Saving The Old Rustbucket--My 1982 FJ40 Tale

[Vae Victus]

Man. I just finally caught up on this thread. I haven't read any of it since the first of the year (new position here at work and my daughter who's now 1yr and 5 mos keeping me busy). Great story and really makes me want to hit the road.

All the stuff about dads has really been hitting home as well. My dad and I don't talk much. We share the blame pretty evenly but he has really been making an effort over the last year or so to get back in touch. He lives near Clear Lake in N Cali, I live S of Atlanta, and my younger brother (my only other sibling) lives in NYC. We're about as far away as we can get. I've said this before, but I need to really make an effort to be more in touch. Especially now that my daughter is here. He always wants to know about her and I think he regrets not being in touch for so many years. Maybe a cross country road trip in a Cruiser to see him would be just the fix. I could never tell a story this good about it, or have such an amazing and sometimes unbelievable series of events happen to me but it would be fun.

I know it's been said many times but thanks for sharing the story with us. It's a great read and I think it really touches everyone in some way or another. It has some of us thinking of our dads, trips we took, or wish we had taken, sweet memories and some bitter ones. This is truly the best thread on MUD.

Edit: Oh, I almost forgot all the great tech content.

Do it. She deserves as many grandparents as she can get, even if you two can't get over your egos. Some of us have no more chances with parents or grandparents to say those things or spend the time.

 

[Jedimonk]

Cool !

 

[nuclearlemon]

my napa rep stopped into see me to pay his weekly bribe ...somehow, this will always be associated with this thread....

 

[overhanger]

Commander, your summer sabbatical length rivals that of our illustrious Congressfolks' time away from DC. Are you planning the much anticipated Hawaiian chapter of this story for the dead of winter?
Hope all is well in Weird Austin!
OMC

 

[brider]

Whoa! I just read the Commander's soliloquy centered around Liquid Wrench, and soon discovered that I'd reached the end of this thread (so far...). I thought this epic was chronicled all the way up to Seattle? Maybe my browser wore out and won't refresh that far...

Waiting for more with bated breath.

Like many others here, I, too have made cross-country trips in a slow, noisy, rattly 40. One time with my sister, in Late November, and in Montana she wrote this in her journal: "The day was cold, spirits low; tempers short, clothes pungent..."

I had refused to stop for the luxury that most women demand that is CLEAN CLOTHES. Something about travelling in a 40 that makes you want to endure hardships. Anyone who's travelled across Wyoming in bitter weather with a ragtop and a '69 heater can attest. And I can believe every tall tale the Commander cites on his travels because that's what happens in a 'Cruiser, like magic.

I feel very sad, though, because I actually sold my 55 a few years ago for something more modern I could drive the kids around in, and never changed my bio here on MUD. Boy, do I regret that move. I never got the opportunity to drive the 55 cross-country. Now, after reading this thread, I'm scouring Craigslist for any cheap Rustbucket so I can re-live the dream. Prices seem to be going up (again), 'specially since this thread started!

I actually HAD a classic rustbucket that I even have a video of, somewhwere, of my then-6-yr-old nephew sitting in the rotted driver's seat and going thru a child's tutorial of how to shift the gears. This particular truck I found in a guy's field in upstate NY, and I dragged it back home to CT. Someone had strapped wooden blocks bewteen the rear leaf eyes and what was left of the frame to take the place of the shackles, which had no place left on the frame to bolt to. The rest of the truck was just as bad. But I swapped the carb from my 55 over to it, put in fresh gas, and it fired up and purred like a kitten! More amazing, the brake pedal was high and firm! It was an impulsive buy, I had no time to devote to it, so I put it on Ebay, and some guy from Texas bought it and shipped it down. This was in 2004-ish. A Rustbucket. The coincidence just struck me.

Anyway, one of my happiest memories of that 55 I sold was when I stored it in my sister's barn in Maine when I moved to CT, just to keep it safe until the move was complete. 1 year later, I went to retrieve it and it was COVERED in chicken poop and dust, and my nice, clean interior (I'm anal about that) was covered in muddy footprints from my nephew and his friends. Every knob and control lever was pushed, pulled, and moved, and the battery of course was long dead.

Imagine the fun those little boys had "driving" that thing in the barn!!

One last thing is something I'm currently struggling with after reading this thread's underlying theme of men and their hand-me-down old cars. I bought a clean, straight, rust-free '66 Ford F250 work truck with the 300 six and 4-speed shortly after moving to CT, and have used it lovingly for HEAVY work ever since. No restoration; it hauls firewood, gravel, you name it, and the Cub Scout tents and canoes, etc.

But now it's getting worn (after 9 yrs of non-stop use and NO mechanical breakdowns), windshield is massively cracked, lights don't work anymore, and I just don't feel safe in it hauling around my boys and little girl on East-Coast surface streets (plus it's dangerously slow compared to any modern 4-cyl). So I bought a more modern truck to replace it. And now I'm struggling with the need to sell the '66, because I have no place to store it, and it's just one more thing to attend to, whether I drive it or not, that I no longer have time or money for. But my youngest boy implores me NOT to sell it. It has been in our lives since he and the little girl were born. And after reading this thread it has become clear to me that THIS truck could be the one my sons talk about after I'm gone...

Provided I have the brains to keep it! Thanks for the reality check, Commander!

 

[AlphaSig112]

My father kept the vehicle I have wanted since childhood. I recently restored it with him after years of sitting behind the wheel pretending to drive it. I love the little car and even though I would have gotten over the loss of it eventually I can't thank him enough for letting it wait on me. I grew as I built this car and I wouldn't trade it or the memories of riding in it when I was five for anything else. It took me 21 more years to realize the dream of driving it but every moment was worth the hassle.

 

[Chamba]

My father kept the vehicle I have wanted since childhood. I recently restored it with him after years of sitting behind the wheel pretending to drive it. I love the little car and even though I would have gotten over the loss of it eventually I can't thank him enough for letting it wait on me. I grew as I built this car and I wouldn't trade it or the memories of riding in it when I was five for anything else. It took me 21 more years to realize the dream of driving it but every moment was worth the hassle.

Which was.....?

 

[Vincent84]

Only recently been looking to purchase my first fj40, the only experience with 4wd's has been my older brothers sahara and troopy, unfortunate most fj40s for sale here are quite rusted from all the salt near the coast, so looking for more info on the interweb i found the mud site and naturally followed through to the thread 'saving the old rustbucket', and I'm so glad i found it, been reading it the last couple of nights, only on page 35 at the moment and still going. Enjoying it now with a couple of Southwark old stout's in this chilly weather down under. Just wanted to say thank you for such a great story, can't wait to see what i read next.

Cheers

 

[AlphaSig112]

It is a Blakey bearcat kit car he built in his 20's. It is nothing terribly valuable to anyone but me. His other car I never had to ask him to keep is a 1963 Impala SS. I come from a family of collectors so my fj40 fits right in and will have a great home next to a few classics.

 

[RyanCostaRica]

Love the dark green

 

[fireflyr]

Since we are all in a nostalgic mood, here's one of your old aircraft at work.

Pat

 

[flyinbaron58]

+1 on nostalgic mood...cool pic

 

[Vossie]

wow, i finally caught up. been reading this for 2 days straight.

Lee, you are a gentleman and a scholar for putting together this thread.
you really capture the essence of what it means to have an old 40, its not just a truck, its a way of life.

hope all is well and that another chapter is in the pipeline.

 

[Kehoe]

Back on page 48 but closing in fast. Came here for rust repair tips stayed for the adventure, ive heard of people travelling oz and stopping in small towns for diesel and never leaving I kinda feel a bit like that with this thread , ive always used this community for advice but ur story made me join!

 

[mcollins]

Alas no friends

I read the directions, and made an entry in the "Introduce Yourself" thread,,, and a week later, I still have no reply, no friends, no messages,,,so I decided to just jump in, like I belong here (until thrown out)

Saw the original entry was from a frog pilot,,, I flew shi--ers out of Hawaii,,, had several adventrues planned for me by the govt, retired last march, moved to St Louis to go to work,,, and got furloughed!!!

What all that has to do with anything is the federal govt has once again interrupted my "fun time" I have a completely rust free 77 FJ project car, I started with my son (uh er,,, about 7 years ago) I taught him to weld, be did a swing out tire rack bumper with a cooler cage, and gas can mounts, a full roll cage, got some van seats from U-Pull-U-pay ($15) and cut and welded the mounts in the rear of the Cruiser, in case he wants to bring a girlfriend. The FJ is in the back of my trailer, and getting ready for paint. We put a rebuilt 3fe in and I am thinking about upgrading the transimission to a 5 speed,, cause fjs are slow. But like the trip to the PI, the trip to Iraq and the trip to Afghnanistan,, the govt shutdown has stopped my progress via the wallet. I will probably have to get someone to help make the engine run again and install the wiring,,, I am looking at finishing next summer and driving it back to Colorado for him.... I am not a good father however,,, as the cruiser gets better and better,,, I have urges to steal it and keep it for me!!!
MIke

 

[cruiserjunkie]

Welcome Mike thanks for your service. This thread is kinda depressing now I've been cramped up in the back way way to long. Commander hope all is well and can't wait for the next chapter

 

[cbdog]

Oh Mike, you will always have cruiser friends....

And, you are not being a bad father if you keep the cruiser for yourself, it will just always be filled with gas for your son to drive when he needs it!

Be easy,

Chuck

I read the directions, and made an entry in the "Introduce Yourself" thread,,, and a week later, I still have no reply, no friends, no messages,,,so I decided to just jump in, like I belong here (until thrown out)

Saw the original entry was from a frog pilot,,, I flew shi--ers out of Hawaii,,, had several adventrues planned for me by the govt, retired last march, moved to St Louis to go to work,,, and got furloughed!!!

What all that has to do with anything is the federal govt has once again interrupted my "fun time" I have a completely rust free 77 FJ project car, I started with my son (uh er,,, about 7 years ago) I taught him to weld, be did a swing out tire rack bumper with a cooler cage, and gas can mounts, a full roll cage, got some van seats from U-Pull-U-pay ($15) and cut and welded the mounts in the rear of the Cruiser, in case he wants to bring a girlfriend. The FJ is in the back of my trailer, and getting ready for paint. We put a rebuilt 3fe in and I am thinking about upgrading the transimission to a 5 speed,, cause fjs are slow. But like the trip to the PI, the trip to Iraq and the trip to Afghnanistan,, the govt shutdown has stopped my progress via the wallet. I will probably have to get someone to help make the engine run again and install the wiring,,, I am looking at finishing next summer and driving it back to Colorado for him.... I am not a good father however,,, as the cruiser gets better and better,,, I have urges to steal it and keep it for me!!!
MIke

 

[davegonz]

Happy Birfday Old Friend!

 

[tucker74]

Happy Birfday Old Friend!

Happy B-Day OMA!



Tucker

 

[yooper]

HBD Commander, and many more.