September POTM - Cruiser Guy, Guatemala

[Lucy_FJ55]

Wow! I have been waiting to see this POTM for awhile. I remember seeing you post this on Pirate (I think...) years ago and had wanted to see/read about the process again. I am stoked to see you are using it daily also. Great build, thanks for sharing. OINK! ONIK!

 

[cruiser_guy]

It's a shame you daughter desired something "faster". If you are looking to adopt a son I am available.

That was OK with me. She'll pay for it with speeding tickets! She already started after only two months! Lack of speeding tickets is a fringe benefit of driving a Land Cruiser!

I don't need more sons, I've got two teenagers still at home and I can hardly keep them fed!

 

[oldfj40]

I've seen this Pig up close and personal and these pics do not do it justice.Charles-and family-did an excellent job in restoring this rig!Putting in the diesel was a definite upgrade too in my opinion.
The upgrades you did on your trip south look great Charles.That's a nice looking lift on a 55.

 

[GreasedPiggy]

I love this!!! Built really nice and used in places a LandCruiser should

Very inspiring work. I am putting a turbo diesel together for my pig.

How is the diesel quality as you make your way down the continent?

icongratulations!

 

[cruiser_guy]

How is the diesel quality as you make your way down the continent?

Diesel is fine as you make your way south. It's even fairly priced down here (we're gouged in Canada and the USA when diesel is equal or more than regular) being a consistent 75% or so of the price of regular gas!

 

[RHINO]

brilliant !!!! not only a super clean build but driven! wow, nice nice nice.

 

[Farr off road]

Great Job! Love everything you've done to the oinker!!! But I don't see any PTO winch.

 

[cruiser_guy]

But I don't see any PTO winch.

Stay tuned!! I hope to get the winch head mounted this month but I'm still looking for a few FJ55 specific PTO parts to complete this. If you know of a source for the front driveshaft bearing mount (I have the bearing section just on the plate that it mounts to) and the flange that takes the shear pin I'd be grateful.

Without all the parts it's not a high priority.

 

[Farr off road]

I understand....if I here of any parts I will let you know.

 

[blupaddler]

Charles

When you mentioned this Pig, my mind had pictures of what it would look like. However, now that I have, kinda, seen it for myself, I am truly amazed.

This is the pig I will model my future pig after. Now all I need to do is buy one...



Great job. Beautiful Pig!

 

[nickw]

Yeah Charles. Nice pig.
Can't wait to see her again with the lift installed.
Looking nice!

As for tickets, she doesn't like to talk about them.
I usually find them when grabbing something from the glove box.

And as for speed. I can't wait to see it now thats its running better.
It was always weird when my non turbo BJ60 would outrun it.
Maybe one day you can pass her in the corolla going up hill (I would love to see that).

Cheers,
N.

 

[cruiser_guy]

Maybe one day you can pass her in the corolla going up hill (I would love to see that).

Let me tell you, if I ignore the pyrometer it will blow the doors off most anything here!! It's easily more powerful than the turbo'd BJ60 now. You guys will need to come down and check it out again!

 

[cruiser_guy]

Here's another poser shot of the '55 after washing it from all the mud from the villages. I have also pulled the front bumper in preparation for the winch install.

You can see the frame rail extention going on. I spent two hours getting the bumper mount off so the frame rail extension could go on!! I'll do the other side tomorrow. With the election going on here in Guatemala it's not a good day to go out much anyways.

 

[cruiser_guy]

I told you to stay tuned!!

Here's the winch head only installed so far. I'm still on the lookout for the front PTO driveshaft mount. I know it's a poor picture because I got in the way of the sun.

 

[cruiser_guy]

Here's a poser shot of the '55 at the bus stop on the Interamericana Highway at Sumpango where my wife picks up the Guatemalan doctor for the drive into the village. Maybe she'll get a poser shot out in the village where LandCruisers are supposed to be!

If not we'll certainly have some next week since we need to go to Mexico this weekend to cancel our Mexican Temporary Vehicle Importation permit. We'll be taking some time to look around in Chiapas.

 

[hks3sgte]

Super nice Pig! And in Central America... perfect!


Why did you change your turn signals?

 

[cruiser_guy]

Why did you change your turn signals?

They were not the correct ones for the pig!! Now it has the correct ones.

 

[scouthead]

I am simply amazed at the amount of work you have done. I will never have that kind of patience. It looks sick and I want it.

I think I missed the part about what you do that takes you from Canada to Guatemala. I can't stand the commute from Orange County to Long Beach (CA)...

 

[cruiser_guy]

I think I missed the part about what you do that takes you from Canada to Guatemala. I can't stand the commute from Orange County to Long Beach (CA)...

Check out our website for that!! www.wirrell.com

ANY commute in the LA area would be tough to deal with. I end up going through LA at least once either on the way up or down.

 

[hks3sgte]

LA Traffic is perfect for Land Cruisers...

Potholes, idling along for hours, and of course the stares from "modern" car drivers!