Intro

[rabid]

I honestly have no idea where to start.
I bought my truck while still in college in 1992. It was a 1967 fj40 that had been used as a snow plow for two school yards in NY. 32K original on it when I got it.

 

[rabid]

Ok, so that posted. Been on mud forever. Took about a 7 year break.
Moving on.
I left school and went to Cape Cod Ma for a few years. Drove the wheels off the thing

 

[rabid]

and then New England took its toll. it was reskinned once, then a whole new tub 5 or 6 years later.
For the record, i am REALLY fortunate to have amazing friends who helped along the way. And by helped, I mean did ALL of the metal work and paint. A few more pics over the years.

 

[rabid]

wheeled the crap out of it forever. several sets of swampers, ended up on 38x11 boggers. Not many pics of that time in it's life.
Still had an F motor, with an SM420, 3 speed, power steering, disks and longs, etc etc.


The wheeling and rust got to be too much for the frame, and after the third or fourth plate, I decided to swap frames. So it began. Spring over, shackle reversal, 350 / 4speed swap, FJ60 steering, 4 wheel disks...
I got about half way through it and took a job here in NC. The truck sat for about 5 years at Poor Wally's in VT while I got life together down here. He and I came up with a plan and it was game on.

 

[rabid]

Took a few days off and cranked on it with cruiser heads I have known for 20 years. The same guys that have helped me and worked on this truck for as long as I have known them. I could not have done any of this without these guys. Some on mud, some not. All cruiser guys.

Brought it home a few months ago and started the assembly again.

 

[erymer]

welcome aboard. Man I love a good story.

 

[rabid]

Now it will be a great toy for me and my son, who is helping a little. OK, very little. But it will be his someday.
It is coming together slowly, but I am hopeful for spring/summer of this year. Might be optimistic, but I am making good progress.
Looking forward to meeting you all and will definitely come to a meet and greet next time I can.

Here is where it is today. Needs lots of time and money, but after 20-something years of owning this and a few other cruisers I am not surprised by that in the least.

 

[fourtrax]

nice story a sweet 40 welcome

 

[jfz80]

Good to see you coming back around to mud n cruisers. Hope the tail prop crossmember worked out for you.

Looking forward to checking out the poor wally tub soon.

 

[lt1fire]

Good to see you post up Dan, was wondering when you were going to after getting the 40 down to you.

A Murphy on me next time I'm in town

 

[rabid]

it sure did. Running it now. Thanks! I have met a few people from this crew and know a ton of the Yankee Toys guys as I was part of that for years. I stopped coming to mud as it just made me want to get my truck more and more every time I came on. Wally did an amazing job on my tub. He redid everything and has countless hours into it. So does FourLow&Go on here as well. Can't thank them enough.

 

[rabid]

Good to see you post up Dan, was wondering when you were going to after getting the 40 down to you.

A Murphy on me next time I'm in town

Hell yes. I had one on a business trip in Montreal and thought of you.

 

[rabid]

One of my favorite memories of the second build was when my wife bought me two new fenders for valentines day and I crushed them both on the first run out after putting them on in Vermont. Ahhh- good times. Trail was a little tight.

 

[JohnVee]

Welcome @rabid . Good to finally see you on here. Keep your eyes peeled for the January CLT area meeting.