Saving The Old Rustbucket--My 1982 FJ40 Tale (13 Viewers)

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Status
Not open for further replies.
Commander,
Hope all is well wherever the road is leading you.
Happy day here as the 62 passed CO (as in Colorado) emissions today for another two years. With that and you in mind, I'm having a Negro Modelo with a double Olmeca Altos to celebrate the victory.
 
Lee,

Assuming you still pay attention to the thread, Thank you! It was a great read. I decided to start working on my own rustbucket (known to my kids and I as simply "The FJ") and figured I better find some solid rust repair tech, stumbled onto the thread and let it sit as an open tab on my phone for a month or so before getting around to reading it. I finally decided that I needed to stop "being too busy" and just get down to fixing my rig or it would never happen. Started reading your thread and then poured over it for the last couple weeks.

On a side note, I kept seeing people post "just caught up and now waiting for more" and I kept thinking to myself, "suckers, this is why I only watch tv shows on netflix - late to the party but I never have to wait!" Well, that idea didn't quite work out for me this time but it has still been well worth it.

40 tech content - my 40 has been sitting in the garage for the past couple years (wouldn't start). A friend of a friend of a friend...you get the idea, called me out of the blue to ask if I still had it and if it was for sale. We set up a meeting for him to come see her and on the morning of the meeting I went out to clean off cobwebs and unload junk from the back - we're not going for nice her, it won't even start, just for not hoarder-style crap. I decided to just turn the key, almost as a joke, and the engine cranked!!! It hasn't even tried to turn over in almost two years. I've never been sure what tech is in these old 40s but mine have always had some self-healing properties. The gentleman came and looked and seemed to love it (maybe not too excited about the level of rust repair needed). HE had driven from out of town and I was starting to get that feeling, you know, the sense of dread that he might make me an offer. When the time came, he said he wanted to think about it. Turns out, I couldn't take it. He said he'd check back again in a month or so on his next trip through town and I just kind of blurted out that she wasn't for sale.

Whether or not he was really interested barely matters. I love the old truck. When I told my wife and kids, they were all just a shade on the angsty side that I had even entertained the idea. My daughter (11) wants to drive it and my son (9) wants to fix it. Neither wants it sold.

Anyway, after that is when I found your thread. I have since pulled some parts and started the repairs. Slow but steady. I was really struck by something you said about Army not being real happy with you using his good name to allow for procrastination, then you made a post almost immediately after. That is what I needed to read. No more excuses, I gotta get it done or my kids will be old and moved away, I'll be old and grey, or I'll have passed on beyond this life.

Knowing full well you haven't posted to this thread in nearly a year, I hope you see this: Thanks again for the story. I'd love to hear the rest but I'm certainly happy with what I have received.

My rust has gotten a bit worse than pictured here.

Louis

ANEoDMdxTCt
 
Lycent said:
Lee, It hasn't even tried to turn over in almost two years. I've never been sure what tech is in these old 40s but mine have always had some self-healing properties.
Louis
Click to expand...

Self Healing Cruisers. Great topic for discussion, imo. I've expressed those very words out loud when dealing with minor odds and ends, maintenance wise, with numerous Cruisers over a 40 year span. Lycent, your observation just grabbed my eye and I don't have any immediate, provable evidence, but it can be had. Others must have said the same thing to themselves - Self Healing Cruisers.
I've found out, more often than not, the problem is ground related.
 
Last edited:
I happened to be driving through Grenville, New Mexico recently when I remembered that you had camped behind the old abandoned motel there. The site is now a flat pad with some charred wreckage left, but I remember where it once was and snapped a pic.

On the left side of the pic, you can see a stump where the tree used to be.

Funny how only a few years can change things so much.


IMG_1136.jpg
Grenville Motel-6.jpg
 
Yeah, the second photo is one I took passing by just a couple of years ago. I didn't know it had burned, but I don't go that way near as often as I used to.
 
After just over a year and half of being on MUD and passing by this thread frequently saying "someday I'll read it from start to finish," I finally jumped in the back and took the ride with you guys over the past three days, Commander at the wheel. While I'd like to hear this story continue, more than anything I can't help but think it's time for me to get out and write my own. I think Lee would be happy to hear that. Cheers, gents.

:beer:
 
X2 on the self-healing properties of a 40 - I've experienced it multiple times and continue to do so

latest was a blinker indicator in the dash :hillbilly: - (one of these days I'll get my hand bloody again back there to pop the bulb holder snugger into the socket - of course, it's the right one where the parking brake is in the way :rolleyes:)
 
I miss my ride along in the rustbucket tale. He was just about to go through Spokane where I believe I saw him on the freeway on my commute to work 10 years ago...I was anticipating that part of the journey. Hope all is well Commander.
 
firemansFJ40 said:
I'm heading across hwy 287 in New Mexico passing through Mt Dora, next town is Grenville right now in my 1980 FJ40 heading to Colorado and thought of this post. Living the dream!
Click to expand...

Some pics would help us to better visualize your dream.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

mdsims
1982 FJ43 - my ‘replacement’ build
2
Replies
29
Views
4K
mdsims
mdsims
Wadesters
1982 FJ40 Restored, Suspension / Tire question (about ride)
Replies
2
Views
980
Wadesters
Wadesters
TX73FJ40
  • Question
Clutch needed for my 1973 - FJ40
Replies
6
Views
528
maoussu
M
meris
BJ42 1982 3B engine gasket measure
Replies
4
Views
487
-MaTTi-
-MaTTi-

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 14 (members: 0, guests: 14)

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom