.
"We are not at our best perched at the summit. We are climbers, at our best when the way is steep"
-John W. Gardner
The Top of the World. Moab, Utah
What's in a name?
"A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches"
-Proverbs 22:1
For my rig, I went retro and named it after the man who put the Landcruisers on the map, literally.
"In July of 1951, Toyota Test driver
Ichiro Taira drove a BJ prototype to the sixth of the 10 hikers checkpoints on Japan's 12,388 foot Mount Fuji. That was higher than anyone thought likely-or even possible -in a four wheel motor vehicle. Then inspired by a historic horseback riding feat accomplished centuries earlier, Taira drove to Okazaki City and up steep temple stairs. Taira's drive drew attention to the
FJ*"
-Larry Edsall
Here is my rig:
Mincy Wildlife Refuge. Branson, MO
The Top of the World. Moab, Utah
Illinois Prairies
^^^^^^^
Photo by Rig-57
McCaslin Mountain. Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, WI
Modifications
The
rock rails are made by Trail Gear.
My Trail Gear Slider Story (pics)
The Cliffs Insane Terrain. Marseilles, IL
The
suspension system is OME885 Springs in front with N140S Struts, and OME895 Springs in back with N141 Shocks
OME Lift. *sigh* Finally got her done.
The
wheels are ProComp Xtreme 7089 alloys
Dragon Cruiser Sporting Pro Comps and the
tires are Firestone Destination 285/70/17 MT's
Blizzard + FJ + Destinations = Blast (pics)
The Cliffs Insane Terrain. Marseilles, IL
I chopped the body mounts for the tires to be able to turn fully.
I did the Chop
The original
Light Bar WAS the Dakar Bar (tweaked a bit)
Dakar Bar Stock Headlight Obstruction Fix until it rusted through. After that happened, I designed and built my own version
Home Made Light Bar (Dakar style). Keep It Simple Stupid (Kiss)
Lindenhurst, IL
...and the
Lights are PIAA 580 fogs and 580 Driving lights
Ahh, now I see
^^^^^Photo by FJSoHot ^^^^^
Mincy Wildlife Refuge. Branson, MO
But then a Forum vendor
The Toy Outfitters provided me with a custom bumper to fit my desired "look" and I did away with the light bars in order to don a new tube framed bumper
I extended the
differential and electronic locker breathers as well as the transfer case and automatic transmission breathers to the front engine bay
SCUBA Driver Transmission, Transfer Case, Rear Differential & E-Locker Breather MOD
Sept 07
I won the Bud Built front skid plate at Coon Creek Crawl.
The Badlands. Attica, IN
is a forum sponsor and overall good guy. I called him and while ordering a
Safari Snorkel I got impulsive and bougt a
TRD Cold Air Intake and a
TRD Exhaust
Christmas Comes Early
^^^^^photo by L8Apex ^^^^^
Willowbrook, IL
Illinois Swamps
3/1/08
Added Digger Links in the rear; upper and lower control arms.
Taira gets Digger Links
Illinois Backroads.
Gear
I picked up a
HiLift Extreme jack
The
mount for the HiLift is made by FourTreks (It's incredibly made)
I purchased some
Scepter fuel and water cans (Top quality!!! )
^^^^^^
Photo by Jeshua
Kokopelli Trail. Utah
Coon Creek. Dyersburg, TN
I swapped the mirror light bulbs and the headlights with
PIAA Super White bulbs
I
blacked out everything silver
Blacked out Dragon Cruiser
^^^^^^
Photo by Jeshua
Kokopelli Trail. Utah
Including the front bezel
The Painted Bezel Thread
San Juan Mountains. Ouray, CO
.
I
debadged it, except for the Front "Toyota" and the back logo, which I moved south
What I did to the Toyota Emblem
Illinois Prairies
Added Black Billet aluminum shift knobs
Black Billet Shifters / Mirror Light Covers
June 08 added
Sirius Satellite radio and a
Cobra CB
Kokopelli Trail. Utah
Lake County Forest Preserve, IL
2007 Sun Fusion Toyota FJ Cruiser
Tires ......
Firestone Destination 285/70/17 MTs
Suspension .....
Old Man Emu OME885 Springs in front with N140S Struts, and OME895 Springs in back with N141 Shocks
Light Bar ...... Home Made
K.I.S.S
Tube Bumper .....
Toy Outfitters
Lights ......
PIAA 580 Fogs and
PIAA 580 Driving Lights
Rock Rails ......
Trail Gear
Air Intake ......
TRD Cold Air Intake
Exhaust ......
TRD Catback Exhaust
Snorkel ......
Safari
IFS Skid plate ......
BudBuilt
Rear UCAs and LCAs ......
Digger Links
Black Out ...... by
Rustoleum
Hi Lift Jack ......
Hi Lift Extreme
Hi Lift Mount ......
FourTreks
Fuel and Water cans ......
Scepter
Satellite Radio .....
Sirius Sportster 5
Billit Aluminum Shift Knobs ......
Real Wheels
Billit Aluminum Mirror Light Louvers ......
Real Wheels
AT, E-Locker, Differential, Transfer Case Breathers run to engine bay.
Front Body Mounts Trimmed
Headlights ......
PIAA Super White H4
Mirror Lights ......
PIAA Super White LEDs
Decals ......
Immortal Graphix
CB Radio ......
Cobra
Fluids being used.
Motor oil ......
Mobil 1 Synthetic 0W-40
U-joints (Spider).....
Mobil 1 Synthetic Grease
Slip Yokes ......
Mobil 1 Synthetic Grease
Front Differential ......
Mobil 1 Synthetic Gear Lube LS 75W-90
Transfer Case ......
Mobil 1 Synthetic Gear Lube LS 75W-90
Rear Differential ......
Mobil 1 Synthetic Gear Lube LS 75W-90
Fuel ......
Premium Unleaded.
Off-Road Badges:
-Passenger side mirror wiggle from bouncing off of too many trees.
-Passenger side dents in door from bouncing off of too many trees.
-Passenger side wheel bearing replaced from either silt or sand penetrating the alleged sealed bearing.
(Maybe I should get rid of the passenger side)
-3 idler pullies replaced 1x from running through too many deep mud holes.
-ABS speed sensor replaced; torn up while driving in 'dry' and deep ruts (mud would have been preferred here).
-Alternator pulled, disassembled and cleaned by myself, due to sticking the whole front end of my FJ into a bottomless mud pit. The alternator was so full of mud it would no longer charge the battery.
-Gouges in my aluminum wheels from running in too many rock gardens.
2/10/09-Driver side wheel bearing and passenger side inner tie rod replaced
Other Repairs Needed
-Torque Converter replaced under warranty. Everything else is the price that I pay to play.
