I have owned this awesome vehicle since 2002, for eight years it was my wife’s car and when she finally had to get a minivan I decided that I could not part with it so I kept it for myself. Any one who knows the FJ80 agrees that they are an incredible vehicle with one downside…a lack of power. This always was a thorn in my side and after researching for a year finally decided to put a turbo system on it.
I wish I had never hesitated doing this. The turbo system woke up the engine and has made it so incredible to drive. I did not go extravagant on the boost levels and run an average of 5-8 PSI. I am surprised at the power and the fact that I don’t need to ever give the vehicle more than half throttle.
Cruising on the highway is a pleasure with the pedal barely pushed and if you don’t pay attention you’ll find yourself going well over 80. My family enjoys boating and I use the LC to tow our Malibu ski boat, it does a great job at it.
I installed air bags in the rear suspension to help with the tongue weight, I found around 10 PSI of air is just right.
After installing the turbo, I went after trying to piggyback the computer much like others have tried… I bought a AEM FIC-6 and tried in vain to get it to work but like all the others who’ve tried… it’s impossible (for me).
From the onset of the project I was concerned about A/F ratios so I installed a wide band gauge. Throughout my driving and monitoring I realized that the computer does a good job at keeping the A/F ratios safe providing the vehicle is driven smartly. I keep the boost levels low and have found that as boost increases to 3 or 4 PSI enough air is flowing through the MAF that the ECU must think it is full throttle or something. The A/F drops to 10-11 and if you want to roll into more boost at that point it is safe to do so.
Bottom line is that I have found the stock computer is doing a fantastic job and I enjoy not having any check engine lights on. I found that I don’t need any more power than what is there now and have no desire to try and install an FIC. The AEM sits in a box now.
I wanted to monitor engine temperature better so I did the temp gauge mod and it works great. I will get a temperature rise when towing the boat on a 100 degree day here in South Carolina with the AC going. I should mod the fan clutch but haven’t, I guess out of lack of need.
The turbo mod consists of emulating the Safari system. I researched the IH8MUD forums for a year and then during the next year slowly acquired parts. Then after those parts sat in boxes for at least another year I finally pulled the trigger and installed them with a friend. I installed the turbo and external waste gate with a 5 PSI spring, BOV and the MAF after the BOV. Three inch exhaust down to a 3” high flow catalytic converter. From there it is connected to the stock exhaust system, my intent was to find somebody to custom bend me an exhaust. I am partial to a quiet sounding exhaust system and have found that the stock exhaust is doing its trick and haven’t found a shop to bend me up a new system.
A Greddy Profec B controls boost. The water intercooler consists of the two heat exchangers and an electric pump to transfer the water. The front cooler fits nicely behind the grill.
The OEM air conditioning was kept during the turbo mod and continues to blow cool air on these hot South Carolina summers.
The transmission got a Transgo shift kit installed and hasn’t ever had a problem, it shifts nice and solid.
I wish I had never hesitated doing this. The turbo system woke up the engine and has made it so incredible to drive. I did not go extravagant on the boost levels and run an average of 5-8 PSI. I am surprised at the power and the fact that I don’t need to ever give the vehicle more than half throttle.
Cruising on the highway is a pleasure with the pedal barely pushed and if you don’t pay attention you’ll find yourself going well over 80. My family enjoys boating and I use the LC to tow our Malibu ski boat, it does a great job at it.
I installed air bags in the rear suspension to help with the tongue weight, I found around 10 PSI of air is just right.
After installing the turbo, I went after trying to piggyback the computer much like others have tried… I bought a AEM FIC-6 and tried in vain to get it to work but like all the others who’ve tried… it’s impossible (for me).
From the onset of the project I was concerned about A/F ratios so I installed a wide band gauge. Throughout my driving and monitoring I realized that the computer does a good job at keeping the A/F ratios safe providing the vehicle is driven smartly. I keep the boost levels low and have found that as boost increases to 3 or 4 PSI enough air is flowing through the MAF that the ECU must think it is full throttle or something. The A/F drops to 10-11 and if you want to roll into more boost at that point it is safe to do so.
Bottom line is that I have found the stock computer is doing a fantastic job and I enjoy not having any check engine lights on. I found that I don’t need any more power than what is there now and have no desire to try and install an FIC. The AEM sits in a box now.
I wanted to monitor engine temperature better so I did the temp gauge mod and it works great. I will get a temperature rise when towing the boat on a 100 degree day here in South Carolina with the AC going. I should mod the fan clutch but haven’t, I guess out of lack of need.
The turbo mod consists of emulating the Safari system. I researched the IH8MUD forums for a year and then during the next year slowly acquired parts. Then after those parts sat in boxes for at least another year I finally pulled the trigger and installed them with a friend. I installed the turbo and external waste gate with a 5 PSI spring, BOV and the MAF after the BOV. Three inch exhaust down to a 3” high flow catalytic converter. From there it is connected to the stock exhaust system, my intent was to find somebody to custom bend me an exhaust. I am partial to a quiet sounding exhaust system and have found that the stock exhaust is doing its trick and haven’t found a shop to bend me up a new system.
A Greddy Profec B controls boost. The water intercooler consists of the two heat exchangers and an electric pump to transfer the water. The front cooler fits nicely behind the grill.
The OEM air conditioning was kept during the turbo mod and continues to blow cool air on these hot South Carolina summers.
The transmission got a Transgo shift kit installed and hasn’t ever had a problem, it shifts nice and solid.
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