[LandCruiserSteve]

Is there no end to the time and money that you can dump into these crazy things????

I certainly hope not!!!!
​

Intended usage and build premise:

- Daily driver and moderate to semi-rigorous off-road rig.
- A professional look to all modifications (no visible or dangling wires, no Velcro, no double-sided tape, no suction cups, no duct tape, no baling wire, etc.)
- Nothing that would intrude upon driver or passenger safety, comfort or ergonomics in the front seats.
- An efficient rear storage / sleep system in lieu of a (never-to-be-used) back seat.
- Appropriately equipped with all necessary emergency, communications, navigation, personal safety and off-road recovery gear.
- Understated and subdued appearance (no bling, no product advertising and no for-looks-only).



The journey began with a bare-bones Sun Fusion 4x4 AT.

Date of manufacture: 11/06
Purchase date: 01/07
Purchase price: $25,700

Time-of-purchase OEM items included:

Locking rear differential
17" standard black steel wheels
Convenience Package
Side curtain air bags
Standard single disc radio



Off-road modifications / aftermarket add-ons:

BF Goodrich 285/70R/17 All-Terrain KO tires
Old Man Emu "Medium" (885/895) 3" suspension
A-TRAC
Toyota OEM rock rails
Warn winch bumper (eventually replaced with All-Pro)
All-Pro front winch bumper
All-Pro rear bumper
All-Pro skid plate package (front / transmission / transfer case) (Post #179)
Warn M8000 winch (w/ under-hood solenoid mount) (Post #313)
Warn Hawse fairlead w/ D-shackle (Post #313)
Poor man's rear winch
Pro-Comp 100W off-road lights (Post #101)
Dual post-mounted Unity 250,000 candlepower spotlights
Four Expedition One "Geri" cans (3 for fuel, 1 for water) (Post #399)
Replaced BFG 285's with BFG KO2 34/10.5/17 tires. (Post #416)


Exterior modifications:

Added OEM roof rack (evetually to be replaced with BajaRack)
Removed all mud flaps
Roof rack HiLift jack mount
Roof rack cross-bar modification for (3) gas can mounting
Painted bezel black (Post #32)
Painted outside rear-view mirrors black (Post #146)
Replaced door handles with black Tundra handles (Post #146)
"De-badged" rear door emblems
Added 2" blind-spot mirrors
Disconnected DRL's
Painted wheel weights to match black wheels
Hidden extra key wing-nutted someplace on FJ
All-Pro trailer hitch
OEM trailer wiring harness
Wheel locks for all five wheels
2nd OEM hi-freq horn (mounted up front next to the original) (Post #179)
http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/foru...xiliary-backup-light-install.html#post1048452
BajaRack roof rack installation (Post #367)
Shortened AM/FM radio antenna (Post #407)
Installed NMO antenna mount for UHF / GMRS radio. (Post #416)
Installed PCTEL high-gain UHF antenna on roof. (Post #416)


Interior modifications:

Completely removed rear passenger seats
Full-length rear storage system (The "BOX")
BOX-mounted electric shotgun rack
BOX-mounted 3-cell Maglight flashlight
Streamlight Stinger flashlight (w/ charger mounted in drivers door)
Amerex A417 fire extinguisher mounted behind passenger seat
Galls industrial first-aid kit (mounted on side of the BOX)
Secondary public safety style first-aid kit
Consolidated center switch panel OEM switches (top row) (Post #179)
Installed (4) 4x4mods.com illuminated lighting switches (bottom row) (Post #179)
In-cab winch controls (Post #313)
Removed driver side arm rest (too low for me)
Removed driver side overhead grab handle (too many bumps on my head)
Removable mounted grocery baskets / ice chests
Single-push all doors unlock key fob
Replaced 12V auxiliary jack with actual cigarette lighter
Blacked out all dash and console trim pieces (Posts #148 & #166)
Shortened the AT shift knob by 6 inches (Post #356)
Installed LifeHammer on the forward face of the BOX (Post #341)
Replaced standard MagLight with the rechargeable high-output version (Post #341)
Revised the BOX (Post #341)
Replaced original Streamlight Stinger flashlight with the new LED version (Post #407)
Replaced stock dome lights with FJ Cruiser-specific LED's. (Post #416)
Added folding side window visor (driver's side). (Post #416)
Replaced the rear section of "The Box" with Tuffy's FJC storage unit. (Post #416)


Electronics / communications equipment:

Uniden 15W PC68XL CB radio (mounted to rear console)
Cobra HiPro CB microphone w/ remote front center dash jack (Post #179)
FireStik CB antennas (2' & 4')
Bandi CB antenna mount
Icom F21GM UHF/GMRS 4-watt transceivers (Post #391)
SPOT Messenger
Garmin 276C GPS system (mounted over rear-view mirror)
Garmin MapSource USA and Topo USA GPS software
XM satellite radio system (hard-wired to OEM stereo)
Roof-top GPS and satellite antennas
Dash-mount cellular phone (w/ dedicated power jack)
Installed BlueSea 12-circuit switched fuse panel under dash
Under-hood relay and circuit breaker system for BlueSea fuse panel
Added two auxiliary 12V outlets to the forward area of the console (Post #391)
Replaced in-door speakers with Kenwood 6993PS coax 6x9 speakers
Added Cobra HG-S300 CB extension speaker (Post #407)
Installed Icom IC-F6021 45 watt UHF / GMRS two-way radio. (Post #416)
Added a microphone extension cable from the console-mounted Icom radio to the front dashboard. (Post #416)

For some crazy reason, I get the feeling that I'm just getting started . . . .




Some of LandCruiserSteve's lame attempts at humor:

http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/foru...30075-top-10-reasons-why-sun-fusion-good.html

http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/foru...67-now-top-10-reasons-why-sun-fusion-bad.html

http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/problems-dealer-service/33989-solution-engine-bay-cracks.html

http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/foru...361-caught-doing-46-mph-over-speed-limit.html

http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/4x2-discussion/53053-4x4-4x2-conversion.html

http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/foru...top-10-fj-cruiser-mods-old-land-cruisers.html

 

[Sky]

Nice looking rig. I like your storage box and the RWL on the tires looks real good with the black steelies.

 

[imgone10]

Very nice good job on the mods.

 

[1911]

Nice rig; your storage drawers are some of the best looking yet.

 

[wadecc04fj]

Cool looking rig, very nice upgrades.:bigthumb:

 

[DominicG]

thats an awesome storage setup!

 

[targa88]

Great mods - the back box looks like a masterpiece.

 

[Wikid]

Really nice job. I can see lots of thought put into your mods. Thanks for sharing

Don

 

[BigDouggieDoug]

Your FJ is now sooo ready for .... anything! Awsome!

 

[ArizonaMitch]

Nice job as usual Steve. The storage boxes look great... I know what you went through for those... nice result

Really nice job. I can see lots of thought put into your mods. Thanks for sharing

Don, Steve's an Arizona refugee... lived here for many years suffering in silence with his FJ obsession... until the government tapped him to teach off-road driving...

 

[LandCruiserSteve]

Nice job as usual Steve. The storage boxes look great... I know what you went through for those... nice result...

Thanks, Mitch.

Steve's an Arizona refugee... lived here for many years suffering in silence with his FJ obsession.

Oh, the pain. :boohoo:

BTW, where ya been lately??

 

[LandCruiserSteve]

Write-up added for the rear storage box:

http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/foru...8-ladies-gentlemen-may-i-present-you-box.html

 

[wrigman]

Hey! At least you bought the right color!!!
Great job on the rest of the stuff too!
Now we need a pic of the two FJ's together!!!!!(Oh, and put a guitar or two in there too!):bandit:

 

[ArizonaMitch]

Thanks, Mitch. BTW, where ya been lately??

Been traveling a bit, but the problems with my fathers health has been consuming much of my time. Hope all is well with you...

 

[LandCruiserSteve]

Been traveling a bit, but the problems with my fathers health has been consuming much of my time.

Welcome home, Mitch. I hope your Dad is doing okay.

 

[CatFJColorado]

Awesome Mods! Where did you get the Inclinometer and how much?

 

[jenward74]

Great mods, thanks for the before and after lift pics, made a world of difference!

 

[Prof T]

The storage boxes and sleep area convert is 1st rate. Excellent work and post. you can now leave home and never come back if you wish (Big Smile). Great job Steve.

 

[Dragon]

Incredibly nice mods to your ride and well executed.

Rep for you.

 

[CO-Jeff]

Great job, I still want the box