Farewell, Mighty Grape...

So we took the Mighty Grape (See it he
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"

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 he
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"

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.

("Jay Honeck" wrote)
So we took the Mighty Grape (See it he
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? :-)

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


...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.

Jay Honeck wrote:
So we took the Mighty Grape (See it he
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."

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"

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"

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"

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