After years of wheeling 4runners, and getting more and more hardcore with rock crawling, it was time for a change. After couple of minor flops and my lady ceasing to go wheeling with me (for fear of death) I started looking at a new direction. We were both getting tired of the 85 4runner. Its rhino lined inside, ridiculously noisy at highway speeds, no AC which has started to get annoying, and 2 doors were a pain for our backpacking adventures.
My goals were a truck that could handle the freeway, be quiet and comfortable inside, and still be locked front and rear to handle 95% of what my crawler can do. My initial thoughts were for a 4th gen 4runner. The v6 is a great motor, the front diff holds up to ARBs, and Marlin is making a burly long travel kit for them. Then a triple locked FZJ80 showed up on my radar. Realizing the 4th gen would easily cost double to get where the 80 already is, and missing the FJ60 I had 12 years ago, I pulled the trigger two weeks ago.
300k miles, no leaks, runs like a top, 315 ST Maxx's stuffed onto stock suspension, and the PO had installed OME L shocks. Here's Pigsley:
Initial thoughts that sold me were how smooth it drives on and off highway, how tight the steering is, and how quiet it is inside. (Normal volume conversations are nice.) Another bonus: even though it has stock gearing, it is noticeably quicker than my 4runner which is pushing 35's on 5.29 gears with a built 22re.
First step was to get plates, and it failed emissions with miserably high NOx. EGR tested fine, so I replaced both O2 sensors and both cats. I used Toyota OEM O2 sensors and Magnaflow weld-in replacements. Another run through emissions and she passed easily.
So, with the goal of a moderately-built adventure truck with a decent interior, I will document the upgrades, adventures, problems, and fixes here. I'm not planning on a restoration - the interior is already nice enough and rust is superficial - but I will be keeping everything in good working order.
Next up, Pigsley needs armor and a lift!
My goals were a truck that could handle the freeway, be quiet and comfortable inside, and still be locked front and rear to handle 95% of what my crawler can do. My initial thoughts were for a 4th gen 4runner. The v6 is a great motor, the front diff holds up to ARBs, and Marlin is making a burly long travel kit for them. Then a triple locked FZJ80 showed up on my radar. Realizing the 4th gen would easily cost double to get where the 80 already is, and missing the FJ60 I had 12 years ago, I pulled the trigger two weeks ago.
300k miles, no leaks, runs like a top, 315 ST Maxx's stuffed onto stock suspension, and the PO had installed OME L shocks. Here's Pigsley:
Initial thoughts that sold me were how smooth it drives on and off highway, how tight the steering is, and how quiet it is inside. (Normal volume conversations are nice.) Another bonus: even though it has stock gearing, it is noticeably quicker than my 4runner which is pushing 35's on 5.29 gears with a built 22re.
First step was to get plates, and it failed emissions with miserably high NOx. EGR tested fine, so I replaced both O2 sensors and both cats. I used Toyota OEM O2 sensors and Magnaflow weld-in replacements. Another run through emissions and she passed easily.
So, with the goal of a moderately-built adventure truck with a decent interior, I will document the upgrades, adventures, problems, and fixes here. I'm not planning on a restoration - the interior is already nice enough and rust is superficial - but I will be keeping everything in good working order.
Next up, Pigsley needs armor and a lift!
