After a minor FJ40 disaster last spring, it’s finally back in the shop getting sorted out. Fortunately, this time the guy doing the work actually knows what’s he’s doing.
The short version of the whole story is that the cruiser was purchased in Dec of 2007. I’ll admit to not knowing enough as I should have before taking the plunge. That said, the seller went to great efforts to dress up what was a very poor ‘restoration’ of the cruiser – which is to say it wasn’t really restored at all – aside from some paint. Almost immediatley it ended up in the shop – the wrong shop – getting basic drivability issues resolved – brakes, clutch, etc. Following that it spent some time getting the electrical sorted out. Then summer hit and the rig went into the garage, since it too hot to be wheeling without air conditioning. Fall of 2008 I got involved with one of the local cruiser clubs and actually got the cruiser out and had some fun with it. Then spring of 2009 it became apparent that the problems with the rig were much more serious than I thought. After a wheel came off while off road I knew it was time to make some serious changes.
Fortunately, the club hooked me up with someone who really knows cruisers. On the to-do list is: an axle swap – front & back to get disc brakes, ARB air locker installation front & back, power brake installation & new brake lines, Saginaw power steering install, H41 4-speed transmission installation, auxilliary gas tank install, new shackles and dual batteries.
Just got back from a quick trip to the shop to finalize the work to be completed – great to see it coming along. Equally depressing to see just how many shortcuts were taken during the ‘restoration’ that was supposedly done on it.
When all is said and done, the shop that worked on it for me after I bought it, I’m particularly disappointed in. While the guy I bought it from sucks, the shop definitely didn’t do me any favors either. The coin I spent with them repairing the old drum brakes system & clutch is almost what going to later model axles with disc brakes *and* ARB lockers is costing me now. Live and learn I guess.
Sadly missing a good hunk of the cool weather this year – but looking forward to getting back out there with it once it’s done.
A cop pulls a car over, and after looking at the driver’s license says “I noticed you were driving erratically. Do you mind if I search your car?” The driver gives him permission. After searching, he comes back to the driver’s window. “Dr. Schrodinger, are you aware that there’s a dead cat in your trunk?” Schrodinger says, “Well, there is *now*.”
Traveled to San Diego over Thanksgiving weekend this year. The weather wasn’t great unfortunately – with calm fair days on Thursday & Friday and breezy, but damp days Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday we did get a chance to sail on one of the San Diego Maritime Museum’s replica tallships – the ‘Californian’. It was a fun sail, though the wind which started out strong faded during the course of the sail it was still a great afternoon. Amazing to see just how much effort and how many lines are involved in sailing even a relatively small ship of this kind.
Also got to see the BMW/Oracle Racing trimaran that will probably be competing for the America’s Cup next year -depending on the outcome of all the various lawsuits involved. Impressive piece of engineering.
Took a long weekend trip to San Diego & Disneyland to celebrate Kim’s birthday. Got into San Diego on Friday afternoon and flew kites in the Mission Bay park area. On Saturday we spent a nice day walking along the Pacific Beach boardwalk and then renting a sailboat in the Sail Bay area near Mission Beach. Sunday was spent at the San Diego Zoo and flying kites again. The weather was great for the whole weekend with plenty of sun and nice cool breezes.
Monday we drove up to LA to visit Disneyland – riding the various rides and seeing the ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ inspired ‘Haunted Mansion’.
Had a fun trip to Wyoming in August for the family reunion. Got in to Billings, MT on Saturday and drove down to Buffalo for a BBQ hosted at Mark & Jennie’s place. On Sunday there was a big dinner at the Wagonbox in Story, followed by a trip to Thermopolis and a swim in the hot springs on Monday.
Kim and I went on a short backpacking trip on Wednesday-Friday, visiting Mirror Lakes just a few miles from the West Tensleep Lake trailhead.
My patience has finally paid off, a call from my dealer a few days ago let me know my long awaited long range grail had finally arrived.
Terry Cross from KMW Long Range Solutions built up this .338 Lapua Magnum. I picked Terry based on numerous recommendations from people I trust, and it looks like it’ll be a great rifle. Can’t wait to see how it performs at distance.
It’s a Surgeon XL based rifle, with a McMillan A5 stock in desert camo (should have had the KMW adjustable cheek piece installed – live and learn), a fluted Krieger barrel in a massive contour, a Rifle Basix trigger, and a Badger FTE break.
Got lucky and my local coating guy – Tim @ Alternative Firearm Coatings (highly recommended – nice guy, fair prices, good work, fast turnaround) had a little Cerakote left over from a previous job in the exact color as the coating on the rifle - enough to do my rings and magazine, everything matches up nicely now.
Now all I need are the optics and some cooler weather in the Phoenix area so I can take it out and send some rounds seriously far downrange. Thinking I’m going to do the Premier Heritage 5-25×56 scope, but want to play with one first before I spend the money – fortunately a couple of the guys I shoot with occasionally have them on order.
Got to see the Cowboy Junkies at the Mesa Arts Center on Tuesday night. I’ve seen them several times before, and was definitely excited to see them again – even though there hasn’t been a new album since the previous show I saw last year.
The Ikeda Theater at the Mesa Arts Center is fairly large – seating 1600, though it seems like more. I’ve attended some lectures there previously and enjoyed the venue. After the concert though, I’m not convinced it’s the best venue for musical acts. The sound was a bit hollow to me, though at least the sound guys did a better job than the previous show in Tucson. The crowd and the band were both very mellow – much more than any previous show I’ve seen them at. I was also a little disappointed that the set seemed pretty short, with no encore as they had another band following them.
On the plus side, got to hear a track of a forthcoming album that sounded great, along with a really nice Neil Young cover.
A stellar little sci-fi mystery/thriller that is really well shot and acted. A slightly tighter edit would have made it even better – but as it is, it’s definitely worth a view.
