Getting Our Kicks on Route 66 in a 1969 FJ40

[John McVicker]

Subscribed.

Great read!

 

[mtn biker]

I would like to have you on the Classic Land Cruisers Podcast to hear more from you and your wife about this trip of a lifetime.

 

[120mm]

I would like to have you on the Classic Land Cruisers Podcast to hear more from you and your wife about this trip of a lifetime.

PM sent

 

[Exiled]

Thank you for taking the time to post this thread and share your adventure, this was awe inspiring! As much thought as I put into traveling in my 25-yr old 100 series and here you are CRUSHING IT in an FJ40...kudos!!!

 

[120mm]

Just a short update. While Mavis is at Higgy's shop, we've decided to put some serious work into her. Once that is complete, I'll resume posting here, as by no means do I consider this journey over.

 

[120mm]

So, update to my rig.

Higgy tore into the engine and found three broken compression rings.

Natural risk of high mileage engine being parked for awhile and then put back into fairly extreme service, imo. We talked out the options, including rebuilding the engine, but since machine work can take a year or more, we decided on another used engine.

After an extensive search for the right engine, Classic Cruisers came up with a gem.

The plan was to continue adventures with a tour de force of various interesting places, 100+ degree temps plus my pup testing positive for heartworm led me to renting a trailer and borrowing my wife's GX460 to get Mavis back to Tennessee. More adventures will follow.

Have I mentioned how nice air conditioned seats are at 110 degrees Fahrenheit?

 

[clrussell]

So, update to my rig.

Higgy tore into the engine and found three broken compression rings.

Natural risk of high mileage engine being parked for awhile and then put back into fairly extreme service, imo. We talked out the options, including rebuilding the engine, but since machine work can take a year or more, we decided on another used engine.

After an extensive search for the right engine, Classic Cruisers came up with a gem.

The plan was to continue adventures with a tour de force of various interesting places, 100+ degree temps plus my pup testing positive for heartworm led me to renting a trailer and borrowing my wife's GX460 to get Mavis back to Tennessee. More adventures will follow.

Have I mentioned how nice air conditioned seats are at 110 degrees Fahrenheit?

View attachment 3680105

Glad to see it’s back on the road.

I fear the same on my 40. It was parked 20 years and it’s back to more or less daily driver status now. Which mine smoked quite a bit at stops for a while. But it seems to have quit. I’m just going to see how long it lasts and hope it’s semi close to home when it gives up.

 

[120mm]

I hadn't really planned on another update, but just have to. I stopped in Warner Oklahoma tonight and found an absolute gem of a motel. Ambassador Inn and RV park, is a typical 1930s resort motel remodeled recently and run by a family. Super nice people and super clean. I'm enjoying my a few Johnny Walker Blacks and the gorgeous sunset.

The motel dog hobbled out on three legs to bark at me and to get petted.

 

[landcrusher909]

Love the adventure continues!

 

[120mm]

Well, my favorite part of Route 66 is at risk. The 9 foot highway, or Ribbon Road, is scheduled to be demolished in the process of upgrading the road. The big debate is evidently whether to preserve a mile or the road or all of it. Having been there, they'd need to eminent domain adjacent land and run a road next to it. Here's a link:

'Once It's Gone, It's Gone': Community Members Look To Preserve Route 66's Historic Ribbon Road

Along the Mother Road, several attractions bring in people from all around the world, but one portion in Green Country stands out. Hi-Way cafe owner Beth Hilburn said the single 9-foot-wide lane of highway is the original pavement of historic Route 66.

www.newson6.com

 

[120mm]

Well, the time has come to resume the adventure. The plan was originally to return via the land cruiser museum and the jeep rescue place in Saguache Colorado (an old friend owns and runs it) and then to visit the family in Northwest Iowa.

Well, my 98 year old Uncle Desel passed away Monday evening, and Northwest Iowa is a third of the way to Saguache, so I launched first thing Tuesday morning.

My lovely bride is in a play right now, so we decided I should head out alone with the friendly dog. I configured the rig for dog plus camping.

The guy I'm visiting in Saguache is an army buddy, so the cavalry Stetson came out.

I ran into my old friend Route 66 at Edwardsville Illinois

I highly recommend the great river road between Alton and Grafton, Illinois as well. Very scenic, even if it's in f*cking Illinois.

 

[120mm]

The best thing about driving the great river road is that it largely avoids all the large urban areas. And I love me some old girder bridges

Crossing the Illinois river

Oskaloosa Iowa

 

[120mm]

Ended the day at Controlled Chaos Arms in rural Baxter Iowa, where I stayed with my old friends.

Yes, those are fully auto Dshka and M1919 belt fed machine guns. Not for sale, unless you are a government agency or are an approved US trading partner.

 

[120mm]

The family and the funeral are in the Storm Lake area, and I didn't think to take any snaps between Baxter and Storm Lake.

Storm Lake is a resort town dating back to just after the civil war. This is the view from my brother's backyard.
Our family has purchased a 1920s era ballroom and is currently restoring it. It's called The Cobblestone, for obvious reasons.

The cobblestone has quite the history, including early Three Dog Night, Glenn Miller and Buddy Rich appearances, among many others. It even has a secret speakeasy hidden inside along with early nekkid wimmens on the wall.

 

[120mm]

We don't have the entire place restored, but the bar and dance floor are fully operational. They serve pizza, bar food and will cater just about anything for large groups.

Original ticket booth

Storm Lake is a pretty little town

Front of the cobblestone Ballroom

 

[120mm]

Quick tire rotation and transfer case fill/trans drain.

Family hunting plot, including tame-ish swans

Dad's Model M Farmall, complete with bull hood ornament with horns that light up

My home away from home back in the day when I was a contractor

 

[120mm]

Believe it or not, I used to run this back in the day. John Deere branded Blackhawk corn sheller.

Storm Lake is extremely diverse and has some amazing food. I stopped by a pupuseria and this little darling politely said Ola! And plopped down across the table from me in my booth and proceeded to watch cartoons.

Best pupusas I've ever tasted. And they gave generous portions of the slaw.

Pizza from The Cobblestone

 

[clrussell]

Keep the updates coming!

Also that chinook needs a new home. In my driveway!

 

[120mm]

Heading out into rural Iowa.

If there something worse than crossing a steep expanded steel bridge with bias plies, I'm not sure what this is. This bridge always inspired white knuckles and heart palpitations since I started driving at 12. And not much has changed.

This single greatest contribution made to civilization by the Volga Germans, in Grand Island Nebraska. If you know, you know.

This is what 10,000 hours of driving through western Kansas/Eastern Colorado look like

 

[120mm]

Stopped at the Buffalo Bill Memorial. That sculpture is HUGE. Plus the air conditioned visitor center is super pet friendly, which Charley appreciated.

Finally made it to Colorful Colorado.

Set up camp at Lake Henry, which was awesome until the storm rolled in and trapped the dog and I in our tent like we were shrink wrapped. Managed to escape tent to rest a bit in the 40. Two hours later, the wind subsided and to our surprise the tent was unharmed and had a restful night after that.

Had some leftover pizza from dinner.