my fj40 build-up was coming along pretty good until i finished up all of the mechanical stuff and go to the bodywork. i tried to tell myself it would be all right, i even bought a welder and decided to tackle it myself. however, the more i look at the thing, the more i realize that almost every piece of metal on it has one issue or another. my rig has been torn apart for over two years now, and i really really want to get it on the road again.
i considered just throwing in the towel and getting a new steel tub from the guy down in panama, but that takes time and i still am left dealing with my dented up fenders and hood and rusty cowl. aluminum and fiberglass have the same problem, and i not really a fan anyway.
so finally it dawned on me what to do - get another cruiser! then i can put the nice new (well, better) body on my current project, and keep tackling the old crusty body as my welding skills and time allow. in the end, i end up with my current rig back on the road AND another project ready to go that i can build into a fun trail rig. the rig i am looking for doesnt need an engine or drivetrain or really anything other than good sheetmetal and a workable frame.
so i have been keeping an eye on all of the usual places (MUD classifieds, craigslist, azcentral, ebay, even SOR classified), but nothing turns up. what i think i am looking for is more along the lines of 'i know this guy who used to know a guy who used to have an old cruiser sitting in his driveway'-type of thing. maybe somebody's else's project that they never got around to? maybe a seized up engine that just got parked and has been sitting gathering dust for a long time? something that you wouldnt necessarliy go to the trouble of placing an ad for, but maybe the owner has been thinking about getting rid of it for awhile.
so if this describes any of you out there, or you know somebody who knows somebody, or you have been driving past an old cobweb-covered fj40 on your way to work or something (and you dont already have plans of snatching it up yourself), post up and help a brother out. i can offer up a case of beer as a finder's fee
thanks.
i considered just throwing in the towel and getting a new steel tub from the guy down in panama, but that takes time and i still am left dealing with my dented up fenders and hood and rusty cowl. aluminum and fiberglass have the same problem, and i not really a fan anyway.
so finally it dawned on me what to do - get another cruiser! then i can put the nice new (well, better) body on my current project, and keep tackling the old crusty body as my welding skills and time allow. in the end, i end up with my current rig back on the road AND another project ready to go that i can build into a fun trail rig. the rig i am looking for doesnt need an engine or drivetrain or really anything other than good sheetmetal and a workable frame.
so i have been keeping an eye on all of the usual places (MUD classifieds, craigslist, azcentral, ebay, even SOR classified), but nothing turns up. what i think i am looking for is more along the lines of 'i know this guy who used to know a guy who used to have an old cruiser sitting in his driveway'-type of thing. maybe somebody's else's project that they never got around to? maybe a seized up engine that just got parked and has been sitting gathering dust for a long time? something that you wouldnt necessarliy go to the trouble of placing an ad for, but maybe the owner has been thinking about getting rid of it for awhile.
so if this describes any of you out there, or you know somebody who knows somebody, or you have been driving past an old cobweb-covered fj40 on your way to work or something (and you dont already have plans of snatching it up yourself), post up and help a brother out. i can offer up a case of beer as a finder's fee
thanks.
