Builds Project ToyLET (PICS)

[4alarm]

Met with the Dr. in Santa Monica yesterday. Unfortunately the R1507 trial is temporarily closed. This is the one that targets the IGF1R receptor. He hopes to have it re-opened in about 2 months. In the mean time they put me on the ET743 trial. This drug "Yondelis" is a form of chemo so the side effects will still be present. They said it won't be a fraction of how bad the AIM side effects were, but I should still have the nausea and low blood counts. This trial is every 3 weeks in Santa Monica. I start next week so I'll be flying out Tuesday morning and returning Wednesday night. When the R1507 trial gets re-opened, if this treatment isn't working, they'll move me over to it. The R1507 trial is every week so that means even more travel. This is gonna be $$$$$. At least I don't have to pay for the drugs.

 

[mrqtipp]

Just read your thread. my heart goes out to you and your family and I hope your health improves. Be strong

 

[Dynosoar]

Hang in there! You are a true fighter.

Dynosoar

 

[4alarm]

Thanks guys, I fight for my kids. I had my first new treatment this past week and so far I'm feeling OK. Just some fatigue.

I got up to Tucson today to help out a little on my FJ40. I was able to work a bit before lunch but after that I was just too tired, so I spent the rest of the day supervising.

We got the other tube fender notched and welded, some cross bars on the top of the cage, the other B-pillar notched and tacked, replaced some floor panels and built a removable trans/t-case tunnel, and just about got the fuel tank mounted.

Me supervising:

John cutting a new floor pan:

Dave cleaning up the welds after putting in the new fuel sender:

Sam working on the support for the fuel tank:

Chad fitting one of the cross bars on the top of the cage:

 

[4alarm]

Passenger side tube fender done:

Cross bracing in:

New floor pan:

Tranny/t-case tunnel:

Fuel tank frame:

Getting ready to put her away for the day:

One more just for fun:

 

[M3TAL D0RK]

looking good! its cool to see your buds helping out. I love it.

 

[Tapage]

looking good! its cool to see your buds helping out. I love it.

Those are good friends ! God bless 'em ..

 

[rabid]

First time I have read this thread.

Truck looks fantastic. Stay tough.

 

[Seth_O]

Josh,
Haven't been on this thread in a while, I'm sorry for your struggles and challenges but encouraged by your strength and determination.

After being given 6mos due to a rare kind of bone marrow cancer my grandmother stayed with us for 20yrs. Without that I would have never known her - my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.

And an impressive build too

 

[4alarm]

Had another CT scan 2 weeks ago then another treatment last week. The CT scan showed some tumors have grown and others have shrunk. Overall tumor volume has decreased and necrosis has increased. Overall good news. My abdomen has been distended for a few weeks now and we were hoping that it was fluid that could be drained. On Weds. I had a Dr appointment to discuss this and they sent me over to UMC for a sonogram. There were lots of pockets of fluid but the only one large enough to drain only measured about 300ml. The Dr recommended that we just leave it as he didn't think it would give me much relief and risk didn't out weigh the benefit. I've been feeling better the last few days and even got into work a little each day this past week. Next treatment is the week after next and I'll have another CT in about a month.

Now back to the good stuff! My FJ40 should be here any minute now. My friend Dave is bringing it down from Tucson today. Just about drivable, just needs a few things. Dave and a few other guys worked on it over the past 2 weekends and here is the progress:

Seat brackets welded in:

Seats going in:

Fuel sender and pickup sealed up:

More fender trimming:

Seats installed:

Some finish welding on the cage:

Capped the ends of the tube:

 

[4alarm]

Seatbelt bar installed:

Another angle:

Added a hoop for radiator protection:

Side view:

Another:

View from the passenger side:

Added some cross bracing to the rear of the cage:

Some poser shots:

 

[4alarm]

I ordered a set of RCI harnesses but only one came in. I e-mailed the company and there order form was messed up. The sent the second harness this AM. It should be here around Tues. next week.

 

[72cruiser]

i would love to have my couch as the front seat for my cruiser, ha ha.

 

[4alarm]

Project ToyLET came home on Sat. My co-pilot and I got to sit in it for the first time.

Loaded up:

Looks mean with the windshield down:

Co-pilot (my oldest son Aiden 3 1/2yrs) and I:

He thought it was a little too loud with the exhaust dumping straight out of the manifolds:

 

[4alarm]

Ordered some new poly bushings for the springs. Made some new shackles for the front. I'm going to remove a leaf or two from the front packs to lower the front to match the rear. I don't want to raise the rear any higher. It just barely fits in the garage.

I replaced some of the brake lines that were leaking. Looks like all the brake leaks are taken care of. Now I just need help bleeding the brakes and brakes are DONE!

I also wired up the alternator and hooked up an idiot light to complete the alternator wiring. So that's squared away. Then I wired up the amp meter to make sure I was getting 14 volts when running. All I need now is a 9/32 drill bit to mount the idiot light.

I need to get the harnesses mounted (still waiting on my second one), the exhaust done, install the new shackles/bushings, weld in the shock mounts, wire up the fan, and hookup the signal markers and it'll be driveable.

I'll use the GPS for my speedometer until I can afford new guages.

 

[89s rule]

Glad to see the updates. Keep strong and remember who is truly in control.

 

[TachedOutOffRoad]

Nice!!!!!!!!!

Looks great! Id leave the "custom" paint too

Is that a vintage Star Wars shirt? My 1 year old wears my 28 year old kiddie-sized shirts! You know the ones that you can almost see through because they have been washed so many times Aiden is a great name too! Our next will be Avery for girl or Aiden for a boy.

When I started my for the first time with no exhaust, I had the 1 year old with me, and now every time we see it he goes "WAMMMME WAMME WAMMMMMMME" He does it when he plays with his Cars (the movie) toys too

 

[4alarm]

My wife found those shirts at GAP online I think. They have several vintage style shirts. My kids and I (and my wife even though she won't admit it) are all Star Wars geeks. Every day.... "Daddy, can we watch Star Wars?".

 

[ontherox]

Wow,first time reading the thread.Excellent build and inspiring life story to boot,keep strong and dont look back!!!

 

[4alarm]

Thanks!

I have an appointment to get my exhaust done next Monday. Getting closer to being drivable!

Got my idiot light mounted, hood hinges modified and mounted, and fitted the shoulder straps for the harnesses. Looks like I'll need to weld in some cross bars on the seat mounts for the inner belt connections.

I know it's a bit redneck but I used some gate hinges and grinded them to look almost like they belong. Only problem was that the holes weren't exactly in the right places, so I drilled some new ones.

Hood hinges:

Idiot light:

Harnesses: