"Hoss" aballas's '07 Voodoo
Update 05/17/2011 I'll be reserving the very top area here to show current progress on the rig (instant gratification)...I'll continue to do build updates in subsequent post... (if you're into the long reads)
Here's Hoss's current progress....
Now back to the reading...
Since picking up my FJ last week I've become obsessed.... I'm constantly reading the forums looking for mods I might want to make, or cool hacks for the electronics. So I figured I might as well make a build-up thread to document my FJ's progression.
I don't have any plans to make it into a dedicated rock-crawler or anything crazy like that
I just want to make some mods to suit it for my purposes. I want it to be both a competent daily driver and a competent off-roader for the occasional gnarly stuff that I just can't pass up. :lol:
I decided on an FJ because I wanted something a bit bigger than my Suby Wagon, and I wanted to offroad a bit (may or may not have been influenced by my best friend's purchase of a 2011 JK). So I began shopping and came across this:
a completely pristine '07 FJ in Voodoo Blue (my favorite color), 5A/T 4x4 with rear diff lock, with 52K on the ODO... (about the same mileage as my '07 Suby...seemed like a good trade)
I picked it up last Monday from Washington Auto Mall in Washington, PA. Actually had a fairly positive experience there (I loathe stealerships) with a salesman who used to be a HS classmate of mine
Traded in my old Suby wagon... I'll miss her, but already love the new girl much more...
Here's my FJ the day I brought her home.... it was a little snowy to say the least, but it was good to see how it handled in the snow right off the bat, as I was worried I'd suffer a bit from the Suby (which was amazing and fun to drive in ice and snow). I've been impressed so far with the FJs abilities this winter, and much less impressed with WV-DOT's ability to maintain road conditions in the winter...
As far as mods go... I haven't done much yet, but I have tons of plans!
One thing I decided to do was make the cargo area a bit more friendly for my yellow lab Tsali... On her first ride she slid around like crazy on the plastic, and didn't have much fun... So I went to a sporting goods shop near my house and bought a large roll of cut-to-fit exercise mat (i needed some anyway for my bike trainer room). I measured the back cargo area and cut it to fit...
Also cut some holes for the cargo-loops (not pictured)
Tsali is much happier
Another thing I discovered, was that underneath the trash-can lid tire cover was not a matching alloy... It was one of the stock steelies...
so $90 on ebay later...I have this...also notice my rear glass mod... Breckenridge Brewery sticker, and Black Bear Burritos sticker (one of my favorite local hang-outs :lol:
Looks MUCH better, and satisfies my OCD need to have things match.. (the tire doesn't...but I can deal with that...for now)
I also discovered in my research of this wheel that they're the 17" alloys from the 4runner.. and aren't supposed to fit according to a few threads I found. That confused me because they're definitely on my FJ, with no spacers, and no rubbing whatsoever...oh well..
So there you have it... my (as of yet) nameless 2007 Voodoo FJ as she sits today.
Update 05/17/2011 I'll be reserving the very top area here to show current progress on the rig (instant gratification)...I'll continue to do build updates in subsequent post... (if you're into the long reads)
Here's Hoss's current progress....
Now back to the reading...
Since picking up my FJ last week I've become obsessed.... I'm constantly reading the forums looking for mods I might want to make, or cool hacks for the electronics. So I figured I might as well make a build-up thread to document my FJ's progression.
I don't have any plans to make it into a dedicated rock-crawler or anything crazy like that
I just want to make some mods to suit it for my purposes. I want it to be both a competent daily driver and a competent off-roader for the occasional gnarly stuff that I just can't pass up. :lol:
I decided on an FJ because I wanted something a bit bigger than my Suby Wagon, and I wanted to offroad a bit (may or may not have been influenced by my best friend's purchase of a 2011 JK). So I began shopping and came across this:
a completely pristine '07 FJ in Voodoo Blue (my favorite color), 5A/T 4x4 with rear diff lock, with 52K on the ODO... (about the same mileage as my '07 Suby...seemed like a good trade)
I picked it up last Monday from Washington Auto Mall in Washington, PA. Actually had a fairly positive experience there (I loathe stealerships) with a salesman who used to be a HS classmate of mine
Traded in my old Suby wagon... I'll miss her, but already love the new girl much more...
Here's my FJ the day I brought her home.... it was a little snowy to say the least, but it was good to see how it handled in the snow right off the bat, as I was worried I'd suffer a bit from the Suby (which was amazing and fun to drive in ice and snow). I've been impressed so far with the FJs abilities this winter, and much less impressed with WV-DOT's ability to maintain road conditions in the winter...
As far as mods go... I haven't done much yet, but I have tons of plans!
One thing I decided to do was make the cargo area a bit more friendly for my yellow lab Tsali... On her first ride she slid around like crazy on the plastic, and didn't have much fun... So I went to a sporting goods shop near my house and bought a large roll of cut-to-fit exercise mat (i needed some anyway for my bike trainer room). I measured the back cargo area and cut it to fit...
Also cut some holes for the cargo-loops (not pictured)
Tsali is much happier
Another thing I discovered, was that underneath the trash-can lid tire cover was not a matching alloy... It was one of the stock steelies...
so $90 on ebay later...I have this...also notice my rear glass mod... Breckenridge Brewery sticker, and Black Bear Burritos sticker (one of my favorite local hang-outs :lol:
Looks MUCH better, and satisfies my OCD need to have things match.. (the tire doesn't...but I can deal with that...for now)
I also discovered in my research of this wheel that they're the 17" alloys from the 4runner.. and aren't supposed to fit according to a few threads I found. That confused me because they're definitely on my FJ, with no spacers, and no rubbing whatsoever...oh well..
So there you have it... my (as of yet) nameless 2007 Voodoo FJ as she sits today.