Athena's build (Fa~jay~jay)

**Athena** · 12-30-2008, 10:15 AM

Fa~jay~jay’s build thread.

A month after we purchased her back on 2/14/207 we took her out to Moab with some new tires. We got stuck doing a trail that we knew we/us were not capable of doing mentally but had no choice to turn around. We got stuck on Kane Creek Canyon. After that trail of survival we look back and realized that’s when we fell in love with her. Astonished by what she could do stock. About a week from when we got back to Moab someone hit our front right passenger corner pannel, we took the money from the insurance claim and bought ourselves the front Fab Four Bumper a few days later we put the spare on the top.

After installing the front bumper we had a serious sag up front. Our next mod was in the near future. We had my sister’s boyfriend who worked at Slee offroad at the time install the Old Man Emu 3” lift. We chose heavies for consideration of having an aftermarket rear bumper eventually. We chose the 886’s for the front and the 896’s for the rear. You could immediately tell the difference.

Next we added some tunes. We got the Fjammer but it just didn’t give us what we needed so we had a custom installer replace all speakers and built us a sub box. We also added some speakers in the empty cut outs where the 2nd row seats are. Here are a few pics.

then we added a few of our own personal touches……

Next were the tires. We were originally going to get and ordered the **** Cepeks Crushers they looked cool and they had skulls I mean c’mon how cool is that. When we got them in..there was just something we didn’t care with them. So we ordered some 35”/10.5/r16 Super Swampers. To fit these we took the Fj to a machine shop where we had a body mount chop done to have full articulation. Once putting the Swampers on we realized that the fender flares were getting in the way. So little by little we started stripping away her plastic. We got a little out of controlled and realized that the fender flares in the back were tied into the rear bumper. So that came off as well.

**Athena** · 12-30-2008, 10:16 AM

We left her that way for a few months anyways. We actually had the tow hitch reversed for even more clearance. Those were the ultimate clearance days. Here’s a pic of her back..

Then came the Gobi rack and latter no explanation as to why here. It looks great and is fully functional for our needs.

Next up skids. There had been quite the controversy about the Rasta skids as you all know. We had heard about these skids not through Rasta but by Slee Offroad. We looked at them first hand and saw how well the product was made. We were sold instantly. These gave us more confidence with our wheeling experience. We were close to being done. Pics of the Rastas…

without the bling grill :TEETH:

After I ran the after pics of the Rasta’s in the blue room Dorel of Rasta4x4 contacted me and stated that we were the first in America to run these skids and he then later asked for my pic to be used in advertisement. Thanks to Dorel Fa~jay~jay is in Overland Journal and 4WD Toyota magazines. She’s also in the #5 Brochure for the Fj Cruisers at the dealerships.
Later we put on a rear bumper to make her whole again. A buddy of ours had a fj fab four rear bumper sittin in his garage and gave it to us for a great deal. We call it her JLo ass. She’s a little tank now.

We ended up taking the spare swing out off it wouldn’t fit with the Gobi latter and it wasn’t needed. Now if we were to do an expedition and felt the need to take 2 spares we now have the option.
Last but not least we got the Icon rear lower control arms. My oh my are those beauties. I don’t have pics of them, but can get some if needed.

**Athena** · 12-30-2008, 10:17 AM

a list of all mods broken down:

Gobi rack and latter
3 set of PIAAs on rack
Spare moved to top
Fab Four front and rear bumper
OME 886 front 896 rear (heavies)
Rasta Skid Plates
Custom stereo with speaker box
35/10.5/r16 Super Swampers
Body Mount chop
TRD CAI and exhaust
Wet Okole front seat covers
wireless remote control for our bulldog winch
Icon rear lower control arms
dual battery set up
VIAR 450H hardmount compressor
Metaltech tube doors for summer

All-pro spindle reinforcements
Out Rider Suspension Armor
Toytec upper control arms (front)
Bushwacker fender flares
Kenwood DX8120 Navi system along with headrest dvd players

oh 2 more things...

we added a back pack where the spare was a.) to cover the empty spot from the spare and to use the mounting holes that were already there and to b.) have a convenient place to get the tow straps and air tools for the co2 tank without having to open the rear door in difficult situations.
we also put a skateboard grip undernieth the Gobi latter to stop any rubbing and scratching from our shoes when we climbed it. I think eventually we'll have her linexed in the rear and her bottom half all around.

what we want in the future:

limiting straps
front and rear gear to 4:88
front locker
inchworm
and a super charger (doesn't everybody?)

things that have been removed without replacement:

front and rear sway bars

things broken:

both left and right front tie rods
front differential bolts found loose in hard to reach places.. tighten ourselves and the dealership replaced the differential as soon as we got into town
rear differential replaced under warranty x2
bearings completely shattered covered under warranty
air conditioning hose rubbed through from aftermarket front bumper. yeah it happens..and no it's not covered under warranty
OME Spring 896 rear right...replaced with no questions
OEM pullies replaced under warranty