Latest work photos:
https://it.thislife.com/XN8kdUDn
Trip photos:
https://it.thislife.com/AX65B8jE
Our trip to Phoenix to visit Mike, Wendy, and of course Hank, started with a bang. Angie and I sat for an extra hour at the airport while Southwest assessed the damage to the plane from a lightning strike that left a big black char mark above the front door. We had just spent most of the previous night in the basement hiding from tornados, so caution was already our mode of operation. After an hour or so they replaced it with a different plane and we were on our way.
We landed and began our search for the rental center which we learned was nowhere near the terminal as the reservation had indicated. Thankfully we were able to walk right up to the counter. We had decided to take a convertible so we could enjoy a drive up to Sedona and see the sites better. The only option we had was a Mustang, and we soon learned this meant we had to stand at that counter and watch dozens of people come and go with their rides. I seem to have that kind of luck with rentals.
As Angie said near the end of the trip, "We are just not Mustang people.” No, no we are not.
Finally we were on our way to the hotel, car pool lane, and 75mph speed limit in the city. 75?!
After we checked in it was time to head over to Mike and Wendy’s. Wendy gave me very specific directions which I did not very specifically write down. My notes were a word game of "sounds like". And I have GPS, so why bother?
As we made our first turn into the maze of streets near their place, we soon learned "why bother". Yes the streets all connect, but no the pavement doesn’t always go all the way. Wendy had given me the paved path. If I was in my 40, no problem. But the Mustang wasn’t two things: quick and off road.
Wendy was in the driveway to greet us, which was really helpful because I was driving right past her. The first thing you learn about their house is they have dogs. Lots of them. And they are all sizes. Oh, and cats. I made my way through to the garage where Mike was still hard at work on the brakes.
We had an instant connection. I wasn’t meeting someone for the first time. I was reunited with a kindred spirit, a long lost friend. Like Mike said as I was leaving two days later, “we are brothers”.
And just like that, finally, after weeks and weeks of phone calls and batches of photos, I was standing in the presence of my FJ40 Land Cruiser. I could touch it. Smell it. I was in desert heaven.
I started wandering around looking at things and rattling off questions to Mike as he described first hand what he’s found in pulling it apart. By this point the cruiser is in pieces and piles all over the yard.
Mike didn’t cut the crossmember as I’d thought, the PO did. And the second frame was their attempt to repair it. They made a right good mess of it from what I could see. Mike is going to repair the second frame, and fab a new crossmember to repair mine.
The secondary tank, which looks to be a custom fab job, is rusted and pretty worthless. While I wouldn’t necessarily turn down the extra gas, the reality is I don’t need it. I plan to flat tow for longer distances. If I decide I need the extra I may opt for the long range tank and put that under the seats. For now I think we’ll go with the stock tank and cover up the secondary spout.
Over the past week or so, Mike’s done a third member swap, rebuilt knuckles, rebuilt hubs, wheel bearing repack and reseal, all new seals, and tie rod ends replaced. Basically, everything is new. Same with rear axle, it's set up with disc brakes and using the front third member with low miles to give this cruiser new life.
One of the springs needs to be re-arched. Once that’s done, and the bottom is sealed and painted, he can get things put back together.
Very soon will be digging into the 2F. The split transfer case we believe is from a 60. For a brief moment when pulling it apart we thought we might have an H55, but that was quickly ruled out. Still it seems the 60 upgrade ought to make for smoother shifting and if I recall a better low range.
On Saturday, Angie and I took a run up to Sedona in the Mustang to see the sights. I was really hoping to spot more vintage cruisers in the desert, but suffered counting Jeeps instead. We did however spy a couple old Scouts. In Missouri I’ll see a Scout II sometimes, but they don’t look like this. I snapped a pretty nice pic heading up 179 to Sedona.
Before we left on Sunday, I twisted Mike’s arm into taking me for a spin in his 40. It’s quite a climb to heave up into that beast! Despite its height, it felt completely stable. And wow does the F have power. It was clear to me in that moment that every FJ40 I test drove was in gross disrepair by comparison. These old tractors can run really well with the right attention.
I’m so thrilled to have my new brother working on Hank. I’m gaining way more than a truck.
