Builds My 78' Barn find FJ45 (3 Viewers)

[Michael B]

I started a new non-LC project yesterday. I’m going to make a dining room table out of the pices pictured below.

This is a 2.25” thick slab of water oak harvested locally. It’s 7.5’ long and 46” wide. Currently it is under a dehumidifier bringing the water content to about 13%.

The base was made by the same fabricator that made my bed rack. These pictures were taken about 10:30 am.

This picture was taken at 2:30 the same day after spraying it down with muriatic acid. The process went a lot faster than I thought it would. After the appropriate amount of “patina” has been reached it will be coated with a clear satin finish.

 

[Michael B]

After I got my new project started I swapped driver side fenders. I tweaked the original fender in November on a club ride. The new unit is from Roger @Racer65 I’m very pleased with fit of the new fender. Fortunately Roma was visiting and gave me a hand with removal and installation of the fenders.

 

[Michael B]

You can see the damage done when the suspension was under heavy compression and the tire caught the inner lip, pulling the lip out and tweaking the corner.

Anybody need a slightly used original fender?

 

[Michael B]

I took Sampson to the Carolina Relic Run last weekend. First stop was Nashville on Wednesday afternoon. I delivered an H55 with split case to a fellow mudder. Dan has an 81’ FJ45 named Lucille. The two trucks had a play date this weekend.

 

[Michael B]

Then we were off to meet the rest of our crew for the weekend at 4:00 am Thursday. The other rigs were running either 2F or 1.5F motors. I took up the position of tail gunner and we were off. With the other rigs making 55-60 mph, on the first leg of our journey I got an amazing 25.6 mpg. I was shocked!

 

[Michael B]

After the 11 hour journey we arrived at the campsite and started settling in for the weekend. We were joined shortly by @HENDOG in his new chalet on wheels. About dusk it started to rain and it rained hard off and on for most of the evening. But everyone stayed dry in their tents.

According to google maps my journey clocked 575 miles on the odometer. This got me the “Iron Butt” award for driving my rig the longest distance to the event.

 

[Michael B]

We had a terrific time on the trails. Thursday nights rain dryed up quickly on Friday and settled the dust. The weather for the rest of the weekend was absolutely perfect. Sunny skies, mild temps and a light breeze!

 

[Michael B]

After some good trail rides, terrific fellowship and great food it was time to head home.

There were six 45 pickups at the event. That was pretty amazing!

Shortly after our breakfast stop I bid the Music City guys farewell as I would not be traveling back to Nashville with them.

I put Sampson in the left lane and let the big dog eat. He covered the distance home like a freight train. For those 482 miles I only got 17 mpg at 75 mph. Oh well they say “you have to pay to play “.

It was a great trip overall with no mechanical issues on my first long distance trip after the rebuild. Total miles traveled was 1068.

 

[jfz80]

Michael, it was a pleasure to meet you and an absolute treat to get to see Sampson in the flesh. All around superb build, congrats man! Glad you could make it out to the event and the roadtrip went down as a success.

I really hate i didnt get to jump in on the trail ride with you and Dan. Had wanted to tag along with a few other pickups on the trail. Next time.......east coast 45 run?!?!

Too bad i didnt know you were coming, I needed that fender from a bambi incident as you probably saw.

 

[Michael B]

Thanks Jason ! It was great meeting you also . We definitely need an east coast 45 event. I want to go to the 45 meet that Georg holds but that is a long ride! I wish i had known you needed that fender. I would have been glad to bring it. Maybe you could find a mud ship headed your way. Fastenal is usually reasonable as well . I appreciate the pictures .

Michael <><

 

[HENDOG]

Glad to spend some time with a few guys that really know what a relic looks like, and aren't afraid to wheel them! Dog Out---

 

[Michael B]

Hey Dan @cult45 I finally got the snorkel plumbed. What do you think mate?

 

[Michael B]

I took the opportunity to photograph these two brothers from different mothers today and I covered my winch fairlead with a new tag.

 

[cult45]

G'day Michael, it's been a while since I've been on here in any decent format. I always check in here though! Snork looks the goods! Is that stainless tube? Man, I'm jelly of your 40 series run. So many 40 series in one place! Oh and I converted 75 mph - that's 120kmh! Down here we say you're on a dollatwenny $1.20 [AUD of course]

 

[Michael B]

G'day Dan,
I actually used polished aluminum tubing. Sampson cruises nicely on $1.20. He tachs about 2500 rpm at that speed. Wide open on flat ground he will top out about 90 mph. I am so very pleased with the way this rig performs. It is truly beybond my best expectations!

Cheers,
Michael <><

 

[cult45]

90! Hot dawg! My rig can do 90 as well. 90kmh.

 

[Pauciflora]

G'day Michael, Does the expanded section of polished aluminium contain some sort of air filter? Cheers, Ben
P.S. It sure does look the goods.

 

[Michael B]

G'day Ben,
The section between the snorkel and the straight pipe across the front is a filter housing. It is difficult to make out since it is also a polished aluminum housing. Thanks mate!

Cheers,
Michael <><

 

[wngrog]

I did my 60 snorkel that way for a couple years. No issues.

I like the sound of an East Coast 45 run.........

 

[Michael B]

My new Data plate came in this week thanks to @RAGINGMATT What a difference it makes. The original was barely legible and not correct post rebuild. I have the original stored for posterity.