Builds Let's build a 79 Series from parts...

[cruiserdan]

I think I'm going this route. They do a size that will work of me in a 16x7. I think they'll tuck OK. It's really dependent on the offset. But this build may be able to get away with a little more aggressive fit. #1 has the optimal setup as far as I'm concerned.....

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I love you #1....you will always be my favorite.

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That's a 5 lug wheel. Do they make it in 6?

 

[c2dfj45]

Ya I did and prefer it but the owner requested black so that is what it gets.

Cheers

Not matching the flares on this truck. Have considered satin black(remove the texture) or maybe color matched to wheels. Or maybe just keep 'em textured black. Kind of thinking the canopy will get black hatch doors on this truck....textured. Maybe textured black wheels too. I need to feel it out once it starts coming together.

Painting stuff like this requires a lot of work to sand, then prime with heavy primer, sanding, color match which is hard because it will need a flex additive which changes the paint color quite a bit.....and white is difficult enough to match anyways.

Need to focus on utility on this truck....and ease of building/repairing.

 

[c2dfj45]

That's a 5 lug wheel. Do they make it in 6?

Yes, they do a 6 lug for a lot of the Toyotas. I just grabbed that pic to show a clear pic.

Seems to be popular with the Tacoma guys. Lots of Toyotas actually. They're a neat wheel.....pretty kind pricing too.

 

[c2dfj45]

I sure hope once my truck is together I can get some decent pics for these guys....impossible to find a clean pic of these flares.

Interesting how they mount the Land Cruiser badge on the fender when the wider mirrors get installed. The doors are drilled for the badges obviously....so I guess they have a different set of doors for these mirrors? I suppose it's factory or maybe they fill the holes, paint the doors, mount the mirrors. So many questions.....

Painted flares. Looks pretty good.

 

[c2dfj45]

I think white would look pretty tight on the 79.....

 

[c2dfj45]

as far as a tire/wheel combo for that truck it would be difficult to improve upon 16x8 80 Series steels and the 285/75/16 mud tire of your choice. I'm a Mickey Thompson Baja MTZ P3 fan.

Do you run these tires Dan? If you do run them, are they quiet on the highway?

I like the specs....34.5" and 11.9" wide. Not bad. Not sure I've ever had any MTs. Growing up as a kid living in Souther California....it's all I ever wanted.

 

[cruiserdan]

Not ATZ. I run MTZs on my 80 and my wife's 80. When I run out the BFF KM2s that came with my BJ74 I will put MTZs on that too.

 

[mmcinnis]

While we were messing around with interior bits and pieces, I decided to install the Kut Snake flares on the truck. I had planned on doing this truck differently from #1......it wasn't ever going to be a stock build(recreation?) so not staying as close to OEM as possible, while nearly impossible for me to accept, was how it would be done.

I'm still torn on the flares...I can't say I'm 100% in favor of them. I'm contemplating maybe doing them in a different color. Maybe doing them smooth instead of textured. Not sure. I might just wait to see how the truck comes together before worrying about them. I think once the proper wheels are on it, a proper bumper of some sort and the canopy with all it's cool stuff, they might just end up looking really cool.

The positive of these flares.....they required no cutting. Unlike #1 which had a large portion of the fender lip cut on the rear bed. Yikes.

Did a quick mockup....had to get the courage up to drill a new body. Hard to do when it's your truck...easy to do when it's a customer's truck. Ha.

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The fit was outstanding on these flares....they really really fit tight.

The flares are extremely strong and sturdy. 5mm ABS. UV resistant. Tough as nails. Definitely not a cheap flare for looks....these will do well off road and are surprisingly flexible enough that I doubt they will shatter or crack.

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Hey, I have 5 sets of kutsnake flares at the shop. Been bringing them in for a couple years now? If your going to bring in more, I'd be willing to get rid of my sets and let you cruise on with them. Mike

 

[c2dfj45]

Not ATZ. I run MTZs on my 80 and my wife's 80. When I run out the BFF KM2s that came with my BJ74 I will put MTZs on that too.

Ah....MTZ. Guess you like them! Will check out.

 

[c2dfj45]

Hey, I have 5 sets of kutsnake flares at the shop. Been bringing them in for a couple years now? If your going to bring in more, I'd be willing to get rid of my sets and let you cruise on with them. Mike

PM me with what you have.....I might be interested in them.

 

[c2dfj45]

I spoke to my Kut Snake rep.....there are specific 76 flares that ONLY fit the 76. 78, 73, pre 2007, post 2007.......seems they have them to cover everything.

Some Troopy goodness....

Pretty cool on this shorty...

Guessing this means they have cut outs for sub tanks if needed...

 

[TonyP]

Interesting the Troopy guy went with subtank flares on a non-subtank Troopy. Looks wonky with a random cutout and no filler door.
Aside from that, I still dig the way they look.

 

[c2dfj45]

Interesting the Troopy guy went with subtank flares on a non-subtank Troopy. Looks wonky with a random cutout and no filler door.
Aside from that, I still dig the way they look.

Agreed.....let me see what he says about that. Maybe they only come that way.

 

[c2dfj45]

Figured it was a good time to install a hood strut kit......good to know the guy who makes them.

Install the upper mounts:

Install the ball studs:

Pop in the struts and toss that prop rod in the garbage(don't really toss it in the garbage) and enjoy not having to use a prop rod...

Not sure why the new guy is using the prop rod in this pic....might be because it was in the way...

 

[FJ73Texas]

Sorry, slight thread high jack here but your last post reminded me to ask if you are still selling the strut kits? I like mine so much I need to add it to my next cruiser.

 

[c2dfj45]

Sorry, slight thread high jack here but your last post reminded me to ask if you are still selling the strut kits? I like mine so much I need to add it to my next cruiser.

I have 2 or 3 mounts in stock....I may have to bring in some struts. Let me know via PM and we'll get it going.

The struts are nice, right??

 

[FJ73Texas]

Yeah, they are super nice. A must have for any 70 series. I was working on the PZJ70 this past weekend and was thinking how nice it was to not have the electrical cord to my light get tangled on that prop rod.

 

[c2dfj45]

Yeah, they are super nice. A must have for any 70 series. I was working on the PZJ70 this past weekend and was thinking how nice it was to not have the electrical cord to my light get tangled on that prop rod.

When I hear corded electrical light it brings back horrible memories of the metal one we had as a kid growing up....I think everyone had one in their garage......metal with a 100 watt bulb. That thing did more damage to me, plastics, upholstery, etc. than anything else in that garage. Ouch. I can remember smelling that thing when it burned something. It was a different era before fluorescents I guess.

I bought one of these...it's ridiculously good. Lasts all day on medium light setting with a full charge.

Amazon product ASIN B07652GDNJ
And yes, nice not to have to deal with a prop rod for sure....

 

[mmcinnis]

Interesting the Troopy guy went with subtank flares on a non-subtank Troopy. Looks wonky with a random cutout and no filler door.
Aside from that, I still dig the way they look.

I'll let you know how mine turns out. Doing some other items 1st. That's the only way kutsnake sells them. Mike

 

[TonyP]

Come to think of it, I think the Troopy is the only 70-series with the main tank filler in front of the rear wheel and the sub-tank behind? So all other 70s would have the flare with the cutout for their main tank. The only oddball where it wouldn't fit right is just a Troopy like above without a sub-tank. So it kind of make sense to not bother making a right rear flare without a cutout.