MDH33
Hard Core 4+
Not sure this will be much of a build thread, but maybe a place I can keep track of stuff I'm doing, and ask questions about this cool capri blue 1969 FJ40 I just acquired up in Northern Minnesota. Ive been looking for another 40 ever since I reluctantly sold my '73 prior to our move from CO to IA in '14. Kept my FJ60, but still missed having a 40 and I've been hunting ever since, but they are rare out here as most have sadly rusted away. I always scan Craigslist and this one popped up in Rochester MN about 3 hours away (I thought) and it looked pretty clean. Unfortunately, the ad got posted on MUD by someone before I had a chance to call, and when I did, the seller was overwhelmed with lots of calls coming from all over... luckily for me he was an honest guy and was more interested in selling it to a fellow cruiserhead than to someone willing to buy sight unseen or those who sounded like they didn't know much about 40's.
This thing looked clean, and his description intrigued me even more.
Catch was, the 40 lived at his cabin way up in Northern Minnesota, 6 hours away, not in Rochester where he lived, but I was willing to make the trek and I headed up to meet him with my trailer in tow. It was a couple of weeks ago and the temps were sub zero, but clear, so I was looking forward to a nice drive Up North. I left at the buttcrack of dawn and figured I could make it up there, check out the 40, load her up and be home before dark. Unfortunately, my trailer blew a wheel bearing and I didn't notice it until I hit the 20 miles of dirt roads leading to his cabin. When I got to his cabin I was relieved to find he had a nice sized outbuilding, which is where the 40 had lived the past 20+ years, and which would also be a convenient place for me to fix the wheel bearings on my trailer.
I ended up spending all day with him checking out the 40, and then driving around small town Northern Minnesota gathering the parts to fix my trailer. We made a deal on the 40, I loaded it up and drove back to Iowa. 18 hour day, 14 hours of driving, but probably the most fun I've had this whole stupid pandemic.
Tony was quite the kindred spirit. He and I had a lot in common. He was a Michigan guy like I am and had moved to Colorado when he was younger. Had a Scout and a buddy of his owned this 40. Had lots of tales driving trails in Colorado back in the day. He had told his friend that if he ever wanted to sell the 40, to let him know. He sold it to him in '93. Around that time, Tony moved to Minnesota and the 40 went up North to his lake property where it was used for weekends, fishing trips, launching the boat, beer and bait runs, etc. Tony and his family had a lot of great memories with this 40. After a bad car wreck, retirement, a divorce and kids moving out on their own, he was ready to start selling some stuff and simplify I think.
Here is Tony giving it a kiss goodbye
The 40 was purchased new in Longmont CO at Bob's Toyota. It still has the original key chain, manuals, stickers and service book and tool roll. No idea what the mileage is but it's only been a weekend truck while Tony has owned it. He claims the Ramsey winch and roll bar were dealer installed. It has it's warts and the rear sill needs replacing, upholstery and headliner are rotten, some electrical components need help, but overall, it's pretty darn clean and I'm excited to get it sorted out.
Here's the tool roll. I'm missing a hammer and a screwdriver if anyone has an extra:
This thing looked clean, and his description intrigued me even more.
Catch was, the 40 lived at his cabin way up in Northern Minnesota, 6 hours away, not in Rochester where he lived, but I was willing to make the trek and I headed up to meet him with my trailer in tow. It was a couple of weeks ago and the temps were sub zero, but clear, so I was looking forward to a nice drive Up North. I left at the buttcrack of dawn and figured I could make it up there, check out the 40, load her up and be home before dark. Unfortunately, my trailer blew a wheel bearing and I didn't notice it until I hit the 20 miles of dirt roads leading to his cabin. When I got to his cabin I was relieved to find he had a nice sized outbuilding, which is where the 40 had lived the past 20+ years, and which would also be a convenient place for me to fix the wheel bearings on my trailer.
I ended up spending all day with him checking out the 40, and then driving around small town Northern Minnesota gathering the parts to fix my trailer. We made a deal on the 40, I loaded it up and drove back to Iowa. 18 hour day, 14 hours of driving, but probably the most fun I've had this whole stupid pandemic.
Tony was quite the kindred spirit. He and I had a lot in common. He was a Michigan guy like I am and had moved to Colorado when he was younger. Had a Scout and a buddy of his owned this 40. Had lots of tales driving trails in Colorado back in the day. He had told his friend that if he ever wanted to sell the 40, to let him know. He sold it to him in '93. Around that time, Tony moved to Minnesota and the 40 went up North to his lake property where it was used for weekends, fishing trips, launching the boat, beer and bait runs, etc. Tony and his family had a lot of great memories with this 40. After a bad car wreck, retirement, a divorce and kids moving out on their own, he was ready to start selling some stuff and simplify I think.
Here is Tony giving it a kiss goodbye
The 40 was purchased new in Longmont CO at Bob's Toyota. It still has the original key chain, manuals, stickers and service book and tool roll. No idea what the mileage is but it's only been a weekend truck while Tony has owned it. He claims the Ramsey winch and roll bar were dealer installed. It has it's warts and the rear sill needs replacing, upholstery and headliner are rotten, some electrical components need help, but overall, it's pretty darn clean and I'm excited to get it sorted out.
Here's the tool roll. I'm missing a hammer and a screwdriver if anyone has an extra:
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