Now I mean it -- new proud owner of a 76 FJ40

[duffontap]

A good friend of mine just signed on for the fly-and-drive, so it's turning into a nice adventure trip. Not that driving on I80 across all of Nevada is all that exciting...

Don't forget your hearing protection!!

 

[bikersmurf]

Looking back I wish I'd spent a little more money on the initial purchase. I've got $12+ into mine and it still doesn't look as nice as yours. In the end it won't matter... It's only money.

 

[drooartz]

Gotcha. I paid $10k for my '78 and a truckload of parts because it was original paint, he was the original owner and I got the books, records and even the window sticker. In retrospect I probably paid too much for the condition it was in, but I've sold a couple thousand $$ worth of parts. No regrets.

I don't worry too much about overpaying -- I figure if you set a budget and get what you want within that budget than you paid the right amount. Sounds like you found a good one, certainly no reason for regrets. This is going to be fun! (and expensive, and frustrating, and...)

Don't forget your hearing protection!!

Luckily (?) my friend and I have both spent years around loud noises -- he in a shop and me on stage in front of amplifiers. Loud noises don't bother us too much.

Looking back I wish I'd spent a little more money on the initial purchase. I've got $12+ into mine and it still doesn't look as nice as yours. In the end it won't matter... It's only money.

Well said.

I learned this lesson with the British sports cars I've been tinkering with over the last 6 years. After one aborted project and one 4-year restoration, I had no problem spending upfront for a solid truck. And as you said, it's only money -- this is a hobby and a passion and I never add up the receipts.

 

[TCSTARK]

Welcome to MUD! Enjoy the adventure!

 

[drooartz]

Well, it's 4:15 am on Saturday and I'm getting ready to leave for the airport to fly out to California with a buddy to get the Cruiser and drive it back to Utah. Here we go!

 

[jmdaniel]

Well, it's 4:15 am on Saturday and I'm getting ready to leave for the airport to fly out to California with a buddy to get the Cruiser and drive it back to Utah. Here we go!

Good luck, wear clean underwear, and take pictures!

Love,
Mom

 

[drooartz]

Made it as far as Winnemucca (sp?) today. Truck's running great, cruising nicely at 60mph.

 

[Bigslug]

Once it's home and I've gone through it I'll be selling my Honda Fit to pay for it -- and the cruiser will become my daily driver.

Well done! Saving the environment is hard, strenuous work. Far better to let someone else do it.

 

[Eshu Elegua]

where's the pics of the trip ??? even a cel pic its great for ours...

 

[1911]

Congrats from a fellow British Car guy ...

I learned this lesson with the British sports cars I've been tinkering with over the last 6 years.

I've been through that particular illness some years ago; both of these for example were daily drivers:

Anyway, congratulations on your new rig and have a great trip home.

 

[drooartz]

Here I am at the Sacramento airport with my first look at the truck. Definitely needs some work here and there, but it runs strong and the body is really sound.

 

[drooartz]

I've been through that particular illness some years ago; both of these for example were daily drivers:

Anyway, congratulations on your new rig and have a great trip home.

Nice rides -- I've a good friend with a couple Sunbeams, including fantastic race car. Great fun if occasionally frustrating.

 

[1911]

Great fun if occasionally frustrating.

Yeah that pretty much sums up British vehicle ownership for me. The BSA was a blast and would win bets, but the clutch needed adjusting about once a week and the points in the Lucas magdyno were not indexed at all and could easily be installed upside-down or completely backwards. And the "lights" worked strictly by capricious whim. The Sunbeam (only an Alpine) had a pot-metal carb and when an emulsion tube broke, I had to fix it with superglue since there were no spares. Oh, and you had to set the points and timing about once a fortnight and adjust the valve lash every oil change, and clean the brushes and armature on the starter motor about once a month.

 

[77CJ5]

.

Here I am at the Sacramento airport with my first look at the truck.

Definitely needs some work here and there, but it runs strong and the body is really sound.

Congrats on a nice find/purchase!

Please keep us updated with plenty of pics.

Safe travels!



.

 

[Pighead]

Whatever you do, Droo, don't lose that original gascap, one of the finest I've seen...

 

[drooartz]

Thanks for that, Pighead. I feel stupid enough about that one as it is.

Home safe and sound with a glass of good Scotch in hand. Other than my stupidity with the gas cap loss the trip went smoothly. Hit some nasty snow east of Wells, NV that lasted for a couple hours. Thankfully the old cruiser handled it all just fine. 720 or so miles over two days. Cruised at 60 mph sweet and smooth.

Not exactly the perfect Land Cruiser trip, but I'm really glad that I did it this way rather than shipping the truck here. That's one tough old truck. Needs some attention here and there, but it was what I expected and I'm glad to have another FJ40 after all these years.

 

[drooartz]

Yeah that pretty much sums up British vehicle ownership for me.

I've had good luck with my MGB -- put a couple thousand miles on it last summer without much issue. Like Land Cruisers, they're tough old things that just need a bit of attention here and there.

 

[Pighead]

Congratulations.

 

[78Cruzr]

Jinks him!

Whatever you do, Droo, don't lose that original gascap, one of the finest I've seen...

That didn't last very long!

Nice cruiser! Welcome back to the fold...

 

[duffontap]

Sounds like a riot. That is a great way to start out with a great looking cruiser.