pismojim
the Dude abides...
In the last pic, you can see I was so excited to be wheelin in Alaska mud, I forgot to take off my mud flaps. Fortunately the OEM tear off attachments worked perfectly.
Alaska Cruiser Trek 2010 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Mark W
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Mark W
Yep, I really don't really care that much I guess.
- Thread starter
- #443
Karol's "pretty much stock" FJ40 made it through. It beat the heck out the occupants at times...wore them out pretty well... had a few parts beat right off of it... and had to ride the trailer to the shop for some work once it made it to the Trail head.
But it made it through... went the same places and saw the same sights as everyone else. Never slowed us down any more than any other rig... less than some others did.
And that is what matters. They drove it to the trail and drove it home.
But it better have tow hooks the next time I see it!
Mark...
But it made it through... went the same places and saw the same sights as everyone else. Never slowed us down any more than any other rig... less than some others did.
And that is what matters. They drove it to the trail and drove it home.
But it better have tow hooks the next time I see it!
Mark...
Last edited:
Mark W
Yep, I really don't really care that much I guess.
- Thread starter
- #444
The Rat wrote....
"I have gone a little nuts since I went wheeling in Alaska. Life will never be the same for me. An illness seeped into my soul this past summer and I didn’t even realize it at the time. I have been forever changed. It is now my obligation to spread the word before it is too late."...
I have read that piece several times since she posted it here. Smiling every time. From what I have seen and from what folks have said to me, the trip to Alaska really is a major event in life for most who have made it up here.
The scenery is amazing... the rigs are a blast... the wheeling is unforgettable... but it is the people who make the Trek what is is for all of us who have been involved. With one or two notable exceptions (which I will not discuss here, but there WILL be great stories around the campfire ...) EVERYONE who has been on the trails during the Trek have been great people to know and spend time with.
Some folks bring more with them to the experience for everyone than they can possibly take away with them in kind. Don't let The Rat's written words deceive you. She's one of them.
The people make the Trek, not the other way around.
Mark...
"I have gone a little nuts since I went wheeling in Alaska. Life will never be the same for me. An illness seeped into my soul this past summer and I didn’t even realize it at the time. I have been forever changed. It is now my obligation to spread the word before it is too late."...
I have read that piece several times since she posted it here. Smiling every time. From what I have seen and from what folks have said to me, the trip to Alaska really is a major event in life for most who have made it up here.
The scenery is amazing... the rigs are a blast... the wheeling is unforgettable... but it is the people who make the Trek what is is for all of us who have been involved. With one or two notable exceptions (which I will not discuss here, but there WILL be great stories around the campfire ...) EVERYONE who has been on the trails during the Trek have been great people to know and spend time with.
Some folks bring more with them to the experience for everyone than they can possibly take away with them in kind. Don't let The Rat's written words deceive you. She's one of them.
The people make the Trek, not the other way around.
Mark...
Mark W
Yep, I really don't really care that much I guess.
- Thread starter
- #445
Another shot from the days when I used my Pig for exploring. A thought that comes to mind as I look at this picture... sometimes roof mounted lights have a very real function. I remember the first time I dropped the hood under the water in a silty glacial river after dark during hunting season. Complete blackout in the middle of the flow. A very unnerving feeling. Lights up high are very nice in that situation. I discovered that the OEM front license plate bracket gets torn off by bow waves far too easily too. Which is why I moved it up top.
Darn, I miss my Pig. My '62 is about to come into the shop to finally get transformed into a decent replacement for the old '55. A more capable one too for that matter
Mark...
Darn, I miss my Pig. My '62 is about to come into the shop to finally get transformed into a decent replacement for the old '55. A more capable one too for that matter
Mark...
Mark W
Yep, I really don't really care that much I guess.
- Thread starter
- #447
The rig is already pretty much built. I just have to do some repairs real quick and then install the 4.88s lockright and cable locker... Put on the roof rack/wrap around bumper/ladder/roof rack that I just took in trade... put the winch on the front and deal with a short laundry list of minor upgrades and maintenance.
It is already SOA on 36 inch swampers, with a desmoged 3FE W/cam and raised compression. nice free flowing exhaust, dual alts and batteries.
Nothing over the top, just a nice capable wagon for road or trail. The roofrack/bumper/ladder setup is similar to the ones that Bruce Miller had on the '60 I built for him and the one on the '62 that Todd K had for a while (I built that setup for the prior owner). This bundle is actually the prototype that is coming back into my hands.
I built both of these at different times. The '60 is owned by my son inlaw. As you can see the '62 is pretty plain jane still in this shot. Gonna do the bumperless winch mount on the '62 also I think.
Mark...
It is already SOA on 36 inch swampers, with a desmoged 3FE W/cam and raised compression. nice free flowing exhaust, dual alts and batteries.
Nothing over the top, just a nice capable wagon for road or trail. The roofrack/bumper/ladder setup is similar to the ones that Bruce Miller had on the '60 I built for him and the one on the '62 that Todd K had for a while (I built that setup for the prior owner). This bundle is actually the prototype that is coming back into my hands.
I built both of these at different times. The '60 is owned by my son inlaw. As you can see the '62 is pretty plain jane still in this shot. Gonna do the bumperless winch mount on the '62 also I think.
Mark...
John's Alaska birfield ritual 
The rig is already pretty much built. I just have to do some repairs real quick and then install the 4.88s lockright and cable locker... Put on the roof rack/wrap around bumper/ladder/roof rack that I just took in trade... put the winch on the front and deal with a short laundry list of minor upgrades and maintenance.
It is already SOA on 36 inch swampers, with a desmoged 3FE W/cam and raised compression. nice free flowing exhaust, dual alts and batteries.
Nothing over the top, just a nice capable wagon for road or trail. The roofrack/bumper/ladder setup is similar to the ones that Bruce Miller had on the '60 I built for him and the one on the '62 that Todd K had for a while (I built that setup for the prior owner). This bundle is actually the prototype that is coming back into my hands.
I built both of these at different times. The '60 is owned by my son inlaw. As you can see the '62 is pretty plain jane still in this shot. Gonna do the bumperless winch mount on the '62 also I think.
Mark...
Excellent! Glad to hear that a mildly built 6x series rig can handle this A-OK. What are the specs on that 60?
Mark W
Yep, I really don't really care that much I guess.
- Thread starter
- #450
The Trek is NOT hardcore wheeling. More like hardcore sight seeing. And out "family friendly runs" are not hardcore wheeling either usually. Art least not on purpose
The '60 here is an '84 with a warmed over 2F... cam, compression and header. Factory intake and carb still. Desmoged, dual alternators. Stock drivetrain with ARBs F+R and 4.88s. Rear disc conversion and linelocks. FJ62 springs w/addaleaf... chevy springs planned for the back of both rigs when we can get around to it. Cb and a 2M radio, Saab seats and miscellaenous details that I forget right now
The winch is a 9500 pounder (just installed in the picture and no cable on it there). The tires are 38x14.50 Swamper SX. About the biggest I would put on a '6x series myself. The rear bumper is a wrap around with bobbed quarter panels and a swing out tire carrier. Frame mounted sliders replacing cut away rocker panels.
Ram assist steering is high on the list of "To do's" since my oldest daughter is pretty puny in terms of upper body strength and she keeps reminding Keith that is is supposed to be "their" rig".
When everything is done the two rigs will be fairly similar... But the '62 will probably stay on 36s and see more street and highway use.
Mark...
And out "family friendly runs" are not hardcore wheeling either usually. Art least not on purpose The '60 here is an '84 with a warmed over 2F... cam, compression and header. Factory intake and carb still. Desmoged, dual alternators. Stock drivetrain with ARBs F+R and 4.88s. Rear disc conversion and linelocks. FJ62 springs w/addaleaf... chevy springs planned for the back of both rigs when we can get around to it. Cb and a 2M radio, Saab seats and miscellaenous details that I forget right now
The winch is a 9500 pounder (just installed in the picture and no cable on it there). The tires are 38x14.50 Swamper SX. About the biggest I would put on a '6x series myself. The rear bumper is a wrap around with bobbed quarter panels and a swing out tire carrier. Frame mounted sliders replacing cut away rocker panels.
Ram assist steering is high on the list of "To do's" since my oldest daughter is pretty puny in terms of upper body strength and she keeps reminding Keith that is is supposed to be "their" rig".
When everything is done the two rigs will be fairly similar... But the '62 will probably stay on 36s and see more street and highway use.
Mark...
PabloCruise
SILVER Star
Another shot from the days when I used my Pig for exploring. A thought that comes to mind as I look at this picture... sometimes roof mounted lights have a very real function. I remember the first time I dropped the hood under the water in a silty glacial river after dark during hunting season. Complete blackout in the middle of the flow. A very unnerving feeling. Lights up high are very nice in that situation. I discovered that the OEM front license plate bracket gets torn off by bow waves far too easily too. Which is why I moved it up top.
Darn, I miss my Pig. My '62 is about to come into the shop to finally get transformed into a decent replacement for the old '55. A more capable one too for that matter
Mark...
I love to hear how you used your Pig.
What happened to it?
Mark W
Yep, I really don't really care that much I guess.
- Thread starter
- #452
The Pig was taken off line for some suspension modifications... which I realized were very ill advised about the time I got it all pulled apart. It sat neglected for a while and while it did the rust really started to pop up. Between no front suspension, engine out and donated to other projects in anticipation of other powerplant options that were never pursued, dents and rust (structural body rust as well as cosmetic)... it is little more than a hulk now.. A damaged '78 tailgate is rough to find a replacement for
I still have it... out in the graveyard beside the shop. But it is doubtful that it will ever be resurrected.
Mark...
I still have it... out in the graveyard beside the shop. But it is doubtful that it will ever be resurrected.
Mark...
PabloCruise
SILVER Star
The Pig was taken off line for some suspension modifications... which I realized were very ill advised about the time I got it all pulled apart. It sat neglected for a while and while it did the rust really started to pop up. Between no front suspension, engine out and donated to other projects in anticipation of other powerplant options that were never pursued, dents and rust (structural body rust as well as cosmetic)... it is little more than a hulk now.. A damaged '78 tailgate is rough to find a replacement for
I still have it... out in the graveyard beside the shop. But it is doubtful that it will ever be resurrected.
Mark...
Pigs = finest Land Cruiser ever built...
Ratpuke
SILVER Star
Mark W
Yep, I really don't really care that much I guess.
- Thread starter
- #455
Nice to see that pic of all the scrap by the fence... Nice to see it now that I have cleaned it up anyway
And yes... you can see the corner of my old ride in one of those shots. Easy to know which it must be, since it is a '78.
Mark...
And yes... you can see the corner of my old ride in one of those shots. Easy to know which it must be, since it is a '78.
Mark...
Mark W
Yep, I really don't really care that much I guess.
- Thread starter
- #457
It is the tail lights that give it away... you can see the early style tail lights in all but one. So that has to be it
Flower pots are inside for the season. It has been -20F already here and it is about -10 on the other side of the door right now.
And it will be flower beds come spring, not pots. Have to make sure I never pile scrap along the fence and wall like that again.
You'll see it, if not when you are here for the Trek then your next AK trip that brings you this far west.
Edit:... I was wrong... it was -17F when I walked out of the shop. Looks to be warming up a bit at the moment though. I hope. It is too early in the year to be this cold. Where is all the global warming that Algore promised me?
Mark...
Flower pots are inside for the season. It has been -20F already here and it is about -10 on the other side of the door right now.
And it will be flower beds come spring, not pots. Have to make sure I never pile scrap along the fence and wall like that again.
You'll see it, if not when you are here for the Trek then your next AK trip that brings you this far west.
Edit:... I was wrong... it was -17F when I walked out of the shop. Looks to be warming up a bit at the moment though. I hope. It is too early in the year to be this cold. Where is all the global warming that Algore promised me?
Mark...
Last edited:
Grey leather Saab seats? Glad to see them put to use.
Mark W
Yep, I really don't really care that much I guess.
- Thread starter
- #459
Who What huh? The seats in the '60 I mentioned? Nope, brown leather. From a 900 series.
The Grey leather from the black Saab? After the engine fire that rig was moved into the yard with the Cruisers. And Max got into it during his nervous days and tore the leather interior into bite sized chunks.
He also did that to three sets of almost perfect FJ40 seats.
and an entire FJ60 interior.
Down to the steel frames in every case.
One of my more expensive "free" dogs.
Mark...
The Grey leather from the black Saab? After the engine fire that rig was moved into the yard with the Cruisers. And Max got into it during his nervous days and tore the leather interior into bite sized chunks.
He also did that to three sets of almost perfect FJ40 seats.
and an entire FJ60 interior.
Down to the steel frames in every case.
One of my more expensive "free" dogs.
Mark...
Last edited:
PabloCruise
SILVER Star
Hah! Nothing like a free dog!
I love seeing those Pigs! If I had that many I would put one together and paint it with Chrysler Corp Panther Pink.
I am fixing to bring my brood up to see the old man next summer in Homer. I am thinking I will have to time it to correspond to your beginning or end of ACT
I love seeing those Pigs! If I had that many I would put one together and paint it with Chrysler Corp Panther Pink.
I am fixing to bring my brood up to see the old man next summer in Homer. I am thinking I will have to time it to correspond to your beginning or end of ACT
