Builds 94 FZJ80 - Let the Adventure Ensue (6 Viewers)

[FMC80]

Down to the metal:

 

[Broski]

Down to the metal:
View attachment 3287165

What color did you pick ?

 

[Broski]

Made it to Flagstaff. We had an uneventful trip up until approximately 3 hours east of Flagstaff. I keep a healthy distance between the people in front of me. I don’t like following close because people are forking stupid. I was in the left lane and the snow began falling and when a Ford F-150 in front of me in the right lane decided to hit his brakes and lose control and fish tail all over the friggin I-40.

Mind you, there is a semi-truck behind me in the left lane and in front of the F-150. Doesn’t matter because the F-150 is sideways in front of me and I’m either going to plow into him or tap my brakes, or both. I tap my brakes. I go sideways. My trailer goes left and forward and my cab goes left and backward. Picture my truck and trailer making a “V” sideways down the I-40 and the road is perpendicular to my passenger side.

I counter-steered the shît out of the rig and safely recovered my family. The family, cruiser, and truck are fine.

It took about an hour for my wife and I to calm down to talk and eventually laugh about it.

Now it is time to meet @kelly saad and begin removing my thirds. After I feed my kids. And change my underwear.

If you are ever in a situation like that again, if you can reach down and manually activate your trailer brakes vIa the slide bar on you brake controller.

 

[FMC80]

What color did you pick ?

6M1. No other choice really.

If you are ever in a situation like that again, if you can reach down and manually activate your trailer brakes vIa the slide bar on you brake controller.

Man, that didn’t even occur to me! Great point though.

 

[FMC80]

Progress pic:

 

[FMC80]

More prep:

Roof rack holes. Pitting corrosion. This was evident already back in Hawai’i when I deleted my roof rack. Time to get it fixed right.

Kelly sandblasted it:

The roof:

The windshield. Surprisingly, no rust. I developed a leak in the upper drivers side quadrant and I thought there’d be something there but, nada!

 

[Broski]

So how were the holes filled ?
If I remember correctly Kelly’s wife used bondo as did I.

 

[FMC80]

So how were the holes filled ?
If I remember correctly Kelly’s wife used bondo as did I.

He texted me this and said: “All filled in with fiberglass. Will sand it down flat and use filler afterwards”

 

[Broski]

View attachment 3291040View attachment 3291041
He texted me this and said: “All filled in with fiberglass. Will sand it down flat and use filler afterwards”

I like that better then welding as welding burn’s off the paint on the inside and if not repainted leaves a place for rust to start.
I used fiberglass impregnated Bondo sanded and then a top coat.

 

[steezy]

I started on page 1 of this build thread about a month ago and bit off chunks until I got up-to-speed.
Badass build, Pell! Can’t wait to see what’s next!

 

[FMC80]

I started on page 1 of this build thread about a month ago and bit off chunks until I got up-to-speed.
Badass build, Pell! Can’t wait to see what’s next!

Welcome, glad you’re here and enjoying it. I’m excited to get the cruiser back, although this time I’m going to hire out a company to drag her back to me. I don’t want to make that trip again so soon.

 

[Dusten]

Body work is one of the dirtiest jobs. God bless them

 

[Broski]

Body work is one of the dirtiest jobs. God bless them

^^^^ This

 

[FMC80]

If anyone is interested in towing straps, I got ones @Broski recommended because he’s been towing for at least 69-80 years and he has the knowledge and experience to back up what he says. Thanks, Richard.

I reviewed macscustomtiedowns.com and ended up calling and talking to them. We came up with a package suitable for my securing needs.

What you see in the picture is:

2x 37x12.5 wheel nets
2x chain extensions
2x 2x40 axle straps
2x ratchet straps with a snap hook
They threw in the bag “for free”

I might add two more wheel nets for more security. Probably overkill though.

My original setup used similar equipment except it wasn’t properly sized for my cruiser. The tire nets were far too small and the axle traps were barely adequate. I also used four other attach points because I wasn’t confident having only the two wheel nets and two meager axle straps from Tractor Supply.

I’ll still utilize my additional tie-downs, but I won’t be using the universal wheel nets or small axle straps anymore.

The next time I tow the 80, I won’t be complacently comfortable, but I’ll be much more comfortable knowing the rig is very well secured.

Additionally, they hooked me up with a military discount too which took care of my state taxes.

 

[FMC80]

Update:
If you recall, back in Nov, I bought a new hood from Toyota. It was ~$780. It looked great to me. No defects noted. Well my painter sees things differently. He noticed the ribs under the hood were pressing outward. So if you can imagine the outer diameter of the triangle shapes underneath your hood pressing outward. It was barely perceptible. So I need a new hood.

Anyway, pics.

2 coats epoxy primer and 3 coats of primer.

 

[FMC80]

Here are the vids of my hood. It’s hard to see. First vid shows it better. It covers the entirety of the hood.

 

[Feldrian]

Ugh. That sucks.

 

[steezy]

Toyota’s responsible for that hood, right?

 

[FMC80]

Toyota’s responsible for that hood, right?

You would think so. I bought the hood in Nov and the local dealer I used apparently has a 30 day return policy. So I’m screwed according to them. Besides, the hood I bought from them is miles across the country right now so I have no good way of getting it back to them in a timely way.
I’m working with another Toyota dealer in Flagstaff and hoping they will prioritize customer service so I don’t have to elevate this issue to the supervision at my local Toyota dealer.

 

[FMC80]

Toyota’s responsible for that hood, right?

Update on the hood situation:

My local dealer wouldn’t help. Another dealer stepped up and stepped in. They ordered a new hood for me, took my old hood and took care of me. They didn’t have to do that. They owed me nothing. That’s phenomenal customer service. I won’t forget it and that parts manager has a very nice bottle of whatever his favorite beverage of choice is coming his way.

I don’t want to get anyone in any trouble, so I’ll keep names and dealerships out of this text.