A good story revisited, The Turtle as it was named by my kids when I drove it home June 2006 was an all original 67 I picked up from a owner of a local oil field service company in Broussard it was used as a hunting rig and was sitting in a field during the off season. The owner decided to let it go and I was hungry for a 40 project with Scott paradeing around in his 79 FJ40 known later as the Dune Coon. The Turtle went through several phases to become road worthy and was driven around town and to meetings while it was massaged into reliable runner. At the time we were in full force of establishing the club and were looking at rigs on weekends and our spare time. Scott and I ran across Johnny's 78 in the quick Quarter and Scott let me have it 
so I picked up Big Red from Johnny Bates the Red 78 FJ40 sometime late 2007. Sadly the Turtle was put on the back burner to build up the 78 Big Red and settled for neighborhood and cane field rides with the kids waiting on the next phase of work. In 08 after attending one of the TLCA events seeing the 80's wheeling some serious trails and seeing the capabilities the 80 bug bit me and off I went to Houston to pick up a 80 from a fellow MUD member. I took turns wheeling both the 78 and the 80 at events but the Turtle never quite made it out. At some point in 09 I started on the metal work in the back and ordered new fenderwells from PACOL, LLC
we met one of the owners at the Southern Cruiser Crawl in 08 and her husbands work was top notch on the replacement parts so I sent her my order for fenderwells and rockers. Sadly when they did come in I was occupied with other adventures wheeling or taking trips with Holden on Scout trips. Before the holidays Cody's Uncle backed out of an offer to he and his Dad on a 40 so I offered them a look at the Turtle and they liked what they saw and envisioned restoring it. After a few days of getting some things back together like a new battery and getting the gas tank cleaned out and back in I fired the old girl up last night from her long rest and was great to hear her pissed off growl. She was purring like the last time I drove her. I'm looking forward to the next chapter of the story and though I feel like I let her down not following through with my vision I think I'm sending her off much better than I found her and in good hands.
Original post:
Here are some details of the progression since I bought it June 2006 when I got word from a cruiser friend about it sitting in a field not far from the house.
The day I brought it home.
so I picked up Big Red from Johnny Bates the Red 78 FJ40 sometime late 2007. Sadly the Turtle was put on the back burner to build up the 78 Big Red and settled for neighborhood and cane field rides with the kids waiting on the next phase of work. In 08 after attending one of the TLCA events seeing the 80's wheeling some serious trails and seeing the capabilities the 80 bug bit me and off I went to Houston to pick up a 80 from a fellow MUD member. I took turns wheeling both the 78 and the 80 at events but the Turtle never quite made it out. At some point in 09 I started on the metal work in the back and ordered new fenderwells from PACOL, LLCwe met one of the owners at the Southern Cruiser Crawl in 08 and her husbands work was top notch on the replacement parts so I sent her my order for fenderwells and rockers. Sadly when they did come in I was occupied with other adventures wheeling or taking trips with Holden on Scout trips. Before the holidays Cody's Uncle backed out of an offer to he and his Dad on a 40 so I offered them a look at the Turtle and they liked what they saw and envisioned restoring it. After a few days of getting some things back together like a new battery and getting the gas tank cleaned out and back in I fired the old girl up last night from her long rest and was great to hear her pissed off growl. She was purring like the last time I drove her. I'm looking forward to the next chapter of the story and though I feel like I let her down not following through with my vision I think I'm sending her off much better than I found her and in good hands.
Original post:
Here are some details of the progression since I bought it June 2006 when I got word from a cruiser friend about it sitting in a field not far from the house.
The day I brought it home.
Last edited:
will never see dirt, Never see clouds, and never see the normal "trail".
you all have a good plan and the results will be worth the effort not to mention the proud accomplishment of the end result. I look forward to seeing the progress and at your disposal for any needs. Cheers,
