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Iconic's Partial To Blue Build

292K views 2K replies 106 participants last post by  debFJVT 
#1 · (Edited)
Hello, a little background on me: The FJ is the first vehicle I've officially owned and I bought it from my dad, 06/19/15 is when I traded in the dirty license plate and was handed a shiny new one. I'm 20 yrs old (as of this post) and attend college for Engineering. I've been hooked on Toyota 4x4's ever since I started looking for the perfect first vehicle. I suppose it all started when I was a kid my family had a 4runner and my dad thinks he's 'twisted' me by owning mostly Toyotas since. I really like 4runners and tacos, and will probably own them someday, but the quirkiness and capability of the FJ is what makes it such a great vehicle. By posting this thread I hope to, at the very least, inspire those who read it to jump outside of their comfort zone. Who knows what you'll find! I have tons of plans for mods and adventures, stay tuned!


Moab
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Kansas
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The day I bought it, it was in near perfect condition. Never will it be that clean again. (6/20/15)
Specs: 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser 5AT
With all the Options:
-Atrac
-Diff Lock
-Sub
-Rack

Specs:
45* Departure Angle
19" Ground to Frame
5" Rear Up Travel
17.5" Rear Wheel Travel (flex)
12" Front Wheel Travel
5700 lbs weight w/o occupants
86" track width outside tires

Mods

Drivetrain:
-ECGS Dana 60 rear diff, 35 spline, 70" wide w/ARB airlocker, 4.88 gears
-ECGS clamshell front diff, ARB airlocker, 4.88 gears
-Yukon Forged 1350 yoke at rear differential
-Southbay Drivelines HD rear driveshaft w/ 1350's both ends
-RCV CV's in front

Suspension:
Front:
-Dirt King +3.5" Long Travel Kit
-King adjustable coilovers
-Poly Performance Taco Tabs
-Marlin Cam Tab Gussets
-FJToyman Gusseted Spindles
-Locked 2" Hydro Bumps
Rear:
-King 14" Stroke 2.5" shocks w/resi (Iconic's Rear "Super' Long Travel)
-Outboard shock hoops
-Kartek limit straps
-Locked 2" Hydro Bumps
-Metaltech HD LT Springs
-Metaltech Offset Lower Links
-RESZ Fab Offset Upper Links
-Icon Jeep JK Panhard Bar (I cut 3/4" shorter)
-TK1 Racing Ultra 4 sway bar. 48" long, 16" arms, medium profile bar.

Steering:
-200 Series Land Cruiser Steering Rack (custom fabrication required)
-Tundra Outer Tie Rod Ends, LC200 Inner Tie Rod Ends
-Derale 9000 Series 13612 Power Steering Cooler

Armor:
-Homemade hardened steel front bumper (Front Bumper Build)
-Homemade rear bumper (Rear Bumper Build)
-Buduilt IFS skid, Budbuilt Mid skid chopped in half and the rest custom. Check out this thread: (Custom Skids)
-Homemade stainless steel charcoal canister skid
-All Pro Apex DOM Sliders without fill plates, welded on 1.5" higher (body lift)
-All Pro Rear Lower Link Skids
-DMZ motor mount gussets

Tires and Wheels:
-37x12.5-17 Cooper STT Pros
-39x13.5-17 BFG KM3
-Method 701 Trail Series (17x8.5 +0)

Lighting:
-Baja Designs XL80 Pair Spots (switched on with high beams w/override)
-Baja Designs Squadron Sport Round Pair Wide Cornering mounted in bumper
-Baja Designs Squadron Pro Pair in Wide Cornering Lense mounted with DB Customz cowl light brackets
-Baja Designs S2 Pro Flood mounted in center of spare tire
-Baja Designs S2 Sport Pair Wide Cornering mounted in rear bumper
-Baja Designs S2 Sport Pair Flood mounted to swivel on roof rack
-Diode Dynamics LED Strip Footwell Lights
-Diode Dynamics HP5 in mirrors
-Diode Dynamics HP3 License Plate
-Diode Dynamics HP6 dome lights
-Philips X-treme Vision Headlight Bulbs

Comms, Electronics, Navigation:
-Cobra 75 WX ST CB
-Bandi Mount w/ 3ft Firefly Antenna
-ScanGauge II
-Panavise mount with RAM Mounts Tablet Cradle RAM-HOL-SAM8U and Samsung Galaxy Tab A 7.0 inch Tablet
-NorthStar NSB-AGM-31M Battery
-Pelfreybilt Stainless Steel Battery Tray
-HKB Voltage Booster
-Tacoma 130 Amp Alternator

Interior:
-Wet Okole Seat Covers
-Interior parts painted white
-Dual USB Charger in console and 12V+USB outlet in rear cargo area
-Thrunite TN12 Mounted with quick release on picatinny rail
-Heated Seats
-Sound Deadening Everywhere
-MPAC Vent Rack
-Homemade Basket Rack
-Homemade Hatch Rack
-Homemade Center Console Racks
-OTRATTW Switches
-Homemade steel dead pedal
-Winch Power Cut Off Switch in cab
-K&N Washable Cabin Air Filter
-Indel B Fridge
-Fire Extinguisher Mounted on Subwoofer
-2008+ Side Sun Visors
-MobileStrong MiY HDP Storage Drawer
-OEM Locking Glovebox Mod
-Hypertech Speedometer Calibrator

Recovery:
-Warn 9.5Ti Winch with synthetic line and wireless winch remote
-D-Ring Shackles and soft shackles
-EZ Deflator
-ARB Twin Air Compressor w/ 2 gal tank
-ARB Snatch Strap (17500 lbs)
-Wheeler's Wrap It Strap
-Blue Factor 55 Hitchlink
-Blue Factor 55 Prolink
-Warn Snatch Block
-TRED Pro recovery devices mounted to roof rack
-Homemade 1/2" thick rear recovery points
-Tools

Under The Hood/Performance:
-Raptor Tuned
-Hayden 678 Aux Transmission Cooler
-OEM Engine Oil Cooler
-Airaid CAI
-Magnaflow 12646 Muffler, downturned before axle, 4runner resonator added
-Doug Thorley Y-Pipe
-Wilwood 6 piston front calipers courtesy of RR Racing
-TRD Rear Brake Pads
-MAN-A-FRE SS Brake Lines (6)
-DOT 4 brake fluid

Exterior:
-Baja Rack Low Profile w/ custom painted wind deflector
-Mounted to rack: shovel, plano all weather storage case, rotopax 4 gallon gas container, TREDs, Yakima Ace Of Spades shovel mount
-Trailer Harness Connector Hi-Tuck
-Dealer Debadged
-Toyota Badges and Grill Bezel Painted White
-Rad Rubber Designs Engine Splash Guards
-2012+ OE Tail Lights
-20% Front Window Tint (matches rear windows) and clear ceramic everywhere else
-Warrior Products spare tire spacer

Accessories/Other:
-4Crawler 1.5" Body Lift
-Cooper Bussmann RFRM 10 Relay, 40 fuse Holder
-Atrac + Diff Lock Hack
-DRL Disable Switch
-All Interior Chimes Disable
-VSC Disable Switch
-Lock/Unlock Chime Disable (stealth mode)
-NOW FIXED Cracked Windshield Mod :lol:

Never Done More To Come!

Useful Links:

Maintenance:
Transmission Drain & Fill
Transmission Full Flush
Diff + T-Case Fluids & Capacities
Power Steering Flush?!
Replacing FJ Cruiser Tail Light | Off-Road Adventure
Torque specifications
Idler Pulley/Bearing Failure, what to do:
Rebuild Icon coilover & 700 lb springs
How to Change Front Brake Pads & Rotors
FK brand WSSX-16T Teflon Lined Stainless Steel Uni-Ball for TC UCA Replacement
HOW TO: replace a inner tie rod end
DIY 3rd Member swap

Research:
Tire Size Comparison | Comparison of tires and wheels
Toyota FJ Cruiser Touchup Paint Codes, Image Galleries, Brochure and TV Commercial Archives
Toyota FJ Cruiser: Resources & Documentation Archive
Toyota FJ Cruiser. Technical illustrations
Brake Booster EMI Interference Problem
Rock Slider Comparison Guide
Lower Link Comparison Guide
UCA Comparison Guide
Rear Spring Comparison
Rear Differential Replacement Guide
Wire Ampacity

Mods:
DASH, CONSOLE & DOOR PANELS REMOVAL: Inst. w/ pics
How to install 2 new switch plates under the driver?s side v in How To Guides Forum
What you need to know about your FJ's electrical system (read before doing mods)
ABS/VSC/TRAC Disable & ATRAC+Locker Hack
ADDING A SWITCH TO THE DRL's (Swiss Method)
sPOD? Ha!
Permanently disable all chimes
Blacked out my FJammer and working on some more..
Automatic Transmission Cooler Install
Installing a Transmission Cooler - instructions with pics
Bigger 5th Gen 4Runner Calipers & Rotors for your FJC
Custom Skids
Electrical Supplies (wire/connectors)

Trails/Camping:
Trails Offroad
TrailDamage.com
Cruise Moab Trails
Red Rock 4-Wheelers, Inc. -
The Ultimate Overland Checklist - Overland Bound
Welcome to Roadtrippers
 
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#82 ·
Now onto the rubbage areas, before any modifications and on factory spaced wheels I have rubbing on the driver side body mount at street height and during full stuff. I'm pretty sure I had no rubbing at all on the passenger side body mount which is a little strange. I also have slight rubbing on both UCA's in the front at stuff. I plan to get wheels with a wider offset in the future which should cure that. As for the back, I have a tiny 1/4" or so gap between the tire and rear mud flap area and I slightly rub the inner fender liners at full stuff. Almost no room in the rear for bigger tires as it sits, I will have to hold off on the OME long travel rear suspension until I get wider offset wheels to minimize rubbing in the front and back. I attribute the wheelers bump stops in the front as the reason I have only a little bit of rubbing at the body mount. Pics:
 

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#83 ·
Body mount chop half way done today, for some reason my OCD can't stand it when people leave these open, I will definitely be welding a plate on these next weekend when I have access to a welder. This will get my by and stop rubbing on the street in the meantime.
 

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#84 ·
Last update for today. Funny background on this mod, a few weeks back I repainted my bumper, when I reinstalled it I rerouted my winch cables better then the previous owner did, unfortunately my positive cable was now too short to reach the battery! :lol:

I decided to fix it all at once and finally yesterday I installed a HD winch relay to control power to the winch cables. For some reason it just seems like a fire hazard to have unfused 2 AWG wire running to my front bumper! :worried: I used a cheapish 500 amp relay from Amazon, bought 3 feet of red two gauge wire (would have went bigger, but I didn't feel like unmounting my bumper to redo all of the existing 2 AWG wiring on the winch either) and borrowed some HD lug crimpers from work. I love the sound of the big relay clicking over.

Also my buddy helped me with this mod too, he was keeping a close eye on that bug and making sure it didn't go anywhere :rofl:
 

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#89 ·
Ok, sorry, couldn't stop drooling, had to post another pic. They seem so much bigger in real life! Also, I forgot to mention I didn't even need to modify my spare tire carrier, it fits with a tiny gap.

:rocker:
 

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#94 ·
Finished my BMC today. Easy peasy, went almost as far as I could, I didn't want to be redoing it someday. I was wrong when I said I didn't have too much rubbing on my UCA's. I trimmed my mudflaps more thinking I was still rubbing those. Nope, I'm rubbing pretty badly on my passenger side UCA while turning, driver side just a little bit. So $150 in spidertrax spacers or new wheels?
 

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#97 ·
I'm debating which wheels to get. Anyone have an opinion on what color would look best on my rig? I'm thinking I'll keep the silver look, I can't bring myself to black them out. I can't let my brother have a more BA rig than mine! He just put some SCS wheels and my old tires on his 4runner. Looks sick, I'm a little jelly. SCS is literally the best brand of wheels for our Toyota vehicles. He got lucky and got a blemished set discounted, we couldn't find anything wrong with them. :D
 

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#99 ·
I was casually looking at the SCS rims the other day. They look sweet, I think they're for Toyota vehicles only? I recommend black colored rims, black rims almost always improves the look of a vehicle, epically the FJ. Method Race Wheels is another option that I like. They'll look good on your FJ :)
 

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#104 ·
Thanks for the suggestions guys! Hmmmm if I did Methods I would have to do the Method Mesh, maybe in machined though. Either that, or get some Level 8 MK6's and paint them silver. I don't know why, but I'm almost morally opposed to black wheels. It looks good, but I feel like I would need to paint all the exterior trim black to pull off the look. First pic is Level 8 MK6's that I would paint silver, second is Methods.
 

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#107 ·
Well, yesterday marks the first day I've ever put something in my TC UCA uniballs. Usually when they get a squeak it's from them being dirty. I just powerwash them and it goes away. My passenger side has been squeaking for a few days now, especially when turning (at first I thought it was something in the steering that was making the noise.) I sprayed a little tri-flow in there and no more squeaking! They've had 26,138 miles on them since the last rebuild, so far they are still pretty, shiny and new looking. Total Chaos's stainless steel joints are some of the best! The UCA's on the other hand could use some fresh paint. That will be one of this summer's projects.

It seems I've dropped about 1 mpg since the tire change. I was getting 13's consistently (calculated per tank), now I'm getting 12's.
 
#113 ·
+1 on the white! I just blacked out my... everything except the roof. I had the grille white before. There is honestly something about a white grille on VDB, and I think the white wheels would have worked great.
 
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#114 ·
Not sure about white..it looks alright for sure, but I think it's just that it's different which gives it that effect to me. I like the white grill and white roof a lot. I'm still partial to black or bronze rims, on almost all FJ colours..BUT, it's what you enjoy looking at everyday that will matter most[emoji1417]


Sent from a NiPhone, using auto-correct to eff things up with Tapatalk
 
#115 ·
I don't always post updates, but when I do, I have a tendency of posting everything from the past week. Bare with me. :lol: I bought a pair of Icon LCA skids from my brother a few days ago. He got a discount on them, but decided he would rather have the RCI ones. I would rather have the Icons for the possibility of running the S2 system. Its awesome having practically the same vehicle as him, we can just swap parts because the suspension/frame is basically the same on the FJC as the 4th gen 4runner. Lots of protection underneath now, I might drill out the rivets on the Icon shield logo and paint it either blue or white. We'll see.
 

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#116 ·
I also re-did the hoses on my aux transmission cooler. I was paranoid they were rubbing through on the frame. I wrapped them up real good and cut one of them to be slightly longer. Finally I can sleep at night. ;) Now they match my winch wires.

Looking at my scangauge temps, I'm guessing the cooler is good for at least 50*F cooler temps. I can really tell it's helping while driving fast and moving a bunch of air across it. Slow traffic it seems to have less effect. I used to see temps reaching 230* when I new I was pushing it, now it hardly ever goes over 200* peak.
 

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#117 · (Edited)
And finally, yesterday, broke in my brother's 4runner with its first offroad trip. We went to some sand dunes in Waynoka, Oklahoma, called Little Sahara. Place was a lot bigger than I thought! Tons of atv's and utv's driving around. Some huge dunes. We were most certainly the minority with our full sized rigs. We saw two Jeeps and one other old Toyota pickup with a caged bed, SAS, and huge tires. My brother and I crested a dune and parked side by side, on top. Down below we saw the other Toyota parked by a Jeep. He must have saw us and drove up the dune and parked beside me. I said "Nice Toyota!" He said he was about to say the same thing and it was his first time out there too.

Unfortunately I learned a lesson out there early on: don't drive too fast! Not too far away from the park entrance, I was picking up speed coming down the face of a steep dune. Hidden at the base was a large dip (the size of a roadside ditch) followed by a raised bump guaranteed to eat up atv's and lesser vehicles. I couldn't see it until I was right up on it going too fast to even do more than tap the brakes. I hit it going wayyyy too fast and heard a loud clunk and a thud as I bottomed out my whole front end. Really hard hit, I thought something could have broken. If I would have been a vehicle width to the left or right I would have missed it. Fortunately I think everything is fine with the exception of tire rub marks at the top of my fender wells, Icons took it like a champ and all that happened was sand in my radiator and bumper. Popped the hood to take a look underneath. Fender bulge on my passenger side is cracked a little bigger. :lol: Oh well, I'll come up with a fix before it gets too bad. Overall a fun time was had. Pics and narrative down below:

Land vehicle Sand Automotive tire Vehicle Natural environment


Steep drop off ^^^
 
#118 ·
Airing down:



Hate it when you get sand in your Icons:


Anyone want a ride?


Rooster tails FTW, H4 and traction control off was the way to go, occasionally I would put it in 2WD for more fun but could feel myself losing momentum then I would put it back in H4:


So shiney:


Toyota P/U was hidden behind the Jeep:


Cool shot with a side by side:


Little FJ:


Tiny FJ :lol: Yes, I'm standing outside:


Tons of ATV's driving around, mostly in "packs". You could sit on top of a dune and watch them drive around just like something out of Mad Max! :lol:




Couldn't help myself, had to flex on this berm:




We had a drag race and it was a tie, I jumped it a few times (might upload a video later), and had a shackle rattle loose and fall off of my bumper, overall lots of fun!

Throughout all of that, I realized I like running trails more than I do living the "sand life." I'm more of a rock guy at heart and I think I will start building my FJ accordingly. My brother on the other hand wants to go back! The FJ performed admirably even though I abused it a time or two, but I never came close to getting stuck like I thought I would. Time to clean out some sand....
 
#119 ·
Airing down:



Hate it when you get sand in your Icons:


Anyone want a ride?


Rooster tails FTW, H4 and traction control off was the way to go, occasionally I would put it in 2WD for more fun but could feel myself losing momentum then I would put it back in H4:


So shiney:


Toyota P/U was hidden behind the Jeep:


Cool shot with a side by side:


Little FJ:


Tiny FJ [emoji38] Yes, I'm standing outside:


Tons of ATV's driving around, mostly in "packs". You could sit on top of a dune and watch them drive around just like something out of Mad Max! [emoji38]




Couldn't help myself, had to flex on this berm:




We had a drag race and it was a tie, I jumped it a few times (might upload a video later), and had a shackle rattle loose and fall off of my bumper, overall lots of fun!

Throughout all of that, I realized I like running trails more than I do living the "sand life." I'm more of a rock guy at heart and I think I will start building my FJ accordingly. My brother on the other hand wants to go back! The FJ performed admirably even though I abused it a time or two, but I never came close to getting stuck like I thought I would. Time to clean out some sand....
That looks like a blast! Totally get the attraction to the forest trails. Rig is looking sooooooo nice man

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk
 
#120 · (Edited)
When pigs fly! Not bad for a 5500 lb vehicle. Still need more dampening on the front, look at that rebound! I've had smoother landings :cool:
Edit: The noise during the landing is my shackles bouncing on my bumper.

 
#124 ·
Went to Kansas Rocks ORV Park yesterday. Had a good time and the FJ definitely impressed myself in spots, but unfortunately the highlight was me getting some love from a few trees. Oh well, learned a lot and knowing what I know now, would have done some things differently. I'll use it in the future. On a brighter note, I used my winch a few times and had some good recoveries. Also now I know I need a wireless winch remote! Things got real slippery and muddy at the end, as we went down some trails we probably should have stayed off of when wet. Glad I had the MT/R's.





So I ended up with my passenger door handle resting against a tree. Moving forward made it worse, and moving back made it worse. There was a bunch of rocks on the other side that I slid off of. I used my winch and snatch block pulley to pull directly to my driver side from a tree, and hooked back to my rear receiver hitch! Worked perfectly and I slid myself a few inches off the tree. Crisis averted and I was feeling pretty good! No damage.




Then this happened. I managed to later crack both taillights and get a pretty good dent from a few more trees. :lol: Oh well.
 
#125 ·

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