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The Scorpion

378961 Views 1336 Replies 184 Participants Last post by  TCao, 
uphill
25
WELCOME TO THE SCORPION BUILD-UP THREAD​

The sword is more important than the shield and skill is more important than either.



photo courtesy of VOLHOO (thanks Vince)​


All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible.
--Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence, CB, DSO
The Scorpion FJ, though unworthy of the man, has been created in honor of T. E. Lawrence (1888-1935), may he rest in peace.



When I bought the FJ, I mapped out a philosophy on which direction a build-up should take. My philosophy was built around a vehicle that could operate, removed from populated areas, and support my interest in exploration and examination of unsettled regions (increasingly difficult to find). Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.

My philosophy in modifications is simple. I wanted to create a strong, capable, sustainable rig that would BRING ME HOME at the end of the day. Everything I've done to my FJ has that particular end in mind.

My favorite FJ Cruiser Moment: I'm driving my FJ on an expedition and I can't fall asleep at night under the stars because reality is finally better than my dreams.

This is the stock FJ.

I bought my FJ Cruiser on December 23, 2006 as a Christmas present to myself since it was highly unlikely that anyone else would buy an FJ for me no matter how hard I tried to get off the naughty list.

My daughter Emilie agreed to ride shotgun with me on trail runs.

concentrated mist,

a clear jewel on a leafpoint,

drip,

the river begins!​

(Photo Courtesy of THUBUB, Holcomb Creek ford - 07)​

And I began the process of modifying the FJ


SCORPION

Edited and Updated Mod List
I'm going to use this partcular posting to post added mods so it will change over time to reflect those additions. Some mods will replace others so occasionally there will be deletions as well.

(photo courtesy of CRAZYHERMIT and NETTI - Kokopelli Trail - Nov. 2007)

(photo courtesy of DOMINICG - Mojave Road - Feb. 2008)

(photo courtesy of DRAGON - Kokopelli Trail - July 2008)
​
FROM THE DEALER
2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser Model 4704C
Titanium
Upgrade Package 1 <ATRAC/Rear Locker>
CQ and C7 Convenience Packages
Curtain Shield Airbags
Roof Rack

Build Date: November 2006

Engine bay bulges/rips: First noticed 1/21/08 - bulged on both fenders @22K miles

Significant Mechanical Problems: None so far

  • ARMOR
  • ARB Bull Bar - Front Bumper
  • DeMello Offroad rear bumper w/swing arm[/COLOR])
  • Bud Built Front Skidplate
  • Bud Built Middle Skidplate
  • Bud Built Transmission & Transfer Case Skidplate
  • Bud Built Rear Crossmember
  • Bud Built Fuel Tank (Beefy) Skidplate
  • Bud Built ARB Spacer Armor Plate
  • Inchworm E-Locker Motor Skid (sustained trail damage, cut down in size to repair)
  • Rear Lower Shock Skid
  • Rear Trailing Link Skid
  • Rear Differential Plate (welded)
  • DeMello Hybrid Sliders
  • Manic Tail Light Guards (Real Wheels guards took 5 trail hits -saves- then gave up the ghost)

    SUSPENSION AND TIRES
  • Walker Evans Beadlock Rims
  • Nitto Terra Grapplers - 305/70R17
  • Demello Frame Chop
  • Donahoe Racing Shocks and Front Coil-Overs
  • Old Man Emu Heavy Duty Rear Coil-Overs (OME-886)
  • Donahoe Racing Upper Control Arms
  • Light Racing Jounce Shocks (Chubbies) replacing bump-stops
  • Icon Signature Lower Control Arms
  • Gorilla Lugs

    EQUIPMENT ADDITIONS
  • Lowrance Baja 540C GPS & Freedom Maps Chip F103EX-S and F104EX-W & Shadow GPS R/V Mirror Adaptor Mount
  • Man-A-Fre Auxillery (22 gal.) fuel tank
    --Providing a total capacity of 40 gallons
  • Wet Okole Seat Covers
  • Scanguage 2
  • K & N Air Filter - Replaced by OEM Air Filter
  • Aux. Optima Yellow-Top Battery
  • Dirty Parts Auxiliary Battery Kit
  • Circuit Boss 7 Circuit Fuse Block
  • 6 x REL40 40 Amp custom amber switches
  • Stebel Nautilus Compact Air Horn
  • Passenger-side arm rest
  • Fuel Can Options: 2 x Wedco Jerry Cans (gas/water)
  • Relocated Rear Differential & E-Locker Breather - Scuba Driver Mod.
  • Fire Extinguisher
  • ARB Safari Snorkel
  • I-Pod
  • Death-Stalker Scorpion transfer case shift knob

    COMMUNICATIONS
  • SPOT Satellite Personal Tracker
  • Midland 75-822 Handheld CB Radio with Vehicle Adapter
  • Antenna – 5' and 3’ Firestick/CB
  • Yaesu FT-1802 M/E 2 meter transceiver (50 watts output)/HAM
  • Comet 3D5M mobile mounting hardware/HAM
  • Antenna - Diamond NR-770HA 2M/70CM 3/5.5dB Mobile Antenna/HAM

    LIGHTING
  • Airflow Headlight Covers
  • Hella Black Magic 6” Driving Lights (mounted to ARB Bumper)
  • N-Fab Front Light Bar/Bracket w/3 x Acro X1870M Driving Lights & 2 x 40 B/U PIAA Flood Lights
  • N-Fab Rear Light Bar/Bracket w/2 x 40 B/U PIAA Flood Lights & 1 x LEDQUAD LED Strobe Light Bar
  • 2 x Oznium Flexible Super Thin (red) LED Dome Lights
  • 2 x Puck (white) LED Dome Lights
  • LED Red dash lights replacing white instrument gauge lights

    TOOLS & TRAIL EQPT.
  • Fiskars Axe
  • Short Handle Shovel
  • Crowbar/Pry Bar
  • Eagle Talon (RJM Forge)
  • Husqvarna 350 18" Chain Saw
  • Jumper Cables
  • Tool Kit
  • JB Weld
  • Spool (1000 ft) OD Green Parachute (550) Cord
  • Roll(s) of 100 MPH Tape (milspec rigger's tape)
  • FJC Spare Parts Kit (on extended load-out): including 2xCV Boots, 2xCV Sway Bar Links, Serpentine Belt, rear lower control arm, front axel, spare fuses, tire valves, etc.

    GEAR STORAGE
  • SCORPION MOUNT - An endoskeleton in the back to provide hard points and additional M-PAC storage.
  • Pelican Cases - Allow modular load out depending on the nature of the trip.
  • Fourtreks Shovel/Axe mount
  • Fourtreks HiLift Jack Mount
  • Fourtreks Dual Mount
  • Fourtreks Fuel Can Rack Mount
  • Fourtreks Modular Roll Bar Handle
  • Springtail M-PAC rack and MOLLE gear
  • Springtail M-PAC Side Rack
  • 2 x Expeditionware Jerry Can Holders (currently one mounted)
  • Power Tank Roof Rack Mount - (Custom Fab using Four Treks parts)

    PNEUMATICS
  • 20 lbs. CO2 Auxillery Tank (Internal Mount)
  • 10 lbs. CO2 Power Tank
  • Ingersol Rand #2135 Ti (composite titanium) pneumatic impact gun
  • Power Tank Super Coupler
  • Power Tank HD Tire Inflator Handle
  • Oasis Trailhead Deflator / Stebel Trailhead Deflator (both onboard)
  • ARB Tire Repair Kit
  • Spare valves and valve cores

    RECOVERY
  • Warn XD9000 Winch
  • Viking Kevlar Winch Line (100')
  • Winch Safety Thimble
  • Viking Delrin Fairlead Rollers
  • Warn Hitch Shackle
  • 30’ Rescue Strap
  • 100’ of braided steel cable
  • ARB Snatchblock
  • Pull Pal
  • 4 x 3/4 ton D-Rings
  • ARB Bushranger X-Jack
  • Hi-Lift Jack
  • WabFab Slider Attachment
  • Hi-Lift Jack Base
  • Hi-Lift Jack handle keeper

    EMERGENCY EQPT.
  • Basic Survival Kit (on standard load-out)
  • Large First Responder First-Aid Kit including an adult bag/valve mask
  • Smoke Grenades (pyro- red and green)
  • Chemlights (red and green)
  • Polish Model 78 Flare Gun (26.5 MM) with star flares
  • Lensatic Compass
  • Knive(s)
  • Firearm(s)

RECOMMENDED VENDORS:
I have had consistently good service from these
vendors and encourage you to consider them in
your build-ups. I have not received a discount
from any of them and have no financial stake in
the outcome of your purchase.

DeMello Offroad
BudBuilt
Man-A-Fre
Springtail (MPAC)
Dirty Parts






SCORPION IN VIDEOS

FJ CRUISERS IN DEEP CREEK
(Courtesy of FJROD)

(Courtesy of POKER DAWG)

THE LATEST ADDITION(s)

DeMello swing-out bumper.

Scorpion Mount



ICON lower rear control arms
​


​



BUILD-OUT HIGHLIGHTED TOPICS
(hyper-links to this thread)

SPRINGTAIL MPAC

BEADLOCK WHEELS

LIGHT RACING JOUNCE SHOCKS

CB ANTENNA CHOICE

UPPER CONTROL ARMS & TIRE ALIGNMENT

STEBEL NATILUS AIR HORN

DYNAMIC BALANCING

E-LOCKER SKID

ARMOR AS ART

LOAD-OUT LISTS

USING A SNATCHBLOCK

SEAT COVERS & TRAIL TOOL

N-FAB FRONT AND REAR LIGHT BARS

ULTIMATE SWAY BAR LINKS

LOCKING SHOVEL/AXE HOLDER

FIRST AID/FIRST RESPONDER KIT

Note that NO products produced by All Pro Offroad are used on THE SCORPION.




Meet the Scorpion - Current phase of build up/build out for my FJ.


EXPEDITIONS​

When selecting team members everyone looks for a combination of factors in their team mates. The most important is an absolute passion for the project, an ability to communicate, a diversity of proven expedition-specific skills in remote and hostile environments, physical stamina and mental toughness. FJ Cruiser expeditions are designed first and foremost to be fun. Secondly, they hone your skill sets by forcing you into new and unfamiliar situations that requires you to adapt and overcome. Thirdly, you get to make the run in a Toyota FJ Cruiser.



EXPEDITION PHOTOS

"Well George, we finally knocked the [email protected] off."
– Edmund Hillary's first words, to lifelong friend George Lowe, on returning from Everest's summit


MOJAVE TRAIL EXPEDITION
(Ft. Mojave to Afton Canyon - California) October 07

MOJAVE TRAIL EXPEDITION (Afton Canyon to Ft. Mojave - California) February 08

MOJAVE TRAIL EXPEDITION (Ft. Mojave to Afton Canyon - California) April 08

Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.
KOKOPELLI TRAIL EXPEDITION
(Grand Junction, CO to Moab, UT) November 07


DEATH VALLEY (Death Valley - California) March 08

Kokopelli Trail Expedition (Grand Junction to Moab) July 08


You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go.
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uphill
5
1911 said:
Larry, it looks a lot like the Ferret armoured car used by the British army in Northern Ireland when we were both there. I've got some scanned slides of those I can post when I get back home (in Colorado this week and Utah the next). I wonder if the Soviets copied it (like they did Fiat cars, BMW bikes, and etc.).
Click to expand...


Great minds... I mentioned the very thing to him, but the BA-64 was built long before the Ferret. The Russians constructed a small armored car on GAZ-67 chassis (Russian Jeep) and later on the chassis of American Willy's Jeeps that were sent to them in lend-lease.

The Ferret is a far more capable vehicle than the BA-64 but you have to give the Russians credit with making an "armored 4x4 Jeep" that worked as a scout car. They made a lot of them and the only country where they are still in service is Myanmar. Strip a jeep, bolt on a welded metal carapace and you have a BA-64.

The Daimler Dingo was the British answer to the armored scout car in WW2 (contemporary of the BA-64)

Ferret

BRDM-2 (Soviet Army contemporary of the UK's Ferret)

Fox (UK) - an evolved Ferret

It's interesting how vehicles evolve. Same with FJ40 to the FJ Cruiser of today.
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wrigman
Hey Larry,

Nice Scorpion sticker on the back window in pic #7 !
Wasn't there an All-Pro sticker back there somewhere too??:lol:
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StHarris
uphill said:
Click to expand...
I took this same picture (although a little wider angle) while in St. Petersburg Russia
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uphill
4/23-26/08 I'll be giving the new Man-A-Fre auxiliary fuel tank it's first true field test on an expedition recon to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon with VOLHOO.

The route: SoCal -> St. George, UT -> Hurricane, UT -> Colorado City, AZ -> south into the "Arizona Strip" wilderness area that includes the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and, further west, the Lake Mead recreation area.
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CactusJK
Larry - without digging through your entire post is there an easy way to mount the LED light bar using studs in the bottom track vice the L brackets on the sides? If so, what do you do with the two small studs on each side where the L bracket mounts. Thanks
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uphill
3
LED Light Bar - Mounted to N-Fab rear light bar rack




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1911
uphill said:
4/23-26/08 I'll be giving the new Man-A-Fre auxiliary fuel tank it's first true field test on an expedition recon to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon with VOLHOO.

The route: SoCal -> St. George, UT -> Hurricane, UT -> Colorado City, AZ -> south into the "Arizona Strip" wilderness area that includes the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and, further west, the Lake Mead recreation area.
Click to expand...
Might see you on the road - Mrs. 1911, Miss 1911 and I will be departing Enterprise, UT the afternoon of the 22nd and going through St. George, Hurricane, Colorado City, Kanab, and into the Navajo and Hopi Nations. Not sure how far we'll get that first night. Have a good trip in any event.
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uphill
Problem with MAF auxiliary tank -- really more an emotional thing. I ran for about two weeks on fuel from the aux tank, transferring a quarter of a tank at a time or so. Finally that ran out and I began to use fuel from the main (OEM) tank. I had to pay for it today at the pump. I feel as if somebody rogered my rear/rump hard. 29 gallons=$115

And that's nowhere near the 38+ gallon capacity.

On a long run while others are hassling with their Jerry cans, I'll be laughing, but at the pump it's no laughing matter.:mecry:
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CactusJK
I spent about 3 hours today looking for a bolt that would fit in the LED bar track with little luck. So far the best I have found is a 1/4" stainless carriage bolt that still needs cut down. Any recommendations?



uphill said:
LED Light Bar - Mounted to N-Fab rear light bar rack




Click to expand...
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thugasaur
Re: Meet the Scorpion (Uphill's Build-Up)

uphill said:
Hockey games are okay.
Click to expand...
so i can take your daughter to a hockey game? SAWEET!:bigthumb::wave::rocker::rofl::jester:
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uphill
I had the benefit of pre-drilled/previously mounted brackets on the N-Fab rack that fit well out-of-the-box.

Chat with CRUSIERLARRY when you go to Dirty Parts. He is THE MAN! If he can't figure something out, nobody can.
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uphill
THUGASAUR said:
uphill said:
Hockey games are okay.
Click to expand...
so i can take your daughter to a hockey game? SAWEET!:bigthumb:
Click to expand...
Don't press your luck, Matt. Oh, and don't worry about stepping on the brakes when you're crossing the busy intersection against a RED LIGHT while you're driving over to pick my daughter up.

They won't work.:indifferent::grim:
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DominicG
uphill said:
Don't press your luck, Matt. Oh, and don't worry about stepping on the brakes when you're crossing the busy intersection against a RED LIGHT while you're driving over to pick my daughter up.

They won't work.:indifferent::grim:
Click to expand...


:rofl::rocker:
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thugasaur
uphill said:
Don't press your luck, Matt. Oh, and don't worry about stepping on the brakes when you're crossing the busy intersection against a RED LIGHT while you're driving over to pick my daughter up.

They won't work.:indifferent::grim:
Click to expand...

lol i didnt say it was a date i just like taking people to hockey games lol dom is the one looking for a date :bigthumb:
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DominicG
Don't even go there Mat.
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Teotwaki
Geez. You guys think you have to worry about Miss Uphill's Daddy??


Y'all better have Kevlar jockstraps! :jester:
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uphill
Teotwaki said:
Y'all better have Kevlar jockstraps! :jester:
Click to expand...
In addition to the basic kevlar jock, consider inserting a "trauma plate" ahead of the basic kevlar. Sadly neither the kevlar or the trauma plate reinforcement will stop an armor piercing round. But you should go through the motions for the sake of the off-spring that might-have-been. :wave:
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Teotwaki
3
My daughter did this at age 10 with a bitty little rifle called a Chipmonk at maybe 10 yards

Woe to the man that upsets her.:rofl:





When she gets engaged the quarter will go on a nice silver chain for her to show her fiance'...
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uphill
Teotwaki said:
My daughter did this at age 10 with a bitty little rifle called a Chipmonk at maybe 10 yards
Click to expand...
For some strange reason, that reminded me of a line from "Dr. Strangelove"


"You'll have to answer to the Coca Cola Company"
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frogeye
Since we are all talking about Larry's lovely daughter Emilie, I just thought I'd add what a pleasure it was to finally meet her at the meet and greet.

Poor Larry, he's got some very beautiful daughters on his hands. If they all look like Emilie, Larry must be having a hell of a time with boys. :bigthumb:.
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