TLCA Raffle Truck

[evanz80]

I have mentioned before that Mark Algazy has donated an FJ-40 to be used as a raffle truck to benefit TLCA. The truck was just picked up and inspected by a TLCA chapter that was planning to work on the build before the truck was raffled off.

The news is not so good. You can read the inspection report below. Also, there are no VIN plates or registration, so the legality of even being able to raffle this truck is now in question.

Here's the inspection report:

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My name is Cacy Frazier and I am the current president of Central Valley Crawlers. I went to Dan Hulls house today along with the current VP, Treasurer, Safety officer and next years President, treasurer to look at the raffle vehicle. Well where do I start to describe. I think that TLCA has a huge decision to make and should be informed of the condition before hand. Basically the vehicle is a tub, frame, axles, engine, tranny, transfer. There are so many missing parts. The tub is really ruff. There is rust on the rig and a lot of bondo. The rear quarters need to be replaced because of the bondo. The front fenders are rough with dents and some rust. The windshield frame is junk (bent and has bondo). In the California market this vehicle would be a $500 parts rig. The hood and fenders are from a different vehicle and possibly year.

There are no vin plates or registration that Dan is aware of. The steering arms are held on by one nut on each knuckle. We are not even sure that the motor will run. The tranny and transfer are covered in grease and oil. This is not a vehicle that we can bolt parts on and slap a nice paint job on. This is a vehicle that needs to be built from the ground up. Every bolt needs to be replaced. Just to get all the parts to make it smog legal is going to be very difficult. What we noticed was that it looked like someone took random parts and bolted them on the rig. It looks decent from a distance, but up close it is very ruff.

This is not just my opinion, this was the opinion of everyone that was at Dans. We feel that this vehicle needs to much work to make it the kind of vehicle that you can raffle off. If anyone has any questions feel free to ask. I am sure Dan will chime in on this since he is already posted a lot of the photos of the problems in the mud section.

 

[evanz80]

Here is a response from Mark Algazy:

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Ladies and Gentlemen

It is now 9 pm Monday evening. As you all may know, I was away from my shop and my computer from Wednesday until today. I was, however, available in my shop from 10 am to 7 pm today. In light of the number of comments made on the raffle vehicle in my absence, I find it disappointing, but not unusual that NO ONE took a minute to call me today to let me know how things had progressed, or sunk, in my absence. If it were not for me taking a few minutes to call Art, I would have had no idea what to expect when I logged on this evening. With such an important thing as the VIN tag being in question, how is it that NOT ONE PERSON COULD TAKE THE TIME TO CALL ME and ask??????

In my opinion, letting a discussion on the truck rage on without attempting to acquire a pivotal point of information needed to make a WELL-informed decision can only result in an pre-determined result.

I obviously will look for it when I get to the shop tomorrow, and will forward the info to ART, since he is apparently the only one who knows how to use a telephone. I believe that I do have this plate, and I KNOW that I have the registration and license plate for the truck. Dan did not ask me for them when he was here, and I did not think of them. Neither did I think of asking for a release for him taking the vehicle, or asking whether TLCA had taken upon themselves the task of getting insurance for this rig. These issues ALSO need to be addressed...promptly.

In general,

First, I would like to thank whoever was responsible for moving my original to-do list over to the MUD BOD intact. I know it exists elsewhere in cyberspace, but as I feared, the BOD's copy got lost in that black hole of BODreps e-mails.

Second, I think my list shows my intent to be as candid as I could up front about what I was offering. I honestly did not know about several of the issues that Dan posted pictures of until I saw the pictures. However, I will note that my notes DID clearly indicate there were/are issues with things like the emissions, the windshield frame, and EXTENSIVE missing parts. WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT I BOUGHT. To those who are critical of what they saw, take another look at the list: most of what is needed WAS identified up front.

Third, I honestly believed when I bought this truck, and still believe, that the body tub is in superior condition to the vast majority of 1977 tubs that I have come across for sale in the last 20 years. I felt and feel that the remaining body work is nowhere near as serious as the detractors make out.

I think the problem is that, like I said, in the intervening time people lost sight, literally and figuratively, of the list, and began to imagine the truck as more of a barn find than a solid platform for a build.

That is all I have to say for now.

 

[evanz80]

In the meantime, there have been many e-mails back and forth about whether TLCA has the funds, the manpower, the parts network to follow through and build this truck, or whether the group should tell Mark thanks very much for the offer, but no thanks. This will likely be the main topic of conversation at the next TLCA conference call on December 17th. I have a conflict that evening and I am hoping that Ron or Shawn can cover the call.

As always, any questions, let me know.

Evan

 

[D'Animal]

For What it is Worth, The TLCA Building and Raffling of this FJ 40 Rig is not a dead issue yet.

 

[DanS HJ-45]

I'm still looking for the link to pictures of the rust in the tub...

I looked all over the Central Valley section, but couldn't find it. I'm probably blind. I know that if it were closer here, or I had the time to go to where it was that I'd volunteer to fix some rust (not like I haven't been getting good practice in lately) or some other odds and ends...

I know when I first read the offer from Mark that the impression I got was "it's free, and it's a start." But then, I would never imagine that someone would just give up a really rust free 40.

Dan

 

[evanz80]

I'm still looking for the link to pictures of the rust in the tub...

I looked all over the Central Valley section, but couldn't find it. Dan

Dan - I think the pictures are in a restricted area of MUD that's only for TLCA Board members. I had the link and I was going to post it, and then I found out that I'm not authorized to access that area. Given that my time on the Board is due to expire this month, I will likely not pursue the access. But whoever the new delegate is will be welcome to check it out.

 

[marcfj60]

I know when I first read the offer from Mark that the impression I got was "it's free, and it's a start." But then, I would never imagine that someone would just give up a really rust free 40.

Dan

I own two 'free' FJ40's. I can imagine what it looks like. I didn't complain when I got them because they were free. Maybe I'll get some time and money some day to work on them too.

Is TLCA going to pay somebody to work on this full time? I don't think volunteers could get something in 'free' condition built up to raffle prize quality in any reasonable amount of time.

 

[evanz80]

Is TLCA going to pay somebody to work on this full time? I don't think volunteers could get something in 'free' condition built up to raffle prize quality in any reasonable amount of time.

Marc - The details are still being worked out, but there has been no mention (that I'm aware of) of TLCA paying someone to work on the truck. I think volunteers are still being recruited, and vendors will also be contacted for parts donations. As far as the time frame goes, I think that is also under discussion. We'll see what happens.

 

[D'Animal]

evanz80 is correct. The details are still being worked out before we "Go Public" with the project. Until the details are worked out, it will remain "behind closed doors" in the private section.


Mark Algazy has never stated or said it was a rust free rig. In fact, it is East Coast Mint. LOL

 

[sirenmoses]

If ya'll need a rig to build up for raffle, you can have my 1st 60; looks like the BIL/sis purchase isn't gonna go through, even to pay for parts. Didn't get C4C'd, might make up for my years of lurking. Otherwise, she'll return to duty as a local dober-hauler.

Robbie has looked at the rig, in Evan's garage, and she's no cherry queen, by any means. Her issues have been identified, and some parts (clutch plate) are lined up, with others (springs) waiting on bux...

Rust: she's got a small bit, fenderwells and dropgate: looks like Dan could bang that out before she moves on. (sumptin tells me if you asked him Really nice, he'd find a way to make her a diesel )

my 2c.

 

[OGBeno]

More TLCA drama as usual....