Colorado Land Cruisers is a four-wheel drive club based out of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and sanctioned by Toyota Land Cruisers Association. We are organized to bring together Toyota owning families and individuals interested in exploring Colorado four-wheel drive trails.
Only in Colorado, can you have a 100-degree plus day and drive for about 45 minutes and be in snow covered pine trees! Well that’s what you get when you do 21 road in Grand Junction then drive to the top of Grand Mesa over looking Grand Junction. Absolutely beautiful country! I don’t have much to say this month, except for THANKS! to everyone that helped me fix a broken birfield on 21 road. As a friend pointed out, there is a reason to belong to a club and to go wheelin’ with the right group of people! The people make all the difference when it comes to having a good time and a good trip! I for one feel very fortunate to belong to such a Great group(club)!
“Remember we’re all in this together, I’m pullin’ for ya!”
Andy “Minisrule” Johnson
President - CLC
Trail Run: Westcliffe –
June 12, 2004
Join us for CLC’s annual Brighten the Sangres trail cleanup run in Westcliffe. A camp over group will meet at 7pm and leave at 7:30pm Friday June 11th, while the Saturday group meets at 6am and leaves at 6:30am. We meet and leave from the Total station located on Highway 115 and Star Ranch road. (Last time it was a Total station – it’s on the NE corner of the intersection) Andy will lead the Friday evening camp over group and Darryl will lead the Saturday morning day group. Hope to see you there!
“Road Trip” in a 1972 6
cylinder FJ40
This past 10 days I have managed to log 1,000 miles in my FJ40. It has been a real adventure, with the only real issue being the lack of A/C, when the weather turned so hot this past weekend. As many of you know, my white FJ40 still has the stock F, which has never been apart, and still runs just fine. It will cruise for hours at 60 to 65 mph, and continue up hills for a surprising distance. Altitude is an enemy of speed though, and when the speed falls off going up a pass, you shift into 3rd, and continue at 40 to 45 mph – which on the 2 lane passes, is usually above the 35 mph limit anyway. More power would really be nice though, and as I slow going up long hills and passes, I start thinking about alternate power some day. I go to visions of V8 power, which would make all highways flat, and usually come with a power steering pump as well as an A/C compressor. Wow, what it would be like to travel in a FJ 40 with cool refrigerated air in the cab… But then after a stop by Classic Cruisers in Salida, and looking at the double row of 2F’s sitting waiting to power a cruiser again, I wonder about getting a 2F and tricking it out, adding a little compression, doing some math to see what the bore needs to be to go to 4.3L, doing a little head work, getting a good multiple spark ignition system, then topping it off with a good fuel injection system. As a plus, a 2F has a power steering pump mount in the block, as well as the magical double pulley to turn not one belt, but TWO!!! (A/C?) How much better could it get? Back it up with a 5 speed, with a compound low as well as an O.D. 5th gear – and what would you have? You’d have a cruiser that would run on the highway with the best of them, climb the passes in 4th without slowing as experienced now and when out on the trails, you’d have stump pulling torque! If you scrap the 5-speed idea, it bolts in place – right now.
Cost? You betcha. Unique Cruiser? You betcha.
C U on the trail, Darryl
Trip Report: 21 Road – June 5, 2004
One of my destinations this past weekend was the trip to Grand Junction to see my dad and help him – but wait, I drove the FJ40! So, I had no other choice but to meet the group at the 21 road trail head at 9am on the 5th. In planning this trip, I called my long time friend Jack who now lives in Grand Junction and asked if he would like to ride along – of course he did! The trip was set. Jack and I had done a pre-run/walk on the trail in early April and we knew the June time frame would be a lot warmer. Mother nature did not let us down, it passed warm at 11am and became down right hot. But then its June – get over it! We had 5 rigs on the run, 2 FJ40’s and 3 minis. Those attending were, Norm and Joan, Charlie and Jackie, Kendall and brother Mike, Andy and Bart plus me and Jack. Our 1st maintenance stop happened after about 5 minuets into the run when Kendall tried to engage his rear electric locker to get over a rock, and found that it would not work. In less than 5 minutes, Kendall had the problem fixed, and we were off. Our 2nd stop happened about 5 minutes later when Charlie tried to sneak past one of 21 roads fabled sideways-jumping pointed rocks with his left rear tire. With a ‘whoosh’ of air escaping the large hole in the sidewall, we were stopped for a short break to change a tire. One Geolander down and 4 to go! We then progressed up the trail, looking for the fabled tall birfield stress multiplier rock which we knew was waiting. We didn’t have to wait long. Andy forgot to turn on his tall birfield stress multiplier rock repeller, and managed to find the culprit before anyone else could. With a grinding dull snap as the birfield let go, we were stopped in a level spot, ideal for a birfield change. You can’t pay to see this kind of show. Like a well-oiled machine, Norm, Charlie and Andy set out to change out the broken CV joint. The job went off with the precision of an operating room, with Charlie lending hand with the right tool at the right time, as Norm and Andy twisted the wrenches. In 1 hour and 24 minutes, with the tire mounted, the bottle jack was let down and we were ready to go. A post mortem on the broken birfield showed it had an earlier fracture and would have failed soon. 21 road is really a run up a wash, which in most places has a road to go around the real obstacles. We had lunch in a shady cove, which was nice and cool, and progressed to the rock garden and cave, where Andy’s mini decided it was far enough when the left front spring broke a couple of leaves. Not wanting to test the ultimate strength of the remaining leaves, we decided that we were at the half way point, so we turned around and headed out. I got to lead us out! I knew the short cuts! 45 minutes and we were out! (7 hours to get in) The trip and the people we were with were great. If you haven’t gone on a trip like this, plan to do so – you’ll not regret it.
Darryl
Next CLC Meeting ~ June
15, 2004 7:00PM
Mark your calendar for CLC’s next meeting, Liberty Toyota, North. Bring your ideas as we chart CLC’s direction in 2004, and beyond. See you there!
FOR SALE - FOR SALE -
FOR SALE
(No new ads, so will re-run last months – please let me know when you sell an item)
A full width rear seat for a FJ40. This ain’t no wussy 1 and ½ butt wide deal. Nooo. It’s a full size removable van seat with a fairly quick disconnect system. Give Vic Ramsey a call at (719) 439-9602. Vic is ready to deal on this one-of-a-kind seat.
Transmission and Transfer case for a FJ40. 3-speed floor shift. – ‘72/’73 FJ40. Complete with emergency brake drum. Acquired with parts from 2 other FJ’s. Transmission supposed to be good – seems to shift and turn OK. $300.00 or trade. Might consider good offer. Bob Mishmash (719) 564-7071. Email@ mndbmish@aculink.net
Edge juice w/ Attitude for Duramax. New in the box. Call Andy (719) 338-3384
I have a 1965 Toyota Land Cruiser. I bought it as a project car. I am in the military and I have been too busy to work on it. I bought it for $600. I would like to sell it for $400 obo. It has been completely
disassembled. The frame is primed and ready to be painted. The body still has the original hardtop and doors. I have two engines for it and all the parts to
put it together. I was wondering if anybody in your club would be interested in buying it from me. I am stationed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming. You can contact me at (307)638-2901. My name is Josh. Thank-you.
tonycheree@hotmail.com - (a friends email?)