Builds ROTW: Arya Ebrahimi's 1994 FZJ80 aka "The Elephant"

[othater]

Nice write up,
I also have a 94, only a daily driver for now.

 

[PromontoryCruiser80]

Ary,
Nice rig I like the new paint job. Are you still in Bburg? I am heading to Moab this weekend. Is the Energizer battery a cruiser thing? I have the same one in my 97.

 

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Yup, I'm still in Blacksburg.

I have no idea about the battery, it was installed by the PO.

It seems to do a really good job though. I have abused the heck out of it, completely draining it till I don't even get a click. A quick jumpstart and it is completely functional after about 10 minutes of run time.

Ary

 

[stevezero]

Sweet rig Ary. How long do your drawer sildes need to be? I've got quite a few sets from some server installations that didnt require them. They are ball bearing slides that extend out quite a bit. I'll try to get them out and measure them after easter dinner today and snap some pics if youre interested.

Steve

 

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Sweet rig Ary. How long do your drawer sildes need to be? I've got quite a few sets from some server installations that didnt require them. They are ball bearing slides that extend out quite a bit. I'll try to get them out and measure them after easter dinner today and snap some pics if youre interested.

Steve

Haha, funny story about that. I actually have the slides.

You see I made the main box so that it would have a full length drawer and a half length drawer. Behind the half length drawer there is a compartment for my amp, inverter, and 12v power distribution to the rear of the rig.

Now when I was building it, I only had the 22" slides for the half length drawer that I had gotten from Home Depot. I made the mistake of assuming the 36" slides I had ordered would be the same width. Therefore, my half length drawer fits fine, but the full length drawer is a 1/2" too wide to fit with the slides. I just haven't gotten a chance to tear it all apart, trim the drawer down 1/2" and put it back together. Probably won't get a chance until July either.

Thanks for the offer though, I appreciate it

 

[nmostofi]

nice rig Arya, I also like the two tone paint, thanks for sharing, what are your plans for a lift ?

 

[Arya Ebrahimi]

nice rig Arya, I also like the two tone paint, thanks for sharing, what are your plans for a lift ?

When the time comes, I hope to do a very mild lift(no MORE than 4", probably closer to 2-3") and trim my fenders to clear 36's or 37's. I also have an idea on how to do all of that while retaining the flares. I have a feeling it will be a very mixed lift component wise, but I hope to run FOR coils and Bilstein shocks. I also do not want to bumpstop the rig to hell, so there will be some significant sheetmetal relocation.

My goal is to have a capable rig that can prerun as well as it can rockcrawl. I have a dedicated rig for rockcrawling, so I have no need to make the 80 the be all end all rockcrawler. I do thoroughly enjoy pushing the rigs limits speed wise on dirt roads, so the suspension will be built with that in mind.

Ary

 

[DethYota]

I live in Blacksburg as well and I have been on a few wheeling trips with Arya over the years. It's always great to see the look on people's faces when they stuggle to make it up an obstacle in their modified rig and then someone in a stock FJ80 with factory lockers just walks up it! I have been bugging Arya over the last year to sell me his cruiser. I finally gave up and bought my own since he won't sell it. It's also a green 94. We'll have to take some pics of both rigs on the trails and start up a Blacksburg FJ80 club!

 

[ktmracer01]

Great write up! Especially that fact that it started out low cost. Congrats on the rig, and hope you keep us posted on any additional mods.

 

[Arya Ebrahimi]

I live in Blacksburg as well and I have been on a few wheeling trips with Arya over the years. It's always great to see the look on people's faces when they stuggle to make it up an obstacle in their modified rig and then someone in a stock FJ80 with factory lockers just walks up it! I have been bugging Arya over the last year to sell me his cruiser. I finally gave up and bought my own since he won't sell it. It's also a green 94. We'll have to take some pics of both rigs on the trails and start up a Blacksburg FJ80 club!

Jared, when did you pick up a cruiser? Lockers? Mileage? Let me know if you need anything. I have the SST for front and rear wheel bearings and a FSM if you need to borrow them.

Ary

 

[collector_edi]

Excellent Narrative!

 

[photomike]

Ary,

Can you shoot a pic of how the 4000s are mounted on the ARB? About to do mine and I like how yours are setup.

Cheers,
Mike