Builds My '78 FJ40 "44" (1 Viewer)

[Solace in Solitude]

Believe me when I say, getting old isn’t for the young!!

Arthritis has been killing me... I can usually only work a couple of hours around 44... then hit the sheets and my heating pad and electric blanket.

Of course, the boys are always ready for a nap.

Yesterday afternoon, I was hurting like hell, from the lower back down... after straightening a SINGLE hinge and covering the heat damage with a “close” match.

Anyone know how I can “release the curl” on the bottom of the door?

Anyway, we drove down to our neighborhood Jenny’s Dispensary and picked up a bottle of Mary’s Elite Muscle Freeze (CBD).

Within 30 minutes of rubbing it in, the pain was gone and I slept like and old man!!

Today, I’ve finally been able to adjust the DS hinges and can now close the door, using a single finger. Life is good!!

Gratuitous 44 pictures ... too much shade, but purry nonetheless!!

... and the boys... what can I say?!?

 

[imyahucklbrry]

Maybe I’ve said this before but can’t remember (I’m getting old too!) I love that “44” is a truck used for what it was designed and you have definitely made it your own...

 

[120mm]

The "curl" is the result of the metal being stretched. So now you need to find a way to shrink it.

If you can get to the backside, you can use a hammer and dolly, if you know how to shrink with that.

 

[Dunbar]

A retirement we could all aspire to. Love how the truck is rigged especially for the crew. If he had to give a ride to a stranded motorist they would have to ride with the cargo in the back.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Maybe I’ve said this before but can’t remember (I’m getting old too!) I love that “44” is a truck used for what it was designed and you have definitely made it your own...

Thank you!!

This is why I don't worry that touch-up paint doesn't exactly match... that new scratches are simply new pinstripes... that the wrinkle I added to the PS front fender, a few years back, is still there.

Its all character and was earned fairly, while chasing the fading light of a life well lived.

To quote Lady Gaga, "Tell me something, Boy"... am I describing 44... or myself?

 

[Solace in Solitude]

The "curl" is the result of the metal being stretched. So now you need to find a way to shrink it.

If you can get to the backside, you can use a hammer and dolly, if you know how to shrink with that.

Thanks Drew!! I was just wondering out loud, so to speak, to find out how one would go about fixing it.

How would a door get stretched like that?

It was on there when I bought 44... I figured the door had been in a wreck, at some point.

Or, given the mighty 2F, especially pre-rebuild, I thought perhaps a PO had tweaked it to serve as a "wing", to help keep 44's rear end grounded and prevent laying too much rubber.

I doubt I'll ever "get around to" relaxing the curl... but, it's good to know how one would go about it... knowledge is empowering.

How's your "count down" calendar coming?

 

[120mm]

Thanks Drew!! I was just wondering out loud, so to speak, to find out how one would go about fixing it.

How would a door get stretched like that?

It was on there when I bought 44... I figured the door had been in a wreck, at some point.

Or, given the mighty 2F, especially pre-rebuild, I thought perhaps a PO had tweaked it to serve as a "wing", to help keep 44's rear end grounded and prevent laying too much rubber.

I doubt I'll ever "get around to" relaxing the curl... but, it's good to know how one would go about it... knowledge is empowering.

How's your "count down" calendar coming?

As far as how the metal got stretched, based on the location, I bet it caught on something while the door was open and the vehicle was moving. Seems to be the most likely cause.

As far as my countdown calendar, I'm approaching a month in country, and have three more scheduled until my first break.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

A retirement we could all aspire to. Love how the truck is rigged especially for the crew. If he had to give a ride to a stranded motorist they would have to ride with the cargo in the back.

Thanks for your kind comments!!

I've never actually thought of a stranded motorist , while in 44... except when thinking of myself potentially breaking down and planning how I would deal with the "what ifs".

How would one recognize a stranded motorist?

The boys are lying on my bed in the picture... they always ride on my MegaMat, on trips, and lounge on it, while helping me around the "estate".

When camped for a single night, before moving on, I sleep on my bed, in 44... the boys on theirs, behind the driver's seat, with the seatback leaned to the steering wheel.

More than one night, the tent is pitched and is properly furnished.

The "cargo area in the back" is always full... a stranded motorist would have to spoon with the boys, on my MegaMat. Or, ride in the front half of the roof rack... or stand on the running board.... or be dragged behind 44... perhaps on a longboard, tethered to a tow rope.

These are a couple of my favorite times... the epitome of Solace in Solitude...

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Our “kids” wanted a small acreage, in a VERY remote area of NV. I wanted a place I could park my trailer for a few months each year and use it as a base camp, while exploring northeast and north central Nevada (Ruby Mountains and Jarbridge), as well as the many mountain ranges of northern Nevada.

The key to this was to find a tract that had direct access to as much public land as possible. Most tracts I found had no direct access to public land... or direct access to a section of public land (640 acres).

I found a 20 acre tract, with 100% mineral rights, that borders over 2.3m acres of public land and talked the seller down, from $10,250 to $6,600 and bought it sight unseen. Note: as reported, I drove up there last month and found 3’ of unplowed snow blocking the two BLM roads into the area. I visited with some miners, who were rehabbing an old copper mine. They told me the area where the tract is located is very nice and is easily accessible after the snowmelt. The BLM road actually goes thru the corner of the tract.

We don’t plan to build on it, per se, just use it and enjoy it. The pictures, Google Earth and OnX Hunt all show it to be just what we want.

It comes with a warranty deed (guaranteeing clear title), property taxes are paid current and are assessed at $20/year.

So, split three ways, this cost each to the three of us was $2,200/third, for the ownership and use of 20 acres of private land and direct access and use of over 2.3 million acres of public land.

The deed will transfer tomorrow, in Elko County and will be deeded to our “kids”, assigning them the responsibility to keep the taxes paid.

The Goshute Valley is very remote, very sparse, but is actually convenient to shopping, etc. in Elko, Wells and Wendover, via US-93 and I-80... once you get back on pavement.

There are probably less than a dozen private tracts in the Goshute Valley, one is (IIRC) 11,000 acres, a couple are 500-600 acres, most are 20-80 acres.

This is obviously off the grid (gas powered generator, solar and wind generation of electricity, etc.). This is perfect for our trailers... we already have generators and I have a solar setup. Fridge runs off propane, with 12vdc electronics. Air conditioner, when needed, will run off gas powered generator.

We have ample water rights (1800 gals per day), but don’t plan to drill a well. We can easily haul potable water and “gather” water from various public wells and filter it ourselves.

Anyway, that’s my story... and I’m anxious to get this surgery done, so I can head up there before summer.

GOSHUTE VALLEY

Pics:

 

[DSB345]

Very nice Danny! Good purchase

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

Nice score Danny

 

[waiting for time]

Looking good Danny. Now you can create your own off-road track.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Thanks Guys!!

 

[1911]

Very good Danny, congratulations!

What is the elevation there?

 

[120mm]

Wow. Sounds like your own little chunk of heaven, to me!

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Very good Danny, congratulations!

What is the elevation there?

~5600’

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Wow. Sounds like your own little chunk of heaven, to me!

That’s the plan!!

Dianna will eagerly tell you... our 49th anniversary approacheth... later this month... I need more solitary confinement... but, am finding it harder and harder to tolerate primitive camping of any sort.

We own a 20’ trailer, fully self-contained, with a pop-out, or slider... perfectly comfortable... a real “doghouse”... unless Dianna accompanies us... then it’s another of those McMansions.

There’s even enough floor space to accommodate a rousing game of grabass, when the boys are so inclined.

Laissez le bon temps rouler!!

 

[Solace in Solitude]

I’m going to post this here, in hopes it will help others... I’ll also post in a couple of other places.


I had a VA physical, when I retired from the Air Force in Aug, 1988. I had the VA physical because I was required to have it.

I was running 7 six minute miles every day and was quite healthy, with a few strands of hair and voices in my head.

The physical only found fairly severe high frequency hearing loss and severe tinnitus (the voices), having worked so many years constantly bombarded by the deafening sounds of yuge mainframe computers.

The audiologist said, “the high freq loss probably won’t cause you issues, except for the noise distortion hearing, when conversing in noisy places. The tinnitus will not get better, but, there’s not much we can do”.

He then asked if I wanted to apply for a service connected disability. I declined and went out into the civilian world, with a smile on my face, a song in my heart and a feeling I was missing out on the punchline much of the time.

Fast forward 30+ years and Dianna constantly asking me what conversation we’re having... seems she likes to talk about important stuff and I talk about whatever I thought she said.

More importantly, the tinnitus has gotten so bad, I’ve started relating to Van Gogh and, more concerning, to David Berkowitz.

Perhaps my pursuing of Solace in Solitude is more directly attributable to my poor hearing than I realized.

At any rate, I found neither MediCare, nor TriCare care about a retiree’s hearing... or the fact that I could practically buy my way into a mental institution, for the price of a hearing aid!!

And some of us have two ears... and both are bad.

I was gonna visit VA and I thought (again!) that I would first speak to the Audiologist at the Nellis AFB Hospital.

Great decision!!

He did the hearing tests, I paid $700 (a pair) wholesale for $6k in state of the art hearing aids.

I picked them up yesterday and The TINNITUS IS GONE!!!

Well, it’s there, but the aids now use white noise to mask the voices, ringing, buzzing, etc. and if you can’t hear Tinnitus, it’s, for all practical purposes GONE!!

First time in 40+ years that I have so thoroughly enjoyed the sounds of silence!!

Now, to turn off the closed captioning on Dianna... and get Teddy to bark lower. Chester actually barks and I say, “lower” and he barks lower. Teddy barks LOUD, especially with
His mouth near my hearing aid.

The bad news, the first time I took a hearing aid assisted leak, I almost went into cardiac arrest. If you’ve ever been to Niagra Falls, you can just about relate.

So, the moral... if any retired military need hearing help, try your local military ENT clinic or Audiologist. Some active duty are overwhelmed with so many active duty patients.. try another location until you find one that can help.

TriCare explanation

Hearing Aids | TRICARE

tricare.mil

DoD sponsored Retiree-At-Cost Hearing Aid Program (RACHAP)

Hearing Aids for Military Retirees

DoD and VA offer programs to help military retirees get hearing aids.

www.military.com

Goed gehoor!!

Bueno audicion!!

Bon audition!!

Good hearing!!

Cheers!!

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

A few of us at work were just talking about this same thing yesterday. I've been dealing with the tinnitus for the last 15 years, constant non-stop high pitched ringing, drives me nuts sometimes.

 

[tls3601]

Looks like a great place for 44 to revel in its ruggedness!! Nice purchase Danny I am sure you are already thinking of the perfect spot to camp out with 44 and the “boys”