Tornado Alley Cruisers Introductions

[Dmidlfing4]

HOWDY!

I’m Don Pennington. My Wife, Golden, our Son Derrick, and I are Fourwheelin Fools. We use Toyota Land Cruisers to get our fix. And sometimes I/we hafta fix the Cruisers.. Daughter use ta like goin but is currently 23and is trying to make her own life… She does still like to go ta the dunes....

Been married fer 27 years now. Reckon we each pickd the right one..

How it all started is a love of the outdoors. Ya know, Campin, Huntin’ an Fishin’. A 4x4 will help us git into them secreat hidey-holes… Then just the adventure of getting there and back kinda takes over. Hey Ya’ll Watch this!

Our main rig is a red an yeller 73 FJ 40. Showin about 231,000 miles now. But the odometer didn’t werk the first 5 years we owned it. So I figure add 50,000. Purdy stock. Jus got lockers an lif springs biggr tars an lower gearin with an SM420 trans to help it get over more an most difficult old roads an trails. Got 4 wheel disc brakes to get er stopped. Mini truck power steerin. Underhood weldr. Oh an a full cage and racin seat belts jus in case it falls over.

The other one is a blue 84 FJ60. 241,000 miles an runs like a top. Been a good ol rig. Left side bashd in by a red light runnin Olsmobile driver. The tuffest wheelin it has done would be Taylor Pass and Pomeroy Lake out in Colorado. Not sure where Daughter and Son Mighta taken it….

The three of us have also been werkin on a 71 FJ40 for Derrick. Purdy much built the same as the 73.. Been after him fer a while to write an article bout it…

We do a lot of 4 wheelin. Gotta be a reason for going to werk at the same place for 28+ years. I am a retired Heavy Equipment Mechanic. Golden is a Receiving Inspector. Amber werks at Long John Silvers. Derrick is werkin as a heavy equipment mechanic, in the same shop I retired frum.

We belong to 3 clubs. Wichita 4x4 Club, Green County Cruisers, and Tornado Alley Cruisers. That is the order that we joined them. I am Treasurer of the Wichita 4x4 Club.

We also have a 2 seat Sand Rail. It is more Golden's to drive. It don't break so much that way...

I also recommend joining Blue Ribbon Coalition. And Southwest Four Wheel Drive Association.

Now ya know all bout me, Don P.

[Dmidlfing4]

Oh I forgoet ta mention that I met Alan L. & Eric C. out in Moab durin the Cruise in 2000. I joined TAC that fall. Dues that first year were $5. Been money well spent.... Good folks!

[DuManchu]

I'm Andrew Booth, and I've just acquired my first Cruiser.

I guess my fascination with Land Cruisers started a long ways back, but I never thought of looking for one until recently.

I've had an unhealthy obsession with cars in general starting with my 1975 Torino (my first car, which I still have). After throwing a significant amount of time and money at the Torino I purchased a 93 Mustang GT in 2001 (I had a Ford allegiance).

I've always loved Colorado and exploring and was never satisfied with owning just a car. I had a 93 Ranger 4cyl 2wd as a cheap beater for a while (I traded this in for the Stang). Drove the Mustang for 3 years and had it break a bunch during that time. In 2004 I once again got the truck "itch" and purchased a 2003 Ranger FX4 with a rear locking diff. I loved that truck but it just cost too much to keep around so I traded down to my current DD the 2002 Protegé.

Also attempted to "wheel" the Protege on Guanella Pass near Georgetown, CO in late May 2005 and nearly tore the front end off the car. Everyone at the top had Troopers and 4Runners and such and looked at me as though I was nuts (went up from the Grant, CO side, there was lots of construction and other fun things going on there).

After driving the Protegé for about a year I started to get the "itch" again, but this time I had decided I wanted an SUV (I really like the interior room the Mazda gives me). Then it hit me, I WANT A CRUISER!.

When I began searching I really wanted an FJ60 until I decided I wanted EFI and an auto so my attention shifted to the 62. After much thinking and deliberation with my brother-in-law I decided on an 80 series Cruiser. Searching and learning about the 80's became a bit of a task, differentiating between the various diff locks and options. Once I became educated in the ways of the 80 series I decided on a 93-97 with lockers. As luck would have it, I found two relatively cheap locked LC's in the KC metro area.

The first LC I looked out was a bit of a mess, to say the least. About a week later I found my current Cruiser, and decided to go out a have a look-see. After test driving it and going over it using a flashlight with my brother-in-law, aka logcruiser, (it was dark) I decided I wanted it and the next day asked the seller to hold it for me.

The seller was kind enough to hold it for me for about 2 weeks while I waited for my Christmas bonus. Then, yesterday, I picked it up and haven't stopped smiling since.

And that's my story.

Current Vehicles:
2002 Mazda Protegé5
1994 Toyota Land Cruiser
1975 Ford Torino Elite

[osagecruiser]

welcome kccruiser...i also have the land cruiser addiction...a 68 40 and a 72 55...i just cant seem to get used to the newer models.....good luck with your new rig...prepare to spend lots o $$$$$ and time

osagecruiser

[eyezlee]

My name is Matt Isley aka “eyezlee”. I live in Topeka currently. I’m a recent transplant from North Dakota. I have a lovely wife Kaylin (also high school sweethearts, married almost 7 years) and a daughter Hannah who is about a year and a half.

I haven’t been real active in the 4x4 community since I’ve lived here mainly because my daughter consumes my free time. I’ve been a long time lurker here at MUD, I never thought to look into the club pages until I was guided here by Ranski. I’m planning on joining soon though.

My addiction with Toyota 4x4’s started back in 97 when I bought a ’92 pickup longbed. I bought that truck to get around in the ND’s winters and soon discovered that wheel’n was fun year-round. That truck morphed into a trail rig over the years which included all the mini goodies from marlin and others. Spring of 04 I bought my first cruiser to use as a daily driver, it is an ’87 fj-60, bone stock from another MUD member. Aside from a few rust spots it is in beautiful shape. Spring of 05 I had the opportunity to buy a ’96 fzj80 with all the options I wanted (locker, no roof rack, etc…). Currently both of my cruisers are unmolested and I have no plans for major mods other than maintenance items. This changes the more I read here though.

I’ve wheeled with an unnamed, unorganized club from back home all around ND, western Minnesota and Gilbert, Minnesota, I've been to tuttle creek a handful of times, and my folks have land up in the hills outside of Sturgis SD so i'm planning trips up there soon.

I ended up selling my wheeling truck in a vain attempt to raise cash for a house purchase. Probably the stupidest thing I could have done but hey, (hindsight). I know the guy that bought it from me so at least I know it is good hands. I am planning on building my next wheeling rig from a mini platform (pre-95 truck, runner) and running a 7mgte. I’m in parts gathering mode now.

Other hobbies/obsessions include: backpacking, camping, biking, chasing rugrat around the house.

I’m looking forward to putting faces with names.

Matt

[osagecruiser]

welcom eyezlee...from a neighbor to the south...osage city...tac is a great club with terriffic members...have questions they answer...need parts they will help....if you ever get down this way holler... maybe we can wheel

osagecruiser

[adam4x4]

Well, a LX450...close enough right? I'm officially addicted to Toyotas - had 8 pickups, 1 Tacoma (Supercharged), 1 Tundra, 2 Supras (MKIII and MKIV), a 4Runner, a Lexus RX300 and a LX470. These were all when I was single and having a good time (with the exception of the 300 and 470). Now I don't have the money I used to when I would buy what I wanted and do whatever to it. I have to be a little more thrifty now with 3 kids and a wife!!!

Just bought a 97 LX450 with 105K on the clock. Pretty good shape, unlocked but has had all Lexus maint. I plan on fixing the PHH and doing a birf rebuild soon even though both look good. The past few days I have been changing out fluids and making my mark on everything. Always happy with a new Toy!!

Would love to get together with some others, especially on the birfs. I have had a few front ends apart but it would always be nice to have someone on hand that has had one apart before. I plan on joining up with TLCA and TAC soon.

[kruzinboots]

Hello! My name is Rick Lasch. I live in Topeka, Kansas. I joined TLCA back in September, but for some unknown reason my membership never got processed. Finally e-mailed Jennifer Lorinecz and got my membership taken care of. Received my membeship # today so I decided it was time to introduce myself. I bought my first Land Cruiser back in 1980, it was a '79FJ-40. This was to be my daily driver for the next 10 years. I had never had a vehicle that I could go just about anywhere I wanted to, and not worry about getting there. Well, after 10 years of salt and driving around in the summertime with the top off, it rusted out pretty bad in usual places, and I didn't have the money to put into it, so in 1990 I ended up trading it in on a '82 F-250 2wd. That ended up being a big mistake, because I found out that I really missed my Land Cruiser. What I should have done, was to take out a loan and have my cruiser repaired. I could already tell that I had developed an addiction for Land Cruiser's. It's suprising, but you really can tell a Land Cruiser from a j@*p, even a mile away. I bought my '77 LC in March of 2002. Had to make a road trip up to Racine, Wi. It wasn't really what I was looking for, but after traveling 14 hours in a ice storm, the kind that you go 5 mph and still slide sideways on, I decided I wasn't going home empty. It has 1/8 inch steel welded all the way around the rear quarter panels, 350 V-8, SM 465 tranny mated up to a NP205 TC, 35" TSL Boggers, Dana 60's front and rear with the spider gears being welded in the rear. We did find out at the Daylight Savings Run in October, that it didn't have a locker in front. It came with a Bestop soft top, and a whole lotta spare parts. Hopefully I'll be able to make the TAC party, er, I meant TAC meeting and meet up with a few more TAC members.

[Ranski]

Welcome Rick. The Topeka contingent is on the rise.

[Miescha]

Hi all. I'm new to this forum in the past hour. I was looking for the 80sCOOL pages and stumbled on this. I've got a '96 FZJ80 that I purchased new in '96 and loved it ever since. About 85k on the clock and not a single problem since new (rebuilt the starter and replaced the driver's door handle/mechanism and that's it other than usual maintenance!).

I did the OME shocks and springs myself and then extended the diff breathers, put on an ARB front bumper with Warn M12000 and some PIAA 90pro dual fog/driving lamps. Add the second battery (two Optima blue tops) and tossed in the factory center diff lock switch and the in-dash cupholder. I think that's it.

Wait, I've got a full-cage divider behind the second row of seats and the factory front and rear diff locks (still working great!).

I used to get it out in the mud fairly often but haven't had the time for several years. Thought I would check into some mods to improve performance and I found this site - pretty nice so far!

I look forward to meeting some of you in the future - let me know who is in St. Louis ( I might even drive over for the KC meet next month).

[DSRTRDR]

since I have been lurking here and was invited to the TAC meeting early February (thanks trainrech):

I have owned my '72FJ40 since December 2004 when we bought it in Arizona, pretty much sight unseen over the phone, no complaints. It got front disk brakes at Christmas right afterwards. In 2005, I wheeled it at Easter Jeep Safari and then took it to Omaha for a good lookover, and we worked on it all summer; just too many things to list here. In October 2005, I drove it back to Arizona - via Moab and another 4 days of wheeling. It is now stationed permanently in AZ (literally so, the frame is being worked on as we speak). There is just so much more opportunity out in the Southwest for wheeling and we both love the desert from the time we used to live there (check out our website). I am also scheduled to go to Cruise Moab this year, can't wait to meet all the other MUDfolk

I am married to Michael who is also German, we both work in biomedical research, we are approaching geezerhood fast and instead of children, we are raising trucks

I hope I can make it to the TAC meeting (depends a bit on the weather, my little car doesn't like salt), see you all there.

If you get into my neck of the woods, give me a holler. A little bit south of Omaha.

[Chef]

Welcome all youse new guys and gals!


Hey, you don't need "an officiial invitation" to come to the annual TornadoAlley meeting on February 4th. Heck, you don't even have to be a current Toyota or Land Cruiser owner. If you just like Toyotas, or the folks that own them, c'mon by and say hey!

Chef
TornadoAlley VP
TLCA Prez

[Miescha]

Is anyone from the St. Louis area planning to head over for the TAC meeting on Feb 2? A caravan of 'cruisers going down the highway might look pretty interesting!

["Little Red"]

If anyone needs a place to stay that weekend, we have a basement with full bath, large TV just roll out a sleeping bag and relax (even have frig. down there for brueskies if needed).
C.Vreeland

[adam4x4]

Originally Posted by Little Red

If anyone needs a place to stay that weekend, we have a basement with full bath, large TV just roll out a sleeping bag and relax (even have frig. down there for brueskies if needed).
C.Vreeland

What about if we live in the KC area but want to get away from the wife and kids???


J/K

["Little Red"]

Originally Posted by adam4x4

What about if we live in the KC area but want to get away from the wife and kids???


J/K

I suppose that's OK, but remember, I too have wife and kids.
cv

[adam4x4]

Originally Posted by Little Red

I suppose that's OK, but remember, I too have wife and kids.
cv

I was J/K = just kidding!

[iqak]

Poppin back in after gettin sidetracked for a spell.

Way back in the beginning there was this Octoberfest thing that someone started on the mailing list....

When was that...?
I'll have to check my picture archives.

Then there was GSMTR, GSMTR (Wheee), CMCC (Wet), BHCC (Now that was a storm), MOAB (My foots on fire), Rubithon (Holy Shi...) and several others I'm sure I missed.

Relocated to Sacramento somewhere between BHCC and MOAB.
Married now (Lorena) with 5 year old daughter (Arianna) and a son on the way (june 06).

I've got the tunes for every scenario.

Hi gang!

[Bob_Garrett]

Welcome back, Kupe!

[theSherpa]

our hero!

[Taildragon]

Hey I would like to introduce myself, I live in Lee's Summit and have a 1991 Red 4runner (sas, 36", dual detroits) and have lurked for awhile. I saw a 1997 landcruiser (grey, lift, snorkle, ARB front end) pull out of Kmart in Lee's Summit last week and got to thinking I should try and meet up with these people some time. The only problem with that is that I work almost every weekend. Anyway I'll keep checkin in to see if anything is going on that I could attend. Justin Tubb

[Chef]

WElcome Taildragon! Working weekends is kinda limiting, bummer:(
You need to get with Erik Christiansen, "Tornadoalleycruiser" and meet some folks...

[Zane]

Originally Posted by Taildragon

Hey I would like to introduce myself, I live in Lee's Summit and have a 1991 Red 4runner (sas, 36", dual detroits) and have lurked for awhile. I saw a 1997 landcruiser (grey, lift, snorkle, ARB front end) pull out of Kmart in Lee's Summit last week and got to thinking I should try and meet up with these people some time. The only problem with that is that I work almost every weekend. Anyway I'll keep checkin in to see if anything is going on that I could attend. Justin Tubb

Justin,

Welcome! More than likely that was me you saw in Lee's Summit. I live in Lee's Summit as well and Erik lives in Blue Springs. Are you stalking me???

Zane

[Ranski]

Welcome Justin - nice to have another 4Runner in the mix.

[FlatlandTRD]

Well, I'll keep the thread going, since I've lurked on here a couple weeks, and noticed there were some fellow non LCs.

I'm Jason, and just north of Wichita. I have an '01 Tacoma trd dbl cab, that as of so far only sees light trail duty on private family owned land. My modest mods consist of front OEM (tundra 4x4 trd coils) OME shocks, shackle lift, metric 32s, tranny cooler, deck plate mod, optima, extended diff breather, bedbar for hi-lift and lights, grey wire mod, 2lo mod, etc, etc.

My idea of a fun time is working/modding on the truck in the shop, cutting & bruising the hands followed by some swearing, and having a cold one after it's all done. Due to my current work schedule, I'm usually working on weekends and haven't made it to any events. But I'm hoping that changes soon.

Near future mods will be sliders (to lessen the imminent damage), additional skids, and hopefully a TJM17 some day

Additionally, and not to jump to any conclusions (or kiss posterior), but this group seems to be the best club in the region. And I hope to make it to the runs and become a member.

Thanks, Jason

[66fj40x2]

Welcome Jason!! Won't anyone here care if you're wheel'n a Tacoma vs a LC

I'm just W of Wichita and Don P is smack in the middle a town, well almost. I am absolutely NOT opposed to take'n a day off during the week to go wheel :hillbilly and Don.... well he'll retared soon and I suspect that's about all he'll be do'n then.

[Chef]

Hey Jason;
Everyone is welcome here. Don't have a Land Cruiser? I don't care! Don't have a Toyota? I don't care! Just bring a good attitude, and maybe some beer (*NO* drinking on the trail!).
You also don't have to be a member to come on a club run, tho we do think you'll join after you participate once or twice. Come to the Asher's next weekend, rig or no rig. Meet some folks, hang out, we'd love to see you there...


alan

[trainrech]

All are welcome. All are welcome.

[kruzinboots]

Now we all can see the light!!!!

[Taildragon]

Hey all, I talked to Debie and she said my background checked out ok! so I can come next weekend. I'll see yall friday night and sat, for my first Tornado alley cruise. By the way, even though I will be bringing a 4runner, I do partially own a 67 fj-40 (long story, better told over a cold one) that my dad has inherited. (nice son I am in all) anyway see ya later Justin