dmc
SILVER Star
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2004
- Threads
- 47
- Messages
- 966
- Location
- Wandering the Western Hemisphere
- Website
- www.expeditionamericas.com
I know you've all been waiting on pins and needles for my ROTW. Believe me I have too. Or I've enjoyed the ROTW series so much that I figured the least I could do was contribute. Hopefully you'll find something of value. FZJFillmore wanted me to do my entire thread about the stickers on my truck. I would but that would take too much effort so here goes...
I was a late convert to the magnificent beast known as the US spec FZJ80 Land Cruiser. However when the bug bit I knew what I wanted and I got pretty lucky. After selling my 97 Tacoma, a truck I loved, here on MUD I gave myself 6 weeks to find the 40th Anniversary 80 with lockers that I wanted. There has always been something about the 1B2 (Antique Pearl Sage) paint color that I loved from the first time I saw it. My 40 almost ended up that color. Well my search lasted about 48 hours. Bret van Tuyle, President of the Green Country Cruisers, had his 80 become available. Within a week I was on a plane to Oklahoma City. Thanks to Woody for the classifieds. Sold and bought my rigs within a month on MUD!
As of April 4th, 2005 I was the proud owner of a 1997 FZJ80, 101,863 miles, lockers (of course), ARB Bumper with Ramsey Patriot 9500 winch, OME 850front, 863 rear, and Slee Sliders. The truck was ready to go. One the way home I even managed to take the 'scenic route' between Moab and Green River, UT. The trip back to Utah was enough to convince me that I had made the right decision. Then of course the battery died as soon as I pulled into the driveway.
So as of this morning I have 118,5** miles on the odometer and have made the following mods in no particular order
New battery
CDL
Swiched to M1 Synthetic
OME Front Js
Pioneer in dash DVD with IPOD adapter
rear storage
CB install
snorkel
PHH
HIR light upgrade, high and low beams
2in front spacers, rear J's and L shocks all around.
custom exhaust with magnaflow muffler
slee lighting harness
Not too much but I started with a good platform. One thing I did learn and I've posted it more than once is this.
BEST TECHNIQUE FOR REMOVING WOOD GRAIN - Forget the heat gun, forget the putty knife. set the heater on high, walk away for 30mins, come back, pull the wood grain off with your fingers. It's really that simple. I tried the heat gun and some 3m adhesive removal. Running the heater was far easier. Took maybe 10 mins to remove ALL the wood grain.
I think long term i'll remove the front spacers and go back to a rear 864 spring. I recently (2 weekend ago) went higher with one goal in mind, ACT 2006. I need room to clear 315 muds and wanted a bit more height. I prefer a bit lower stance for what I'll be using this truck for. Tire choice, as of now, for the 315 will be the Dunlop Mud Rover. I've had them on my 60 and my Taco and liked the way they performed. Plus they are relatively cheap.
Other long term plans include the following
Rear bumper with swing out
long range tank
roof rack (jmoose style)/tent
new rear storage for my latest purchase
dual battery
custom sub and amp
Like many others I'm building this as an 'expedition' truck. Which to me means a lot of wandering the Southwestern US but long term I intended to drive to South America. I tend to like to find the limits of my rigs early on. Between the Utah Cruiser Expedition and the latest Wasatch Cruisers run to Moab I've learned the limits of my truck fairly quickly. Just as I knew I would be I'm very impressed. Okay I used far too many words. Now time for the pics.
First trip in the truck, CM May 05
Moab October 05
Utah Cruiser Expedition Sept 05
I was a late convert to the magnificent beast known as the US spec FZJ80 Land Cruiser. However when the bug bit I knew what I wanted and I got pretty lucky. After selling my 97 Tacoma, a truck I loved, here on MUD I gave myself 6 weeks to find the 40th Anniversary 80 with lockers that I wanted. There has always been something about the 1B2 (Antique Pearl Sage) paint color that I loved from the first time I saw it. My 40 almost ended up that color. Well my search lasted about 48 hours. Bret van Tuyle, President of the Green Country Cruisers, had his 80 become available. Within a week I was on a plane to Oklahoma City. Thanks to Woody for the classifieds. Sold and bought my rigs within a month on MUD!
As of April 4th, 2005 I was the proud owner of a 1997 FZJ80, 101,863 miles, lockers (of course), ARB Bumper with Ramsey Patriot 9500 winch, OME 850front, 863 rear, and Slee Sliders. The truck was ready to go. One the way home I even managed to take the 'scenic route' between Moab and Green River, UT. The trip back to Utah was enough to convince me that I had made the right decision. Then of course the battery died as soon as I pulled into the driveway.
So as of this morning I have 118,5** miles on the odometer and have made the following mods in no particular order
New battery
CDL
Swiched to M1 Synthetic
OME Front Js
Pioneer in dash DVD with IPOD adapter
rear storage
CB install
snorkel
PHH
HIR light upgrade, high and low beams
2in front spacers, rear J's and L shocks all around.
custom exhaust with magnaflow muffler
slee lighting harness
Not too much but I started with a good platform. One thing I did learn and I've posted it more than once is this.
BEST TECHNIQUE FOR REMOVING WOOD GRAIN - Forget the heat gun, forget the putty knife. set the heater on high, walk away for 30mins, come back, pull the wood grain off with your fingers. It's really that simple. I tried the heat gun and some 3m adhesive removal. Running the heater was far easier. Took maybe 10 mins to remove ALL the wood grain.
I think long term i'll remove the front spacers and go back to a rear 864 spring. I recently (2 weekend ago) went higher with one goal in mind, ACT 2006. I need room to clear 315 muds and wanted a bit more height. I prefer a bit lower stance for what I'll be using this truck for. Tire choice, as of now, for the 315 will be the Dunlop Mud Rover. I've had them on my 60 and my Taco and liked the way they performed. Plus they are relatively cheap.
Other long term plans include the following
Rear bumper with swing out
long range tank
roof rack (jmoose style)/tent
new rear storage for my latest purchase
dual battery
custom sub and amp
Like many others I'm building this as an 'expedition' truck. Which to me means a lot of wandering the Southwestern US but long term I intended to drive to South America. I tend to like to find the limits of my rigs early on. Between the Utah Cruiser Expedition and the latest Wasatch Cruisers run to Moab I've learned the limits of my truck fairly quickly. Just as I knew I would be I'm very impressed. Okay I used far too many words. Now time for the pics.
First trip in the truck, CM May 05
Moab October 05
Utah Cruiser Expedition Sept 05
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There is still plenty of it stuck underneath my truck. 18 cars washes down 34 more to go and it might be clean. :whoops: That was a good group and trail run.