questions on solid vs. two-tone FJ55s

[Lifelong40Fan]

I'm beginning the work on the frame-off restoration of my '77 FJ55. I got the engine out and in the next week or so I'm hoping to have the body on my friend's rotisserie. I'm wanting to change the truck from the single 854 sky blue to the two-tone 854/031 sky blue on white. Here is a link that shows the truck before disassembly:

For Sale - Tennessee: 1977 fj55

Tennessee: 1977 FJ55 A mostly disassembled FJ55 project. Everything disassembled except motor, transfer case, axels and wheels. The Birfield bar, oil pan, motor fan have been replaced with OEM parts. The rocker panels, driver side and passenger side floor pans have been repaired and the main...

forum.ih8mud.com

Here are my questions:

1. The two-tone FJ55s have a chrome grille and headlight pieces, right? My grille is solid black and in my limited experience, I've not seen a solid black grille on a two-tone truck.
2. Are there any other differences between the solid colored and two-tone trucks besides the grille and headlights?
3. If I need a chrome grille and headlight pieces (and anything else that is different), does anyone have these available to sell?

Thanks in advance for the help.

Mike

 

[Hank Tank]

Hi Mike, I have a two tone ‘78. My grill and light bezels are a painted silver. To be honest, I don’t think I’ve seen pig with a chrome grill yet. I imagine it might look cool though. I’m no designer but if one were to chrome the grill, then would you want to chrome the bumpers too?

 

[Hank Tank]

Here’s pic of an original pig with the silver painted grill.

 

[Lifelong40Fan]

Thank you for the reply. I probably shouldn’t have said chrome, but silver. I’d like to take the truck to that nice two-tone look of the pic you sent.

Cheers!

 

[WarDamnEagle]

Hi Mike, I have a two tone ‘78. My grill and light bezels are a painted silver. To be honest, I don’t think I’ve seen pig with a chrome grill yet. I imagine it might cool though. I’m no designer but if one were to chrome the grill, then would you want to chrome the bumpers too?

Forgive my ignorance but is this not chrome?

 

[Hank Tank]

Forgive my ignorance but is this not chrome?View attachment 2014435

That one sure looks like chrome to me.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

1977

 

[bobm]

It was an option

 

[onemanarmy]

Here’s pic of an original pig with the silver painted grill.

View attachment 2014424

what mirrors are these? I need to get them.

 

[Hank Tank]

what mirrors are these? I need to get them.

Idk. I think it was for the Asian/Australian market.

 

[scrapdaddy]

War Eagle,

That looks like an owner modified option.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

War Eagle,

That looks like an owner modified option.

This part number 53101-90354 is for a chrome front grill for a 1977 FJ55 (at least according to ToyDIY.com) so it appears to have been a factory option.

It has chrome trim around the windshield, drip line, rear side window, and side air vents. Assuming all that was original, what color would the grill have been from the factory if not chrome?

 

[scrapdaddy]

That would of been a great question for Cruiser Dan at the museum. I've never seen a chrome grille, all I've seen were painted silver/gray. Maybe you've got the rare one.

 

[fj55-100]

I have a chrome one , but i dont know the origin

 

[J Mack]

The two-tone FJ55s have a chrome grille and headlight pieces, right?

No, the chrome grill only pops up rarely but two tone pigs are like bellybuttons.

2. Are there any other differences between the solid colored and two-tone trucks besides the grille and headlights?

Grill and headlight rings most likely would have been painted silver.

3. If I need a chrome grille and headlight pieces (and anything else that is different), does anyone have these available to sell?

Any 50 year old chrome part you find would most likly need to be redone, start with a good non-chrome grill and send it in to be chromed with the rest of your parts.

 

[cruiserdan]

55 chrome grilles and bumpers were in the parts catalog , as were chrome bezels and bumpers for 40s.

 

[cruiserdan]

So they were basically a dealer installed option and not a factory installed option?

Yes, at least in the US market. Chrome was not really marketed here but was cataloged and some dealers took advantage of it. I have seen chrome to some degree on JDM and somewhat more commonly on Middle East trucks.

 

[Ol Yeller]

Most 56 pictures I’ve seen are chrome? Dunno.

 

[Megadoomer]

Try black chrome.

 

[Gordobe]

The chrome grill that my mistress of the dark side insisted on having came from Arabia. I thought the original one was just fine, but noooooooooooooo she had to have a chrome one with cut out letters.