Feb 2009 ROTM: HJ47

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For the record:
I Love Your Truck!

It's getting really close for me to do about the same to mine. I can only hope that mine will turn out as well. To drive without issue across the continent so quickly after such a rebuild is amazing.

Dan
 
Dan,

I'm looking forward to seeing the continuation of your build, and I'm sure it will turn out great!

I was really happy with the way the cross-continent drive went - I'd only done a couple of fairly short shake-down drives before I set off, so fingers were crossed for the first while. Nothing went wrong though, and it continues to this day. I've had zero reliability problems.

My passenger door doesn't close perfectly, and I'm having a few bubbles in the bodywork from my clumsy filler applications, done in way too much of a hurry, but those are pretty minor issues. I also have a couple of minor oil leaks to attend to, and when it warm up a little outside, I'll take care of them, with confidence, 'cause I know how to fix my own truck now :)
 
Beautiful work there Chris. And thanks for all the words and photos you've supplied covering all the different aspects of this mammoth project.

When I discovered your build thread I immediately locked onto it and followed it practically EVERY day.

I don't think there is any other thread where I have learnt so much.

:beer::beer:

PS. I've been missing your input in "40 and diesel sections" recently so I just did a search (for recent posts) on your MUD name and discovered this Rig of the Month thread!
 
Oh hi Tom, nice to hear from you and thanks for thinking of me. Most posting on 'Mud has slowed to trickle, partly because it's winter and I haven't had to wrench on my truck at all, and partly because I started writing a blog about 3 weeks ago and that occupies a lot of my computer time.

I appreciated your input and support on my build thread! :beer:
 
Forgive my ignorance guys, but should I do a March ROTM? I don't want to step on anyone's toes, but I can do it no-one else is lined up already.

Cheers,

Josh
 
See post 13.....;)
 
Thanks Tom,

I'm not really an idiot; I just play one on Mud...:hhmm:

I PM'd Brett, so I will do one whenever he needs a month filled.

Cheers,

Josh
 
good old ebay,i bought a hj45 off there that was also in more need off attention than led to believe,but still happy with it,then got a hj 60 that was supposed to be rust free and motor in great nick,gutters were full of bondo,could see it under the paint,and the 2h seized up exactly one week later,i guess buyer beware,but for what i payed it still good for a parts car,so my fj 60 wagon and jj60 tray back will be given bdays shortly

your troopy was certainly in rough shape,but a credit to you know,very impressive rebuild
 
Yep, buyer beware alright! I was fully expecting the seller to misrepresent things, and was hardly expecting a perfect truck for the money, but i was really surprised just how far he had gone in lying about its condition. All in all a good learning experience though. Rebuilding my truck from one end to the other was a great education.

It would have been far cheaper to fly to Oz and inspect the truck before committing, and then fly home empty-handed, but of course that would have seemed crazy at the time!

Glad you enjoyed reading about the rebuild. The truck is still running perfectly, though I have a few issue with cracks in body filler in my doors and hood that are annoying me and will necessitate re-working. The engine purrs like a kitten and I get 25~30 mpg, oil change every 100 hours of run time.

:cheers:
 
The engine purrs like a kitten and I get 25~30 mpg, oil change every 100 hours of run time.
Click to expand...

You're not helping.

I've got to finish the bodywork on Dad's 40 before I get to rip into my 45. Seriously....

Are you using the truck for work as much as you once thought?

Dan
 
"Are you using the truck for work as much as you once thought? "

Well I would be IF I had any work! I've been in MA for about 8 months now, and got my green card about a month ago. I have been trying hard to find work, but no luck so far. Four people, potential clients, were really close to saying 'yes' on a project, and then at the last minute pulled out, worried about the $$$.

So i keep looking, and fortunately my wife can just barely support the two of us. I'm hoping to have something soon. Thanks for asking.
 
She sounds like a keeper. What a great economy, eh?

I fly over you all the time. I think maybe I need to come up with a good reason to divert to Albany or Springfield one of these days. Then maybe I'd get to check out your truck. I'm sure the chief pilot would understand.

Dan
 
Thanks Dan - yes, my :princess: is definitely a keeper!

The economy, well, whew, not so hot eh? It could get worse...

It's a little funny living on the Eastern side of the continent compared to Vancouver island where i saw some sort of Landcruiser almost daily on the road - here, I've seen but 1 FJ40 in 8 months so far (on the road that is - I know of a couple of rigs rotting away in fields). Heaps of Jeeps of course, but virtually no cruisers on the road. A lot of people are intrigued and puzzled by my truck. A lot of questions about the flat deck too, which I find curious, while almost no one notices the fact it's a diesel. I'm wondering when I'll bump into someone who will at least guess the truck is a 'FJ45'...


Dan, if you don't mind the question, how come you're flying by so often? Business? Need to burn up some frequent flyer awards?
 
Henry James the 47th said:
Thanks Dan - yes, my :princess: is definitely a keeper!

Dan, if you don't mind the question, how come you're flying by so often? Business? Need to burn up some frequent flyer awards?
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Good stuff. A good :princess: is worth her weight in gold. ;)

I'm an airline pilot. We do Chicago to White Plains a lot, and Toronto/Montreal/Quebec/Ottawa to Dulles a lot--all of which pass nearly directly above your area. For White Plains our typical alternate is Albany.

Funny that nobody notices it's a diesel. I'm sure the flatbed is sexy and all, but seriously, the 2H is the heart of awesome.

Dan
 
You're right about the 2H. I was thinking about putting a turbo on it at some point, but after driving the truck for 8 months now, I don't really see the point with a truck like this. I can cruise down the highway all day, loaded or unloaded, at 65 miles/hour, @2500 rpm or so. Otherwise, when driving around town, or on the logging road, I'm just chugging along basically, and the engine is purring like a, well, not a kitten exactly, but very smoooooooth.

I think the turbo would make more sense for a 60 series highway runner.
 
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