Our 1976 FJ40 - "Tonto"

[SOAZtim]

Great meeting you today and thanks for the help with my 4X carrier-all on now, just took some wiggling!!View attachment 1327253

No problem, happy to help and what a small world! (Also, I think your mom is pretty cool to be up for helping out with the truck)

Hey guys, if you ever venture down to the Sierra Vista/ Fort Huachuca area, lemme know, we can get together for beers & BS.

Will do! As it gets colder I want to do some southern AZ trips!

What a trip! and the wife is in! Think about the cross country relay--we need folks and rigs like this!

Already signed up! Assuming I get the head back on and everything in working order we're up for a few hundred miles at least.

 

[tls3601]

Yeah, Mom is a trooper-has been the extra set of hands more than a few times. She also has a home in Stoneridge-so not far away. Been on many runs in the Bradshaws as well..............

 

[SOAZtim]

It's ALIVE, it's ALIIIIVE.
Video by Tim Huber

 

[samc2447]

Purring like an old tractor! Looks good

 

[SOAZtim]

Thanks ABTx4x4, the machine shop really cleaned it up. Putting some fresh Red coolant and taking it for a drive tonight, I hope.

 

[AussieHJCruza]

Shiny! Looking good

 

[tls3601]

Looks great Tim!

 

[SOAZtim]

Did some thunderstorm cruising today.

 

[sggoat]

Somehow, the colors on this truck just seem to fit--after all the story of it's beginnings, I can't think of changing it---

 

[tls3601]

Yes, something about the colors-nice pic Tim! Thanks for sharing

 

[tls3601]

What area are you cruising around in? Looks like open Desert.

 

[SOAZtim]

What area are you cruising around in? Looks like open Desert.

This is just a couple minutes north of the 101 freeway. I'm sure it will all be houses soon, but it's the closest place I can go to feel like I'm out of town.

 

[tls3601]

Cool, good to know as winter is approaching and I will be looking towards the Black Canyon/Phoenix area to wheel!

 

[tls3601]

Ever wheel by Moores Gulch off the 17?

 

[SOAZtim]

I was going to say Knock Knock, who's there, but now it just doesn't seem funny. Once I got the idle sorted on ol Tonto Rockford I could hear a knock. With a screw driver I hunted it back to #6 which makes sense. So, with some help from a buddy named Bill (He is my Toyota god I'm glad to call a friend) he let me know what to look for.

I pulled the pan and before I got a chance to pull the rod end to check the bearing I could see plainly some gouging in the cylinder wall. Damn... one side was shallow and barely there, but the other.... it was deep and sharp. Gutted.

That's not something I can fix with hand tools. I think I've reached the end of my DIY for now. Time to figure out what to do next.

Random cell phone photos that don't show much, but my view tonight.

The deeper gouging shows in this one.

 

[SOAZtim]

Off he goes to New Mexico. Time to let the same master mechanic that rebuilt the engine about 22 years ago do it again.

 

[tls3601]

It will come back with newfound energy!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[1Fine40]

I remember long ago when my engine grenaded a rod..left a nice hole in the block! Wouldn't buff out and couldn't find an affordable
short or long block . Did the heart transplant and have never looked back. The 350 is no tractor motor, but has not blown up either!
If I had been a bit more in the green, I would have gone your route. Quite the story, keep calm and carry on!!

Cheers!

 

[Cruiser Abuser]

I loved reading your "barn find" story about Rockford on O&E. Sorry to hear he needs heart surgery, but I'm looking forward to reading about his return to the road. Best of luck with the rebuild!

 

[sterling]

Looks like you needed him and he needed you,thanks for adding to the mud lust of great 40 stories.