The pain.. The obsession, and the for sale ads.

[trailscape]

I can almost see myself kicking back on a sofa in front of a shrink explaining the following paragraph.

I keep dumping money into my J10 in the hope that one day it'll be at least a weekend driver. It's a learning experience and most of the time I enjoy it. It's also a real love hate relationship as I constantly see really nice deals and steals for other FSJ's in the area. Craigslist is most often Evil in that regard.

What keeps you all going?

I enjoy the thought that it's "mine" and also figure I've bled on it so much I may as well be related. I have fun with all the remarks and puns made over the time I spend and joke about how it's better than sitting on my butt playing stupid video games..

It's a hobby, an expensive one I can't let go. And, hell.. I'm still single and can get away with it.
I just wish I had room for more.

[lost1]

I still remember my first drive...
The brakes were soggy and required a double-pump. There was a strong gas smell coming from a leaky fuel line over the intake manifold. There was a godawful vibration coming from the rear driveline somewhere. The rear tailgate was stuck down, and I had to drive it from the west end of Portland (hillsboro) out to Gresham like that. All windows down to keep the gas fumes relatively weak, of course.

Afterwards, coming down from the gas fumes and the steering wheel-gripping adrenaline ride, I could only describe it as 'driving the big comfy couch from hell.'

I'm hooked!

[rixcj]

I bought my Jeep TO spend time and money on. To most people, the Jeep's fine, the way it is. It runs, handles, and looks good.

But, I know that it can be better, and the fact that I bought it as a hobby/project, is making me spend way more time and money than absolutely necessary. But I don't care. It's what I want to do, and my wife has no problem with it, so why not?

I don't golf, hunt, or spend my money on any other "outlets".

Craigslist, but mostly ebay, has sucked a lot of money out of me ( I've also sold stuff, too, to make some of it back), but I've also gotten some GREAT deals there (and some not-too-great, as well ).

Even though the project doesn't always move ahead, in a positive direction ( I re-do a lot of steps... ), I'm learning, and enjoy seeing the result of the work. That's what keeps me enthused.

This is my jeep as it sits, right now....









Yet, 2 weeks ago, I hauled ANOTHER completely restored frame, and completely rebuilt axles, over to my sister-in-laws garage to start building another rolling chassis, to help speed up the frame off restoration (...so I can still drive my Jeep, while doing all this... ).

Here's where I'm at...









So...trailscape....does that make you feel any better?

If not, ask to see the frame restoration link...

Rich

[Grenadiers]

Yeah, agreed, the FSJ disease is a money robbing one! I'm glad I found my '85, only have a couple hundred into it so far after purchase. BUT, when you have two other car diseases, then, money gets real tight!

I also enjoy going fast, really fast. Have three of these Porsche 924 Turbos, cheap going in, but mucho dollars for scarce parts:


And of course, the Wrangler, dana 44s, detroits, 4:1 kit, blah, blah, blah:



So, having this low-mileage beauty, allows me to drive to town for parts, in comfort! Priceless!

[FSJ freak]

my 89 waggy is just my "project" truck, not my DD, but I understand your love hate relationship. when its good its great and when its bad its awful. just rememeber why it is you got your jeep. cause there aint nothin like em . what keeps me going is everytime something goes right and you fire that thing up and cruise down the road in something you just dont see everyday (at least I dont) and rememeber, there is alot of other crazy people just like you out there!

[DerekTJeep]

I'm trying to debate whether I want to sell my 1977 Wagoneer or keep it for my bike business. Yeah, it's an obsession!!

[710 Burner]

I chuckle a little when another newbie signs in, but has not bought-in yet, and wants to know all the bad little secrects of FSJ ownership, me knowing full well that no matter what I say, there is a 95% chance they will do it anyway.
I did not ask you guys first. It probably would not have mattered. I laid down my cash with a squeeling alternator belt, grinding spongy brakes, a transmission that would barely crawl on the trailer, running on 7 cylinders. That wagoneer is still tearing up the streets somewhere near Chicago.

[fulsizjeep]

no obsessions here...

[janie]

Originally Posted by fulsizjeep

no obsessions here...

Liar liar pants on fire.

[Dumpy]

I think just about everyone here can empathize with you. Sometimes it just ticks you off, but you still love it. Got mine with almost no brakes at all, running on six cylinders, massive floor rot (had hammered out copper as the floor), had to buy a new battery on the way home. My dog was so scared she cowered against the door. Now it's running pretty good and almost a year later it's just fixing the little things! Keep your head up! There's always better deals out there, but when it's all said and done, you'll feel more attached to it than from one you didn't have to do anything to.

[710 Burner]

...but the dog still runs and hides.

[trailscape]

First time I pulled the rear drums to check the brakes, a pile of parts and gear oil spilled out onto the floor. If that isn't love, I don't know what is!

Originally Posted by Dumpy

I think just about everyone here can empathize with you. Sometimes it just ticks you off, but you still love it. Got mine with almost no brakes at all, running on six cylinders, massive floor rot (had hammered out copper as the floor), had to buy a new battery on the way home. My dog was so scared she cowered against the door. Now it's running pretty good and almost a year later it's just fixing the little things! Keep your head up! There's always better deals out there, but when it's all said and done, you'll feel more attached to it than from one you didn't have to do anything to.

[trailscape]

I can see my yard looking like that one day. Do you run a parts yard or are these all your projects?

Originally Posted by fulsizjeep

no obsessions here...

[trailscape]

Fast is fun too.. But, for that I'm hoping to pick up an AMC Eagle SX/4 and drop a 401 or something with a turbo on it. Been hard to find one of those though.

Originally Posted by Grenadiers

Yeah, agreed, the FSJ disease is a money robbing one! I'm glad I found my '85, only have a couple hundred into it so far after purchase. BUT, when you have two other car diseases, then, money gets real tight!

I also enjoy going fast, really fast. Have three of these Porsche 924 Turbos, cheap going in, but mucho dollars for scarce parts:

[fulsizjeep]

Originally Posted by trailscape

I can see my yard looking like that one day. Do you run a parts yard or are these all your projects?

I wouldn't mind having a parts yard, but I may be single again if Idid that. We have 7 we try to keep up with, eveything else gets parted out eventually...


Janie - nuh-uh

[grand_wag_85]

One or two at a time is all I can handle

[rowdy235]

I keep puting money in my jeep so I don't tear up my tacoma offroad.

[gte901m]

Like everyone has said, there are good and bad days. When you're having a bad day, try to remember this is supposed to be fun.

[FSJ freak]

dang Flint, I want to come live in a tent at your place!does jubilee stables actually have horses, or just a bunch of 401's? lol