Sounds like VERY good words of wisdom! Thank you so much. I agree with you. I just want to get it running again (too bad someone took the engine completely apart and then stopped, and it's sitting in the back, see attached pic). I learned to drive on a stick shift, but haven't driven one in ages. This, however, is a column shift, and I haven't driven one of those in 40 years! LOL! I'm wondering, for my boys, if I should teach them how to drive a 3 on the tree, or a 4 on the floor. I always loved driving a stick, but had both hips reconstructed 39 years ago at the ripe old age of 16, so especially for driving in traffic I started driving automatics. But I think it would be great for the boys. Load them and our fishing gear up and go wet a hook, or even take it to some trails or the beach.
And I REALLY like what you said about listening, and hearing the story it is trying to tell. You should be a writer! So my 1st / Primary goal is to get it going again, and get the things on it that it should have had originally (hub caps, ash tray even though I don't smoke, original front bumper instead of this big cattle guard, roll bar) and see if I can clean and buff out the paint. Growing up back home in Texas, I used to know a retired missionary that had an FJ40 in his barn. I'm sure it is gone by now, but I'm trying to get in touch with him to find out. I'd ultimately like to teach my 2 sons how to work on & restore these, and then give them each one as a wedding gift someday.
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