Dumpie rises from the ashes

[-MaTTi-]

I have always used other media than sand, to eliminate the possibility of warpage.

It’s not the sand, it’s the right pressure. It’s so time consuming = much more pricey to blast with soda or some. And they won’t eat rust so well.

I got my BJ42 tub blasted with some cast iron sand, no warpage problems at all.

 

[Michael B]

You should consider renaming your truck Phoenix, for obvious reasons.

 

[workingdog]

So, I've been thinking a lot about this project. The burning of Dumpie has provoked deep soul searching and having it here has helped me confront the reality of what's in front of me. And I've come to the conclusion that there is no way I can do a frame off restoration of this scale in my side yard, on gravel, through this winter and not come to hate myself and the vehicle. It's just too much to take on, too big a project. Before it burned, I could pick things off one at a time, get all prepped and attack say - the brakes or the steering. And, in between, I'd have an operational truck that was slowly getting better and only down for weeks at a time. This project, realistically, is going to take a year at least, before the truck is running again. It could easily take two years - and that's beyond what I can take on right now.

So, feel free to talk me out of it, but today I'm thinking of taking the money when it comes and passing Dumpie on to someone with the facilities and experience to take on something of this magnitude.

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

Push it into the corner of your garage and wait it out, you'll never get over getting rid of it.


although it is going to be a major undertaking.

 

[seth]

So, I've been thinking a lot about this project. The burning of Dumpie has provoked deep soul searching and having it here has helped me confront the reality of what's in front of me. And I've come to the conclusion that there is no way I can do a frame off restoration of this scale in my side yard, on gravel, through this winter and not come to hate myself and the vehicle. It's just too much to take on, too big a project. Before it burned, I could pick things off one at a time, get all prepped and attack say - the brakes or the steering. And, in between, I'd have an operational truck that was slowly getting better and only down for weeks at a time. This project, realistically, is going to take a year at least, before the truck is running again. It could easily take two years - and that's beyond what I can take on right now.

So, feel free to talk me out of it, but today I'm thinking of taking the money when it comes and passing Dumpie on to someone with the facilities and experience to take on something of this magnitude.

I know that's a tough reality to face, but if you decide to pass it along, no one would blame you for it! The project has definitely taken on a new form.

Looking forward to seeing whatever happens to Dumpie, nonetheless!

 

[workingdog]

I've got no garage to shove it in, my garage is currently a music studio. One of the issues is there now good place to store it.

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

I've got no garage to shove it in, my garage is currently a music studio. One of the issues is there now good place to store it.

Bummer.


I'd love to take it off of your hands but I have enough irons in the fire.

 

[pjohnson]

Maybe one of PMC guys has a barn or field you could keep it in?

Do you know what the insurance company is going to pay out? You'll have funds to make things happen.
Maybe Mudrak can get it started and hand it back for you to finish?

 

[middlecalf]

You do have a lot of irons in the fire, understandable the need to simplify. But it's hard having something in your hands that has history and potential. I picked up my '63 45 mainly because I was looking for a nifty utility vehicle that I could rebuild and use that would meet certain requirements for the work I was going to use it on (and I could wrench on all day) - ranch work hauling stuff to cows, like 200-lb protein tubs - in fairly rough terrain so required reasonable 4wd capabilities. One option was a side-by-side or UTE or whatever, but I despise those given every "modern" hunter around here uses those to terrorize everything while they "hunt", plus their payloads suck as I really need to carry at least 3, preferably 4 tubs on each trip into the high country (right now I can only carry 2 in my 40 due to volume). And they are expensive as new cars. Anyway, this 45 pops up, has some history (of which I know virtually nothing) but is one of the earliest VINs in this class and has a few unique features - not necessarily good, but "features" lol - so I'm off to the races to rebuild this thing. Virtually nothing ran, drive train minimal, rust, etc. etc. Well, I've got a lot of new tools and I'm hacking away at it. Good thing I retired from the aerospace design world, this is now my outlet for invention, lol. I pass along this (long) diatribe only to encourage you and to show respect for your decision(s), whichever way you go. Peace in this trial.

One small suggestion, do you have room to park and tarp it for the time being?

 

[workingdog]

I do have room to park and tarp it for some time, but not forever, the neighbors are already unhappy my house looks like a junk yard.

My neighbor came over and was cheer leader for keeping it. He/We came up with the following

Use the insurance money to by an Aqualu 6" stretch cab (with fiberglass top and roof) along with a short bed that fits with the 6" stretch cab. That's about $10k right there, but I save on blasting, fixing and painting those parts. Blast and repair and primer the cowl, hood, windshield frame, aprons, one fender (one is shot), and bib. I'll source the other fender in steel. Not sure about the doors, one is pretty badly warped.

Then, sell the existing cab and top and bed along with the entire drive train and all the parts that go with the PTO winch and engine bay that anyone wants. Not sure how much that will net, but it will help offset the costs.

My neighbor promised to help me get it torn down to the frame and then help me assess. So, maybe I should take it that far.
but, I've got to pour a slab - about 12x30 - in the side yard to give me a place to work on.

 

[Tank5]

I cannot say or add much more to the opinions that have already been shared but I know opportunities to buy one of these affordably don't come along often. I expect you will receive a decent if not full payout from the insurance settlement and won't be into it for much at that point. If this is a dream vehicle for you I would encourage you to park it and tarp it for 6 months before you make a decision. It won't be worth any less then than it is now and the emotions of going through this will settle. Make a decision then. I read what you talked about doing with it and it seems like you have the bones needed to start with and go that direction.

On the other hand it is a lot of work and not having a garage to store it in is a bummer too. Good luck with which ever decision you make.

 

[workingdog]

@Tank5 - wise words.

 

[LongHaulCruiser]

Every since I saw your post about the car truck on fire and damaging your 45 I have been following to see what you would do. If I was in your shoes, I would have wanted the burnt truck too. I probably would go in a different direction though, and having said that, I am not critical of what you are going to do.

I would start looking for a donor truck, or even make Dumpie the donor truck. There are tons of salvageable parts on Dumpie but there are also lots of ruined ones. Having an extra truck will keep you from having to continually search for parts. Time will be of the essence and you want to keep that to a minimum, if for no other reason, that you don't loose interest in the project.

Cheers from Portland.

 

[OR tojo]

What about naming it Bernie?

 

[workingdog]

Or Burnie

 

[FixedIt]

You rock either way, dude. Can't replace time, so use it well and I hope you have an awesome time.

 

[bugsnbikes]

Given that you have cash in hand on a settlement.....id replace it with another and spend your spare time improving an already running /driving version. If you are gainfully employed - this would easily take 2 years and lots of frustration.....id only tackle something this big if i had a good chunk of free time /seasonally unemployed -semi retired- or u were already in the cruiser business in some way where work and workign on this project could go hand in hand.

my take would be you were handed a winfall if the route you were going to take was LS swap and more road trip friendly rig than Dumpie was. Sidestepping all the hassles and picking up one thats already got the heavy swap items like drivetrain axles etc would solidify turning a loss situation into a jumpstarted win. 2 years into a full rebuild and realizing how far u still have to go will have u banging your head against the wall.

 

[workingdog]

So, the finally called today - a month later. And offered me $11,856.
They are valuing it at 'invoice' of $15,000 as that was what I paid for it.
But, they are taking $3,144 off of that. I could not get her to say what that money was for. Clearly, it was for the frame, but she kept saying the frame was only worth $144.
So, I've got another call into the supervisor.
But, I'm not willing to pay $3,144 to keep Dumpie
So, right now, I'm going to let them have her.

If anyone out there is willing to pay $3,200 for Dumpie, I'll do the deal and they can have her.

 

[Whiskerz]

I would say they also owe you shipping since you paid for a not smoking FJ when the trip started.

 

[workingdog]

They did offer to reimburse my shipping - separately from the offer.