ROTW - fuelgeddes Nov10

[fuelgeddes]

Well it all started when my heep had started given me problems, so I started looking into Land Cruisers and well the addiction took hold. I soon bought my first 80s thinking I would never need a mini van with a truck that had three rows of seats.

I soon started modifications and next thing you know, it was not family friendly anymore. and as my family grew we ended up with a mini van any way.

But along the way I picked up a 1976 fj40 drove nearly 300 miles to pick it up and pulled it with the 80. I would not do that again , but I did have a big smile the hole way until I had to quickly stop.

More to come .......

 

[ocdbeetle]

Nice - How about more pics of the 40?!

 

[ocdbeetle]

OK...I just saw the "more to come".....

 

[fuelgeddes]

more..

But after spending nights in the garage (rust) and some $$$ in the wrong places I soon realized that the wife was becoming upset and with the new baby in the house and I have to let the 1976 go....

Then not to soon after the 80s started to have some issues and it begin to become a problem for a daily driver and my ability to work on it was limited. so I sold it.....

Now being addicted like I am, when one fine day me and the wife were driving in the area and the wife sees a new resto Fj40 and says " That would be nice to have something like that one day " and I said really I think the same thing....

Then over the next several weeks I searched and searched and searched for a clean FJ40. But soon become addicted to another idea. I wanted a dream ,a diesel land cruiser , but I soon realized that everyone else wanted one too. They all had my idea... create a good driver and run BIO fuel.

Then one day search back posts I spotted it.... a BJ40 ad , the owner was asking alot but who knows maybe it was still for sale....

more to come...

 

[fuelgeddes]

still more...

So I called the guy on the phone hoping it was still for sale but also kind of knowing that it was gone. Of course he said he still had it. So I asked a ton of questions and wanted to know the full story of how he got it in the states. His story was he and a friend flew down to Costa Rica for spring break, picked out a BJ40 the best one they could find that would take them back home to Co and they drove it back surfing and drinking all the way home. He also said that he had just applied for the title in CO and should have that in hand with a week. I asked him to send lots of pictures and we started talking about price...

He was very up front with me and let me know the truck was not a queen and would not be a show truck and had a few problems but nothing major.

After reviewing the pictures and researching his story a little , we struck a price on the truck . (risky sight unseen)

more to come.....

 

[fuelgeddes]

Still some more...

The seller was very helpful in helping with the shipping, I had thought about flying out and driving back but it was too risky plus I had never seen the truck run. So I got a great deal on shipping 675 (well sort of) I was excited and then told the wife what was coming in the mail.....

Now I had arranged with the seller this weird hold back of $$$ so I was sure to get the title and paper work (he still had not got the title in hand).

The shipper had given me the drivers cell number for some reason so I called him everyday to find out where he was and how the trip was going. He was a good guy at that point.

The day arrived for pick up

I met the shipper at a large parking lot near my house with wife and kids in tow. As soon as I say the truck I knew something was terribly wrong. The hood was bent upward from slamming into the roof. Plus parts were missing.............

Of course the shipper claimed faulty latches were to blame and that they could not clearly be held responsible. we argued for several minutes until security showed up ...

Finally after noting all the damage I took it home. Even after getting into it for an hour, it all seemed to melt away as I pulled away in my BJ40....

More to come....

 

[fuelgeddes]

A little more...

So the seller and I talked and I asked him to read his shipping invoice real careful and make sure he wanted to pursue getting any money out of the shipper. After some talking the seller and I ended up coming up with a suitable price deduction for the damaged hood and missing parts and gave up on the shipper. After all the seller did tie down the hood with old speaker cable..

So thats the story of how I got it. The truck is a 1979 BJ40 and came to me with Drums all around, no roll bar, great hard top and jump seats. bent bumper and really really dirty. Along with some bondo, and some more bondo... I think I did ok on the price even with a few problems.

I have been working on the truck for the past year doing small items my self and having a few things done by a local specilty shop. (atlanta custom creations) They gave me the look over and list of items to address and I have been slowly working on that list.

So far I have added a OEM roll bar, cleaned the radiator , new battery, new rear tires, forward facing rear seat, 12v plug, stereo, xm radio, besttop softtop, front bumper.

I think I have a keeper and seeing the looks on my kids faces when they go for a ride is what makes it all the worth while.


one more....

 

[fuelgeddes]

last one ... Future mods.

I cant forget future mods...

I am currently planning for a hell creek 2 1/2 lift, then a front axle service with a disk brake conversion. Then 33x9.5 on black wagon wheels. I am thinking of some auto meter gauges so I can see whats going on a little better. new seat bottoms, then some day new paint.. and the list goes on and on........

Thanks to all on Mud for fueling my obsession !!!!

 

[FJFOOL]

Good story, glad it ended up okay. And the kid's smiling really makes it good !!

 

[kona.mtb]

Nice BJ. Now get that muffler pipe rollcage out and put something beefy in there for the kids. I did not put my son in there with the top off till the MT cage went in.
Really nice truck though...

 

[alkarich]

Nice rig and great photo of the kids in their seats.

 

[fuelgeddes]

Yes add the MT jackson to the future mods, the OEM roll bar was a temp solution until I could afford the full cage.

 

[lostmarbles]

Loved reading the story.

Nice looking cruiser too and I love the work you're doing on it. (The freshly-painted aircleaner and clean rocker cover are a big improvement to the appearance of the engine bay.)

But I have a few questions:

How did you manage to fit such a large fuel filter cartridge? In my 1979 BJ40 the lower radiator hose (where it meets the waterpump) gets in the way so I could fit only the shortest cartridges.

And why can't I see the "ribbing" in the rear-floor area of your tub? Has that area had been replaced with flat sheet and rhino-lined?

 

[mountain man]

Well, you can never own just one!

 

[cruiser enthuiser]

Grats on the rig, it looks great.

I like that rear seat. Any idea where that came from?

 

[k91]

Sweet cruiser....Can you tell me what type of rear bench seat that is?? Thanks, and welcome. Matt

 

[fuelgeddes]

The rear seat is a best top rear seat which folds forward. I got it of Craigslist for $100 and it was brand new. It has worked out really well.

and to answer the bed question on the truck, yes the bed has been replaced along with some other areas. I think they did a good job and I have no rust in the rear to worry about as of now.

thanks

 

[Maros N Bagos]

Thanks for the story.

Nice Land Cruiser.