Drew Frazer

[Rezarf]

I have always loved the automotive industry. Since I was kid, I loved anything with wheels. I love hot rods, horsepower, anything created with excellence and creativity, but I have always loved the older iron, my first car was a 68 mustang my father and I fixed up in Hight School.

It wasn't until college that a friend got me turned onto the old FJ40 Landcruisers, and I was hooked!

I bought my first and only cruiser in the spring of '99, she was a smurf blue 1976 fj40 with the 2F, no lift and REALLY REALLY stock. If I knew then what I do now, I would have done a resto instead of modifiying it, but I like what it has become now.

I bought the 40 thinking I LOVE adventure, I love the mountains, I love solitude, I love driving to view's that are otherwise hard to see, and my Cruiser "Maude" lets me do all that!

Here is how she sits today and a few of the things I have done along the way to make her a better wheeler and Daily Driver. I have done all the work myself on this cruiser except for machine work.

Specs:
1976 FJ40
2F from an 85 FJ60
4" SUA Lift from TPI
35x12.5 MTR's
Warn 8270 Winch
Saab 93 leather Seats
Alpine CD Stereo with 8 speakers
Cobra Weather/CB radio
Custom overhead front and rear consoles.
Custom "homemade" rear tire carrier (THANKS IanB)
ARB Safari Snorkel System (I used to live in the swamps of Florida)
Electronic Ignition
Power Steering (mini-truck)
Skid Plate
Original but battered Smurf blue Paint!

Here are a few pics from along the way!

First day I got her... man if I had known, she would have only had a repaint, new bumper and tune up and driven stock! You live and learn.

[Rezarf]

Next up was lifting up Maude and throwing some bigger meats up under her... why was no one there to slap me!? The lift is a TPI Smokey Mountain 4" lift, and the tires were Thornbirds in 33x12.50... I hated those tires. With an afternoon of elbow grease and some rubbing compound and wax... the paint started to look good! Only could find some old black and whites.

[Rezarf]

Today she is a great Daily Driver, and I love my 40! Stacy and I had our first date in this rig, and we got engaged after driving up a fireroad in her to a beautiful overlook... My favorite quote is my wife exclaiming after my proposal was, "now we can never sell Maude!"

I love it when a plan comes together!

This is pretty much how she sits now. New bumper, new tires, winch, power steering and new seats were all added to help with the on road and off road comfort. I fabbed a rear tire carrier (thanks IanB!), and trimmed the rear fenders. All in all she is a great DD and weekend warrior!

[Rezarf]

And I must say, as much as I loved wheeling in the south (Florida and Georgia) Colorado and Utah are amazing! My all time favorite place to wheel so far is Moab. Here's why: