My HZJ77 (1 Viewer)

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One thing I have yet to order for my turbo install is gauges. Details are important to me especially in a vehicle I plan to drive a lot for a long, long time. I didn't care for the look of traditional round styled gauges. Nothing against them I just felt when installed they look very aftermarket and didn't do anything for the rest of the dash.

For the reasons mentioned above I will go with Auber gauges. This is what I am looking at: http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5_21&products_id=147. I feel the digital display will echo the aesthetics of the clock nicely while the utilitarian square simple look would compliment the rest of the dash as well. I would like to put them in the double DIN radio slot. I'll have a single DIN radio above and should still have room to fit six of these little gauges below. My intention is to install four in a square formation and leave room for switches beside them to engage air compressor and lockers. Or install six gauges and have the switches elsewhere.

Here is a picture of what John from Radd Cruisers did in his HZJ77 that's for sale. I'll be using the same gauges in the same DIN slot. Only difference mine will have more gauges and lined up in a square formation.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=756932&stc=1&d=1368132739

Parameters I want to monitor will be Boost, EGT, Oil pressure, Water temp, and Air pressure (for the air tank to run toys and engage lockers when that time comes). I realize that's five listed so one will either be omitted or located somewhere else, unless I decide to have six gauges in which case I'll have to figure out another parameter to monitor.

What I am hung up on is display colour of the gauges and I hope people can weigh in their opinions. My clock is already blue/green in colour and the radio I'll install above it will be from caterpillar with a green LED display. It will look similar to this one: https://commerce.cat.com/en/catcorp/radios-accessories/radios/366-8412. Since one gauge can be programmed to read a number of different measurements they are not labeled things like Pyro, Oil, Water etc. I might have somewhere to put some sort of label but either way it will be in small lettering. This has lead me to think that each gauge should be a different colour so in the corner of your eye you can tell what's dropping or spiking simply by the colour. However once a little used to it all you should know this by placement anyways. I also don't know if I'd like the look of a rainbow spread across my dash looking like I bought all my gauges from a clearance section and you had no say in what you got. On the other hand it could look really neat and because function incorporated into design is important to me this could be best. I've considered all yellow display for classic look or green to go with the radio or blue for the clock and even red which is always read as important (think of those red telephones you see in the movies that would be in the pentagon or someplace similar, you know someones not on hold on that line. Heaven only knows what it's even for but being red, it's gotta be important).

I will say this is a small detail but I feel I'm going to be looking at them every time I get in my HZJ77. Any input and opinions on colours and parameters to keep an eye on, especially with a turbo install, are all greatly appreciated.
 
I may use a generic radio that looks half decent. The CAT unit is nice but it is more coin than what I can justify putting out on a radio.
 
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I may use a generic radio that looks half decent. The CAT unit is nice but it is more coin than what I can justify putting out on a radio.

Just buy the alpine unit I am running for like $150 and it does everything like iPod and answer your iPhone.
 
The best looking radios I've found are designed for semis and industrial equipment.

All the major automotive aftermarket head units look like they belong in spaceships.
 
Hey thanks a lot. Never thought to do that but it make total sense. And yes I do not personally care much for the look of most of the radios out there
 
Some pictures as promised

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Aftermarket rims that fit properly seem to be an ongoing item that people have troubles finding. Here's a detail of mine, they are Mickey Thompson Classic III 16x8 with 3 5/8" backspacing. They are very nicely made and come in polished aluminum or black. I sometimes wonder if I should have gone for the black.

If someone knows how to rotate the picture I'll gladly do so. Ih8mud seems to do this automatically?

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Bit of an update.

There have been delays in life as side projects have taken over, a knee injury that had me in crutches until December, and the recent loss of my job (not necessarily a bad thing, but a game changer) have taken place. My cruiser had to sit from Octoberish until recently before I could begin to work on it again.

I'm just a few kilometres over 200k so I didn't want it to move out of my driveway before maintenance could be done anyways. If anything the events that took place in my life helped save the cruiser from another Canadian winter. My vehicle was meticulously maintained by the previous owner and always stored in a heated shop never to see the light of day if the season was classified as "winter". Although I intend to use the vehicle a lot more than the PO, I still wish to carefully maintain my HZJ77 the best I can. During my maintenance it was obvious that this was well taken care of in the past.

With the weather improving I've managed to change my timing belt and pulley, waterpump, thermostat, and all rad hoses changed along with T-bolt clamps. The timing belt that I removed looked as though it was new still. Don't know when it was changed and when I talked to the PO on the phone he couldn't remember. I honestly had to do this job twice because I was breaking the tasks up by the day and planned on doing the timing belt one day then water pump, t-stat, and hoses the next. After completing the timing belt and reading the manual about the water pump I realized the timing belt has to be removed in order to get access to the water pump. My fault for rushing it as I was trying to beat a rainstorm. I ended up doing it all again on a very nice sunny warm day and getting everything done quite quickly with a clear head. Recently my belts and tensioner were replaced as well. All new Toyota red coolant which it has always received for its entire Canadian life.

Fluids are all being replaced but still in the process of that. Changed my engine oil and filter, filter change with every oil change every 5000. I'm currently trying 15w-40 Amsoil synthetic and my front and rear diffs have been drained and filled with Amsoil severe gear 75-90. Still need to drain and fill my transmission and transfer case with Amsoil. Also got some Amsoil grease which needs doing as well.

My batteries I noticed were completely dead when I began to work and seeing how the old Kirklands gave 6+ years of good service I felt a replacement was in order. I read a lot about batteries and decided they weren't something I wanted to cheap out on. I went with two group 27 AGM Northstar's http://www.northstarbattery.com/batteries/enginestart/index.php I feel my battery cables will need to be replaced as they are beginning to look a bit worn.

My turbo is not installed yet and I have most everything for it but there is a little left to acquire. Still needed are some minor hoses and the SS pipe and fittings for my exhaust so we will see when it gets done. Aiming for spring/summer. I have had my turbo exhaust flange adapter fabricated out of 304 SS and ceramic coated along with exhaust manifold, and heat shield.

Also acquired some new toys including an ARB fridge/freezer and 24v Puma air compressor (thanks Glenn). A third battery will be in order.

Still to do this season:

Install my new ARB fridge
Install my new Puma 24v air compressor
Install rear disk rotors, calipers, pads (have the parts already)
Change trans & xfer fluid
Turbo install
Rebuild winch (unknown history so doing for peace of mind)
Install Lightforce lights (lovely gift from father)
Speakers and stereo upgrade
On board hot water

Long term plans that I'm hoping I can get some in this season but others for the next year:

Intercooler
Third battery
Rear bumper with dual swing outs
Platform
Rear locker
Sliders

I'm also in the early stages of planning a trip with my wife this September to drive to Alaska/Yukon so drivability, reliability, and comfort will be some of the focuses on the choices I make while working and maintaining this year.
 
A light duty Prado LJ78, is coiled front and rear and new 70 series have the front end coiled with five bolt rims.

I have leafs all the way round
 
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nice rig mate!

Im pretty sure there is one of these for sale here in AUS at the moment but the dealer selling it has no idea..

have a look, if it is the same its looks pretty damn good!

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/arch...seat-silver-5-speed-manual-hardtop/1040028561

edit: its got all the goodies too like suspension seats ff rear end, low km 1hz, dual batteries..

I may have to look into this :D

and being in aus. i'm assuming that one would be 12 volt? i'm drooling...
middle east LHD 12 volt with factory front coils would be my absolute dream truck!
 
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Ha! I just took that ugly thing off last week too

It really grew on me that thing but now that its gone I don't miss it
 
Small update.

I've been installing my turbo and have it nearly all complete. I'll be running a Gturbo with 3" SS exhaust. My gauges are auburin and I am very pleased with the look. I won't have my vehicle back until mid next week from the exhaust shop so all I have are teaser pics.

While doing all this I thought I'd install a heat exchanger so I'll have hot water. I mounted the heat exchanger in place of the headlight washer bottle.

Also installed rear seats from a prado so I can has split seats. I wanted to do this so I can design my platform in the back around them too. The plat form I'll be able to sleep on, house my fridge, compressor (i've modified the compressor tank so it fits in the little cubby behind the gas tank), have my third battery, electrical charging gizmos, spots for manuals, fluids, tools and a bunch of other nifty compartments. Hardware is killer so it's a build for over the winter. I want it just right and have put a lot of thought into it. It's all 1/2" baltic plywood with a few places where it is 3/4" and every single joint is dadoed.

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