zuluzeugma
SILVER Star
Did the title get your attention?
Let me explain... About nine months ago, while I was trying to sell an FJ60 on Craigslist, some random person emailed me wanting me to donate it to their organization. My thought: "Well theres a new scam tactic I haven't heard of yet", and went on with my life. About 8 weeks later (after I had sold it), It was really laid upon my heart to go back and find the email. Sure enough, it was legit. The person turned out to be Ben Colby who along with his wife and kid are headed for Liberia as missionaries.
Ben's wife Natalie, is a nurse who works with AIDS patients amongst other sick kids. Ben is a logistics supreme-o who develops special projects in Liberia. They are with SIM based out of Charlotte, NC; Ben and Natalie are from Lyndale, TX
To find out more on them visit: Colby Family in Liberia WELCOME
Liberia is a country the size of TENN and it only has two paved roads in the entire country... There are two seasons: Rainy season and less rainy season.
I am part of an automotive club based at LeTourneau University in Longview, TX (LeTourneau is they guy who built the massive earth moving machines now owned by Komatsu) There are 23 members and 6 of them are Toyota 4X4 junkies like me. I think all of them are on the board. I graduated from LeTourneau with a degree in mechanical engineering two years ago but am still part of the club. The club formed in 1957 as the "non-baptist" Christians (we think its okay to like the taste of beer and love Jesus at the same time) and has continued to keep this theme over the last 50 years - "Love God and all things that go".
Either way, we decided as a group to partner up with the Colby family and build them the ultimate Landcruiser to take with them to Liberia. I know a lot of you are going to ask questions like, "Why don't they just buy an HZJ78 over there?" The answer - Its REALLY expensive for importation taxes on a new car and EVERY used one is TRASHED from what we hear.
So heres what were doing:
- We have a perfect body FJ60 (TX truck - no rust) I picked up for cheap locally with a dead engine (I think it just needs a fuel pump =).
- We just bought a TOTALLY rusted out HJ60 for cheap also with a PERFECT 2H/H55F/Split case (Thanks Brad Yurish of Leesburg, VA).
- We are going to marry the good parts of these two vehicles.
- From what we hear, 2H parts are easier to get than 2F parts and diesel fuel can be purchased in 55 gal. drums where as gasoline is purchased from kids on the side of the street out of pickle jars and its often cut 50% with water.
- We will be adding the following Lord willing and if we get enough donations: Lockers, 3" lift, 33" boggers, custom roof rack, custom bumpers, winch, Rhino lining the inside, etc, etc... We have a ton of ideas that we would like to include. Almost everyone in the club is a mechanical engineer, but almost all of us are also poor college kids (I'm the exception as I actually graduated =)
Between all the Toyota guys in the shop, we have built 15 4X4 Toyotas so the experience and knowledge is there, we just need financial partners.
Like what were doing?
Send tax deductible donations to:
LeTourneau University Automotive Society
2100 South Mobberly Ave.
Longview, TX 75602- In the Memo put Auto Society FJM Project
OR
Donate online (also tax deductible) at: https://mycommunity.letu.edu/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?pid=184&srcid=211
Select "other" and type in Auto Society FJM project
Wana donate any parts? PM me or email joshstralow (at) gmail (dot) com with items you might have.
Don't believe in God? - Thats okay, the humanitarian work this couple does is reason enough to help out or at least watch the build up.
Have any cool ideas for things to add? (i.e. - fuel filtration, etc), by all means - reply to the thread.
Wana just watch the build up? - Thats cool too; we will be filling this things up with pics...
Pic 1: The LeTourneau University Automotive Society
Pic 2: The FJ60 we are starting with
Pic 3: The HJ60 which holds a perfect shape powerplant
Let me explain... About nine months ago, while I was trying to sell an FJ60 on Craigslist, some random person emailed me wanting me to donate it to their organization. My thought: "Well theres a new scam tactic I haven't heard of yet", and went on with my life. About 8 weeks later (after I had sold it), It was really laid upon my heart to go back and find the email. Sure enough, it was legit. The person turned out to be Ben Colby who along with his wife and kid are headed for Liberia as missionaries.
Ben's wife Natalie, is a nurse who works with AIDS patients amongst other sick kids. Ben is a logistics supreme-o who develops special projects in Liberia. They are with SIM based out of Charlotte, NC; Ben and Natalie are from Lyndale, TX
To find out more on them visit: Colby Family in Liberia WELCOME
Liberia is a country the size of TENN and it only has two paved roads in the entire country... There are two seasons: Rainy season and less rainy season.
I am part of an automotive club based at LeTourneau University in Longview, TX (LeTourneau is they guy who built the massive earth moving machines now owned by Komatsu) There are 23 members and 6 of them are Toyota 4X4 junkies like me. I think all of them are on the board. I graduated from LeTourneau with a degree in mechanical engineering two years ago but am still part of the club. The club formed in 1957 as the "non-baptist" Christians (we think its okay to like the taste of beer and love Jesus at the same time) and has continued to keep this theme over the last 50 years - "Love God and all things that go".
Either way, we decided as a group to partner up with the Colby family and build them the ultimate Landcruiser to take with them to Liberia. I know a lot of you are going to ask questions like, "Why don't they just buy an HZJ78 over there?" The answer - Its REALLY expensive for importation taxes on a new car and EVERY used one is TRASHED from what we hear.
So heres what were doing:
- We have a perfect body FJ60 (TX truck - no rust) I picked up for cheap locally with a dead engine (I think it just needs a fuel pump =).
- We just bought a TOTALLY rusted out HJ60 for cheap also with a PERFECT 2H/H55F/Split case (Thanks Brad Yurish of Leesburg, VA).
- We are going to marry the good parts of these two vehicles.
- From what we hear, 2H parts are easier to get than 2F parts and diesel fuel can be purchased in 55 gal. drums where as gasoline is purchased from kids on the side of the street out of pickle jars and its often cut 50% with water.
- We will be adding the following Lord willing and if we get enough donations: Lockers, 3" lift, 33" boggers, custom roof rack, custom bumpers, winch, Rhino lining the inside, etc, etc... We have a ton of ideas that we would like to include. Almost everyone in the club is a mechanical engineer, but almost all of us are also poor college kids (I'm the exception as I actually graduated =)
Between all the Toyota guys in the shop, we have built 15 4X4 Toyotas so the experience and knowledge is there, we just need financial partners.
Like what were doing?
Send tax deductible donations to:
LeTourneau University Automotive Society
2100 South Mobberly Ave.
Longview, TX 75602- In the Memo put Auto Society FJM Project
OR
Donate online (also tax deductible) at: https://mycommunity.letu.edu/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?pid=184&srcid=211
Select "other" and type in Auto Society FJM project
Wana donate any parts? PM me or email joshstralow (at) gmail (dot) com with items you might have.
Don't believe in God? - Thats okay, the humanitarian work this couple does is reason enough to help out or at least watch the build up.
Have any cool ideas for things to add? (i.e. - fuel filtration, etc), by all means - reply to the thread.
Wana just watch the build up? - Thats cool too; we will be filling this things up with pics...
Pic 1: The LeTourneau University Automotive Society
Pic 2: The FJ60 we are starting with
Pic 3: The HJ60 which holds a perfect shape powerplant
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