The official "I must be losing my ever-loving mind" trek thread.

[120mm]

Well, we are still in the "shake down" phase of life with the new series 80. The electrics are slowly reawakening in the doors and seats, oddly enough; evidently they were unused for a long time and just the act of using them has started to get them to function.

We finally opened the moon roof, and all hell broke loose. Seems the speed shield was only held on by the moon roof being closed on the driver's side. A bit of excitement as Janiece grabbed it as it flapped around and kept it from damaging itself or the car further until we could get off the highway. Ended up unfastening the other side and throwing it in the back for the duration.



I started the project of cleaning the interior: A chore, as the Arizona sun eats interiors. The leather is ossified, and while the driver's seat bottom is completely toast, I think I might be able to save the passenger seat and I definitely can restore the rest of the seats. In Western America, we use something called "Saddle Soap" or we use Neatsfoot Oil to clean and restore leather; urbanites have other names for it or use higher tech things.

The genuine simulated synthetic "wood" is completely shot through with sun rot. And to boot, a prior owner was a smoker of the cheapest brands of cigarettes. Cleaned out the ash tray, but spilled drink, food and nicotine tar has permeated the old paneling, which peels off with little effort.

We did some mild wheeling along a canal. Tomorrow we will take on the Apache Trail, a mild off-road scenic experience nearby.

I've updated my blog again, with more scribbles and pictures: https://hotmilkforbreakfast.wordpress.com/2015/01/23/1927/

 

[120mm]

So, Saturday we went out to Apache Trail, which lies northeast of Apache Junction, AZ. A really easy trail with a couple of semi-challenging smaller trails off of it.



https://hotmilkforbreakfast.wordpress.com/2015/01/25/the-problem-with-bucket-lists/


Found out the hard way that my friend was afraid of heights. She was a real trooper though, and kept the camera running, though her face turned several different colors out of reaction to the admittedly steep drop offs on a pretty sketchy road shoulder.

Saw several highly inappropriate cars out there. Ferrari 360, Porsche 959, several new Corvettes, and one idiot with a Smart car. I cannot imagine what washboards feel like in a Smart car. I'm thinking broken bones and internal injuries, personally.

 

[clivehorridge]

Mind those steps, they'll be off in a flash on the rocks.

Sounds like you're enjoying the trip, the truck and the company, Drew.

You'll be be liking the colour next...

 

[120mm]

So, we made it to San Diego, and while heading out to Coronado beach to get some sun and watch the water, I shucked my right front Birfeld.


Updated my blog: https://hotmilkforbreakfast.wordpress.com/2015/01/28/the-road-to-san-diego-and-bust/

Fudge.


The drive to San Diego was absolutely beautiful and the truck behaved marvelously. I cannot wait for the mechanic to take his piece of flesh and return Marjan to me so we can drive back.

 

[clivehorridge]

Don't know why Drew, your photos aren't visible to me on my iPad.

Bad news the birfield let go, not a cheap repair. Hope you found someone who knows what they're doing...

 

[120mm]

I'm having particularly bad luck with photos right now. It might be my computer, since it's reproduced in all my forums and blog.

Speaking of blog, here is a link to the latest disaster. Bottom line, I had a criminally negligent mechanic rip me off and put my car, myself and my passenger at risk. We drove across the Mojave at night with an improperly assembled knuckle with no lube in the knuckle or in the differential, thanks to the mechanic.

https://hotmilkforbreakfast.wordpre...ence-and-the-art-of-land-cruiser-maintenance/

Luckily, I put the charge on my credit card, so I put a stop to the payment straight away. We are considering going after the garage for costs of additional repairs as well.

I hate crooks.

 

[clivehorridge]

I'm having particularly bad luck with photos right now. It might be my computer, since it's reproduced in all my forums and blog.

Speaking of blog, here is a link to the latest disaster. Bottom line, I had a criminally negligent mechanic rip me off and put my car, myself and my passenger at risk. We drove across the Mojave at night with an improperly assembled knuckle with no lube in the knuckle or in the differential, thanks to the mechanic.

https://hotmilkforbreakfast.wordpre...ence-and-the-art-of-land-cruiser-maintenance/

Luckily, I put the charge on my credit card, so I put a stop to the payment straight away. We are considering going after the garage for costs of additional repairs as well.

I hate crooks.

Barsteward!

That is negligent, hope your front diff hasn't suffered too much, they're the weakest link on the 80 at the best of times? I was going to ask how you found out, but maybe I should go back to your blog, before I do...

 

[Shayne]

Jeez I reckon police would call that reckless endangerment !

 

[clivehorridge]

Just read your blog Drew, what a fcuk up! The guy should be shot!

If there's a chance, try to get the drive-shaft oil seal changed while they're in there. Often it's diff oil leaking past the seal that dissolves the Birfield grease, causing premature failure. Wetness around the "cannon-ball" is a sure sign, and weeping from the steering arm studs (one of which was missing after the "repair" ).

They should be secured with locktite, before the arm is replaced, obviously he did none of that.

Have better luck with the IH8 mob, it's another great forum...., as you'll no doubt appreciate by now.

 

[120mm]

one of the members on ih8mud is helping me install his like new rebuilt front diff and axle assembly tomorrow on my truck. frankly, I'm embarrassed at how little he's charging me so I'll not mention it except to say he is amazing. Will update later.

 

[120mm]

So, a final update on my trip; Kevin and John at Desert Tools replaced the entire front assembly, and the remainder of the trip was uneventful to a fault. I was so used to drama that I got "bored".

Unfortunately, lovely Janiece had to leave the trip because her grandfather passed. Main contributor of boredom #1.... So I picked up my sister from Dallas on the way back, and she tried to keep me awake on the looooong drive from there.

Pretty little rest stop in West Texas

Finished With Engines, Shore Leave For All Hands

 

[clivehorridge]