Build Silver Bullet - BJ74 Tough Offroad all rounder buildup

[jblueridge]

You could use this as a chance to install inverted or reverse u-bolts.

 

[Hulsty]

Maybe years ago I should have, but not the the $$$ now days, I do have high clearance plates front and rear which lifts the bottom of the nuts up about 1 inch.

 

[Hulsty]

Had a long weekend so I was out again on the new treads, I was happy with them in the conditions, no noticeable loss of performance from my previous Nittos.

 

[BarnFab]

I have to say you have done an awesome job, keeping a thread going since 2006 is one thing but still having the same truck etc is a great effort, these days everyone wants the latest and greatest and poor old trucks get relegated to collection status if not sold off and replaced.

 

[Hulsty]

Yeah thanks, its been good fun. When I bought it all those years ago, it was cheap and a bunch of mates all wheeled them too. Now here in Aus, it is a collectors car, if it was in the condition I bought it in it would be a 25-35k vehicle. I've had more than that in smiles and will continue to wheel it. I would love something newer (coils all around), but its a 3rd car, mortgage, kid etc first now days.

 

[BarnFab]

Coils are over rated I have them on my 80 and the 40 and the 70 still make me smile more and smiles are worth way more than coils

 

[ALX4X4]

I agree..... My 80 is nice but if push came to shove I'd back the hilux to get me out of a jam. Simple, light and nimble.

 

[Hulsty]

Recent trip pics with some mates

 

[bj70bc]

i wish we were wheeling there right now....

 

[Hulsty]

Bit of work I have had to do, replaced rear doors (I had a good spare set, same colour) and and PITA job replacing the front guard. Much bigger job than anticipated. The one I had was white, i've painted it to match, i'm not a good painter, its good enough though.

 

[Combat Wombat]

Far out what an epic thread!
I often read what others have done to their MWBs for inspiration on what I can do on my FJ73.
Your engine bay is gagging for an episode of "while I'm here, I may as well..." and then the next 3 to 6 months disappear hehe!

Is there anything you would have done differently?

 

[Hulsty]

All I would have done differently in this space is not cut the guards originally way back when. At some point I need to replace the other one too, on the long term list.

 

[Hulsty]

Nearly done, some wiring and re-fitting the flare and its good, pic too of the old guard I removed, which has about 5kg of bog in it.

 

[Hulsty]

Done

 

[Hulsty]

Couple of pictures from a recent club 4x4 trip, I have modded the rear suspension again, removed a few leaves from the rear to lower/soften in, happy with the combination.

 

[bj70bc]

looks like you used your driver side slider a few times

 

[Hulsty]

Yes and I should have put them on years earlier, the rear quarters wouldnt be so munched.

 

[MistyGoat]

Do you know what backspacing you’re running on your wheels and what size spacers if any? Looking really good

 

[Hulsty]

They are 17x8 -22 wheels, I run a 60 series rear housing and IFS hilux hubs on the stock front housing to match the width.

 

[Hulsty]

New parts are always fun, needed a relay rod joint and the new rod also solved the issue of the factory clamps being a PITA. The tie rod was also on sale from the supplier so it was a no brainer.