Hey guys,
Just got home from bringing the LV from Mark's place. As I'm sure you guys have read, unfortunately the gas tank I had repaired has a leak directly above the exhaust so I couldn't drive it home.
Sorry it's taken so long to respond to this amazing weekend, but I sat down in front of the computer last night to post and found myself asleep in the chair about 20 minutes later.
Thanks to all of you who could come out, and everyone else that has joined us in many other ways. The work done this weekend was amazing both in quantity and quality. I must admit though guys, the real prize for me was to be able to work with all of you on a Land Cruiser for two days straight. As I told Mark today, there was just as much in this for me to now be able to put a face and personality with the handles and avitars I've been looking at for so long. You guys were all awesome and it was a real honor to have you guys working on my rig.
First off I want to thank Georg. Although he won't take any credit for it, he is where this all started. He sent me a PM asking if I would even be up for another project after losing my LV, and then put it all in motion. You all know what he's done as far as Cruiser parts during this project, but he's also been a great encouragement throughout this whole thing right up to a late call at home last night. Georg is one stand up guy and I've respected him since the day I met him.
And then how do you properly say "thank you" to a guy who doesn't know you from Adam, but gives you a vehicle. . . and not just any vehicle, but the very rare LV. Eric, what you have done will affect my entire family for the rest of our lives. Your generousity is seldom seen. Thank you for your gifts this weekend as well. They say a lot about the man you are. It's gonna take some time, but I promise you, I will put the same kind of care and quality into finishing this LV as these guys put into it mechanically this weekend. You'll be proud of it when it's finished.
And of course Mark, who came to my house the day he heard of the accident, offered up his shop for this build (which kept things running due to needed parts being just a few seconds away), put hours and hours of his own time into both dismantling my old LV and building up my new one before the work party, is a font of Land Cruiser knowledge and has always shared that with me though the years I've known him, and orchestrated the work that went on this weekend.
To all of you who were able to come to the build let me say, I'd wheel, wrench, and put down a beer with any of you any time. YOU GUYS WERE ALL GREAT!!! Quality guys who put out quality work. To all of you that couldn't make it, these guys and their work were top notch.
Chris, it was a real pleasure meeting you and working with you. Thanks for your hard work and advice. I was confident with your guidence and all your experience at welding. Georg, Simon, Art, David, Conor, and Dan (D'Animal), thanks for all the work with the axles, brake lines and suspension, along with all of the other stuff you jumped into. Conor, thanks for being willing to get into some of the dirtiest work on the project. Dan, you're a bull. Thanks for all you did. John (Colangut), thanks for all the work and advice also, and for your offer to teach me to weld. I'll be calling you for some classes. Maybe we can meet over at Art's place. Art (Wasabi) and Dan (Dan HJ-45) thank you for the care and custom job you did on the wiring harness especially, but also for all the other stuff you did. I have always been a little concerned about the old wiring, but now I'll drive and not worry about packing the marshmellows. You guys did a beautiful job! Dan, thanks for driving all the way out from New Mexico, and for the pics you posted of me and my new favorite car ("The Golden Turd"). Eric (FJ40forlife) thanks for all of your hard work and for hanging out to the very end. You were all over the place and I really appreciate all you did for this project. Mike (FJ45Dude), the same to you. Thanks for your hard work and for staying late even though you had to drive back to Arizona. John (Calico) thanks for not only wrenching all weekend, but also for the use of your generator which we couldn't have finished the project without. Once the LV is ready for it, I want to hit Calico with you. Thanks again for the calico bag too. Dave (66LV), The first to get there and the last to leave. You were everywhere and we all benefitted from your hard work and knowledge. I look forward to seeing you on the trail. Rob (Landcrusher909), the man who delivered this LV to my house, what a pleasure seeing you again and thanks for your hard work and willingness to work all day Saturday, even though you had to work all night Saturday night. Steve (Owensexport), what can I say? Thanks again for making three tow trips out to make this happen . . . oh, and sorry about crashing your old LV. John (Livinginthepast), good to meet you and thank you for the vintage wiper switch for my LV. I'll fix it up and get it installed soon. Tim, it was good seeing you again. Thanks for coming out and helping us get it done. Did I forget anyone? I sure hope not. If I did, Please forgive me. I'm going of the top of my head after three weeks of almost no sleep to get the LV ready for this build.
I would also like to thank Eric Goebler and his family. He wanted to be here for the build, but the distance was too far. Instead, he and his family sent a new Smittybuilt XRC10 electric winch with a pull line of 10,000 pounds to my house. I will proudly wear that on the front of the LV. Thanks also to John Pardi for the oil pan sent for the build. I kept the note you sent in the pan John, Thanks.
Now, I would like to thank all of you for something else. Nothing means more to me than my family. Nothing. You probably haven't thought of this, but you, this Land Cruiser Community, have had such an impact on my family, especially on my boys. They know how much I love the Toyota Land Cruiser. They have seen pictures of me in my teens (now I'm almost 50) driving one. At the age of 5 they could tell the difference between a Cruiser and a Jeep. My wife explained to my boys that I didn't know most of you before this weekend, and that you all came from a far distance to build their dad another Cruiser. When they showed up to deliver dinner on Saturday, you all were like a swarm of bees building this and fixing that and they got to see it first hand. I have told them myself how all of you have stepped up selflessly to help someone you didn't even know, but when they saw you working on Saturday night, they really got it. What a great example you guys are. This is probably the greatest example of giving outside of our family that they have ever seen. Thank you all so much.
I look forward to the years ahead getting to know all of you. Thanks for putting me back in a LV again guys. I wouldn't want to be driving any other vehicle.
Gene
but I can't take it any longer here is a Group Shot before the real work began 
Anyone wanting copies if the photos I took PM me your address and I will get a CD made for you. 
