What did you do to your pig today?

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B.C. Hoshall said:
Found the pig in a barn in Northern New Mexico about 8 years ago. Motor, tranny, and t-case were in a zillion pieces in the back seat. Bone stock and only a few hanta rats had been behind the wheel for 7 years prior. 76K on the unflipped odo. I held it for 2 years before I even started putting it together again. Put another 2F / H41 / 4spd t-case inside and ran it for maybe a year. Then I met the guys at IPOR and the build really began there.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/hardcore-c...-test-drive-today.html?highlight=b.c.+hoshall
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Thanks for the link - that is a sick Pig!

Where in Northern NM did you find it?
 
Rides much better with four new Pro Comp 9000 shocks that are the right length to accomodate the 3" lift. Still have to install the replacement for the 38-year-old OEM steering stabilizer.
 
Put one of those gear reduction starters in...now it sounds like a 60 or an 80 starting...
 
Getting it ready for a Nostalgia Cruise 2morrow night my friend noticed some char grilled wiring behind the battery :bang: When this happened I don't know, but only in the last 2 weeks. The wiring was rubbing on the bottom of the battery & tray. I'm just very lucky I didn't end up with BBQ pork !
So I've just finished repairing that. Also removed the thermo & fitted the engine fan.
 
Quick "Cruise" to Moab yesterday evening for a meeting allowed a test drive of the new Pro Comp 9000s and OME steering stabilizer. Mui better ride now that the shocks match the 3" lift. Mileage sucks at highway speeds, even with a rebuilt Quadrajet on the SBC. Better get on the Ranger install.
 
riderjgs said:
Quick "Cruise" to Moab yesterday evening for a meeting allowed a test drive of the new Pro Comp 9000s and OME steering stabilizer. Mui better ride now that the shocks match the 3" lift. Mileage sucks at highway speeds, even with a rebuilt Quadrajet on the SBC. Better get on the Ranger install.
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Can you tell me what is a Ranger ?
Can I please have some numbers on your mileage around & out of town.
 
made one more aerodynaminc and the other has been converted to the rare 3a high hood version (and yes, that's a 6' fence behind it and the snow's still coming down) :D
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Ranger overdrive is a 27% overdrive that splits every gear. Mileage is pretty much around 9mpg whether I'm taking it easy around town or, as in the trip to Moab, running with traffic. That meant turning probably around 3500 rpm at 75 mph with the 4.10s, 31s and 4 spd. The Ranger might kick it up to 11 or 12! But at least it rode well and we were toasty with the restored heaters, a lot of new weatherstripping and all the Quiet C**p lining the floors, firewall and sides.
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riderjgs said:
..Mileage is pretty much around 9mpg whether I'm taking it easy around town or, as in the trip to Moab, running with traffic. That meant turning probably around 3500 rpm at 75 mph with the 4.10s, 31s and 4 spd...
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So much for a V-8 delivering better mileage than the 2F. Sounds about the same- but more power. 75 MPH seems borderline excessive for one of these beasts. Yours is a beauty. I'd like to see a link to your build thread, if one exists. :cheers:
 
Well last night I had a friend take my piggy for a cruise. Turned a lot heads :)

riderjgs, If it helps, my piggy is SBC 350 powered. I have a H55F in mine and my last recorded fuel figures are exactly 9MPG ! That was with a crappy 600 Holley. The day I put the 350 Holley on the speedo stopped working, but its noticeably better. I don't know my diff ratio but its 2400rpm for 50MPH in 4th gear & roughly 2100rpm in 5th.
Im about to change my inlet manifold today, hoping to pick up some MPG with that :)
 
Better mileage is not a reason to switch to a carbureted SBC. Power, parts availability and cost, lighter weight over the steering, etc. are all reasons I've been happy with the two converted 55s I've owned, one with an Edelbrock and this one with the Qjet. I've never had trouble on the low end, with 4.10s and 4 spds, in the type of wheeling I do but then I've spent a good part of my 50+ plus years off road learning how to avoid the kind of stuff some of you do for sport. Did get a standing O one time when I took a box stock early '80s Suburban up Elephant Hill on 235x15s, stopping halfway up to help rescue a mini truck with a front wheel hanging over the edge. Also have some F engine experience, having bought a brand new FJ40 in the mid-'70s. As I told folks back then, best off road vehicle I've ever owned and the absolute worst highway vehicle I've ever owned. This Pig is a keeper and if/when the current SBC goes, it'll get a Vortec. Those do provide both power and mileage. Really looking forward to installing the Ranger overdrive and having the best of both worlds, the same low end and 27% rpm relief when I can't keep my foot out of it on the highways.
 
Riderjgs,

If you were starting with no engine in the 55, then you would use a vortec [ fuel injected ] engine. That's my situation, no motor or transmission. I want to use the H55 5 speed and a sbc, but know zip about computers, etc. So I would have to hire someone to wire it up.

Thanks for any input, Ron
 
I'd definitely want the Vortec but would have the same issues you do re: setting it up. Others on here have done it many times so there's plenty of help and options. I've also read that TBI engines are an improvement from carbureted, simpler to install and not so complicated electronically. All things being equal, I'd also prefer your 5 spd but the availability of a very cheap, low mileage Ranger was too good to pass up. I doubt I'll ever use all the shifting options available in each gear...likely just leave it in overdrive on the street and in normal range off road.
 
I had a overdrive in my old 55, years ago, worked real well. Like you, I didn't split each gear. I've been looking at a couple of doner 55's with 350's in them, but they are carbed. decisions, decisions

Ron
 
Installed some rebuilt door hinges. The doors sure close better now.
The last picyure is for Nuclearlemon....70 deg and trees in bloom in California
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Tried to hook up the front driveline today. It only has half of it on right now. Got a complete one with the pig when I bought it, but both are too short. Grrr. Not sure if it's from the transmission swap, possible front axle swap, or possible front end lift (the shackles look a bit long). Either way looks like I'll be finding a shop to lengthen the driveline.

Of course, fussing with that is just me avoiding the wiring...
 
nocents, great pic!

as much as shoveling the record snow sucked, i still wouldn't give it up...i love the snow. and i love the melt off. the snow was partway up the last two windows just 24 hours ago. it will be gone quick. still may be a little bit before the blue pig crawls out tho ;)
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