I posted this mesage on www.ih8mud.com but thought I'd post it here also:

Here's a link to some pictures (http://www.bedsandmorestore.com/cruiser.htm):

I bought a 75 FJ40 and after 6 months of rebuilding and $12000 it got stolen the day I brought it home!! Freaking suckers!! With no insurance and no leads, I was pretty SOL! I had just put in a SB400, SM465, new tires, roll cage, spring over, seats, etc. This happened in October 2003. Well, just last Friday I got a letter from a tow company saying they had found it!!!

INCREDIBLE!!!

Well, except that EVERYTHING had been stripped from it. From what I can tell, I think it originally got stolen, stripped and left for dead. Then someone got hold of it and started a rebuild. Everything is gone except now, instead of the stock axles/springs, I now have a dana 44 front and a 14 bolt rear. Put on with some giant springs and pretty nice shocks! And now, instead of the tri-color primer paint job, they did a pretty decent job painting it orange.

Anyway, I'm totally bummed that it ended up stripped so bad but man, I can't help but get a smile on my face to see my baby again!!

Anyway, I'm no mechanic...I lived in Utah and had a company there do all the work. Now I live in Oregon and I have no clue who to go to help me with this new project. Since it's the end of summer, I'm really thinking of spending some time and doing it right.

So, I need some suggestions. First, who is good and cheap that I can take it to who can build this up for me again. I live in the Eugene, OR area. And then the fun part...what should I do first? I'm wanting something that's EFI, and an auto transmission. The gauge panel is missing and a lot of things are a real mess. I'd like to redo everything...put in painless wiring, customize the gauges and switches. Put in nice seats and roll bar, etc.

What a project, eh? But what should I work on first?

THANKS!!!

congrats on getting your rig back.. cruiser karma at its finest!!!! how did the tow company wind up with it? any leads on where its been or who's had it? obviously somebody has been working on it... get some better pics up and start a thread and see if anyone on this or mud has seen it wheeling? maybe find some of the other stuff. if nothing else maybe get the thieves prosecuted.... (or linched.... road trip?)


chris:cool2:

It's a strange and convoluted story...From what I know, the tow company had been towing it back and forth for a guy. He evidently owed the tow company money and decided to trade it (or something like that). Anyway, I guess the tow company did a title search and found out it was originally stolen so they contacted us.

It was bought and sold from this guy, to that guy to another guy, yadda, yadda, yadda...the cops took statements and made some calls. We'll see if it ever goes anywhere...not likely with the Eugene police department!

well, get a name and take them to small claims court... ill bet they give up another name if there is one.. then you can file against them.. eventually you should get somewhere.. even if its a judgment youll never collect on but maybe youll get justice or some of your parts back...


chris:cool2:

http://www.overthehill4x4.com/index.html

Isn't too far away. What they lack in website they make up for in LC experience.

Okay, I've updated my little webpage with some more images of what it looks like now. Click HERE (http://www.bedsandmorestore.com/cruiser.htm).

so where is the rig now? i assume with you in OR, right? where was it found?

So, I need some suggestions. First, who is good and cheap that I can take it to who can build this up for me again.


that's the age old question, isn't it?! i don't think such a shop exists unless you can find somebody qualified to do it as a "side job".

first thing you need to do is to figure out exactly what you want to do with the rig as far as driving/wheeling goes. the tailor your drive/powertrain to that concept.

glad to hear you got your rig back. i bet you'd written it off a long time ago......

I'd like to know who the fuckhead is that was building a hot 40?? 44. 14 bolt... he at least knew a little. You'd think he'd know a title issue. I'd definatly pursue this with the tow company/police.

... he at least knew a little.


judging by the shackle setup i'd say he knew very little!:laughing:

i'm just stoked you got your rig back. just like the others have mentione, i would definetly try to get to the bottom of this if i were in your shoes. fucking thieves!:mad3:

gald to hear you got it back.. I rmeember your thread a few years ago.. Bummer but good to hear you got it back at the same time.. Bastards... :mad3:

Who would buy something with out doing a carfax report on it. I hate thieves, I would definatly put time into getting these asshats prosecuted or at least find out who they are and take them for a ride with a rope around their wrists,kneck,ankles, or balls.:mad3:

I'm gonna have to say bring it back to utah... We have plenty of shops that would help out. Kurt with Cruiser Outfitters could help you out, and you could run it with the Wasatch Cruiser Club. Besides there is more than plenty of wheeling spots here. Congrats on your good fortune, I guess thats what happens when you live right...

so where is the rig now? i assume with you in OR, right? where was it found?

Yes, I'm in Eugene, OR. It was actually at my employee's house!?!?! Her husband is a mechanic and does a lot of work for people. It's a long story but needless to say, it was at their house for 2 MONTHS!! The tow company had traded it to a friend (before they had taken the proper steps for investigating who's it was) who knew my employee's husband. It's seriously the WEIRDEST coincidence of my life!

It had been sitting in my employee’s driveway waiting for the new "owner" to buy an engine and put the thing back together. Needless to say, he got pretty screwed in the whole deal - He had just bought a bunch of parts for it. But, as someone else stated...who would ever buy a vehicle that didn't have a title - or at least investigate it's history first??!?

I have more to say, ask and reply to but I've got to go to work right now... :(

Wow, great ending... I too remember the original thread, wow! :cool: