Farewell, Mighty Grape...

[Jay Honeck]

So we took the Mighty Grape (See it here:
http://alexisparkinn.com/fuel_truck.htm ), our '95 Nissan pickup
fuel-hauling truck (so-named because of its hideous purple color), into
the shop, after noting that the tail lights had ceased to function.

When the shop tried to lift the poor thing on the hoist, a terrible
creaking and cracking sound commenced -- and the little truck about
broke in half! Turns out the frame had rusted most of the way
through, and would have broken completely in two if they had kept
lifting.

So, despite still running like a champ, our mechanic has performed the
Grape's Last Rites, after running nearly 7,000 gallons of car gas
through its veins, and into Atlas....

Considering the Grape only cost $1800, plus another $700 for the tank,
pump, and various other items, I figure it owes us nothing. In fact,
after saving us over $7000 in fuel costs, this little truck has been
the best investment I've made since 2002!

We will sell it to a salvage yard, just as soon as we transfer the fuel
tank to...

....the NEW Grape! Yep, I found a green (Hey -- grapes can be green,
too!) '95 Toyota T-100 4x4 pick-up for the grand price of just $2500.
It's gonna need a little work to get it perfect, but the frame and body
are rust-free, it has a color-matched (yikes!) topper, and it runs like
a champ. Soon, the fuel savings will continue anew!

Stilll, I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for that old Grape.
That little truck had spunk, and we literally drove it until it fell
apart, dang it...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[BT]

The Purple Grape is Dead...
Long Live the Green Grape...

(to the tune of long live the king)

BT

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> So we took the Mighty Grape (See it here:
> http://alexisparkinn.com/fuel_truck.htm ), our '95 Nissan pickup
> fuel-hauling truck (so-named because of its hideous purple color), into
> the shop, after noting that the tail lights had ceased to function.
>
> When the shop tried to lift the poor thing on the hoist, a terrible
> creaking and cracking sound commenced -- and the little truck about
> broke in half! Turns out the frame had rusted most of the way
> through, and would have broken completely in two if they had kept
> lifting.
>
> So, despite still running like a champ, our mechanic has performed the
> Grape's Last Rites, after running nearly 7,000 gallons of car gas
> through its veins, and into Atlas....
>
> Considering the Grape only cost $1800, plus another $700 for the tank,
> pump, and various other items, I figure it owes us nothing. In fact,
> after saving us over $7000 in fuel costs, this little truck has been
> the best investment I've made since 2002!
>
> We will sell it to a salvage yard, just as soon as we transfer the fuel
> tank to...
>
> ...the NEW Grape! Yep, I found a green (Hey -- grapes can be green,
> too!) '95 Toyota T-100 4x4 pick-up for the grand price of just $2500.
> It's gonna need a little work to get it perfect, but the frame and body
> are rust-free, it has a color-matched (yikes!) topper, and it runs like
> a champ. Soon, the fuel savings will continue anew!
>
> Stilll, I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for that old Grape.
> That little truck had spunk, and we literally drove it until it fell
> apart, dang it...
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"
>

[Jose[_1_]]

> Hey -- grapes can be green, too!

Yanno, for one who shuns fine wines in favor of beer, you should get the
ghetto mods on it (monster pneumatic shocks). Then instead of the
mighty grape, you could call it super hops.

Jose
--
"There are 3 secrets to the perfect landing. Unfortunately, nobody knows
what they are." - (mike).
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

[Montblack]

("Jay Honeck" wrote)
> So we took the Mighty Grape (See it here:
> http://alexisparkinn.com/fuel_truck.htm ), our '95 Nissan pickup
> fuel-hauling truck...


I had the frames 'welded up' on my Dodge Darts ALL-THE-TIME (especially
prone to rusting out was that pesky A-frame). But it looks like you've
already decided: "Toyota T-100 ...so I don't have to burn 100LL. Make it
so".

"Do you have the mogas STC?"

"Yup, I burn T-100." <g>

> (so-named because of its hideous purple color)

Hey!! Purple Pride Baby!


Montblack
So when does 'The Grape is Back' bumper sticker go on your 'new' truck? :-)

[Christopher Campbell[_1_]]

On Thu, 7 Dec 2006 21:19:32 -0800, Jay Honeck wrote
(in article om>):


> ...the NEW Grape! Yep, I found a green (Hey -- grapes can be green,
> too!) '95 Toyota T-100 4x4 pick-up for the grand price of just $2500.
> It's gonna need a little work to get it perfect, but the frame and body
> are rust-free, it has a color-matched (yikes!) topper, and it runs like
> a champ. Soon, the fuel savings will continue anew!

Green grape, eh? Better than calling it The Mighty Pea, I suppose.

[Ron Natalie]

Jay Honeck wrote:
> So we took the Mighty Grape (See it here:
> http://alexisparkinn.com/fuel_truck.htm ), our '95 Nissan pickup
> fuel-hauling truck (so-named because of its hideous purple color), into
> the shop, after noting that the tail lights had ceased to function.
>
Maybe you can get MTV to come in and "Pimp my Fuel Truck."

[Jay Honeck]

> Yanno, for one who shuns fine wines in favor of beer, you should get the
> ghetto mods on it (monster pneumatic shocks). Then instead of the
> mighty grape, you could call it super hops.

Hey -- I don't "shun" fine wines...it's just that really good beers
seem to find their way to me more often...

;-)

Actually, this thing is pretty jacked up already, which is one thing
that attracted me to it. We had to stiffen the springs on the old
Grape (in order to handle the extra load), which added to the cost, and
all it did was make the back end ride more level under load. I think
it ended up putting a lot more stress on the part of the frame that
broke.

The new grape won't need extra springs. It's got 8 inches between the
tires and the wheel wells...

The T-100 was Toyota's first attempt at a full-sized pick-up truck, and
'95 was the first year for the bigger 3.4 liter V-6. Since we don't
drive it enough to care about gas mileage, bigger is better. And
because it can fit a full sheet of plywood between the wheel wells, I
suspect we'll be able to use it for hauling stuff a lot more often.
(We used the old Grape to haul stuff, too -- but a mini-pickup truck
can only haul so much.)

Considering this truck has 170K miles on it, and is still running
perfectly, it would seem that Toyota got it right. (Although Mary
pointed out the irony of us buying a Japanese truck on Pearl Harbor
Day. My WWII-vet father must be spinning in his grave... ;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Jay Honeck]

> I had the frames 'welded up' on my Dodge Darts ALL-THE-TIME (especially
> prone to rusting out was that pesky A-frame).

Dang. My shop looked at it, and just shook their heads. Nothing left
to weld anything TO under there. I'd have gone that route if there
was any hope...

> > (so-named because of its hideous purple color)
>
> Hey!! Purple Pride Baby!

We actually looked at an identically-colored, purple Chevy S-10...but
thought, nah, we CAN'T do this Vikings Purple thing anymore...

;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Jay Honeck]

> Maybe you can get MTV to come in and "Pimp my Fuel Truck."

I don't think I fit their demographic anymore. Maybe my son could get
'em to come?

Actually, this truck would be PERFECT for them. No rust, anywhere (it
was actually Ziebart-treated), and only regular wear and tear on the
interior. They could put plasma TVs and subwoofers EVERYWHERE!

;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[B A R R Y[_2_]]

Christopher Campbell wrote:
>
> Green grape, eh? Better than calling it The Mighty Pea, I suppose.
>

At least he didn't find a BROWN T100. <G>

[Doug[_1_]]

That's just grape! Now you won't have to wine about high fuel prices.
Chianti you see your new truck! Everyone knows now, they heard it
through the grapevine.

See ya....

[Dylan Smith]

On 2006-12-08, Jay Honeck > wrote:
> ...the NEW Grape! Yep, I found a green (Hey -- grapes can be green,
> too!) '95 Toyota T-100 4x4 pick-up for the grand price of just $2500.
> It's gonna need a little work to get it perfect, but the frame and body
> are rust-free, it has a color-matched (yikes!) topper, and it runs like
> a champ. Soon, the fuel savings will continue anew!

You should have got a Toyota HiLux. They are almost indestructable. The
BBC TV programme 'Top Gear' put one on top of a tower block that was
demolished, and it still ran afterwards. They abused it many other ways,
too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD0UVI99R8Q

An excellent watch.

--
Yes, the Reply-To email address is valid.
Oolite-Linux: an Elite tribute: http://oolite-linux.berlios.de

[B A R R Y[_2_]]

Dylan Smith wrote:
>
> You should have got a Toyota HiLux. They are almost indestructable.

In the US, Toyota calls the HiLux the Tacoma. T-100's are also pretty
close to indestructable.

I saw the Top Gear video a while back, and it reminded me of my '85
Toyota pickup. After 12 years and 300,000 miles, my truck looked like
the Top Gear truck. <G>

[Michelle P]

It was a good grape. However all grape have to be eaten sooner or later.

Michelle P

Jay Honeck wrote:
> So we took the Mighty Grape (See it here:
> http://alexisparkinn.com/fuel_truck.htm ), our '95 Nissan pickup
> fuel-hauling truck (so-named because of its hideous purple color), into
> the shop, after noting that the tail lights had ceased to function.
>
> When the shop tried to lift the poor thing on the hoist, a terrible
> creaking and cracking sound commenced -- and the little truck about
> broke in half! Turns out the frame had rusted most of the way
> through, and would have broken completely in two if they had kept
> lifting.
>
> So, despite still running like a champ, our mechanic has performed the
> Grape's Last Rites, after running nearly 7,000 gallons of car gas
> through its veins, and into Atlas....
>
> Considering the Grape only cost $1800, plus another $700 for the tank,
> pump, and various other items, I figure it owes us nothing. In fact,
> after saving us over $7000 in fuel costs, this little truck has been
> the best investment I've made since 2002!
>
> We will sell it to a salvage yard, just as soon as we transfer the fuel
> tank to...
>
> ...the NEW Grape! Yep, I found a green (Hey -- grapes can be green,
> too!) '95 Toyota T-100 4x4 pick-up for the grand price of just $2500.
> It's gonna need a little work to get it perfect, but the frame and body
> are rust-free, it has a color-matched (yikes!) topper, and it runs like
> a champ. Soon, the fuel savings will continue anew!
>
> Stilll, I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for that old Grape.
> That little truck had spunk, and we literally drove it until it fell
> apart, dang it...
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"
>

[Jim Burns[_1_]]

....add a little static electricity, a few 1000W of sub woofer, 100 gallons
of mogas and the "New Grape" would re-define BOOM-box!
Since this T-100 is larger than the old grape, I think you should call it
the Grape Ape.
Jim

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> > Maybe you can get MTV to come in and "Pimp my Fuel Truck."
>
> I don't think I fit their demographic anymore. Maybe my son could get
> 'em to come?
>
> Actually, this truck would be PERFECT for them. No rust, anywhere (it
> was actually Ziebart-treated), and only regular wear and tear on the
> interior. They could put plasma TVs and subwoofers EVERYWHERE!
>
> ;-)
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"
>

[Jim Burns[_1_]]

With all that rust, I think now the proper name for it would be the Mighty
Raisin.
Jim

"Michelle P" > wrote in message
ink.net...
> It was a good grape. However all grape have to be eaten sooner or later.
>
> Michelle P

[Jay Honeck]

> That's just grape! Now you won't have to wine about high fuel prices.
> Chianti you see your new truck! Everyone knows now, they heard it
> through the grapevine.
>
> See ya....

Gawd, Doug, that's just so terrible, it's great!

:-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Jay Honeck]

> That's just grape! Now you won't have to wine about high fuel prices.
> Chianti you see your new truck! Everyone knows now, they heard it
> through the grapevine.
>
> See ya....

Gawd, Doug, that's just so terrible, it's great!

:-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
ps.com...
>> I had the frames 'welded up' on my Dodge Darts ALL-THE-TIME (especially
>> prone to rusting out was that pesky A-frame).
>
> Dang. My shop looked at it, and just shook their heads. Nothing left
> to weld anything TO under there. I'd have gone that route if there
> was any hope...
>

Well, I''m not impressed. I'm willing to bet that my '89 Ranger has seen a
lot more salt here in Detroit than your '95 Nissan in Iowa...

The parking lot at work today was glistening white - but not a flake of snow
to be seen anywhere. Sheesh. I hate salt.

--
Geoff
The Sea Hawk at Wow Way d0t Com
remove spaces and make the obvious substitutions to reply by mail
When immigration is outlawed, only outlaws will immigrate.

[Grumman-581[_1_]]

On Fri, 08 Dec 2006 23:48:32 +0000, in
>, B A R R Y wrote:
> Maybe his Nissan didn't spend it's whole life in Iowa?
>
> Used cars get shipped amazing distances after auctions.

Maybe it came from New Orleans... Hey, at least it wasn't submerged in
salt water...

[Jay Honeck]

> Jay's T100 would be in high demand as a "work truck" in my parts. <G>

The Toyota T100 was Toyota's first attempt at a full-sized pickup, so
it's pretty unfair to compare it to the diminuitive Nissan we just
broke in half.

The Nissan was basically a mini-truck, with light-duty everything. The
T-100 isn't as heavy duty as (for example) a Ford F-250 (we test drove
one, which I loved -- but Mary just said "No friggin' way!" :-), but
it's waaaay tougher than the original Mighty Grape.

Most amazingly, according to CarFax, it has spent its entire 11-year
life here in Iowa, with salt being spread liberally at the slightest
hint of snow. Since Toyota trucks are famous for rusting into rubble,
my shop was quite surprised to find NO rust on it, anywhere.

The after-market trailer hitch on the Toyota has corroded into little
more than a bar of rust -- but it's bolted to an almost-pristine frame
member. Apparently Ziebarting a vehicle really works.

All I know is it's really fun to drive, as opposed to the original
Grape, which was always a "Well, it's gonna get us there cheaply..."
kind of ride.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Jay Honeck]

> Do you know what engine your T100 has?

It's got the 3.4 liter V-6. It was the first year Toyota went to the
bigger engine, and it's apparently got an excellent maintenance record.
This one has 180K on it, and runs perfectly.

The guy I bought it from was anal about changing the oil every 3K
miles, which is precisely what I wanted to hear. We're having the
timing belt/water pump replaced next week, since it's gone about 100K
miles past the recommended replacement period.

The more I drive it, the more I like this truck. Even with the miles
it's got, everything still feels tight.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"