What did he do? (1 Viewer)

[Sylvia]

Happy day! There was a spare igniter in "inventory". Sir ran this evening. We need to find a more appropriate power source for the wire that shorted, but are well on our way to enjoying a ride. Thanks for the help.

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Happy day! There was a spare igniter in "inventory". Sir ran this evening. We need to find a more appropriate power source for the wire that shorted, but are well on our way to enjoying a ride. Thanks for the help.

He was a smart guy indeed!

Glad to hear Sir is clattering away again.

Dan

 

[cult45]

This is still the best thread on here. You're an amazing woman Sylvia, keep wheelin' that rig!

 

[Sylvia]

Driving lessons. Hard to believe she was 8 years old the last time she rode in the mountains with her dad in this vehicle. He would be proud.

No changes have been made to the vehicle. We continue to pull it out of the garage and drive it periodically. The windows on the soft top are getting cracked and the zippers aren't liking this cold weather. The driver's door is sagging and a large gap lets in the winter breeze.

We spent some time last night watching videos of 4-wheeling days while Sir was still outfitted in stock tires, hard top and no power steering.

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Driving lessons. Hard to believe she was 8 years old the last time she rode in the mountains with her dad in this vehicle. He would be proud.

No changes have been made to the vehicle. We continue to pull it out of the garage and drive it periodically. The windows on the soft top are getting cracked and the zippers aren't liking this cold weather. The driver's door is sagging and a large gap lets in the winter breeze.

We spent some time last night watching videos of 4-wheeling days while Sir was still outfitted in stock tires, hard top and no power steering.

Sylvia:

That is the coolest thing I have seen done with a Land Cruiser, probably ever.

The windows are easily replaced by a boat shop, if it comes to that. Same with zippers. But no hurry, spring is almost here, and then you guys will just have to roll the sides up for driving lessons. It'll be hard for her to go back to a normal vehicle after parking a 40 with the sides rolled up--it almost makes tight parking spaces too easy!

Dan

 

[Mark W]

I just stumbled across this thread for the first time.

Sylvia, going back to your question about whether not you could take a stock 40 on Colorado and Utah and Alaska trails... the basic (minimum) and most important requirements for vehicles become up to participate in the Alaska Cruiser Trek are 35x12.5 mud tires and at least 1 locking differential. My point being that even a stock or close to srock Cruiser can take you some amazing places.

I love that your daughter is learning to drive in the 40... all 3 of my daughters learn to drive in 1 of my old 40s... starting on the trail long before they were legal to learn on the road. My oldest took her driving test ( including parallel parking) in a topless, manual steering FJ 40 with a driving instructor who was not at all happy about the approaching thunderstorm.


Mark...

 

[Rzeppa]

Driving lessons. Hard to believe she was 8 years old the last time she rode in the mountains with her dad in this vehicle. He would be proud.

No changes have been made to the vehicle. We continue to pull it out of the garage and drive it periodically. The windows on the soft top are getting cracked and the zippers aren't liking this cold weather. The driver's door is sagging and a large gap lets in the winter breeze.

We spent some time last night watching videos of 4-wheeling days while Sir was still outfitted in stock tires, hard top and no power steering.

That is SO awesome! My kids were brought home from the hospital when they were first born in our 1976 FJ40 "Olive". They each first learned to drive in our 1971 FJ40 "Charlotte". I bet Jeff is smiling down at the scene

 

[Fast Eddy]

Driving lessons. Hard to believe she was 8 years old the last time she rode in the mountains with her dad in this vehicle. He would be proud.

Damn right he would.

My son has been offered my '78 to take to college. No dice. He wants my Audi with the automatic and heated seats.

Good to hear from you.

 

[SAWTOOTH 55 LC]

Cruisin'

 

[PabloCruise]

Wow - just found this thread and skimmed the first and last pages.

Sounds like a great story involving some great people!

Looking forward to reading more...

 

[fjgoober]

Sylvia,

I spent the better part of last night reading this thread and pages off your blog. I hope all finds you well and it appears that your enjoying time in the 40. It brought a smile to my face to see your daughter driving the 40.

I can tell you not all my daughters enjoyed my 40 but the youngest one enjoys it the most. She's the reason I never finished a frame off restoration. She kept asking if I could just put it back together so we could get it back out and enjoy it.

She was 10 at the time and I thought that I probably only had 4 to 5 years before she becomes more interested in boys than Dad. We are just about there now, however she informed me that she wants the 40 to drive to and from school and I need to find something else. She got a very well used camry.......I do let her drive the 40 from time to time.

Thanks for sharing this thread and letting us peak into your and Jeff's life!

 

[Sylvia]

Latest and likely last update: Sir has found a new owner with Jeff's cousin who is able to give him the TLC needed. I'm selling the PTO winch that never got installed on the vehicle. We miss our periodic outings.

 

[dasgeek]

Sylvia, I just read this entire thread. I had not seen it before. I found it very moving. I very much understand how these old rusty vehicles can help us with our grief. I lost a brother to brain cancer a couple of years ago and inherited has 1980 FJ40. https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/my-brothers-fj40-a-possible-build.674683/

Since my brothers death, my wife has endured breast cancer treatment (she is fine now) and I have lost my mother to lung cancer. My brother's FJ40 and the IH8MUD community has given me something to keep me busy and distracted.

I very much sympathize with your loss and am very glad you and your daughter got to enjoy the FJ40. I am also glad it has found a new "tinkerer."