BeachMaster (in honor of my father)

[fulsizjeep]

This is another Jeep project on the back burner for a while. My dad's 88 GW dubbed BeachMaster. Then failed brakes in Ouray in 2005 dubbed it BrakeMaster with rotten brake lines. It spent most of it's early life in harsh Maine winters. Then a while in Maryland and finally Corpus Christi, TX. This quarter panel is a nice way to start getting ready for the body damage on this poor thing.



The Last Trip to Padre Island

[The PIG Smith]

Wow...looks awesome on the beach.

So, what's the story on this rig?
Where is the BeachMaster/BrakeMaster at today?

[jaber]

It will be interesting to see where you take this build.

[fulsizjeep]

My dad gave me his 88 GW in 2005. He passed away in 2010. It is stock except the Rusty's 4" lift. The engine has around 60k original miles and is from an older FSJ. Drove it home from So TX just fine. Later that summer, the brakes went out when the lines started leaking from rust and it got parked. The story is longer, this is the short version. It has been parked here 7 years. Stole the carb off it for another rig 4 years ago. I have a frame repair kit for where it rusts out by the fuel tank. Finally found someone that would cut that LR fender off a rust free parts rig and ship it to me last month. This area on the 88 was bashed at one point and has a bunch of bondo in it. Rockers need to be re-skinned too. Need to get it running again first though. :-s

[The PIG Smith]

So, with "Wally" being your hardcore off-road rig, what are your plans for "BeachMaster"?
Will it be a tribute to your late father?
Will you modify is as your father wanted/had plans to?
..or keep stock to remember "BeachMaster" as your father drove it?


My grandfather had a 1978 Chevy 1/2 ton pickup truck that he dearly loved.
Sky blue with a white cab roof; 2WD; 350 V8 with a TH350; AM radio and no A/C.
I went everywhere with him in that truck.
When he passed away, my grandmother continued to use to haul wood and coal to the farm.
When she passed away, there was feud between my father, executor of her estate and my uncle and aunt.
I wanted that truck in the worst way to restore it a tribute to my awesome grandfather.
However, a few years after my grandmother passed, my wife and I went to check out this truck.
It was rusted so bad, there was not much left of it.
A restoration would have required the replacement of every panel on that truck, not to mention what shape the engine is in after sitting for 10ish years.
I had to admit it was just not worth it and give up the dream.
My aunt got the farmhouse and with it, came the truck.
I am sure my grandfather's truck was crushed.
Sad? Very. But, I got over it and am working on my own legacy with my J20, J10, Cargo Van.
The adventures Nathan and I have been on in the J20 and the cargo van are some he will never forget!

Flint I surely hope you can immortalize your father's memory in that Wagoneer.

Sorry be getting sappy.

[hutcho]

My rig is almost the same story. My dad bought it years ago for $500 bucks. My grandpa fell in love with it and bought it from him and used that thing all over the farm, and got it stuck about every place he could find too. When he passed we were at my grandmas house after the funeral and she came outside and handed me the title and said that he would want me to have it. I have never been happier about a truck! It's nowhere near what it was then, but I am building it the way i wouod like and making it a tribute to him. I'm sorry to hijack your thread and get all off topic just saw all the stories and couldn't stop myself. Best of luck with your project! Its very satisfying and rewarding to get to build one like this.

Sent from my Motorola Atrix 4G

[fulsizjeep]

My dad owned the GW for a few short years. He really took a beating on it for a somewhat rebuilt rusty GW for $3600. He had the lift and 32s put on. He enjoyed it but it never got better than 9 mpg and was crushing his wallet. I would like to get that GW reliable for road trips as well as for light trail duty. The 360 is a strong runner but he wanted a 401 for it, which we have so we'll see...

[sambo]

i like the way this is going!

[Grand_Wag_85]

Glad to see that Jeep is getting some attention!