POTM- The Blue Bomber.

laguna80 · 08-01-08, 12:46 PM

About me: I had no car experience aside from changing a tire once when I started working on landcruisers. I'm a Sergeant in the
Army Reserves, medic in the 100 Battalion-442 Infantry to be precise. My unit has a long standing history during WWII and we are the most decorated unit of its size. I was in Iraq for 2005 and we're going back to Kuwait this time around. Here I am during the elections in 2005.

My cruiser experience started when I was about 6-7. My father had found a non-running FJ55 and had his son (my hapf-brother) rebuild the engine. After that he put in FJ40 jump seats in the back so that he could cart around the 8 kids he had with my mom. Here we camping at Refugio State Beach in Southern California. Some problems with the scanner. I'll post the pic up later.

Moving along ~18 years and I wanted to learn to work on cars so I started looking
at craigslist for a beater. I looked for several months and final got a green 72 FJ40. Here's a pic.

I kept looking on craigslist
just for fun and then this 74 FJ55 showed up on the Big Island. My brother lived over there, so I told him to go get it right away.
I really didn't care what it cost...I just had to have it. I finally had to sell the FJ40 because I really wanted to work on the
55 but didn't have room for it up on O'ahu. Well, I got it up here and realized that I needed to learn how to weld. So far, I've got
half of the floorboards done and I've added disc brakes. The truck is nearly all original otherwise. In the near future (that being these
next three weeks) I'm going to finish up the rust removal and metal replacement and get it rattle canned with zero rust. I don't
really have any future plans for it. I want to fix it up first. I'm gonna be starting my second deployment in about three weeks, so
I'm really working with a deadline now. Here's some pics of how I got it and how it stands now.

romegadave · 08-01-08, 02:40 PM

Laguna,

Wow...now that's dedication by selling the 40 and taking on the pig..(not to mention the battle of rust on the islands). You're doing a great job on keeping it at bay..I probably would have POR-15 the whole thing not being able to keep up the stamina!! I want to reread your POTM but gotta run (at work!!)--will check again later. Dave

ps--thanks for your service to our country--you guys make us proud!

RHINO · 08-01-08, 06:19 PM

cool man, its always good to see another pig getting fixed,,,,

thanks for your service and be safe over there.

laguna80 · 08-02-08, 02:28 AM

Our old 55 circa 1990- My mom standing up and my brothers and sisters in the foreground.

romegadave · 08-02-08, 11:45 PM

Laguna,

Love the photo since it has a 60's beach party look to it. Wanted to ask how many 55's you think are on the islands?

Wayneraintree · 08-03-08, 06:33 AM

great story, great level of dedication to the pig!

PabloCruise · 08-03-08, 08:54 PM

I love it - keep the faith brother!

And thank you for serving...

n2666s · 08-04-08, 07:08 PM

awesome build Bro.......cheers and keep low to the ground..............wish I could be with ya over yonder!

Lou

laguna80 · 08-06-08, 03:16 PM

Well, I don't have much to add in the way of 55's. However, on my trip to Europe, I kept my eyes open and spotted a lot of LC's over there mostly 70 series ones. Wanted to show you all what the European cruisers are made of.

Also went to a Toyota car show and saw this little toy.