Now that I’ve chopped my rig, I felt it was time to create a build thread.
Starting from the beginning...
It all started in late Winter ‘09. After a couple of years of autocross, I was annoyed by the atmosphere and learned I was more into the car work than the driving. I had a buddy into offroading, so I figured I would give that a try. I settled on the FZJ80 because of the ladder frame, strong axles, and stock lockers. A few months of working on my wife and I finally got approval. Three weeks later I joined the FJ community in May ‘09
$5000 cash and I drove home a:
1993 FZJ80 w/ 130k
White with blue interior. All stock except JVC stereo w/ horrible PYLE speakers (stock sub & amps removed)
Options:
- Factory Lockers
- ABS (and associated FF rear axle)
- R12 Air Conditioning
- ‘Federal Model’ with no after catalytic converter O2 sensors or EGR temp sensor
- Hitch
Two weeks after pulling the trigger, I was lifted on 35s and hitting the trails for my 4x4 trip. From there I have spiralled into the world of FJ and offroading with reckless abandonment. I can’t count how much time and money I’ve spent on this rig. Whatever the number, it was worth it. I rebuilt my first engine. I learned how to weld. I’ve met some great people.
Below is a pretty comprehensive list of the things I did from May ‘09 to Nov ‘12 when I started the chop.
Upgrades (in approx order):
- SLEE 4” Lift
- MetalTech Sliders
- Toyo M/T 315/75R16 on stocks
- CDL Switch
- PHH & RHH silicon lines
- Safari snorkel
- SLEE Transfer Case Skid
- SLEE Interior Tire Mount
- SCION radio w/ Pioneer 5.25F/6.5R (sounded horrible)
- Husky Liner front floor mats and rear cargo mat
- B&H 8x12” power steering cooler
- Metaltech Front Bumper w/ Warn 9.5xp
- 4x4Labs rear DIY bumper w/o swing outs
- Cheapest Alpine radio (10x better than Scion radio)
- Nitro 4.88 gears
- Longfield Superaxles
- Diehard Platinum 31M
- Viking ⅜” rope w/ safety thimble
- Bud Built tie-rod and drag-link
- SLEE headlight and AUX light wiring to cheap HELLA 6” lights
- LandTank seat slider extention
- Disco cup holder
- LED dome light panels (dieing one LED at a time)
Mods (in approx order)
- 7 pin mod
- Breathers extended to top of firewall w/ fuel filters on ends
- Spare tire carrier removed
- Fenders flares removed
- 3rd Row seats removed
- EGR disabled (vacuum plugged, thank you Federal Model)
- Bumper corners removed
- Carpet removed
- Oil pump seized and toasted my motor
--- A/C removed completely
--- Rebuilt junk yard motor
- Removed front swaybar
- New 2.5” exhaust, downpipe back (Magnaflow HM cat and straight through muffler)
- Rear lower control arms “armored” with angle iron
- Rear lower control arm frame tie-ins “armored” with angle iron
- Rear Heater removed
Maintenance Fun
- Normal fluid & lube replacements
- Rebuilt starter
- Brakes w/ 100 pads
- TC rear output seal
- Cleaned locker actuators
- Replaced window run channels
- Replaced broken speedometer
- Cleaned clogged sunroof drains
Starting from the beginning...
It all started in late Winter ‘09. After a couple of years of autocross, I was annoyed by the atmosphere and learned I was more into the car work than the driving. I had a buddy into offroading, so I figured I would give that a try. I settled on the FZJ80 because of the ladder frame, strong axles, and stock lockers. A few months of working on my wife and I finally got approval. Three weeks later I joined the FJ community in May ‘09
$5000 cash and I drove home a:
1993 FZJ80 w/ 130k
White with blue interior. All stock except JVC stereo w/ horrible PYLE speakers (stock sub & amps removed)
Options:
- Factory Lockers
- ABS (and associated FF rear axle)
- R12 Air Conditioning
- ‘Federal Model’ with no after catalytic converter O2 sensors or EGR temp sensor
- Hitch
Two weeks after pulling the trigger, I was lifted on 35s and hitting the trails for my 4x4 trip. From there I have spiralled into the world of FJ and offroading with reckless abandonment. I can’t count how much time and money I’ve spent on this rig. Whatever the number, it was worth it. I rebuilt my first engine. I learned how to weld. I’ve met some great people.
Below is a pretty comprehensive list of the things I did from May ‘09 to Nov ‘12 when I started the chop.
Upgrades (in approx order):
- SLEE 4” Lift
- MetalTech Sliders
- Toyo M/T 315/75R16 on stocks
- CDL Switch
- PHH & RHH silicon lines
- Safari snorkel
- SLEE Transfer Case Skid
- SLEE Interior Tire Mount
- SCION radio w/ Pioneer 5.25F/6.5R (sounded horrible)
- Husky Liner front floor mats and rear cargo mat
- B&H 8x12” power steering cooler
- Metaltech Front Bumper w/ Warn 9.5xp
- 4x4Labs rear DIY bumper w/o swing outs
- Cheapest Alpine radio (10x better than Scion radio)
- Nitro 4.88 gears
- Longfield Superaxles
- Diehard Platinum 31M
- Viking ⅜” rope w/ safety thimble
- Bud Built tie-rod and drag-link
- SLEE headlight and AUX light wiring to cheap HELLA 6” lights
- LandTank seat slider extention
- Disco cup holder
- LED dome light panels (dieing one LED at a time)
Mods (in approx order)
- 7 pin mod
- Breathers extended to top of firewall w/ fuel filters on ends
- Spare tire carrier removed
- Fenders flares removed
- 3rd Row seats removed
- EGR disabled (vacuum plugged, thank you Federal Model)
- Bumper corners removed
- Carpet removed
- Oil pump seized and toasted my motor
--- A/C removed completely
--- Rebuilt junk yard motor
- Removed front swaybar
- New 2.5” exhaust, downpipe back (Magnaflow HM cat and straight through muffler)
- Rear lower control arms “armored” with angle iron
- Rear lower control arm frame tie-ins “armored” with angle iron
- Rear Heater removed
Maintenance Fun
- Normal fluid & lube replacements
- Rebuilt starter
- Brakes w/ 100 pads
- TC rear output seal
- Cleaned locker actuators
- Replaced window run channels
- Replaced broken speedometer
- Cleaned clogged sunroof drains
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