What Did You Do with Your 80 This Weekend?

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Refurbished my grandfathers old Dayton axe and welded up a quick mount to the third row seat bracket, then added some quick fists. My intention was to get the mount done and still be able to use the third row when needed....accomplished.
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AMMO said:
So over the last few months I've gone back and forth with if I could ever bring myself to post this...

I've been spending a few hours here, a few hours there trying to remember all the "Mods" I've done on my rig since I bought it in 2003. 14yrs is a LONG TIME.

Back then I wasn't as smart as Jose in his documentation and build thread over the years. And so now I'm faced with sitting in the garage and staring endlessly at the rig to recall all the things I've done in the last 14 or so years of ownership... That in and of itself is an emotional ride as i lay beneath the beast.

I'm currently on page 4 of my excel file, where I hope to link all the mods and $$$

To this end, and this is where it gets painful... I'm considering passing the torch onto someone else :-( See I always since day one had a vision of what this truck would be. Several others have been there and done it ahead of me and lapped me. Diesel, 40's, 3link.... blah blah blah.

Perhaps it was when I turned another year older and stepped into my (mid life) this year and had to come to terms with reality. And the cold hard fact that we as a family, and I as a man with seemingly more and more responsibilities with each day just don't use the rig the way it was built to be used. And might not ever.

I'm ashamed to say most of the last two years the rig has sat in the garage on a battery tender, and that breaks my heart ever time I open the garage door.

And so I'm left with a decision. One that some might relate to and or know all to well.

While I fully realize and expect to get a fraction back from what I've put into the rig, its a rough call to make both financial and emotionally.

All that said, I suppose I just needed a "mud shoulder" to cry on... If anyone is looking for one heck of a build platform stay tuned. I might have just what you need.

-A
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I am, as you say, in that mid-life point too but look to my 80 as an escape from the day to day. Just today we took the short, (dirt road) way to Sandpoint just because we could. The fall colors, the dark clouds, the rain, the sun, and of course the MUD. The 80 did that for us.
I am always looking for that off the beaten path the 80 can do and therefore the escape.

As already said--load up and head out and enjoy the fruits of your labor and time with anyone you can load up!! Since it sounds like you are 'done' with your 80 maybe one responsibility is to share it.
 
Normal grocery getter functions this weekend. Was going to do a quick camping trip but house chores and other stuff happened...

So early up and a long day hike tomorrow.
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Dirt road to Sandpoint? From where? I grew up in Sandpoint, it seems the dirt roads in to town are few and far between now days... unless there is a Sandpoint that’s not in Idaho. Lol

orttauq said:
I am, as you say, in that mid-life point too but look to my 80 as an escape from the day to day. Just today we took the short, (dirt road) way to Sandpoint just because we could. The fall colors, the dark clouds, the rain, the sun, and of course the MUD. The 80 did that for us.
I am always looking for that off the beaten path the 80 can do and therefore the escape.

As already said--load up and head out and enjoy the fruits of your labor and time with anyone you can load up!! Since it sounds like you are 'done' with your 80 maybe one responsibility is to share it.
Click to expand...
 
scottryana said:
Dirt road to Sandpoint? From where? I grew up in Sandpoint, it seems the dirt roads in to town are few and far between now days... unless there is a Sandpoint that’s not in Idaho. Lol
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From Coolin down East River Rd. to Big Creek Rd then over to Baldy Mountain Rd. Google says is takes 9 mins longer than down 57 to 2 but it is really about 20 mins faster. It just a dirt road, see Subarus on it but still better than asphalt.
Baldy mt rd.webp
 
Went on a little solo camping/grouse hunting trip to one of my favorite spots. Discovered the camp sight is exactly 45 miles from the house:clap: Sadly steep terrain, snow, and no dog gave the advantage to the grouse. However, the new Big Agnus flying diamond did awesome in the high winds.
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Started to change out my front sway bar end bushings to fix a clunk in the front end, only to find the passenger side mount broken right off the axle.:bang: Of course, not in one piece, either, but some bits are still on the axle needing removal before I can fit another mount.:bang::bang::mad::mad:

:censor:. What a PITA this repair is going to be. Not sure I can get anything in there without dropping the whole axle, and with all the rusted fasteners that will be a true joy. Damn salt.:flush:
 
AMMO said:
So over the last few months I've gone back and forth with if I could ever bring myself to post this...

I've been spending a few hours here, a few hours there trying to remember all the "Mods" I've done on my rig since I bought it in 2003. 14yrs is a LONG TIME.

Back then I wasn't as smart as Jose in his documentation and build thread over the years. And so now I'm faced with sitting in the garage and staring endlessly at the rig to recall all the things I've done in the last 14 or so years of ownership... That in and of itself is an emotional ride as i lay beneath the beast.

I'm currently on page 4 of my excel file, where I hope to link all the mods and $$$

To this end, and this is where it gets painful... I'm considering passing the torch onto someone else :-( See I always since day one had a vision of what this truck would be. Several others have been there and done it ahead of me and lapped me. Diesel, 40's, 3link.... blah blah blah.

Perhaps it was when I turned another year older and stepped into my (mid life) this year and had to come to terms with reality. And the cold hard fact that we as a family, and I as a man with seemingly more and more responsibilities with each day just don't use the rig the way it was built to be used. And might not ever.

I'm ashamed to say most of the last two years the rig has sat in the garage on a battery tender, and that breaks my heart ever time I open the garage door.

And so I'm left with a decision. One that some might relate to and or know all to well.

While I fully realize and expect to get a fraction back from what I've put into the rig, its a rough call to make both financial and emotionally.

All that said, I suppose I just needed a "mud shoulder" to cry on... If anyone is looking for one heck of a build platform stay tuned. I might have just what you need.

-A
Click to expand...

Don't do it, you will regret it. Maybe you can't get out right now, but circumstances will change in the future. Kids get older, move away, significant other not entirely interested in your passion, but would be thankful for you to get away on weekends (or whatever). I've taken a 15 year break from the wheeling/ camping that I used to do. Now that the kids are grown and want cruisers of their own, I'm finding I have more time to get my butt back in the seat. I have found my passion for wrenching is dwindling, but I have a great LC shop that can do the bigger jobs I don't want to do (like head gaskets, motor swaps, gears). I still have my 40 series that I bought in 1988, but it was never built to be more than a two seater, I either broke or wrote off my BJ60's, HJ60's or FJ62's. I bought an 80 series with lockers and a blown HG, and am looking forward to getting it out on the trail (it's currently getting a motor swap, cheaper than doing the HG). Not to mention the 80 is a comfy ride for my 55 year old butt, and very capable right off the shelf (so I'm told)
 
Bludozer said:
nice! was there a couple weeks ago, unfortunately was crowded as hell. how was it this weekend?
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Yeah fairly crowded, about a half dozen people camping. I got up there early enough so that I never had to pass anyone on the trail thank God.
 
Finally drove the 80 after over a month of sitting in the driveway. Thanks To the diet thread I went to the scale and OMG I need to lay off the donuts. I was shocked by how much my a$$ weights, this is not even with a full tank of gas and loaded up with gears.

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artech said:
Started to change out my front sway bar end bushings to fix a clunk in the front end, only to find the passenger side mount broken right off the axle.:bang: Of course, not in one piece, either, but some bits are still on the axle needing removal before I can fit another mount.:bang::bang::mad::mad:

:censor:. What a PITA this repair is going to be. Not sure I can get anything in there without dropping the whole axle, and with all the rusted fasteners that will be a true joy. Damn salt.:flush:
Click to expand...

You are lucky many times a broken mount can take out brake lines and ABS wiring.
 
So I finally got to be home long enough to go through a tank of fuel on my FJ80 without any if my brothers using it. I did 229 miles on 20 gallons of fuel. That is off the odometer, and I am on stock gears with 35s. So I am in the mid twelves on mpg maybe? Mainly city / mall crawlin...
 
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