[Stumpalama]

So, after owning my Cruiser for 11 years now, It's finally built up to a point where I feel I should document some of my history of ownership.

Let's go back to the late 20th century and before the internet... Fall of 1990 to be exact. I get my first ride in a Toyota Land Cruiser, a prep school friend, Chip Carroll's blue 1978 FJ40. One ride and I had to have one. He also had an SOR catalogue that I used to "borrow" and build my dream truck. It would be another 6 long years before I would have an FJ40.

Two years later, in the fall of 1992, there was a blue FJ40 with Alaska plates in a parking lot on my way to class. I checked it out up and down every time I walked through that parking lot for the next year and a half.

Then one day, in 1993, it's gone, no note, no goodbye, just gone. I was upset that I never got to meet the owner let alone take it for a spin. That began my search, in ernest, for an FJ40. I would have to wait another 4 years to finally own one.

While driving through the Navy Hospital parking lot in Newport, Rhode Island in the Spring of 1997 a notice a blue FJ40 with a "For Sale" sign on it. I couldn't believe my luck! Do you know where this is going yet?

So I walk over to check it out and get the phone number. Well, what do see but Alaska license plates?! Now I really couldn't believe my luck! This couldn't be the same truck from 4 years ago could it? COULD IT?!

I couldn't think of anything else all day except getting home to call this guy to convince him to sell me his Cruiser. I went to check it out, knowing I would probably buy it no matter what the condition. When we met, I immediately asked him if he had ever been stationed at the Naval Academy and it turned out he had been and this was that Cruiser! It was fate, I had to have it. It turned out he was the second owner and bought it from a guy in Key West in 1980-something and despite the Alaska plates, it never made it there.

It was in pretty rough shape bodywise, he had body work done, but it was all Bondo and had sucked up all the water like a sponge and made the rust worse. . The fenders were mint though, go figure. He wanted way to much for it, but I had done my homework on the LCML and knew where to look for rust and made sure he saw me uncover every bit. He was also in a pinch because he was moving to Hawaii soon. So I offered a cashiers check for $1500, and it was mine.

Here is a shot of it the day I bought it:

[Stumpalama]

Another shot a few months later after pulling the top and bashing out the bondo that was caked in the rear quarters.

[bsmith123]

What's your plans for it

[yotawheeler]

uuuhhh....pretty much everything happened to it, when are you adding the kitchen sink to that thing stump? na. its a wicked cruiser. drives ssssoooooooooooooooo smooth....

[singletrackjunkie]

I feel like I'm in some kinda Paul Harvey nightmare. Dude, what's the rest of the story??

[Stumpalama]

Sorry about the delay for part two, I had to get my truck cleaned up for Coastal Cruiser "Cruiser Days": Thanks guys for putting on a great event! Next year we hope we, as in V.I. Cruisers, can contribute some how to the the event. Thanks Guy... you're rig will surpass mine one day, as you know I've been at it for 10 years.

Anyway, on with the story:

As soon as I got it home I went out and bought the first real tool set of my own, a 200-some piece Craftsman kit, Naval Jelly and a case of Rustoleum. I knocked out all the visible bondo and coated the rust I could see with Naval Jelly or Rustoleum. The engine and drivetrain were in very good shape with only a few minor leaks. The clutch was only a few thousand miles old and the tires (235/75/15's )were almost new. I drove it this way for the next 2 1/2 years, driving it from Newport to Philadelphia and later Norfolk to Philadelphia, which are each 5 hrs of hiway travel and it never burped once.

Well, 1999 rolls around and I've finally got a place with a decent garage that will allow me to do you learn about yorself when embarking on a project as involved as a frame-off resto. I am WAY more of a perfectionist than I thought and I HATE the smell of Bondo when it's hit by a sanding disk

Some picks of the resto process in my small garage. I had planned to document the whole thing, but while degreasing the truck and rolling it back and forth I put my digital camera ontop of one of the tire, and well, you can guess what happened.

[crustyBJ60]

great story, great truck. nothing like having a truck for years and making it "right" and then "better" than new. Stump's TICK is one of my favorite 40's EVER! (even if it is a gasser)

ROTW eh... good on ya'

can't wait to see more "now" pics.

like what the dude from fear and loathing in las vegas said. "just finnish the fawking story!"

crusty

[Stumpalama]

Yeah, Yeah, I'm working on it! Thanks for the nice words guys.

Some more picks of the resto.

[Stumpalama]

More:

[Stumpalama]

More post resto...

[Stumpalama]

So shortly after completing my restoration, I was stationed in Japan for 2 years and had to leave the Cruiser with a friend who was more than willing to take care of it for me.

My next duty station was in Victoria British Columbia and this is where the truck recieved all its modifications and was transformed into the Rig it is today.
I will post that story tomorrow.

Some parting shots:

1. The old wiring harness
2. The first wheeling trip in BC and the birth of VI Cruisers!
3. After said trip

[HawkDriver]

First off, that gem makes the purchase of my first 40 at $3500 seem retarded.

Did that story not give anyone else the chills? TWICE? Reminds me of my own story in a way. Great to hear of your success and see what you've done to it. Congrats!

[AKcruiserfreak]

Wow! Great job on a beautiful 40! I wish it had made it up to Alaska, it could have been mine> ;-)

TK

[Weedhopper]

That IS nice

Looks real good with the full doors.

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

"Stumpalama," nice story and nice rig!

Looking forward to hearing the rest of the tale!

Regards,

Alan

[Stumpalama]

So, after 2 long years in Japan I finally get my Cruiser back. Unfortunately, while I was away the starter crapped out but, luckily, my Pops replaced the starter and drove the truck to his place and fixed a couple electrical glitches as well. And all was right with the world, for a while. Then I had to ship it to Canada.

In the meantime I drove my new LX450 across the country from Philly to a wedding in San Diego. I stopped in at Man-A-Fre and dropped some coin I was saving while in Japan on some cool stuff for both rigs. About 2hr and $4000 later I was on my way to Canada with a sagging Lexus. Now back to the Tick.

When I went to pick it up in Tacoma, WA, it wouldn't start. I was a little rusty after two years away from wrenching, but I finally figured out it there was no power to the idle cut solenoid. So I rigged a wire across the engine from the battery to the solenoid and was good to go (I stopped in at Wally World and picked up a toggle switch so I could shut off the truck without lifting the hood every time.) It was on that drive I swore to stop chasing failing wires and rewire the whole damn thing. Painless it is not, especially when you are keeping all the emissions wiring as well.

Mods over the next year and a half: comfy seats, new guages, 8274 winch, dual batteries, 4+ rear bumper, MAF front bumper and guard, new hi-output alt and new wiring.

Of course, as the jobs on the truck grew, so did the need for the right tools: A true MIG welder (thanks Steph, it's the best B-day present yet!), air compressor (I can't believe I did my frame off restoration without one) and all the tools that go with it, a drill press.... you get the point and know exactly what I'm talking about... don't you?

While surfing 'mud one day, I came across a thread about maybe starting a Coastal Cruisers chapter here on the Island. After a bit of discussion and interest shown, CrustyBJ60 took the reigns and set up a meeting at Tim Horton's. It was from this meeting that Vancouver Island Cruisers was born!!

[Stumpalama]

The wheeling came fast and furious after that initial meeting where I met two people that would become very special friends. One of them was Crusty BJ60 (Kirk) who I owe alot of thanks for is hands on help and lending an ear when I was formulating the neverending string of next mods on the Tick. It wouldn't be the truck it is today without his influence and help.

The more we wheeled, the more realized I needed more. Onboard air, 4.11 gears and ARB lockers were next.

Then came the Metaltech rollcage: My first big fab/welding job that really counted.

[bigassbike]

Great read, looking forward to the next installment.

[Twisty]

As above, nice buildup so far! Looking forward to seeing the rest!

[Stumpalama]

So after getting it to this point, about a year ago, I had planned to make Rubithon '07 with an Aussie four speed guts in my late model case with an Orion bolted on for an 81:1 crawl ratio. However, that was not to be and the tranny and T-case didn't get bolted in until August '07.

In the meantime, I built some sliders and a variation of Poser's skid plate to protect the vitals underneath as well as some 1/8 plate half doors that work with my soft top door tops.

Mark from Mark's offroad built the tranny and I built the Orion and put it in. My friends Chris and Kirk got me some sweet anodized shifter knobs from Mule offroad for my birthday that look awesome on the shifters (thank's guys, you always know the right gift for me)

[Stumpalama]

The tranny and T-case went in just in time to roll down to Rubicon in September last year. It was amazing! The truck did great too, even though it was sprung under. The gears were by far the best mod yet to the truck. It wouldn't have been nearly as fun without them or BK or the Crusties or Steph

Oh yeah, we threw on some 35's for that extra bit of clearance... The skid plate and sliders still got a workout though.

I must say, there's nothing like designing and building your own stuff, wheeling it hard and having it stand up to the abuse!

[Stumpalama]

Just a couple more pics until tomorrow:

[FLYINGLOW]

Wow Mike, nice write up. I can't wait to see more. I haven't seen it since last December in Shawnigan and had no idea on the history of it all. We'll have to tip a couple back this summer at some point.

[FJFOOL]

Nice story, the hard work paid off, that's a great looking truck. What's next?

[Stumpalama]

OK, where was I? Oh yeah, also, before Rubicon I built a storage box for the rear to hold my tools and spares. And since the Orion uses a transfercase e-brake I was able to swap to rear disks. Those are sweet to, especially when rolling back on a steep hill.

So since last September I added rock lights, seat heaters (ahhhh), onboard hot water and just finished the spring-over about a month ago.

Seriously, the seat heaters are MAGIC! I hardly have to run the heater on cold mornings running down the hiway to the trail head, and that is even with Steph in the truck and she is always cold.

Talk about a last minute build! I took the first test drive of the SOA the morning of our 8 day backroads tour of the Island, dubbed "Islandthon '08" by dzlcrzr (Ken). I held up to the 8 days of abuse and, suprisingly, didn't drive much different than when it was sprung under. I am happy with my first attempt at a spring-over. Of course, there are little things to adjust, but overall it is very stable yet flexy.

[Stumpalama]

Our original plan was to attend Rubithon this year and I was determined to spring my rig over in time to do rubicon sprung over. Well as the saying goes: "Even the best laid plans...something something something".

We decided instead to do a backroads trip around Vancouver Island. Now, this is no ACT, but this Island is covered with a maze of logging roads, both new and ancient, thus the term "Island Pinstriping". There are very few rigs that truly wheel with show quality paint job around here. There is only one (1!) major road that travels the entire length of the island and it is on the extreme Eastern side of the island. That means the most of the Island is small unimproved roads or logging roads in various states of disrepair (think WRC racing).

For the springover, I used 60 series rear leafs in the rear and flipped the shackle hanger to accomodate the extra length. I used 60 fronts in the front with a stock length rear shackle up front. My overall wheelbase is now 94" and the rear tires are nicely centered in the rear wheel well. The truck has a much smoother ride than it had with the 2.5" lift Rancho springs. I also used Tom Woods Double Cardan longtravel driveshafts front and rear. I bought them off a 'Mud member and they had been used once, I think.

I did a cut and turn using a big pipe cutter and 4x4 Labs Hi-steer. The truck track true with about 5 degrees of caster (Thanks Jason for your super zooba alighnment machine!).

It flexes really nicely and I have a couple pics of the truck before and after in similar spots on a particularly telling trail.

I was able to take a totally different line from the first picture sprung over.

[Stumpalama]

Some close-ups of the SOA and the aftermath mess in the garage:

I got the idea for the lower rear shock mounts from a thread on Pirate 4x4. I essentially copied his design of using 1/4" 2x2 sqaure tube, slicing it and welding it to the axle. It mounts the shock nice and low while also protecting the vulnerable shockpin nut.

For the upper shock mount, I wanted as much travel as possible while keeping the shacks as upright as possible without cutting the tub. I also saw it being very difficult to get a good weld on the shock pins of I drilled them into the original cross piece.

So, I took a piece of 2x2 x1/8" square tube and essentially cut the top off it so it would straddle the cross tube just above its center. I then drilled and welded the rancho shockpins onto the square tube and was able to mount it as one unit and just stitch weld it to the cross piece. This gave me another vertical inch of shock travel above the stock location and I only had to inboard each one about 3.5" and I'm using Ranch RS5000 12" travel shocks. There is about 4.5" of shock piston showing and about 4 3/8" of axle travel through the bump stop.

[Stumpalama]

Some more pictures.

If you guys have any questions, or want some pictures of specific things, please let me know. I'd be happy to oblige.

[cruiserjunkie]

I enjoyed the build of your truck looks like you have almost got it where you want it. Looks like you get to have some fun right at home so enjoy that with the crazy price of fuel.

[dslcruzr]

great write up Stump! Your 40 is one of the most well thought out and executed rigs I've ever seen. I hope you don't mind if I add a couple more pics from "IslandThon".