Dragon's Build (Taira)

[Dragon]

What's in a name?

Even the Bible says that "A good name is rather to be chosen than gold". 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 accomplised centuries earlier, Taira drove to Okazaki City and up steep temple stairs. Taira's drive drew attention to the BJ"
-Larry Edsall

Here is my rig:

^^^^^photo by L8Apex ^^^^^

Modifications


The rock rails are made by Trail Gear. My Trail Gear Slider Story (pics)

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)

I chopped the body mounts for the tires to be able to turn fully. I did the Chop


The Light Bar is the Dakar Bar (tweaked a bit) Dakar Bar Stock Headlight Obstruction Fix

...and the Lights are PIAA 580 fogs and 580 Driving lights Ahh, now I see

^^^^^Photo by FJSoHot ^^^^^

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

Gear


I picked up a HiLift Extreme jack

The lock is made by Schlage.


The mount for the HiLift is made by FourTreks (It's incredibly made)


I purchased some Scepter fuel and water cans (Top quality!!! )

The lock is again, made by Schlage

Exterior Appearance


Well, I blacked out everything silver Blacked out Dragon Cruiser

Including the front bezel The Painted Bezel Thread




I debadged it, except for the Front "Toyota" and the back logo, which I moved south What I did to the Toyota Emblem

I think I might be finished until next year. Lower Control Arms, Skiddies, and some winch set up will be in order.


Edit Sept 07
Ok, I was not finished for this year. I won the Bud Built front skid plate at Coon Creek Crawl.




10/24/07

Added Black Billet aluminum shift knobs and Black Billet aluminum mirror light louvers Black Billet Shifters / Mirror Light Covers

12/1/07

I really thought I was done for the year. Maybe now?

Tacozilla 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

http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forum...ly-dragon.html

The install of any one of these is easy, but the transition from the snorkel to the CAI took a bit of creativity.
Here they are:

Snorkel




CAI

3/1/08

Added Digger Links in the rear; upper and lower Taira gets Digger Links

6/6/08. I designed and made my own light bar, after the Dakar Bar rusted through. Home Made Light Bar (Dakar style). Keep It Simple Stupid (Kiss)

Thanks to this community and wealth of information, it is hard to go wrong with mods if you do your homework first. Some of the people on this site have such an incredible wealth of knowledge, that just by using the search function even an average guy like me can't screw it up too bad

[bernd]

Dragon
Rig keeps looking better. Quick questian. When you loaded your liquid containers what has the total wieght and was there any stress on the cross bars?

[Dragon]

bernd previously said:

Dragon
Rig keeps looking better. Quick questian. When you loaded your liquid containers what has the total wieght and was there any stress on the cross bars?

Thanks Bernd.

I don't know the total weight. There is no water in the black can yet, but I wanted to see how they would all ride. I may end up moving the third bottom cross bar back there to support them if it ends up bowint too much.

[Dragon]

bernd previously said:

Dragon
Rig keeps looking better. Quick questian. When you loaded your liquid containers what has the total wieght and was there any stress on the cross bars?

I just figured it out.

Water weighs approx 8.345 lbs per gallon, making that one container (approx 5 gal) weigh 41.75 lbs

Unleaded fuel weighs approx 6.216 lbs per gallon, making the two containers together weigh 62.16 lbs.

Total weight filled should be about 103 lbs

[rich_4]

looks great as always dragon.

[wesayso]

Great rig Dragon. I have one question. Wouldn't the fuel/water cans ride better laid flat?

[Dragon]

Thanks Rich 4

Thanks WeSaySo

wesayso previously said:

Great rig Dragon. I have one question. Wouldn't the fuel/water cans ride better laid flat?

Maybe for wind resistance, but I would rather have the opening "up" just in case of spillage. There should be less "sloshing" around this way, too. Bundled like this in a cube they ride very nice. There is no additional wind noise at all (at least not that I can hear over the song that my tires serenade me with )

[MountainMan]

Wow, Dragon. That is such a nice rig. I take my many hats off and I hope you see immitation as compliment because I will follow your lead on many of those mods. Just looks excellent. I hope to see the beast in person at the Summit, you are going right? I want to say more... cause it's such an awesome rig, but alas... i guess that will do.

[wadecc04fj]

Dragon, your rig looks great. I thought you bought a front bumper from, I think Road Armor when they had that GB. I guess you are still waiting on it.

[Dragon]

MountainMan previously said:

Wow, Dragon. That is such a nice rig. I take my many hats off and I hope you see immitation as compliment because I will follow your lead on many of those mods. Just looks excellent. I hope to see the beast in person at the Summit, you are going right? I want to say more... cause it's such an awesome rig, but alas... i guess that will do.

Thank you sir. I really appreciate it. Photos taken during a sunrise always help Yes, I am going to the Summit. I only have 5 more working days until I leave. I'm getting so phsyched I may just need to stay in a cold shower until then.

wadecc04fj previously said:

Dragon, your rig looks great. I thought you bought a front bumper from, I think Road Armor when they had that GB. I guess you are still waiting on it.

Thanks. I did order the RA bumper.

I started thinking that I like the rig's suspension set up quite a bit the way it is. Off road this thing just goes and goes. On the road it handles SO well. The medium OME is just right with the light bar and lights up front. It sits the way I like and handles the way I like.

....so, I renegged on the bumper order (which would have meant I HAD to get a winch AND heavier springs) and decided to wait a while on it.