Builds 79-series Mongrel build

[Omrib]

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Belly skid plate we built and you can see how our sliders mount to the frame.

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Cheers

That is a cool bash plate....
Is it steel or aluminum?
Thickness?
How are the dimple dies work for this thickness?
Is it welded or attached in a different way to the cross member?
Very nice piece

 

[SNLC]

That is a cool bash plate....
Is it steel or aluminum?
Thickness?
How are the dimple dies work for this thickness?
Is it welded or attached in a different way to the cross member?
Very nice piece

Steel
1/4”
Bolts to the frame and cross member

1/4” is the limits of our dimple dies.

Cheers

 

[FJ73Texas]

I searched five different countries over a year trying to find the right 79-series gauge cluster. We needed 2016+ HZJ79 double cab with full LX trim. That so it has single fuel tank, tach and full gauge cluster.

I was only able to find this HZJ79 new which is from a single cab with double tanks and has no tach.

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After having exhausted all OEM options, a GR79 or VDJ79 won’t work 100% with an FTE, we decided to contact Dakota Digital. They said they could definitely one off us a gauge cluster that would meet our needs.

So we sent off our stock cluster to them along with the bezel and trim. They made this cluster to suit the 79!!!




A mph speedo was something the owner really wanted too so that’s pretty awesome as well to have it be in mph. Being a new Cruiser, we sure do want to start with a zero mile odometer too. I was checking the manual that came with it on Friday and wow there is a lot of options. Backlight colors, needle colors, endless options for the display screen, daytime/nighttime auto dimming and or color changes. On and on for 12 pages of options!

We do have to run their sensors on the engine and run their control box as well. However very very happy with this solution and a bonus is the display screen in the center. No need to run a separate EGT or boost gauge, it will be displayed in the screen center of the cluster!

So that brings us about up to speed on the build. We just finished welding out the chassis at the end of the day yesterday. We are scheduled to get the frame sand blasted on Tuesday. After that we paint it! I don’t see a lot of pics of the engine build or trans work we did on my phone but the engine, trans and tcase are all built out and ready to go.

I started scuffing the engine bay firewall and whole underside of the cab on Friday while Chris finished welding the frame. I am heading to the shop shortly and will take some more pics of that work. We are heading into final assembly on this build soon!

Cheers

That is a really nice cluster that Dakota made for you. I have always wondered if sending off the older version of the 70 series cluster to them would help them make something similar for the older dash set up since they already make them for the FJ40. Like your project, it would have to be a one off build since there are so many variations out there.

 

[Omrib]

Steel
1/4”
Bolts to the frame and cross member

1/4” is the limits of our dimple dies.

Cheers

Great looking piece looks very functional and hardcore super strong
Looking forward for the rest of the build documentation

 

[Baja Designs]

Here it is pretty much finished, we literally finished it 100% just last Wednesday. It’s got some additional mounts for Baja Design LP9s and antenna mounts too.

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Cheers

The RIG is coming together nicely! I love the attention to detail you're putting into this build. I noticed you mentioned fabricating some mounts up front for the LP9s are you considering adding any additional lighting around the RIG as well?

Best,
Bill

Bill Sonevongxay | Forum Sales & Support 
Email: Bill@bajadesigns.com Phone: (760)560-2252

 

[SNLC]

The RIG is coming together nicely! I love the attention to detail you're putting into this build. I noticed you mentioned fabricating some mounts up front for the LP9s are you considering adding any additional lighting around the RIG as well?

Best,
Bill

Bill Sonevongxay | Forum Sales & Support 
Email: Bill@bajadesigns.com Phone: (760)560-2252

Hey Bill,

We have Squadron Pros and S1s in the corners of the front bumper. Not sure yet what we are doing for the bed yet.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Frame stripped, washed and ready for sand blasting tomorrow.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Happening right now.

Cheers

 

[cwwfj60]

Happening right now.

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Cheers

Is that getting a lizard skin coating underneath as well? And/or undercoating of some sort?

 

[SNLC]

Lizard skin ceramic coating on the firewall and trans tunnel.

ALL seams sealed under it with an automotive seam sealer.

Two more steps tomorrow before we call it done.

Cheers

 

[cwwfj60]

Beautiful work

 

[SNLC]

A video I just made to talk about what we are doing and why. I also mention a few of the many reasons why I think Toyota won’t sell these in the USA.





Cheers

 

[TLar25]

A video I just made to talk about what we are doing and why. I also mention a few of the many reasons why I think Toyota won’t sell these in the USA.





Cheers

Thanks for the informative video. I'm curious how they justify that high of an asking price for these things when it seems they went as cheap as possible in a lot of areas.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

It would be interesting to compare the underside of a 70 Series to that of a new Ford, Chevy or Ram truck.

 

[Baja Designs]

Hey Bill,

We have Squadron Pros and S1s in the corners of the front bumper. Not sure yet what we are doing for the bed yet.

Cheers

Hey @SNLC,

The front is going to be dialed. When you start getting the rear end all button up. Shoot me a PM and I would be more then happy to come up with some different ideas on a lighting package with you.

Best,
Bill

Bill Sonevongxay | Forum Sales & Support 
Email: Bill@bajadesigns.com Phone: (760)560-2252

 

[SNLC]

Seam sealer sprayed on the entire underside of the cab.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Top coating the LizardSkin and seam sealer with a 2-part polyurethane single stage white.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

Here it is all done.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

One more.

For the bed, one crossmember was modified to suit the 80-series chassis.

Now we just got to give the underside of the bed the same treatment.

Cheers

 

[SNLC]

OEM firewall pad in the engine bay, a nice finisher.

Cheers