I've always had an affinity for FJs for no apparent reason, maybe because it isn't a Jeep? Anyways, I am super excited to get started on one of my own.
The story of this particular FJ is a bit unknown, but it's safe to say that it'd begun its transition to becoming part of the earth again, it was already home to a family of bees, couple spiders and most notably A LOT of Tennessee Cave Crickets...hence the new name of this rig: The FJ40 Cave Cricket.
These things were EVERYWHERE inside and on the rig. We do not have these things up in MI...or at least we didn't a couple months ago... I've killed A LOT of them so far, but I'm still finding a couple a week FOUR MONTHS after bringing the FJ home!
Anyways, back to the story. Not a lot known about this thing, it was sitting on top of a mountain in Tennessee for what looks like the better part of a decade, at least. Even upon first inspection it was obvious that it would need A LOT of work, but I'm young and have never done anything like this before so I guess I just didn't know any better. Plus, its the first real contact I've had with an FJ and the price was too good to pass up.
Side story - Early April, two weeks before I picked this FJ up my wife and I were in Nashville on vacation and late one night while walking back from Broadway to our hotel we were talking about the FJ, the plan, etc and to our disbelief we walked up on an FJ40 in the road. I believe I said, "OMG, look an FJ!". As it turns out it was a younger guy about my age and he'd run out of gas, so we gave him a push and off he went rolling down the hill and into the gas station. I think it was a 70s model, and I think it was red? Not sure if he was a Mud member, but if this sounds familiar to you let me know! So, THAT was actually my first real contact with an FJ.
Back on track again. The first time I saw my FJ was the day after the story above. Then my dad and I drove back down a couple weeks later to rescue it. Here's a couple pics from the rescue operation.
First glimpse was pretty special
Trailer winch coming in clutch
Surprisingly, two of the tires still had air in them. I know that because they popped as we drug it up onto the trailer. Turns out both front hubs are locked up as is the rear end, so we literally drug it onto the trailer, it didn't roll.
The drive home took about 8 hours and I was already overwhelmed with the love the FJ received. Every stop we had people coming over to check it out and chat.
The story of this particular FJ is a bit unknown, but it's safe to say that it'd begun its transition to becoming part of the earth again, it was already home to a family of bees, couple spiders and most notably A LOT of Tennessee Cave Crickets...hence the new name of this rig: The FJ40 Cave Cricket.
These things were EVERYWHERE inside and on the rig. We do not have these things up in MI...or at least we didn't a couple months ago... I've killed A LOT of them so far, but I'm still finding a couple a week FOUR MONTHS after bringing the FJ home!
Anyways, back to the story. Not a lot known about this thing, it was sitting on top of a mountain in Tennessee for what looks like the better part of a decade, at least. Even upon first inspection it was obvious that it would need A LOT of work, but I'm young and have never done anything like this before so I guess I just didn't know any better. Plus, its the first real contact I've had with an FJ and the price was too good to pass up.
Side story - Early April, two weeks before I picked this FJ up my wife and I were in Nashville on vacation and late one night while walking back from Broadway to our hotel we were talking about the FJ, the plan, etc and to our disbelief we walked up on an FJ40 in the road. I believe I said, "OMG, look an FJ!". As it turns out it was a younger guy about my age and he'd run out of gas, so we gave him a push and off he went rolling down the hill and into the gas station. I think it was a 70s model, and I think it was red? Not sure if he was a Mud member, but if this sounds familiar to you let me know! So, THAT was actually my first real contact with an FJ.
Back on track again. The first time I saw my FJ was the day after the story above. Then my dad and I drove back down a couple weeks later to rescue it. Here's a couple pics from the rescue operation.
First glimpse was pretty special
Trailer winch coming in clutch
Surprisingly, two of the tires still had air in them. I know that because they popped as we drug it up onto the trailer. Turns out both front hubs are locked up as is the rear end, so we literally drug it onto the trailer, it didn't roll.
The drive home took about 8 hours and I was already overwhelmed with the love the FJ received. Every stop we had people coming over to check it out and chat.