Builds 76 Fj40 Face Lift (1 Viewer)

[Chungas Revenge]

Hard to argue with that logic...! I could possibly be convinced that your "suggestion" is a worthy and worthwhile endeavor if it were some how tied to a "Black Tail" hunt ...I might even be able to deliver...Of course a small delivery fee of say, of I don't know, a night in one of your "PNW" famous micro-brews.. Howz that for a fair and reasonable fee...?

 

[78fj40mg]

Scuttlebutt in Everett has excellent beer!

Weizenbock!! is Best

 

[Chungas Revenge]

Scuttlebutt in Everett has excellent beer!

My friend, Nations are built this way! But, we would most assuredly, need to invite a non-MUD-Memeber to serve as a DD. "Someones gotta live to tell the story"!

 

[Chungas Revenge]

Although it was a relatively short day Saturday (I think we managed about three hours) working on the hunting mule, the Postal service, true to their motto, braved the unseasonable weather and delivered some of the initial suspension parts. Hope is never a course of action, and my segway into the bed-liner removal has thrown of my timeline, but I do "hope" to begin the suspension installation by the end of June...

 

[77fjdad]

Sorry for the delay. Death in the family keeping me busy. Drain plug under the gas tank, no, just a hole to access the drain plug in the tank. Yes it is easy to see from underneath and like I said earlier you need to get all the water out of the tub as soon as it gets in because these things rust like there is no tomorrow. No plug from factory and I sure would not seal the hole up to keep water out unless you plan on never, ever getting any form of moisture inside the tub. No coffee, tea, soda, rain, snow, dew or condensation on any kind, whatso ever. If this is your plan just keep it in an environmentally controlled space and never get inside it and exhale, it will be fine. Otherwise just leave 'er open and let it flow.

 

[Chungas Revenge]

Sorry to hear of your loss....

I am thinking about a plug I can access from underneath. Leave it in when not conducting waterborne movements . Remove prior to AMPHIB ops...That and one or two other ideas that will prolong the functionality of the hunting mule.

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

I just ran some amphibious traing ops today with my 40. If the trout won't hit my fly I will "drive" em out of the hole!

I hope you are keeping cool in this crap. IT IS HOT.

 

[Chungas Revenge]

LoL - I know crazy hot, right? Saturday three hours of grinding on bed-liner and I was "Toast" ...Had to begin forced hydration measures at the walk in cooler. Where were you fishing??

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

I was in Allegheny county, Green Ridge State forest. Town Creek, there are a couple nice water crossings there!

 

[Chungas Revenge]

Headed over to the "garage" this AM to begin mop up ops on the remaining bed-liner. Ole Fred has agreed to lead one last assault on the most contentious portions of the liner. Normally I would administer the coup de grace myself, but in this case I believe it only fitting that "I allow him to complete his training". After-all he did pay the training fee.....

Leaving nothing to chance today I am fortifying my resolve with a little liquid lubrication...More to follow..

 

[Chungas Revenge]

Up and out the door at Zero-early-thirty this AM...Emboldened by a 5 Hour energy and a black coffee chaser, I was hell bent for leather, to eradicate the last strong hold of brush on bed-liner clinging tenaciously to the tub of my TLC....

I made one quick stop at Auto-Zone for for some carb cleaner for my generator and a fresh bag of red shop towels. Leaving the "Zone" in my rear-view I hit the pre-set on the radio and was soon tooling down the highway. That's when I heard it the 1st time. A low deep rumbling sound. At first I thought it was Tanya Tucker hitting a low note on "My cow-boys getting old".. Then a second deeper rumbling, not even Tanya can get that low...a split second later the first kamikaze rain drop Banzai-ed onto my windshield..

Before I could make safe haven inside the garage (which really isn't a garage at all-more later) the deluge set in...Sheets of rain accompanied by more sheets of rain followed by a torrential down pour...Last week, Africa hot-sweltering heat, and this week, enough water to make Noah look for his "slicker"..What's next? Locust?

You are probably wondering whats the problem? If I have a garage just "git it dun"..Well, "my garage" is really not a garage at all. It's a rented storage building that one of my industrious friends owns. He has allowed me, for the princely sum of $80 per month, to do "what ever it is you do over there" for the past few years...The garage has seen everything from old Triumph motorcycles, riding mowers, push mowers, bicycles, tricycles, a tractor and the occasional "automotive emergency". If it has or had wheels at one time, chances are it's come through the pull-up door. The garage has seen duty as a bar, a hangout for the "Boy's", a BBQ, a hang-out for the "Boys", a rod and gun club, a hang out for the "Boy's" and one fall evening last year a self imposed hotel via a fold out cot I keep there. For some unexplained reason, the Mrs thought it would be a good idea if I camped out there for the evening with the "Boy's".....Who am I to argue with such a gracious offer?

Now my TLC and all of the "take off's" and yet to "bolt on's" are occupying every square inch of the garage. I can barley find the mini fridge....

The lighting in the "garage", despite two sets of shop lamps is dismal at best...Think coal mine....The black bed-liner takes full advantage of the twilight like conditions and despite my best effort(s), remains covered and concealed in all the small nooks and crannies under the drivers/passenger foot-well areas.

With the top off and one hundred pounds of bed-liner gone, the old mule is pretty svelte, thus allowing Fred and I to maneuver it in and out the door easily...So, for the most part, the morning went something like this..." "All clear" - Mad scramble to push ole Zig out the door. Fire up the grinder, go to town...Thunder followed by rain, heavy grunting and cursing as we pushed the mule back in the stall, which apparently had gained 500 pounds sitting in the damp air...This attack - counter attack approach went on for the better part of two hours before Fred and I retreated into crowded confines of the garage...

Not willing to admit defeat a second Saturday in a row we switched tactics...We went to work on some of the smaller pockets of resistance...

While Fred, in direct support, manned the grinder and engaged the gas tank cover, I fixed bayonets and started a full frontal assault with the seat brackets and seat bracket hardware. I will note that during the maneuver phase of this OP we did have two incidence of friendly fire. Fred, forgetting that the grinder was spinning at 3000 or so RPM was "nicked" on the hand. I, forgetting that an object set in motion remains in motion until it comes into contact with your hand, managed a self inflicted "chisel bite" on my one good finger....Looking at the two sets of neatly folded gloves on the work bench, neither of us spoke....Now in conjunction with my Bed-liner assault badge, I think I'll put myself in for a purple heart...I'll post up more on today's activities (or lack off)...Been thinkun' real hard bout a novel approach to my TLC tub...

 

[Chungas Revenge]

"I speck yu'll need ta take that heater out".........................Rain soaked and covered in "liner dust" I watched as River lot Dave meandered into the garage entrance tugging on his first pull of the afternoons beverage....

Doubtless, RLD had watched from a distance as Fred and I struggled in the rain with the hunting mule. Gauging that the heavy work was done and it was safe enough to show up, he'd made his entrance unnoticed and cast a covetous eye in the direction of my new power washer....

"Well, what do you mean I asked", trying to sniff out his advantage and draw his attention from my power washer.."Well Fred's taken' out that bed liner aint he"? "Well Fred and I are", was my indignant retort. I ignored Fred's sudden outburst of laughter as RLD bellied up to the bed of truck. "Howz he sposed to git that liner out with that heater box in"? "If it wuz me, I'd take out that heater box, sure make it easier for Fred to work". "Speaken of work, Fred you ever power wash a house? "My house needs"... I cut RLD off in mid sentence.

Ignoring Fred's traitorous giggling I held my ground. "I was just going to train Fred on how to use the 12" gasket scrapper, should make it easy to reach up under the dash", I explained. "Naw I dont reckon that'd be easy, say Fred, howd you like to make a few bucks runn'en a power washer, my house needs"....

This time it was my faithful companion, my man, "Lord Fred, Fred of the Jungle", the "Fredinator", Fred-a-saurous Rex" who spoke up.

"Yeah, I can run a power warsher". "I'll help you do sum power warshen' if you can help me take off this last li'l bit of bed-liner"? "Ever use a grinding tool? It's purdy easy all you got ta do is werk at it a bit" Hearing his name and work used in the same sentence had a peculiar stymieing effect on RLD's vocal chords and brought a ballet like animation to his short stubby legs. Doing an "in the air" about face and making for the door, RLD muttered something about "checking the air in the tars" of the trailer I'd loaned him the day before. RLD is very thoughtful when it comes to his borrowed equipment.


Flushed with victory, I almost hugged Fred. Almost!! Looking at the ground recently vacated by the pirouetting RLD, Fred immediately noticed that RLD, in his haste to exit the garage, had left behind five twelve ounce cans, of "Bush's" inability to brew good beer. Well it was cold. Handing one to me, a grinning Fred smiled sheepishly.. Hoisting my can triumphantly, I toasted Fred on his quick wit, impeccable timing and newly acquired grinding skills..

You reckon he's right", I ventured. "Yeah" was Fred's simple acknowledgement. Starring mutely at the front heater Fred and I continued to sip on our new found can of inspiration..

Midway through the second can our conversation picked back up. "Fred". "Yeah". "You own a welder"? "No". "Ever feel like buy'en one and learn'n to weld"? "No"....Well there goes that plan...

Popping open the last tin soldier, I religiously poured half for Fred and kept the remainder. As I took a slow pull on the now tepid beer I could feel a tiny seed of inspiration beginning to blossom in the back of my mind.......

Placing the recently "De-linnered" gas tank cover up on the hunting mule for a test fit, I said to Fred, "What say we knock off for the day, sound good to you"? "Yeah" was Fred's patient reply....

All these things happened just the way I described them. Anyway, that's the way I remember it..

(Shot of Fred next to the power washer)

(Borrowed trailer in the background!! RLD eye-balling my power washer)

 

[Chungas Revenge]

While waiting for the rain to subside yesterday I managed a couple very small but necessary jobs. My door handles were old cracked and on upside down. Can't blame the PO, that was me! My seat mounts had years of dust, dirt and grime caked on them as well. After cleaning thoroughly I found I would not need to repaint them. A quick wire brush to the bottom of the mounting flange and a shot of rust kill they look very good.

Rain is coming down in sheets again today. Cold, gloomy and steady. Where is the NFL when you need it. I may head over to the garage and take out the front heater in preparation for next weeks work. All traces of the bed-liner are removed from the tub, fender boxes, floor panels etc...The last remaining "bits" are in and around the front heater..Small victory!

I have done some preliminary MUD and internet research on options for the tub....I don't want to do a full on resto. This is without question my hunting/fishing rig first. It's like a Labrador Retriever, It likes the dirt, muck and can't pass a mud hole without wanting to jump in and "roll around" a bit...

Spoke with my painter yesterday. He is moving forward at last. He assured me, "I was tell'en the wife yesterday I need to git your hood and fenders finished"...Progress, right? Headway, right? Breakthrough, right?

 

[Chungas Revenge]

Q. What could be better than scrapping Bed-liner from the tub of your TLC?..

A. Re-applying a different brand of Bed-liner when you're done?..

It occurred to me, that in some strange and demented way, "I like the concept" of a lined interior on my TLC.....
While removing the cheap, ill prepped and badly applied liner from my tub I was up in the air about what to do when I finished. As I've said throughout this thread I don't want to do a full on resto. This old mule is my recreational mode of transportation. It lives to hunt, fish and take the road less traveled here in WV.

Getting to the point I think I am going to go with "Monstaliner". Sooooo, I Sent off for some samples from @magnetman. Fast service on the samples. IMHO "Desert Sand" seems to fit the bill. It's a gnat's lash from matching spot on to the Dune Beige (acrylic enamel). You'll recall the mule (I should just change the name to mule) is currently wrapped in black diamond plated glory, hood and fenders will be Hot-Rod black as well. So there's not really a great deal of "Beige" remaining....The product, from all reviews I've found is a quality liner, customer service reviews are 1st rate and the "tintable" feature is appealing. Just the thing a hunting/fishing rig can wear!! I'm still "a ways off" from the application stage, I have some patching issues that need addressed before I put the wheels down and start my final approach.

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

Have you lost your mind? Have you been working in a well ventilated area? All the headache you have gone through to remove that crap and you want to put it back on? Better consult with Fred on this.
Man, paint it plain as primer coat and enjoy!

 

[Chungas Revenge]

I knew I should'a worn a mask... Maybe I should lay of the "Domestic"!? There is a madness to my method!! Right now I just want to "patch and play" the tub. Looking down the road at a full-on tub "Resto" of sorts...I'm afraid if I "purdy up the mule" too much it won't want o "git dirty" hunting/fishing anymore!! To be perfectly Frank, I liked the old liner. It was just cheap and was intended to cover up a hole er' two/ hide some rust etc...

Just think of the great time "Fred's" gonna have putting on the new liner (he doesn't wear a mask either)!!

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

Rattle can!

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Rattle can!

Ah, let the man make his own mistakes... I personally think its a great idea for his 40... he's right, Monstaliner is great stuff... especially when done right.

Fred will become the east coast expert on removing and applying bed liner. He will be invited, as keynote speaker, to any number of conventions, seminars and road houses.

A year or two down the road, I expect to see pictures of Jeff doing the actual work, while Fred 'supervises' and photo-documents Jeff's work.

 

[Chungas Revenge]

I expect to see pictures of Jeff doing the actual work

Let's not get to hasty...

But, I may open a school, in order to impart my "weeks" of learned experience, teaching individual students a viable and demanding profession in the war on self applied liners...

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Are your memoirs gonna be titled, "From Spec Ops to the Short Bus"?

Why not start a school and have Fred teach students one-on-one, one beer at a time?