, Moab and Hammers. That was pretty much the nail in the coffin for me. Not long after, I learned some welding and fabrication skills, built the bumpers, sliders, ect..
Then I got on the web, met some 55 guys here including RHINO, who is now a good friend, and someone in which to bounce ideas back and forth. Met another 55 guy here in my town who is incredibly knowledgeable on 2F's, carburation and ignition. He considers me a son.
I ended up buying the Pig outright from my Dad in 01 for $2500. I still have several things I want and need to do, but I'd say for the most part, this Pig is exactly what I had in mind 7 years ago. I've been all over, wheeled all kinds of cool trails, and I woudn't hesitate to drive it anywhere in the country if I had to.
Barring details, that's pretty much the jist of the RUSH55 story.
Afterwards, he putted around with it a little going on some short hunting and fishing trips, but mostly it just sat in the back yard.
The first time I got to take it out was with a couple of friends of mine. We went out this dirt road, and I decided to take it "off-road". I went thru a couple of small gully/washes and pulled the muffler off. I stuck it back on and we drove home huffing fumes.
Our first real outing was not too long later after a pretty good snow. The Cruiser sloshed thru the mud and snow like it was born to do it. After that, I was hooked. Whenever I could, I would work on it to get it in better shape for the next outing (it was a real piece of sh*t), take it out, have some fun, work on it some more, ect..
A year or so later, my Mom and Dad split up. My Dad and I moved to the town we worked out of. My Mom threatened my Dad to come get the Cruiser or she'd run it off a cliff! I went and got it, since I had become rather attatched to it. And since I was now paying for the insurance, it had become rather exclusive to me, and I began doing some real work.
Then, while driving thru Phoenix with a friend, I spottede the most beefed 55 I'd ever seen. After talking with the owner and getting permission to take a few pics, I had then come to the realization that there were some people out there doing some serious stuff with these 55's. He had told us of the numerous trails he'd done in Az., as well as the Rubicon, Moab and Hammers. That was pretty much the nail in the coffin for me. Not long after, I learned some welding and fabrication skills, built the bumpers, sliders, ect..
Then I got on the web, met some 55 guys here including RHINO, who is now a good friend, and someone in which to bounce ideas back and forth. Met another 55 guy here in my town who is incredibly knowledgeable on 2F's, carburation and ignition. He considers me a son.
I ended up buying the Pig outright from my Dad in 01 for $2500. I still have several things I want and need to do, but I'd say for the most part, this Pig is exactly what I had in mind 7 years ago. I've been all over, wheeled all kinds of cool trails, and I woudn't hesitate to drive it anywhere in the country if I had to.
Barring details, that's pretty much the jist of the RUSH55 story.
