This little Piggie had none.... an attempt to rebuild the 69 FJ55

[Thad55]

Ok. Here goes....

Don't really know a damn thing about these, so going to have a ton of questions.

Hoping the front seat will be here soon (Greyhound).

Got a new master cylinder and it's time to bleed the brakes. Anyone know what size the port plugs are, so I can bench bleed this thing?

Here's some pics... more to come.

 

[Thad55]

Looks like a nice start.

Is the rear red side marker lights missing under the cargo windows?

No, I have those. All the lenses and bezels on the back.

 

[Thad55]

I'm talking about the holes that would be on the side of the rig with small rectangular lenses. Here is the passenger side of my 71:
View attachment 2050570
See the small reflective lens almost to the very butt end of the cargo panel just a hair into the green paint

Oh. I dont have those. I presume they are impossible to find.

 

[Gordobe]

Nothing impossible in this thread

Welcome to a new world.

 

[Gordobe]

Need more pics

 

[scrapdaddy]

Anyone know what size the port plugs are, so I can bench bleed this thing?

Are you speaking about the brake line threads, they should be 9mm or if someone changed it out to a newer master then 10mm.

 

[Thad55]

Are you speaking about the brake line threads, they should be 9mm or if someone changed it out to a newer master then 10mm.

Yes, the brake lines. I need to plug the end of the matter cylinder so I can bench bleed.

 

[Thad55]

Is there a bolt size I can put in there temporarily?

 

[scrapdaddy]

I'll check thread today, but it should be something like 9mmx1.50.

 

[onemanarmy]

looks like someone filled in both the front and rear side marker light locations.

Looks solid and rust free other wise....a great base.

 

[61twpw]

Hoping the front seat will be here soon (Greyhound).

You and me both! Would like to see it installed. Wonder where that seat has been the last week and a half?

 

[Thad55]

I'll check thread today, but it should be something like 9mmx1.50.

10x1.0, I have a thread guide thing on a cable. Should work as a plug.

 

[Thad55]

looks like someone filled in both the front and rear side marker light locations.

Looks solid and rust free other wise....a great base.

There is some rust, but yes, pretty good base.

 

[Thad55]

The ones you see on mine are FJ40 ones that I swapped gaskets front to rear on. Should be readily available.

But it looks like you are missing holes for them.

The front could be a simple matter of someone hanging later model(75+) fenders on the front which relied upon the turn signal assembly for the marker.

I see a plug on one side, however, nothing on the other.

 

[scrapdaddy]

10x1.0, I have a thread guide thing on a cable. Should work as a plug.

Someone must have switched the master out to a newer one, good deal.

 

[Thad55]

Not sure if I should start another post...
But, what about these 55s with the top open and no doors. I saw the orange-Canadian one, but not sure how smart it is to start choppin'.
Does anyone sell tops for these, or would everything be custom? Just curious at this point.

 

[Thad55]

Cutting apart is custom.

On both of my cut ones, I'm actually just moving the rear portion of the roof behind the driver seat and leaving the rear open like a pickup bed:
View attachment 2051653

The brown one above 100% will be getting a heavy duty internal cage since it will be used on 'hard' trails like Rubicon and Fordyce in an 'aggressive' manner.

My burnt one will not be getting a cage initially. But it will more than likely end up with one to help secure the seat. On the other hand, it will be used more as a tow rig, snow plow, and technical wheeling where I avoid stupid stuff

I'm not sure what I'm looking at here. Can you post some pics of your other chopped ones?
You think that chopping kills the value of the vehicle?

 

[RUSH55]

Hacking up a pig has never increased it’s value. At least that I’ve ever seen. Lots of hacked up pigs out there, usually for sale. There are a few that the owners have taken the time and money to do a stellar job, but those are far and few between.

 

[Thad55]

Does anyone have a template or model of a custom gauge mount, for the speedo/tach?

Are there OEM mounts available? It aftermarket?

 

[Thad55]

Overall correct... with one caveat, if the work and design is exceptional, the value could be raised. But, a cut up pig will lower the number of people who might be interested. And a high priced pig lowers that number even more.

This is one of those mods that you do because flipping the 55 isn't on the table.


In theory, if your current gauge cluster mount is in good shape, you can unbolt the stock gauges, create a round ring, and bolt aftermarket gauges in place.

Here are stock gauges in a custom cluster:

I took the stock gauges out of the above and inserted some Haneline 3-n-1 gauges in there place.

*EDIT*
Here is the gauge set I used installed:

Here is the back of the same cluster:

I love these gauges. They maintain a 'factory' feel to the rig and the price of them was close to the price of the six separate gauges they cover.

Looks good. I was thinking of using sheet steel or aluminum, using the stock gauges. My original foam mount is disintegrated.