The Resurection of 'The Beast'

[yooper]

anything new?

 

[RUSH55]

Wow! What a rebuild! I remember that rig when Todd was showing pics of the spring over. on Morgan's forum. Don't get down about the vibe. You've got so much damn work tied up in this rig, I can understand the downer of an engine prob. But perk up! 2F's are aplenty, many machine shops know them thru and thru. 'Tis not as involved as you think. Does the 2F still run? If so run it till you come up with the solution, if not, you're only lookin at a li'll more down time for said repairs......
but good God dude.....that is one Hell of a transformation!!! This is the thread to direct the future of people with questions like.." I recently bought an FJ-55 with some rust issues. What do I do?"
Take a look at this thread hoser! Can you hang?!! Bust out the cut-off wheel and welder and get busy!!

 

[Southeast Overland]

I'm around fellas but have been real busy lately on non-Pig things. I had a very sudden change of employment and all is well BUT that definitely put a kink in things for a bit. I've also been shopping for a new DD which has taken quite a bit of my time.

So, back to my Piggie. I have been slowly getting the 2F ready to come out. I am planning on replacing the crank myself and while I'm in there install a new rear main seal and maybe some new main bearings. Things are moving SLOW but they are moving. I hope to have the Piggie up and running by late spring.

 

[Southeast Overland]

So I've been up to 'no good' lately. I've been searching for a new DD hoping to get some better gas mileage over my current DD for commuting but ended up picking this up from a fellow MUD member. Because of said transaction the demanded a few things done around the house - like a full, and I mean FULL reorganization of the garage. Imagine pulling EVERYTHING out of your garage and putting it back in a TOTALLY different order. It was actually a good thing as I went though all of my Pig parts and got everything organized. I have arranged to borrow an engine hoist from a fellow Upstate Cruiser member and hope to pull out my 2F within the next month or two and start work on replacing the crank.

 

[n2666s]

Heather "ruint ya"

Lou

 

[yooper]

You have to paint that green now to match the Pig.

 

[CandyPants]

Heather "ruint ya"

Lou

I don't think of it as "ruint," I like to think of a 55 and and FJC as the perfect pair. Besides, I hold firm in my belief that the FJC was modeled more after the 55 than any other LC. But that's just my opinion.

 

[Southeast Overland]

I'm still working a bit guys. I'm trying to source a 2F as a temporary replacement for mine while I fix her...

 

[Southeast Overland]

So the nice weather yesterday and the hour of extra sunlight got me feeling like I should start working on my Piggie again.

I'm still trying to source a 2F that runs for a reasonable price to put into my Piggie. I have found a couple that haven't run in awhile - one for a VERY good price. I might just have to take the drive to pick it up and see if it works. It hasn't run in a while but supposedly had a new headgasket before it was parked and turns over by hand fine. The fluids were pretty bad when drained but the price is right and I might give it a go. If it doesn't work I'm out a few bucks for the motor and some $ for gas. I pulled the Piggie back out into the driveway from the garage yesterday to get wrenching. There is much more room in the driveway than the garage. The came home when I was pushing my baby out and gave me the "O jeez - not this again" look!

So here is my plan:
1) source 2F
2) pull current 2F (in works) - I need to do a weeee bit of reading and I wish I had taken more pics before I started this process
3) install sourced 2F and I should be back on the road
4) pull rear bumper and straighten (will have to have a shop do this probably)
5) replace rear body mounts
6) minor body repair (weld in some small pieces of new metal) to lower rear quarters
7) finish painting tailgate
8) finish fully stripping glue from inside roof and figure out some kind of coating to put on roof - I am not going to reinstall a headliner
8) replace windshield

 

[CandyPants]

Why are you replacing the motor? I thought you just had to deal with a crank, seal and bearings? The whole engine isn't shot, is it?

 

[Southeast Overland]

Nope - the whole engine isn't shot but I think the quickest way to get my Piggie back on the trail is to just plop in another 2F then I can deal with the lower end as time permits. I don't want my Pig to sit for a whole year before I get her back out.

 

[n2666s]

Steve, I think it is a good plan to source a decent 2F and at the same time rebuild your old one..........remembe TJKs descrip several years ago 'bout how strong your engine ran; probably will run even stronger with a new cam etc..........great to see ya back on the "beast"

 

[PabloCruise]

I know in Denver one of the guys in Rising Sun is giving away a '78 2F - perfect!

Check the RS forums...

 

[Southeast Overland]

I know in Denver one of the guys in Rising Sun is giving away a '78 2F - perfect!

Check the RS forums...

Pablo - I took a look in the Rising Sun forums and didn't see anything - do you have a link? Thanks!

 

[Southeast Overland]

Still looking for a 2F but in the mean time I've started in on the body again. Yesterday after work I pulled off the IPOR rear bumper to assess how in the heck I am going to straighten it. The PPO bent it pretty good pulling a Jeep out. Once I got the bumper off I was going to tear into the rear body mounts but there wasn't much left of them - the passenger rear body mount was not connected to the body at all! I also found an extra passenger I brought down from MI. Last year a buddy found a rats next near the rear passenger body mount full of seed - well I found the bedroom last night. I spent a bit of time straightening out the rear sill where the bumper bent into it. A crow bar can do marvelous things! I will probably cut out a bunch of old sheet metal and weld in some booty fab 16 gauge to patch this area up. I'm really starting to think of this Pig as my trail truck and not even a weekend toy anymore so good is good enough for body work. Unfortunately I've considered selling her a few times (even thought about it last night) but thankfully since she doesn't run right now I wouldn't get squat so I can't sell knowing that. Even if I did I would probably turn right around and buy a 40...

Enjoy the pics!

Pic 1 - truck w/ rear bumper pulled off
Pic 2 - rear bumper on ground - gotta straighten out this kink somehow
Pic 3 - passenger rear body mount - this was not connected to the body at all!

Apparently I've exceeded my photo quota - didn't know we had one! I have to set up an account somewhere to host now - dangit - you'll have to hold on the pics.

 

[Trollhole]

Still looking for a 2F but in the mean time I've started in on the body again. Yesterday after work I pulled off the IPOR rear bumper to assess how in the heck I am going to straighten it. The PPO bent it pretty good pulling a Jeep out. Once I got the bumper off I was going to tear into the rear body mounts but there wasn't much left of them - the passenger rear body mount was not connected to the body at all! I also found an extra passenger I brought down from MI. Last year a buddy found a rats next near the rear passenger body mount full of seed - well I found the bedroom last night. I spent a bit of time straightening out the rear sill where the bumper bent into it. A crow bar can do marvelous things! I will probably cut out a bunch of old sheet metal and weld in some booty fab 16 gauge to patch this area up. I'm really starting to think of this Pig as my trail truck and not even a weekend toy anymore so good is good enough for body work. Unfortunately I've considered selling her a few times (even thought about it last night) but thankfully since she doesn't run right now I wouldn't get squat so I can't sell knowing that. Even if I did I would probably turn right around and buy a 40...

Enjoy the pics!

Pic 1 - truck w/ rear bumper pulled off
Pic 2 - rear bumper on ground - gotta straighten out this kink somehow
Pic 3 - passenger rear body mount - this was not connected to the body at all!

Apparently I've exceeded my photo quota - didn't know we had one! I have to set up an account somewhere to host now - dangit - you'll have to hold on the pics.

Steve your star expired.

 

[yooper]

I want a picture of my mouse that you kidnapped.

 

[yooper]

I thought he bent the bumper backing into a rock...

 

[Southeast Overland]

Steve your star expired.

Doh - I just paid.

I want a picture of my mouse that you kidnapped.

Didn't find the mouse but he had a HUGE food stash and a nice fluffy little bedroom.

I thought he bent the bumper backing into a rock...

Casey told me he did it rescuing a Jeep - so he might have bumped into a rock rescuing a Jeep!

Also - will be pulling my 2F, tranny and t-case next Wednesday night - SWEET!

Will post pics soon - once star pops back up.

 

[Southeast Overland]

Woo hoo! My star is already back - here come the pics!

Pic 1 - truck w/ rear bumper pulled off
Pic 2 - rear bumper on ground - gotta straighten out this kink somehow
Pic 3 - passenger rear body mount - this was not connected to the body at all!