Sorry for the delay, crazy day at work today.
My 100 enjoyed a nice weekend at Lone Star Toyota Jamboree without a single hiccup. It was one of the first times I was able to finally enjoy the rig without having too much to worry about. One thing to understand when taking on a project of this magnitude is that it takes a lot of tinkering after the first 90% of the work is done; the last 10% takes the longest to iron out the bugs.
I was on a plane out of town and as I was about to touch down, I receive some frantic text messages about my car on fire about 3 hours after it happened. At this point, I am still unsure what exactly happened or who called in the fire to the fire department, but both the fire department and the person who called it in saved my tail. The car was parked under an overhang which the fire could have spread tremendously but was put out very quick.
The fire started near the driver side battery and at this point the home insurance company still has not given me word on what the fire investigators found. Arson is not out of the question at this point. The house damage is fine except the fire department busting open the soffit in the overhang to release any heat and check for damage. Fortunately, the damage to the house is only cosmetic, and could have been much worse. The damage to the rig is extensive. The interior was not touched, but everything in the engine bay and some accessories outside got ruined. The fire was pretty hot, but the heat insulator that attaches to the hood did it's job by melting the plastic clips in an attempt to contain the fire.
I made the decision to part the truck out for a number of reasons. At this point, I am over 300 hours into the truck, but it's time to let it go as I do not have the heart to replace the wiring and perform a heart transplant. It's hard enough for me to look at the charred mess under the hood, and for me, it's easier for me to compartmentalize this in the back of my mind.
All of the parts have been sold. The frame and body are currently in storage at a friend's place, and I am undecided what to do with it at this point. If anybody is interested in both, I am open for a discussion.
I am sad about the situation, since the rig got to a point where I finally was able to enjoy it. As I said before, the SAS is a huge project and one that I am proud to say I accomplished. It helped me refine my fabrication skills and learn from my mistakes along the way. The rig has also empowered me to build a side business working on Toyota trucks locally in Houston. I look at the silver lining and understand that although this is a huge loss, I am thankful for the memories, safety provided, and lessons learned.
6 months ago, I bought a locked 94 80 to swap a GM 5.3 LS into, but plans have changed and that will become my primary Toyota vehicle now. I have pulled my ARB drawers, and 37" MTRs to put into the 80. The 100 will live on through various 100 series Cruisers in Houston, so I am happy to say that it's memory will not be forgotten.
This is one of my favorite pictures of the 100 in Black Bear Pass in Ouray. May it Rest in Peace.