Builds Silver Bullet - BJ74 Tough Offroad all rounder buildup

[Hulsty]

This buildup thread is for my BJ74. Couldn't alter the old thread title so I will stick with this one. I am in the process of changing it from a pretty much bone stock rig to a tough weekend warrior/long distance tourer and my daily driver!

The tough trips are normally only day trips or over nighters which require a vehicle with good clearance and heaps of traction.

I am in the midst of planning some longer trips ranging from 2000-15,000km which require the vehicle to be well prepared and self sufficient.

Around all this it also has to remain very driveable and road sensible as it is my daily driver and I do around 350km a week.

The vehicle I am starting with is a 1986 BJ74, it was virtually stock aside from the previous owner dodgy wiring to a few items. It has done ~315,000km with the motor having new bearings,pistons and head fitted. The car has been relatively well cared for, with a recent respray which looks good from a distance but abit s***ty up close. Only major mechanical problem is the gearbox jumps out of 5th gear on overrun.

 

[Hulsty]

Once I had the car road worthy and into my name the fun begun. First up was fitting a air locked complete 60 series diff assembly with EFS 2'' springs and a IFS hub widened 70 series front end with a air locker and longfields. I also fitted some dobisons 3-4'' springs in the front, they are old springs and have sagged to a nice height for me. On went some 33x12.5R15 Maxxis Bighorn rubber at the same time.

The front diff has also been moved forward ~35mm-40mm in the end I think.

I also ditched the factory rear bar and the mass of driving lights hanging off the bullbar to recoup some costs.

 

[Hulsty]

My next point of call was some barwork/ stereo, UHF and new door trims.

The car had a factory stereo in it, I changed this to a cd player with a UHF below it. I also made some new door trims to house some decent speakers which turned out really well and hopefully easier to clean mud off than the stock trims.

The drivings lights are IPF lights fitted with 55W HID globes and the ballasts are mounted inside the bullbar. They are AWESOMELY bright.

 

[Hulsty]

I've had a bit of time off over the xmas period and scored a Safari Snorkel kit for xmas.

I have fitted the Snorkel and removed the standard intake to the airbox. The space left will be filled with a ProVent 200 Air/Oil seperator system.

A 1'' Body lift has also gone in. This has a few purposes, to lift the fuel tank for when my long range tank goes in, more front guard clearance and more transmission tunnel clearance to hopefully squeeze in a 3'' exhaust.

I have also rebuilt my winch after the motor died. It now has an Albright solenoid and a (I think) 2.5hp warn Hi mount winch motor fitted. I also fitted a air fitting to the winch which I will pressurise with ~2psi to help with cooling and mud/water ingress.

 

[roscoFJ73]

The snorkel looks the business.

What pub is that or have I already asked that in another thread?

 

[cicak]

nice rig. whats left to do? LED lites in the interior

gotta tellus the pub please

 

[Hulsty]

The pub is at Sea Lake, stopped then on the Melbourne-Mildura trip for the car.

You read my mind Ciak! LED interior lights are in already.

I have also installed my locker switches and compressor. Only waiting on a bloody airtank now which is looking like being hard to get before Australia day long weekend. The engine bay is seriously full now especially with the dual batteries now in, the 3F engine bay had heaps more room!

 

[sdog]

Those door panels are awesome. I'm stealing that idea, it's coming over to the 80 section!!
Beautiful rig!

 

[Hulsty]

Thanks mate, they are pretty good.

I've had a busy couple if days. Got the front and rear gaurds done. Fronts chopped 60mm and rear quarter chop.

I have also tidied the rear bar to go one, problem is it doest fit this car quiet as well as the Red Barron.

 

[JuanJ]

Hello,

Looking good.

What are you going to do with those guards? I might be interested.

Which LED interior lights are you using?






JuanJ

 

[SimonInAustralia]

Any more shots of the front guard chop, can't really see what you have done from the front on shot.

Thanks.

 

[Gib009]

Is there anyway you can chop or lift the factory flares to match the chopped guards?
This thing looked so good with the factory flares

What are your plans for mudflaps with the 1/4chop?

 

[Hulsty]

I will get some pics of the LED lights soon. Yes the flares are up for sale, complete with all mouting brackets and the lower rubber toyota mud flaps. I also have another spare flare I am selling with it all that needs some minor repairs.

I will get a side shot, basically I have cut the guard out to the body line that runs the length of the car and lifted the inner guards. Gained approx 60mm, plus 25mm body lift so thats 85mm!! my 35''s should clear mostly now. Maybe I should start looking for some 37'' treps!

I had a good look, if your a handy fibreglasser it is possible to mod the factory flares to suit a guard chop. I deemed it not worth the effort, even though it looked sweet. They would have been smashed off anyways. Atleast this way I can sell them to get some cash back.

 

[SimonInAustralia]

I will get a side shot, basically I have cut the guard out to the body line that runs the length of the car and lifted the inner guards. Gained approx 60mm, plus 25mm body lift so thats 85mm!! my 35''s should clear mostly now. Maybe I should start looking for some 37'' treps!

Should fit 37's with that much extra room, there was a photo of another troopy somewhere with 37's after a guard chop and minimal lift, I think that one filled in the gaps chopped out of the inner guard with rubber belt screwed on.

If you get a chance, please do get some side on shots of the front guards, and inner guards, showing as much detail as possible.

Can you explain a little more about lifting the inner guards, how did you do this?

Did the whole inner guard get lifted or just the edge where it connects to the outer guard?

Did it affect available space in the engine bay, where the batteries and air cleaner are above the wheel arches?

I'll probably need some extra room under the guards eventually, so am really keen to see how/what you have done.

Thanks.

 

[cicak]

Those door panels are awesome. I'm stealing that idea, it's coming over to the 80 section!!
Beautiful rig!

Ha ha I did it first in my 75 and then my 77 and now I see it in the nice silver wagon.

5 bar Checker plate even better in the rear

maybe I have to post pics again of inside RED and DEATHSTAR

 

[Hulsty]

Pretty much done,will attach some quick pics. I still need to clean it up. If you look at the inner guards they drop down to the outer lip. I lifted this whole dropped area to be more flat. As the inner guard is curved I had to slice it and hammer it up. I then fitted and additional inner guard made from 150mmx3mm plastic screw/riveted and sealed with urerthane. I'm very pleased with how it sits, nice and low and my 35''s should fit well.

 

[prado t]

looking real good man !

 

[Hulsty]

Some pics, still needs a good clean and some finishing around the guards.

 

[SimonInAustralia]

Thanks for the photos.

Have to do something similar to mine.

 

[Hulsty]

I have stripped out the carpets and rear seats in preperation for some rollcage work hopefully in Feb before my big trip. The rear table is in and I have decided to try someting with the rear axel retention. I am using capscrews, will be interesting to see how the go and if they hold up.