Saving The Old Rustbucket--My 1982 FJ40 Tale

[fireflyr]

Presently snowbound in Oklahoma City. Hope to get around to finishing the next chapter later tonight. Stand by.

 

[Softride62]

When y'all mentioned small brewery in the hill country I thought it had to be the Duck, I love that place! (stopped there when I was on my way to look at an FJ62 from Toyota of Boerne...weird)

 

[Sully73FJ40]

Wouldn't that be an excellent spot for a joint Alamo City Cruisers--WALCS meeting later this Spring? Naturally you'd have to drive baby.

Lee, that sounds like a great idea. I have been thinking that it would be fun to have an annual get together with you weird ones.

 

[Sea Knight]

Denver In My Rear View Mirror

“He was like a man who stands upon a hill above the town he had left, yet does not say 'The town is near,' but turns his eyes upon the distant soaring ranges.” ― Thomas Wolfe, Look Homeward Angel​

Well here I am in Denver, finally, and The Turtle and I are in one piece. I'm relieved, but there won't be much time to relax; we lost three days in Pueblo, days I'd hoped to spend goofing off with Steve and Suzy. That plan is kaput. There's no more flexibility in the travel schedule and now time is becoming critical. In order to stay on track we'll have to be in Sheridan, Wyoming tomorrow and Bozeman, Montana the following day. Not impossible, just not what I'd hoped.​

Following our supply run to Applejacks adult beverage emporium, Steve and I try to make the most of the evening by multitasking. Steve is a former 40 owner and a twelve banana mechanic. I have no doubt that if anything was missed by George and Lennie in Pueblo, he'll find it, so I ask him to give The Turtle a complete physical. We also know that wrenching will require considerable energy so we load up on carbohydrates as though we're preparing to run a marathon. We do this the old fashioned way, by swilling several bottles of high carb stouts, Colorado's finest. Just like eating a mountain of pasta and washing it down with vitamin filled smoothies. Bottled energy.​

Steve's sharp eye identifies several minor concerns. There's a loose Pitman arm, TRE zerks that require grease, a battery that needed securing, and the jerry-rigged doorbell-horn button wiring has come loose and has to be tweaked. Because a functioning horn will be critical out in the wide open spaces, where the buffalo roam, right? I don't know squat about Weber carbs, but The Turtle has a Weber 38 and while we're foolin' around under the hood I see a blue wire coming from the carb sitting atop the valve cover, insulation melted through. We determine that it's the electric choke power lead and needs to be replaced, which only takes minutes. Next comes the major operation of the evening--weatherproofing. If the Oklahoma monsoon rain that flooded The Turtle was bad, what lies ahead could be even worse. And that duck tape I bought at Zinger a couple of weeks ago, the tape I said I faithfully took on every road trip? Well, apparently I was so unhinged by the Zinger girls encounter that I left it at home. Steve comes to the rescue and donates a fresh roll of tape from his garage stock. We thoroughly seal the windshield frame to hard top junction with several overlapping layers of tape. When we're done there's enough protection there to withstand anything short of armor piercing rounds. Since I won't be traveling through northern Idaho, stray bullets shouldn't be a concern.​

They say the average adult requires eight hours sleep per day. I don't usually sleep that long and tonight I doubt I'll get in four after Steve and I finish swapping yarns and complete our carb loading. However that isn't a concern, because of the narcolepsy suite. That's the name Steve and Suzy have given their guest room, and it fits. It's a dark basement hideaway with a bed worthy of a five star hotel, and it's very quiet. Once you crawl into that bed, it's like returning to the womb. I've slept here before and there's some sort of weird multiplier effect which results in three hours of rest for every hour of sleep. I don't understand how that works, but it works. As best I recall, Steve and I finish applying bandaids to The Turtle around 0130, and I wake up at 0600 feeling refreshed and ready to get underway. I follow the smell of freshly brewed coffee up the stairs and find Steve already up and checking the weather forecast. He says I may see rain, freezing rain, and snow through northern Colorado and on through Wyoming, with temperatures not rising above the low 20's. They call it a Winter mix. Fortunately The Turtle's old heater works like a champ and the windshield gap is sealed so this doesn't cause me any worry. Even if it did, I don't have a choice. Thanks to Suzy, I feast on a home cooked breakfast and after fortifying myself by drinking all the coffee I can hold, I can't put off leaving any longer. I already have a room booked in Sheridan and according to my GPS it's 425 miles due north on Interstate 25, a six hour drive. Allowing for one gas stop and driving 65 rather than the 75 speed limit, I figure I'm looking at something like a seven hour drive, door-to-door. I bid my good friends farewell, back The Turtle out of Steve's garage, and once again we're rollin'. It's 0830.​

After I leave, Steve talks with his friend Dave from Colorado's Rising Sun 4WD club about my Texas to Hawaii road trip. He later posts Dave's comments to the 3FE forum. Dave eloquently describes the Land Cruiser community in a few simple words:​

"Cruiserheads are a unique bunch for sure! I suppose it's like any hobby that is enjoyed, taken to the highest levels and then twisted into a lifestyle that totally encompasses you and all your money. It's ugly if someone with indifferent logic takes a look at the cult. But to those who pray to the deities known only to the faithful as the Cruiser Gods, it all seems so normal. ​

Why wouldn't I help a guy I've never met by driving a truck that would make the toughest of demolition derby drivers say 'No Thanks' half way across the country?"

Indeed!​

to be continued...​

 

[rover67]

This has been a lot of fun to read. Good to hear your dad is doing better too.

I love how you've put all of your thoughts into words

I am excited to keep reading about the adventure!

 

[Sea Knight]

This has been a lot of fun to read. Good to hear your dad is doing better too.

I love how you've put all of your thoughts into words

I am excited to keep reading about the adventure!

Thanks man. There's more adventure ahead, just a few miles ahead.

We have identical drivers side front fender rot. Same exact spot. TJK

Todd, you must have gotten into your personal stash of North Carolina white lightnin' because your vision seems to be impaired. The reason you noticed "identical drivers side front fender rot" is....that's your truck, when it still belonged to Nolen.

Your rust repairs are coming right along. Now you'll be required to post photos after the new paint job.

 

[wngrog]

that's your truck

Todd has his blond moments.....I find them very becoming.

 

[Kaderabek]

That pretty well tops them all!

Now back to my pencil and eraser world....

TJK

 

[fjwagon]

That is so true. I know the feeling, I found fj40 at someone's carport in pieces and asked the owner if he would sell it and he agreed only if I could put it back together and get it started. I put it together, started, and drove it home and kept peeking out the window and everytime I did it, I would get a grin knowing it was mine. I even got personal plates for it, "I Mis TX". Anyhow, had to relocate back to Texas and to had to sell, when I sold it I stood on the side of the street and waved goodbye to the new owner and stood there until I could not see it. It felt like loosing a good friend.

I will keep reading, thanks.

That's a story I didn't even put into this thread, picking up The Turtle and driving away with he and his wife and 5 year old son standing in front of their house looking like a family member had just died. I know he isn't on MUD, hasn't been since the sale.

 

[t-o]

i just devoured 21 pages (and some trout slayer), great story. I remember Jeremy lived somewhat close and I got a rush glimpsing that cruiser in our 35/183 hood 10 years ago. I felt like i knew or knew of most cruisers then, I wonder where they all are now!? To think his has gone to Hawaii and mine now has it's own garage space (wtf? sissy!) way on opposite side of town. Anyway, enjoying the ramblings, onward! Tim

 

[ramblinrodbuster]

that sure is a fun post...

 

[Sea Knight]

Catching Up

That pretty well tops them all!

Now back to my pencil and eraser world....

TJK

Oops. No intent to fool you Todd. I didn't realize you'd never seen your truck without the hard top. I guess they do all have rust through fenders in the same spot. Mine did.

I remember Jeremy lived somewhat close and I got a rush glimpsing that cruiser in our 35/183 hood 10 years ago.

Yep, The Turtle was Jeremy's old 40. Small world eh? He'd owned it for seven years and had it built just the way he wanted it before having to sell. I felt like crap driving away from their house, even though I was only the delivery guy. I'm pretty sure his wife was crying as I pulled away.


In response to several PM's and emails asking what happened to the next chapter, I'm workin' on it. My Dad, AKA Army, was hospitalized on Tuesday with a raging case of pneumonia. That's not easy on a 91 year old, even as tough as he is. I've been camping in his hospital room and haven't had much writing time. He's improving, but still very weak. I hope to get this story back on track and moving toward Wyoming by this weekend. Stay tuned.

 

[Heirloom]

We can afford to wait. Take care of your father first.

 

[mmw68]

I just got word that the keynote speaker at LSLC round up this year is Lee.

 

[yooper]

Go Army!

 

[Kaderabek]

I'm sorry to hear that about your father, Lee. We'll be sure to remember him in our prayers.

TJK

 

[kling-on]

Take care of your Dad we can wait ...

 

[oldfj40]

Go Army!

X2

Best wishes sent your way.

 

[UncleMeldon]

The Turtle and I are thinking of your Dad

 

[SHUSH]

My wife and I are praying for ya'll Lee.

I just had to spend a night in the hospital so I REALLY feel for you and Army as it appears to be a recurring thing for you recently......hate it for you