the deputy
Well-known member
Finally, because...
l'd been trying to get this done for the last four years. First covid delays the trip and Canada border remains closed for a couple years, then a health issue has to be dealt with (RA), then an engine rebuild gone bad (all on me, been a heavy duty/diesel mechanic for 46 years, knew l wasn't really able to rebuild an engine in the condition l was in, but was too stuborn to wait), then two aging parents consumed the last two years heavily, they both passed last fall 2023, so then a search for another 200tdi for the Defender began...because at this point...just wanted to get it running and sell...since basically, it was feeling like this idea of driving a 1990 Defender to Alaska just wasn't meant to be. And, l know all of this is "just life" stuff and l'm not complaining, just explaining...but these are just the "tip of the iceberg" so to speak, in reasons why l didn't think the trip was ever going to be a reality.
Well, end up finding an engine in Birmingham, Alabama. So, leave Michigan on a Tuesday morning and arrive home Wednesday at noon with another 200tdi engine. Few days later, pulled the rebuilt engine and drop the new/used engine in, started at 6am and had her running at 5pm. She fired right up and sounded good. Thank you, Dan, from Alabama...
So, Victoria (defenders name) is running again. Do a few test drives and start cleaning her up to sell. She just doesn't feel the same, too. She just doesn't have the same appeal to me as she once did. As all of this is going on, make the decision that l'm going to finally retire, believe the stress of being head mechanic and being responsible for the maintenance of a fleet of 160 pieces of equipment are no good for my Rheumatoid Arthritis.
My "work life", for the last 33 years, revolved around this garage. The uniform supply guy, Casey, sent me this picture, when l was nearly to Alaska. He had family in Fairbanks and was a wealth of knowledge for the trip. Not going to lie, after walking into that building approximently 8000 times and working with a countless number of wonderful people...got a bit misty eyed. Yeah, it's 'just a work plce'...but it was a good portion of my life...and l worked with a great crew. The laughs we had over the years were infinite.
So, with work being a distance memory soon...had a bit of "l can make this happen" pump through my veins. Wife asked me what was l going to do once l retired...said, "Going to Alaska the following day." She was like...you don't even know if that engine will make it and you haven't even started the interior. Yep, you're right...but l'm going to give this one last shot.
Wanted an "old school" look to the build, nothing fancy. Hate fancy or too nice, where you have to be careful not to damage or scratch something. Even when looking for a defender, wanted something "used" looking. My wife was like..."why don't you get a nice one?" I'd gone through a porsche phase and it had worn me out, always being careful around them in the garage or driving them only in nice weather, etc. Give me...functional, rough around the edges, a little down and dirty...that suits this country boy. Anyhow. I've drooled over many a picture of old, weathered land rovers with primitive wooden cabinets and sleeping platform, bombing their way across vast landscapes or exotic places...so it had to be that. So Victoria's was purchased in Vermont. Some might say she's past her prime, she has a patina of "I've been around the block more than once" written on her epidermis. But her bones and muscle seem intact...
Had a few weeks of vacation time to burn up before l retired, the first week was spent standing in the yard looking at Victoria while smoking a cigar...trying to find the ambition to get started on the interior build; sleeping compartment and cabinets. Second week was just about the same, but started to do some measuring and planning. Third week saw actual progress, saw dust and fabricating...and the pile of wood for the build slowly diminished before my eyes. Week four, she was nearly completed.
Added A/C...fan...lol.
Interior build nearly complete. This was just an empty shell a few weeks ago.
Had to get a fridge, since l'd be doing injections instead of infusions for my RA, for the next few weeks. Had a window of nine weeks, before l had to be home.
l'd been trying to get this done for the last four years. First covid delays the trip and Canada border remains closed for a couple years, then a health issue has to be dealt with (RA), then an engine rebuild gone bad (all on me, been a heavy duty/diesel mechanic for 46 years, knew l wasn't really able to rebuild an engine in the condition l was in, but was too stuborn to wait), then two aging parents consumed the last two years heavily, they both passed last fall 2023, so then a search for another 200tdi for the Defender began...because at this point...just wanted to get it running and sell...since basically, it was feeling like this idea of driving a 1990 Defender to Alaska just wasn't meant to be. And, l know all of this is "just life" stuff and l'm not complaining, just explaining...but these are just the "tip of the iceberg" so to speak, in reasons why l didn't think the trip was ever going to be a reality.
Well, end up finding an engine in Birmingham, Alabama. So, leave Michigan on a Tuesday morning and arrive home Wednesday at noon with another 200tdi engine. Few days later, pulled the rebuilt engine and drop the new/used engine in, started at 6am and had her running at 5pm. She fired right up and sounded good. Thank you, Dan, from Alabama...
So, Victoria (defenders name) is running again. Do a few test drives and start cleaning her up to sell. She just doesn't feel the same, too. She just doesn't have the same appeal to me as she once did. As all of this is going on, make the decision that l'm going to finally retire, believe the stress of being head mechanic and being responsible for the maintenance of a fleet of 160 pieces of equipment are no good for my Rheumatoid Arthritis.
My "work life", for the last 33 years, revolved around this garage. The uniform supply guy, Casey, sent me this picture, when l was nearly to Alaska. He had family in Fairbanks and was a wealth of knowledge for the trip. Not going to lie, after walking into that building approximently 8000 times and working with a countless number of wonderful people...got a bit misty eyed. Yeah, it's 'just a work plce'...but it was a good portion of my life...and l worked with a great crew. The laughs we had over the years were infinite.
So, with work being a distance memory soon...had a bit of "l can make this happen" pump through my veins. Wife asked me what was l going to do once l retired...said, "Going to Alaska the following day." She was like...you don't even know if that engine will make it and you haven't even started the interior. Yep, you're right...but l'm going to give this one last shot.
Wanted an "old school" look to the build, nothing fancy. Hate fancy or too nice, where you have to be careful not to damage or scratch something. Even when looking for a defender, wanted something "used" looking. My wife was like..."why don't you get a nice one?" I'd gone through a porsche phase and it had worn me out, always being careful around them in the garage or driving them only in nice weather, etc. Give me...functional, rough around the edges, a little down and dirty...that suits this country boy. Anyhow. I've drooled over many a picture of old, weathered land rovers with primitive wooden cabinets and sleeping platform, bombing their way across vast landscapes or exotic places...so it had to be that. So Victoria's was purchased in Vermont. Some might say she's past her prime, she has a patina of "I've been around the block more than once" written on her epidermis. But her bones and muscle seem intact...
Had a few weeks of vacation time to burn up before l retired, the first week was spent standing in the yard looking at Victoria while smoking a cigar...trying to find the ambition to get started on the interior build; sleeping compartment and cabinets. Second week was just about the same, but started to do some measuring and planning. Third week saw actual progress, saw dust and fabricating...and the pile of wood for the build slowly diminished before my eyes. Week four, she was nearly completed.
Added A/C...fan...lol.
Interior build nearly complete. This was just an empty shell a few weeks ago.
Had to get a fridge, since l'd be doing injections instead of infusions for my RA, for the next few weeks. Had a window of nine weeks, before l had to be home.
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