Here we go again...

[Skillet]

Well, been a while but...a little over a year ago I traded my nicely set up 80 for this little item...

1973 Franken-40:

SBC 350
TH350 Auto
Aqualu Tub
OME springs
4W Discs
Half-*** frame off resto
Metal Tech cage
25 gallon custom made sub tank.
Custom seat support system for taller dudes.


The 80 had 240,000 miles on the ticker and needed some more investment. It had served it's purpose since 2005.

Moving on to a little more "cool factor" and wanting something to wrench on with the 4yo, I opted for the 40 to dump more money into.

The color is not my first choice but it has grown on me a bit.

Since I obtained it, I have done the following:

*New HEAVY DUTY shackles with an added 1 3/8" lift.
*Black steel rims
*Dual batteries (not yet complete)
*Real Steel bows & OCD Sonnendeck soft top
*New Autometer gauges
*Back Seat
*Stereo
*80 series steering wheel with Skinz cover.

Lots of other small items.

Also, due to the loss of storage space, I was "forced" to buy this little Canadian military trailer, which cam pre-setup with ARB RTT, custom lid, rock sliders and AT jerry can doodads up front.

Need:

Lockers, u-bolt flippers (I have kit but need to install), chromo birfs, throttle body, etc.

This is a "fun" vehicle and meant to have many years of wheeling trips with my boy. Not so much "expedition" as the 80 was set up for.
That being said, I am always looking for cool ideas and input on making this rig more reliable and trip ready. Very obviously, I am not going for stock.

So, here it be...

 

[CreeperSleeper]

Sweet 40! Personally, I think the color looks great.

 

[Skillet]

not really knocking it, just prefer more earthy tones...

dune, green, etc.

once I scratch this up some more, I am sure I will be okay.

 

[Skillet]

Thanks for the compliments, gents.

The guy who I got it from was very concerned about the few scratches it had. I said, "hey, when I am done with it, you will have a nervous breakdown."

They did a very thorough job of painting everything, but it is a Land Cruiser, which will be used.

C'este la vie.

 

[Titanpat57]

Very nice...good luck with it!

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Congrats!

 

[Willman]

Nice 40! You will like those trailers! I sure love mine!

 

[SmoothLC]

Sweet lookin' 40!

 

[Ghostdog]

I love that your son is riding in a cool LC, playing with an LC toy AND apparently carrying a samurai sword. That kid is going to have a fun childhood.

 

[dorton]

Cool ride. The pic of him in front of it is a keeper for sure.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Skillet]

Thanks for the compliments.

The boy was definitely a factor in deciding on a 40.

If I am going to be wrenching on something with him, I want it to be fairly simple and something he is proud of.

It all has to start somewhere...Me (on left) and my bro, backpacking with my dad in his 1972 FJ55...

 

[xplrn42]

Very nice looking 40, I like the color a lot actually.

The pic above is priceless.

 

[Ghostdog]

That picture of you on the FJ55 is sweet. How sweet would it be if you still had THAT truck?

 

[SoCal_80]

Sweet! 80 series steering wheel?!

 

[Skillet]

It would be sweet to still have that rig...

That being said, my pop was a firefighter who lived in Santa Cruz, CA...

Spent his copious amounts of free time surfing, fishing, abalone diving and clamming from Steamer Lane to the tip of Baja...most of it in that cruiser.

Back then, you could drive on the beaches around here and that beast saw its fair share of salt.

Had he not rolled it twice in Mexico and finally blow up the engine by drowning it in Aptos Creek up Nisene Marks, it would probably still be with us...

Well...maybe not.

Here is one from Loma Prieta...talk about a roll back in time.