I am still in. Keep me posted.
James
FJ40 Cross-Country Expedition: Will YOU join us???
- Thread starter hecrod
- Start date
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James
any updates on this
POTATO LAUNCHER
TLCA #6928
I believe we are stalled out in Tennessee at the moment.
I do have good news! @Tennessee80 and I are planning to meet up the weekend of January 20-22. I'm making a trip to Nashville to visit some friends and pickup the baton(s).
From there I'll reconnect and schedule a date to drive to hot springs after returning home. It will have to be in February as I am taking a short trip with my wife the following weekend (not in the 40).
I am going to try to round up a caravan to meet up with @Bripars40 and tour a couple of spots around town, and then park our rigs and get some beers, share some stories, you know, the mud thing! LOL
Looking forward to it, as the holidays bogged down the relay. Time to get the batons headed west!
SOAZtim
Hobo
I'm just driving up and down this road in AZ looking for a baton... 
As far as I know..... no.
edit** I am mostly replying to this thread, again, because I am not getting notified when someone comments. I just happened to see these updates this morning. Hopefully this comment will get me back on the notification list for this thread.
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As of Sunday evening both batons are in northwest Arkansas with me. @Tennessee80 and I met up in Nashville for the transfer. He's going to post his story shortly and then once he posts I'll add my tales as well.
I am working through my work schedule today to see when I am off and able to meet up in Hot Springs for the next transfer.
cruiserfien
Black Sheep Cruisers!!
I just found this post and it appears the baton is close. I am in the New Orleans Area, willing to travel 100 miles --Let me know if I can jump on this and help out
Make this a watched thread, then when someone posts, you will see the notification
Maybe the batons could be split when they get to Texas so one could head south. I could extend my circle and meet with @graham5david at White Sands or somewhere in that area. I could go to El Paso if I had to but really want to not travel on i-10 any farther than possible. Terry If I do get a baton, someone will have to school me on pictures.
4Cruisers
SILVER Star
That would work also. The tentative plan from November was for me to get both batons from @POTATO LAUNCHER south of Las Vegas, NM on I-25 and carry them across New Mexico to Quemado on US 60 (or somewhere in that area) - one would go to @AZOKIE and one to @Living in the Past. The handoff of the northern baton could take place either near Quemado or NW of there (Gallup, NM, Window Rock, AZ, or ???). I'm flexible as to date and place.
I'm good with however you guys want to do this. Just let me know
My thought was to get the batons separated as soon as possible so to cover as much of the country as possible. It will be up to the carriers in Ark and NE Texas to determine what is possible. I can go to meet @4Cruisers or go to White Sands. I would like to see the batons change hands as often as possible. There are enough 40s out there that nobody should have to drive over 100 miles, so join up 40 owners and lets do this right. Terry
Not sure if this has been discussed but are there any plans to come into canada? Id love to take part in a bit of this.
4Cruisers
SILVER Star
In anticipation of the arrival of the batons in Texas, and then New Mexico, today I started a thorough inspection of my '76 FJ40 (on the left side of the photo), and started the needed preventive and corrective maintenance. Other than the usual rust (I think it spent a lot of its life in Massachusetts and then here in the mountains of northern New Mexico) it's in pretty good shape. The vehicle only has 64,355 original miles on it. It has a new clutch master cylinder, a fairly new mini-truck/Tercel power steering upgrade, a rebuilt carburetor, and a fairly new fuel pump. A little more than 15 years and 2,000 miles ago I installed an H41 4-speed mated to the 3-speed transfer case from my '71 FJ40 (on the right side of the photo), along with a new clutch, etc. The tires are in good shape, but I might buy a new spare to match the rest (BFG LT235/75R15 ATs).
I'm thinking of tackling a couple of additional projects before it's my time to take up one or both of the batons. I'm thinking it would be good to replace the water pump and hoses. I don't know the history on the water pump, but I'm thinking it may be the original. I bought a new OEM pump from SOR more than 10 years ago in anticipation of adding an oil cooler, but never started the upgrade. Now that I have everything together in a kit I might just go ahead and do it. I'm also thinking of adding an FJ60 carb cooling fan, operated by a switch on the dash.
Another thing to take care of is assembling a set of tools and spare parts for my legs of the trip, I'll be covering a lot of wide open country with little between towns. I'm hoping to have my youngest son provide some back-up if needed. He lives in Albuquerque and could head out in his '93 4-Runner in case we need help along the way.
I'm thinking of tackling a couple of additional projects before it's my time to take up one or both of the batons. I'm thinking it would be good to replace the water pump and hoses. I don't know the history on the water pump, but I'm thinking it may be the original. I bought a new OEM pump from SOR more than 10 years ago in anticipation of adding an oil cooler, but never started the upgrade. Now that I have everything together in a kit I might just go ahead and do it. I'm also thinking of adding an FJ60 carb cooling fan, operated by a switch on the dash.
Another thing to take care of is assembling a set of tools and spare parts for my legs of the trip, I'll be covering a lot of wide open country with little between towns. I'm hoping to have my youngest son provide some back-up if needed. He lives in Albuquerque and could head out in his '93 4-Runner in case we need help along the way.
POTATO LAUNCHER
TLCA #6928
My plan is an overnight stay in Santa Fe when we do the official handoff at Romeroville. Traveling with you back west is my plan so support for your first leg isnt a problem.
4Cruisers
SILVER Star
I just finished reading through the 12-page Birfield/wheel bearing grease thread in the 80-Series tech forum. I guess I'll be heading over tp the local NAPA store tomorrow to pick up some Valvoline Palladium grease. When I checked my front differential fluid level this afternoon the level was fine, but the gear oil was "blended" with grease. Plus, I noticed weeping at the knuckle housing. So I guess I'll be getting my hands dirty on some axle work before the batons get to New Mexico. I'll have to check the Marlin Crawler website to see if the heavy duty inner axle seals I just bought for my '86 FJ60 project vehicle will work in the '76 FJ40 axle.
While I'm at NAPA I'll also pick up an air filter (FIL 2131) - I have no record of replacing it recently, so it's time for a change.
And some 5W bulbs for the instrument cluster - I can barely see the gauges once it gets dark.
While I'm at NAPA I'll also pick up an air filter (FIL 2131) - I have no record of replacing it recently, so it's time for a change.
And some 5W bulbs for the instrument cluster - I can barely see the gauges once it gets dark.
Sounds like you're getting excited for the trip. You should check out the EL Wiring mod for the instrument cluster. Way better than regular or LED lights.
Aftermarket (even mechanical) gauges into STOCK cluster!!!
It's toward the bottom of this page.
