Marlin Crawler, Fresno

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cruiserpilot

cruiserpilot

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May 15, 2005
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318
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12,244
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Ladysmith
Hey y'all
I'm here for what might be a few more days. I'm going to Marlins shop today to visit. Haven't
been in 12 yrs or so. I'll get a few axle seals I think for personal stock. That being said, should
any of you need anything let me know. I'm here, and will bring something home for anyone
should they need. Be reasonable about size and weight, but I can usually manage.
My job looks like it's taking me up to Chilliwack, (yeah, I can't believe it either), so
my intention would be to send a package on home from there.
Jon
 
IMG_0288.webp IMG_0289.webp IMG_0292.webp IMG_0293.webp IMG_0294.webp Bad news.... axle seals out of stock for about a month.
I did see a very well made axle gusset for the ball end so that I will get a kit for my front axle. I probably wouldn't get it if I wasn't here,
it's steel and a few pounds, but is the solution to the only known weakness of the front axle, IMO. Birfields aside.
Now a few pics.
 
I took notes, shook Marlins hand. He is coming through Victoria in early Aug on a cruise. I told him to tell Rob L he was coming, maybe
get down to meet him on his cruise ship lay over. He said he'd like to see Rob is he was around. What a great guy, they are running
the Rubithon again in June 27-29. I will be at Plains, Wa. at the Overland expo cause I don't have the time nor the proper rig for Rubicon.
Anyone want the off road adventure of a life time, Rubithon is right up there.

I learned a bunch about 22R engines from Mike, the fellow who built the engine in Marlins truck, and owns the blue and white truck in the
pics. I took notes. So much to be learned from these guys who wheel 2-3 times a month. Really a great bunch, so if you ever drive down
I-5 through Cali, make a detour and stop in for a visit. Tourists welcome.
 
Hey Jonathon....Mike is Marlins son I think? known on Marlins forum as Big Mike...If I remember correctly both Mike and Marlin are running the newer 2.7 is a 3RZ..I think Marlin mentioned Mike has a TRD supercharger..

Been seven years since we hung out in Texas...I see why so many look up the the guy, he will work on every ones rig at the end of a long day and wake up to see him setting valves on some ones elses truck....

Jay ended up with the knuckle support kit , I found the quality top notch...


Overland Expo should be fun..hang out at the Can Am Cruisers tent and hand out goodies....
 
Yeah, Mike built 5 of those 3RZ motors. His plate on the blue and white truck reads 3RZ PWR. One of the trucks
is turbo charged, but not Mikes or Marlins. I didn't realize the relationship between the two, except they are close.
I'm going back this morning, will drop the card for a few things.
Marlin runs a premier power welder under his hood, I had a :bang: moment when I realized that it is an obvious
upgrade to my dual system. My only question was answered when Mike confirmed that I can run that 160 A
alternator on a V belt. Be prudent to carry a spare belt with that set up though. Marlin has a custom serpentine system
on his 3RZ.
 
I went shopping and purchased the axle truss kit today. Spent another hour wasting their time, but had a great visit.
Took another couple of pics of the kit and the very cool swag Mike was kind enough to pass on, so I have some stickers
for some of you to make your tool boxes look cooler than they did before. I can't get over how cool that white truck looks with
those giant tires.

IMG_1674.webp IMG_1675.webp IMG_1672.webp

There is an event in Bakerfield on Saturday, so fingers crossed I'll get to meet some more of the local people,
get some contacts and find the best places to go down here for the future.
I've got an open offer to any of these guys to contact me should any of them get the time to dare venture north of 49th for a trip. I'll provide whatever maps, guidance or assistance I can. J
 
cruiserpilot said:
Hey y'all
I'm here for what might be a few more days. I'm going to Marlins shop today to visit. Haven't
been in 12 yrs or so. I'll get a few axle seals I think for personal stock. That being said, should
any of you need anything let me know. I'm here, and will bring something home for anyone
should they need. Be reasonable about size and weight, but I can usually manage.
My job looks like it's taking me up to Chilliwack, (yeah, I can't believe it either), so
my intention would be to send a package on home from there.
Jon
Click to expand...

Jon do you know if Marlin does routine service/maintenance type items on landcruisers? I think he used to years ago but don't know if he still does that sort of work at his shop here in Fresno now. I just called and it sounds like they're closed for the weekend.

thx
 
Closed Fri-Sun. I think that he has two shops now. The other shop might do routine stuff. There is a 13th Annual
Toyota/Land Cruiser Swap meet in Bakersfield on Sat 8-2 at Bakersfield Toyota Scion dealer. I might drive down,
but I have a very severe stomach flu since Fri am, not sure if I'm up for the drive.
 
Having done both of those TLCA events in recent years, if you ever get the chance...GO! Rubithon was by far the toughest, but Moab is so cool because of the bizarre terrain and oh so many trails to choose from.
Both trips equally awesome, and so different.
 
Very cool. Might have to do that some day when I can afford to build a dedicated wheeling cruiser.

Funny, just saw 'Big Mike' built an 87 MR2 Supercharged to nearly the same spec as I had built my 87 MR2 Supercharged (he has a link in his signature). http://bigmike.marlincrawler.com/forum/index.php?topic=87.0 . Neat those guys are into a range of Toyotas.
 
Why would you need a dedicated wheeling cruiser?

For Rubithon, we drove it loaded to the tits and then some, both kids on board. So much crap packed I had to buy a roof rack to fit it all on. Drove from BC to Oregon for a few days, then to California, wheeled the Rubicon, then drove from Tahoe to Disneyland and back home.

Yah sure I had a few new dents and was minus most of my flares, but it was a great trip.
 
Nick, did you see the essentially stock trucks running that trail this morning, it was rated a 5. I'm certain they were lockered
up but I would think that the guidance / spotting available, your truck would do much better than you think. I've seen you
drive, you're a thinker, not a dumbass, you'd do okay.

That MR2 Big Mike has is his first car. Can you imagine the sleepless nights Marlin had praying his kid wasn't going to
be a street drifting freak! HaHa! Mike loves that car, but he has serious mechanical skills.

What did you guys think of Mikes comments about utilizing the AFR to maximize fuel economy. Brilliant! Only a redneck
wheeler would try to figure out how to get a crawler up a mountain pass at max speed and still worry about fuel economy!
 
Yeah, you guys are right. I'm sure the LJ would do just fine on many of the trails at MOAB. I just know it would do that much better with a few things like a softer lift and some 33-34" tires. A locker up front to compliment the rear would not hurt either.

Totally off topic, but I've had a couple beers too many and missing my MR2. Here are a couple pictures. Same supercharged engine Big Mike had for a while. Man I did so much work on this car and it was so quick. I miss it sometimes.
IMG_8747_zpszrirmlda.jpg

IMG_7242.jpg
 
I think that's the first MR2 I've ever seen that isn't Red. Looks like a neat little ride.
Enjoy your beer, and have another for me - I'm a couple behind now. :beer:
 
Hows your guts today with the flu?

Might fly down to Arizona for a rig, hate rust so much..

Local guys with rigs claim them to be clean and they always suck....

Was looking for a extra cab but will go towards single cab that we had almost 30 years ago and traveled the back country before it was popullar....s*** we had open diffs and a blow up mattress in the bed....
 
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Ive been thinking of heading down to Moab later this year, but worried about the fact that I might need lockers.

Consequently Ive been eyeing up some of those Detroit lockers at least for my rear end...
 
Not bad, 8 days and still kind of shaky. There are mini Toyotas all over here, I'm amazed at how many I've seen.
Arizona will be less rusty. Not really bad here though,
We have been awarded Arizona this year, fingers crossed I get that one. Flagstaff over to Show Low area is some
of the nicest of the US. High desert, pine forests....

If you are going to wheel in Moab, ya gotta have a locker. Or watch everyone else having fun.
 
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