As well, I thought I introduced myself long ago but when I went back to look all I did was make a post about Veterans Day. So here goes.
I bought my first 40 in '72, a used '71. The original owner drove it 200 miles to the beach and promptly traded it when he return. I gave the dealership one broken car and one lemon plus $650 and drove the beast off the lot. It was by far the toughtst and most dependable vehicle I ever had and the only one that I regretted selling. Sold it in 1979.
Fast forward to 2014 and I happened to see a 4X4 on a used car dealers lot. Thought it looked nice. A few days later I looked again and I finally realized what it was. Although it was raining I took a chance and looked it over and after asking what the price was I made a ridiculous offer that they accepted. On 10/14/14 I drove it off the lot. This one is a '70 model and had rust in all the usual places. I took it into my shop and started the process of finding out what it needed and it needed a lot. So here I am two years later and the only thing I lack is a real skid plate, parking brake and hydro boost next year. The only parts of the 40 I haven't touched is the bottom end of the engins and the front diff. I joined MUD shortly after I made the purchase and then Olde North State Cruisers. Made some good frineds and really enjoy talking about and looking at the old iron. (After doing a search with the NCDMV I found I was the 7th owner and I have a record of all the title application and copies of the titles from the previous PO's.)
Me: I am 69 and back into my 2nd childhood, or make that the 4th childhood, with the 40. I have 2 children and 4 grandchildren and my wife hates the 40, to hard to get in to. I closed and sold off the business I had for 10 1/2 years so I could come home and stay with my wife. She has had 4 TIS's, small strokes, and now has developed Alzheimer's and Dementia. She can't stay by herself all day so I am the primary caregiver.
My military service started when I enlisted in the Navy in 1967, thinking that since the Army and Marines were drafting, the Navy might be safer so I tried that. After boot camp I went to Port Hueneme, CA and joined a SeaBee battalion and on 2/14/68 I made my first trip to Vietnam during the middle of the Tet offensive. I did two deployments with NMCB 4 and transferred to NSA Danang when Nixon was doing his Vietnamazation thing. I was separated in Long Beach, CA just 1 day under the 1 year limitation. As a SeaBee electrician, I did everything from wiring huts to managing portable generators. I started in Danang and went north to Camp Evans, an Army 1st Cav camp just a few miles from the Ashau valley, a major infiltration route on the Ho Mi Chin Trail. Needless to say we were always under some sort of attack.
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The 40 when I bought it, the diamond plate covered a lot if rust.
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What it looks like now.
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