1966 Toyota FJ Cruiser V8 - Cross-Trainer

A factory FJ40 hardtop was... 

   

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A factory FJ40 hardtop was cut down to mimic an FJ45 top and keep the occupants warm on winter trails. The down bars on the back of the 'cage use Kartek mounts that allow removal of the top and the use of a trail rack.

The custom valving was necessary to reign in the huge 39-inch Super Swamper Iroks mounted on 17-inch Walker Evans beadlock rims. The suspension, however, was not the only system modified to address the stresses created by the large, heavy tires. A PSC hydraulic ram and high-volume pump complement the Saginaw steering box that was mounted outside the Toyota framerails. The PSC components work in conjunction with Blue Torch steering arms and a custom-fabricated, 1.25-inch, 0.120-wall 4130 drag link and 1.5-inch, 0.250-wall 1026 DOM tie rod; both are fitted with 3/4-inch FK rod ends. Braking for the rolling stock comes from the 1-ton disc brakes fitted under the 17-inch wheels. The calipers are plumbed to a Wilwood CNC dual master cylinder with custom-bent, stainless AN brake lines.

The cross-trainer theme continues with the 'cage design. The 1.75-inch, 0.120-wall 'cage is fitted with Kartek adapters to allow a variety of configurations. The rear section can be removed to allow a half-cab to be fitted for winter wheeling, and a rear storage rack is easily removable for longer forays into the backcountry. When used for high-speed romps through the desert, the doors and storage rack are left at home in favor of the removable lightbar fitted with six Lightforce 140 Lance lights to brighten the Nevada landscape. Once the tube work was completed, Maciel took the Land Cruiser to Bill Ronchetti, who laid down the '07 Toyota Yellow paint.

When you have diverse environments just outside your doorstep as well as access to a topnotch fabricator, it makes sense to take advantage of your opportunities. Maciel's Land Cruiser delivers the goods in a wide variety of terrain. And, with an iron small-block and junkyard axles, he didn't have to break the bank to get it that way.

The front tube fenders attach...        read full caption The front tube fenders attach with one hitch pin and slide into the rock rails at the rear. The fenders keep the 'Cruiser legal on the street and stop the Swampers from pitching rocks at occupants, yet they can be easily removed for rockcrawling.

The steering consists of a...        read full caption The steering consists of a PSC-prepped Saginaw steering box from a Scout with the pitman arm facing forward. An 8-inch-stroke PSC ram assists the box in turning the 1.25-inch, 0.120-wall 4130 drag link and 1.5-inch, 0.250-wall 1026 DOM tie rod. Packaging prevented the track bar from being exactly parallel to the drag link, so some mild bumpsteer is present.

SamCo Fabrication and Frank...        read full caption SamCo Fabrication and Frank Maciel have done a better job than most at combining the necessary components for making a vehicle capable in a variety of terrains.