Saving The Old Rustbucket--My 1982 FJ40 Tale (9 Viewers)

[fireflyr]

When I haven't driven my '40 for a few weeks I spend the first few minutes of the journey jumping at every rattle, creak and moan thinking the old beast is flinging itself apart. I had the same feeling jumping back into this adventure, but by the second paragraph I was back in the groove. Thanks for getting us back on track Lee.
It's nice to have Army back on board too.

 

[kim]

What a great thread, Cruiser, beer, traveling solo in a 40.....

Doesn't get much better.

 

[davegonz]

Route

Damn...

 

[kling-on]

Damn...

Wow

Sent from outer space via my mind

 

[gwalt584]

Great Job!

Lee,
I am amazed! What a journey.
I just today read your entire thread. First, let me offer my condolences in the loss of Army. I grew up in Jones County and your dad and my dad were real close to the same age, he also attended High School in Jones County. We should talk about that some time.
I hate that you and Dave did not have the time to stop by when you made your road trip last year. I look forward to meeting you when you do come back to Laurel. Oh, my work place is just across the street from the Jones County courthouse in Laurel.
So let me know when you are in town and you are welcome to stay at my place. Both of my sons are grown and it's just my wife and I and we have plenty of room. so I would be honored to have you visit.
Can't wait for the next chapter, keep it coming.
Gary

 

[tucker74]

Maybe I am, but IMO there's nothing more inspiring than a man and his truck on the open road, and I don't mind the solitude. When I get the rustbucket back together and expedition ready, I intend to drive it from Texas to Alaska, hopefully next year. I made that same drive in 1999, in my Isuzu Trooper. Went across the Yukon Territory and British Columbia on the way to Alaska. Another trip I'll never forget.

That's not gonna be a solo trip OMA, at least not all of it

Tucker

 

[Sea Knight]

Thanks for getting us back on track Lee. It's nice to have Army back on board too.

I wrote the first few paragraphs of the Sheridan chapter in Army's hospital room. Read them to him as I was writing, and he even remembered our conversation about drilling wells in Wyoming. He remembered everything. When he started going south, I stopped writing. Started up again yesterday. There's a lot more of this tale to tell, and Army will be right there with us.

Damn...

Dave, thanks for building the map. That's the first time I've seen the entire route on a single page. I knew it was a long ride but didn't grasp the scale of it until seeing your map. As you said, Damn!

Lee,
I hate that you and Dave did not have the time to stop by when you made your road trip last year. Gary

I regret that we didn't have time to stop and visit. I hope to spend some time in Mississippi this Summer. It sounds like we have a lot to talk about. It would be remarkable if we find out that our Dad's went to school together. Small world, eh?

That's not gonna be a solo trip OMA, at least not all of it.Tucker

I haven't forgotten about my co-pilot. We still have some work to do on the old rustbucket before it's expedition ready. But first I have to figure out how to tear you away from your new 60" TV.

 

[patride71]

Lee,
I am amazed! What a journey.
I just today read your entire thread. First, let me offer my condolences in the loss of Army. I grew up in Jones County and your dad and my dad were real close to the same age, he also attended High School in Jones County. We should talk about that some time.
I hate that you and Dave did not have the time to stop by when you made your road trip last year. I look forward to meeting you when you do come back to Laurel. Oh, my work place is just across the street from the Jones County courthouse in Laurel.
So let me know when you are in town and you are welcome to stay at my place. Both of my sons are grown and it's just my wife and I and we have plenty of room. so I would be honored to have you visit.
Can't wait for the next chapter, keep it coming.
Gary

My mom's side of the family is from Laurel (my grandmother was around Lee's dad's age), so I am willing to bet there are some connections there.

That's not gonna be a solo trip OMA, at least not all of it

Tucker

Yeah, I think there are going to be more than a few co-pilots on that trip when its all said and done!

 

[BJ41]

hea Sea Knight (edit 'and Davegonz' ) thanks for putting up the map ... its class and a bit like holy @@#@

not a bit jealous ..... really

 

[davegonz]

Lee,
I am amazed! What a journey.
I just today read your entire thread. First, let me offer my condolences in the loss of Army. I grew up in Jones County and your dad and my dad were real close to the same age, he also attended High School in Jones County. We should talk about that some time.
I hate that you and Dave did not have the time to stop by when you made your road trip last year. I look forward to meeting you when you do come back to Laurel. Oh, my work place is just across the street from the Jones County courthouse in Laurel.
So let me know when you are in town and you are welcome to stay at my place. Both of my sons are grown and it's just my wife and I and we have plenty of room. so I would be honored to have you visit.
Can't wait for the next chapter, keep it coming.
Gary

Gary, we were in a bit of a rush to get back home and not upset the wives. Maybe next time I visit Lee's plantation we can meet up.

 

[lordbater]

I'll repeat, again, what's already been said numerous times.. What a story... Good job..

a

 

[gwalt584]

Visit

I regret that we didn't have time to stop and visit. I hope to spend some time in Mississippi this Summer. It sounds like we have a lot to talk about. It would be remarkable if we find out that our Dad's went to school together. Small world, eh?
[/QUOTE]

I look forward to your visit to Mississippi. In the meantime, keep writting your very good at it.
And I will continue my current 40 project vehicle. I might have it completed by the end of summer or at least that is my plan.
Take care
Gary

 

[gwalt584]

visit

Gary, we were in a bit of a rush to get back home and not upset the wives. Maybe next time I visit Lee's plantation we can meet up.

I understand completely, the bumper is still here. Hey, I will have a lot of other parts that you may need. I have picked up parts and pieces of FJ40's from Dothan, Atlanta, St. Louis, Denver and all over for the current project.
Again, looking forward to the visit.
Gary

 

[gwalt584]

small world

My mom's side of the family is from Laurel (my grandmother was around Lee's dad's age), so I am willing to bet there are some connections there.


What a small world, PM me and maybe we can make a connection!!! That would be crazy.
Gary

 

[patride71]

My mom's side of the family is from Laurel (my grandmother was around Lee's dad's age), so I am willing to bet there are some connections there.


What a small world, PM me and maybe we can make a connection!!! That would be crazy.
Gary

Will do..

I was actually with Dave and Lee when we went to pick up Dave's 80 in Mississippi last year, so I would have been able to see if we are long lost cousins!

 

[twoyotas]

After finally peeking into this thread, I have spent my free time of the last couple of days reading, laughing, and crying. My deepest sypmathies on the recent loss of your father, and loss of your mother last year. Your descriptions of them reminded me so much of my grandparents, who were of the same generation. So much so that I have had some very watery eyes the last few days. I am certain it was not the easist subject to write and share, but I hope it has helped you to do so, and I thank you for it.

You have also stoked my desires to get my 40 rolling again. Although I don't think I will ever have a month in which to make a road trip, it sure makes me want to. It has been a while, but I have driven from here in Northern California to Silverton, Texas (south of Amarillo, down sr86) a few times. I met a couple of characters here and there, but they didn't measure up to the ones in your story. If I ever get to make a trip like that again, I will try to write about it, but I have no illusions about it being even half the tale you have told so far. Even if it was, I don't think I could relate it as well as you have.

Seriously, I would buy this book. Now that I have caught up to recent posts, I am looking forward to reading new installments. Like the serial literature of early times. Your writing style is truly addictive. The portraits you have painted of the cast are so good, I don't need to see photos. The descriptions of the landscapes are so vivid, they instantly call up memories of when I travelled through much of the same territories.

If ever your wandering brings you to NorCal, you would be welcome to find a nights rest here.

 

[Sea Knight]

A Few Answers

Afternoon Gentlemen:

Answers to questions from your PM's and emails.

1. The Route: The Google route map that Dave posted is accurate, except for a few random tangents that I took. The total distance driven from Austin to Seattle, including side trips I haven't mentioned, was ~3,500 miles. If I'd taken the most direct route suggested by MapQuest, the distance would have only been around 2,300 miles, but my route was anything but direct. What's the fun in that?

2. Fact or Fiction: All the cities, restaurants, motels, and characters are real. If you were to drive the same route today, you could easily identify all the places I describe and possibly even find some of the same characters. I think the only name I made up was little Arturo, the kid in New Mexico. Obviously Ken and Barbie, Pancho and Lefty, George and Lennie, Yosemite Sam, and probably some others I can't remember, are all names I came up with, usually because I didn't know the real names. All the conversations are re-created but I'd be willing to bet none of them are off by more than a few words. What was said and by whom is 100% accurate. I started keeping a journal as soon as I hit Oklahoma City, which was day one, so it hasn't been difficult to remember exactly what happened. For some of the episodes such as the encounter with Gayla, the New Mexico road stop girl, I don't need a journal to jog my memory. You don't forget things that memorable. At least I don't.

3. Pictures: I wasn't traveling with a digital camera or a camera equipped smart phone. I did buy several disposable cameras at a Wallyworld in Pueblo, and used them between Colorado and Washington. Some pics were later scanned and stored on my laptop, and I've posted them here whenever they fit the narrative. Somewhere among the junk at my house, I have the other pics that didn't get scanned. With any luck, I'll find them before the thread is done and post the best ones here. A couple of you have asked that I post a photo of Army. I have a photo taken of him at age 33, in Big Bend National Park. It was one of his personal favorites. I'll scan and post it here, soon.

4. Book: Believe it or not, I started this thread to document the rebuild of my 40, which began in March of last year. Someone, I think Dave Gonzalez, suggested that I make it a narrative instead of a traditional repair thread. He said I should begin with the tale of The Turtle and our epic road trip, and end up with repairing the old rustbucket. So that's how this all started. I never thought of this as book quality material but now that I'm into it and there seems to be some interest, maybe it is? Every one of these short posts could be expanded into a real chapter without much effort. So, I'm not ruling anything out, but first I have to finish this thread and there's a long way to go.

5. What's Ahead: We're about to leave Wyoming and enter Big Sky Country. I've already started writing that chapter and I think it'll be one of the better ones. After Montana we'll drive across Idaho and Washington, stopping in Spokane to meet a Cruiserhead friend, then on to Landpimp's estate in Gig Harbor. We deliver The Turtle to the shipper in Seattle, then end the story of Uncle Meldon's 40 by flying to Kona, Hawaii. Couple of tales from Kona and then back to Texas. But that isn't the end of the story. Before getting around to the rustbucket repairs, we still have to drive Yoopers 40 from Vancouver Island, BC to Marquette, Michigan, another ~2,500 miles, fly from Marquette to Pittsburgh, then pick up the rustbucket and drive another 2,000 miles from Ohio to Texas. As I said on the first page, there's no shortage of road trip material and this thread could end up being longer than War and Peace.

6. Write Faster: Sorry guys, but I can't. I'm doing the writing in my spare time, primarily late at night, and I don't have a lot of spare time. If I was a real author and could write faster, I would. One chapter a week is the best I can do at this point.

Hope I didn't forget anything. If so, remind me and I'll answer it next time around. And thanks again for the encouragement.

Carry on,
Lee

 

[Kaderabek]

I wasn't traveling with a digital camera or a camera equipped smart phone.

Oh my....



TJK

 

[77mustard40]

OMA: Please, please, please listen! I've got one or two things to say.
The Crowd: Tell us! Tell us both of them!
OMA: Look, you've got it all wrong! You don't NEED to follow ME, You don't NEED to follow ANYBODY! You've got to think for your selves! You're ALL individuals!
The Crowd: Yes! We're all individuals!
OMA: You're all different!
The Crowd: Yes, we ARE all different!
40 Owner in crowd: I'm not...
The Mudsters: Sch!

 

[Sea Knight]

Oh my....



TJK

LOL. You know us elderly folks don't know how to operate high tech gear anyway, so there was no point.

OMA: Please, please, please listen! I've got one or two things to say.
The Crowd: Tell us! Tell us both of them!
OMA: Look, you've got it all wrong! You don't NEED to follow ME, You don't NEED to follow ANYBODY! You've got to think for your selves! You're ALL individuals!
The Crowd: Yes! We're all individuals!
OMA: You're all different!
The Crowd: Yes, we ARE all different!
40 Owner in crowd: I'm not...
The Mudsters: Sch!

LOL x2. You should be writing this story instead of me.