And so it begins.

[KLF]

People don't believe me when I tell them this, but this truck is now my daily driver. This is not a garage-queen museum piece, my car hasn't moved since the day the truck got stickered. My plan is to give the ES one more wash and polish, then it will stay parked until next Spring. It's a nice car, but it sucks in the snow without snow tires. I built this truck to be reliable and capable, now it needs to earn it's keep. It's got a TON of rustproofing material (mostly Fluid Film) under it and in all the usual places, so yes it gets driven all winter.

Not sure why it looks so red in the photos, it's really not that bad in person.

 

[Wrench]

No way is that an antique.

 

[Leaping Deer]

Wow Ken. It's awesome.

 

[KLF]

No way is that an antique.

According to the State of NH it is. Anything 25+ years old.

Believe it or not, that Optima red-top is 15 years old. Soon to be replaced with a Diehard Platinum.

 

[landtank]

cameras always accentuate reds so people don't look pale. That is one bright red truck, I like it. Does Toyota still offer the tailgate decal of did you go somewhere else for it?

 

[landtank]

i can't believe you are driving it in the winter.

 

[KLF]

I got the tailgate sticker here: http://www.jamesdeancreations.com/toyota.htm They are no longer available from Toyota. The FJ40 badge is OEM, they are still available new.

I bought a 4WD truck so I would be able to be safe in the winter weather. Why would I leave it at home? I do worry about some knucklehead smashing into it though. That's why I got a "stated value" policy on it. It was an interesting project, I love the results and I would never sell that truck, but in all honesty, if I knew when I started what was involved (time and $$$), I wouldn't have started it.

 

[Wrench]

I had one as my first vehicle. I had 2 beds rot off the thing.

 

[Leaping Deer]

Ken talk to Jason Peters about the stated value policy. I think he has something like that when he crashed Wilma and it didn't work out well for him.

 

[fogblanket]

Hey ken finally its done
You will need your regular insurance but also have it appraised as a show truck get collectors insurance

 

[KLF]

Done? They're never done!

Trying to find an appraiser now.

 

[82cruiser]

Ken - where do you buy your Fluid Film from? I need a boatload of it.

 

[Wrench]

sell your truck to me.

 

[Sporin]

That turned out amazing, Ken!

 

[Bostonfj60]

wow wow wow Ken, it looks incredible. I want to see this thing in person~!

 

[KLF]

Ken - where do you buy your Fluid Film from? I need a boatload of it.

I sometimes buy spray cans at AutoZone, I bought a gallon from a tractor supply place in Brentwood NH, not far from me. Amazon also has it but for some reason their prices are not that great. The body shop that did my paint work buys it in 55 gallon drums!