Corey's 2007 FJ Cruiser Build-Up Thread

[Corey]

Thanks Todd. What orange thing? Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh Todd, the Maglite is not just a flashlight, but also a great weapon Brian, any idea where to get these LED replacement bulbs for the Maglite? I would be interested in doing that. I wonder is Lowes has them?

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[mastacox]

Originally Posted by Corey

Thanks Todd.
What orange thing? Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Todd, the Maglite is not just a flashlight, but also a great weapon

Brian, any idea where to get these LED replacement bulbs for the Maglite?
I would be interested in doing that.
I wonder is Lowes has them?

Well, I got my Maglite at Sears, they had just the replacement bulbs too. I have also seen them at REI, Wal-Mart, and a couple of other places that sell the big mag's. Pretty sweet

[Corey]

Not to rest upon Sundays small Maglite mod, I had yakked with Les Schwab Tires Saturday about the Cooper Discoverer STT tires I have been wanting.

They are unavailable right now in the USA almost in the stock size of 265x70x17 which equal 32".
He did locate a set of 4 this morning in Pennsylvania, and I had him get them shipped, they will be here in a week.

But...I changed my mind.
Les carries a tire made by Cooper for Dick Cepek called the Mountain Cat.
They are so new they are not shown on Dick Cepeks site, or on Les Schwabs site.
When you look at them, you can clearly see they are made from the same mold.
They changed the sides a bit, and a little on the tread, but you can see the mold is pretty close.
These are still actually Cooper STT tires in disguise

I got $200 for 4 of my stock tires that came on the rig.
Not bad considering I have 1,200 miles on them.

These tires are beefy!
They are actually quieter than my Wild Country TXRs I ran for the past 8 years on the 4Runner, but the tread is way more aggressive, a true mud/dirt/rock tread.

They want some feedback from me on these tires since they are so new.
They do have a low hum, and I hope that it gets louder as they break in.
I like loud tires

They also had one demo mounted to a really cool Les Schwab brand (Ultra) wheel called the Allied 891/892 in a 17x9, and they mounted it up.
I think they had that demo tire and wheel waiting for me since it fit the FJ just right
Nice wheels, and $128 each, about $75 cheaper than the AR Mohave Teflon wheels I was thinking about.

Anyways, I can not wait to get my rig off road for the Fall Colors Run coming up and test out these new bad meats.
If I like them well, I will get five of them sized at 285x70x17 and new wheels come spring to run as my spring through fall set, and the current set will become the fall through spring set.
Nice thing about having two sets is it makes them last quite a few years.
I did not opt today to replace the stock tire on the tailgate.
I will do that before winter.

PS,
I forgot to mention that they said these tires took less weight to balance them than the stock Bridgestones.
They were quite impressed and saying how good it is that they hardly took any weight at all.

[BT17R]

Great looking setup there Corey, congrats!

[Corey]

Thanks Bob, I just noticed something looking at one of my pics.
http://www.pnw4runners.com/fj/tires/2.jpg

That thread pattern on the sidewall is not a zigzaggy design like my eyes first though.
Looking at it just now, it is a DC, short for Dick Cepek

I am going to have to Google and see if I can find out any info on these tires.

[Corey]

I am happy to report that these hogs ride just as smooth as the factory Bridgestones coming into work this morning.

Nice low hum that kicks in at about 20 miles per hour, and at 60 to 65 they sound nice, but still are not as loud as my TXRs I ran on the 4Runner.

I am impressed though how smooth these run.
And they are perfectly balanced too, there was no shaking in the steering wheel or from the tires.

My local Les Schwab just had installed a new expensive balancer.
Not one of those Hawakas, just a good bubble/static balancer, or whatever they call it.

I had my 4Runner done one time at Big O tires with that Hawaka gizmo twice, and I would never do it again.
It rode rough.
Went to Les Schwab back then and had a simple bubble balance done and all was fine.

[Strap22]

Great writeup. Keep it going.

[Corey]

Thanks Phil.

And I think that balancer that Big O used was a Hunter.
I was confusing that bolt on Hawaka adaptor the 3rd gen 4Runner guy's use when they get a balance at a dealer or shop that has the unit.

I do not think the FJ needs a Hawaka either to balance them.

I still can not believe how these big lugs drive so smooth.

[Corey]

On my '91 4Runner I had made a home brewed shovel mount using the Yakima Snap Arounds, some long bolts, and some Yakima plastic wingnuts.
The shovel I had bought at Lowes hardware.

Since Yakima has the 10V Mighty Mounts that let me mount the Slee Hi-Lift mounts, I knew Yakima would have the equivalent of a mount that would let the bolt go vertically, but the mount would be horizontal.
With the bolt vertically, this would allow the same shovel I used before to be able to sit on top of the FJ Cruisers rack slats.

I called up Yakima and they were clueless.
The tech people there are trained to only tell you what fits your rack that they have in their rack guides.
The guy I spoke with said I had to use Yakima Universal Mighty Mounts, as that is all that fits.

I told him I beg to differ, but your 10V mounts fit perfectly, as that is what Slee turned me onto when I contacted him.
I told the Yakima guy I wanted a horizontal mount that had the same shape as the 10V.
He said he did not know, but I finally got it out of him that the 23H should fit.
Now was that so hard to tell me?

I ordered up a set from RackOutfitters.com and sure enough, they fit perfectly.
However my old bolts I had used on the 4Runner were a little bent, so I had to buy new ones.
The size you want is 5/16-18-4
Also since I took off two of my racks slats when installing the Hi-Lift mounts, the two slats left were to far apart to make the shovel work with its two holes that are drilled in it.
I had to add back a slat and move it in front of the most forward slat, and that worked out perfectly.

Here is a shot of just the 23H mounts on.


Here is a shot with the new bolts.
The other plastic Yakima wingnuts I had used were to small for the new bolts and the 5/16th nut that Yakima has you insert into the 23H.
Luckily I had some old 5/16th Yakima wingnuts laying around from some old Yakima thing I bought years ago.
You can also use a standard metal wingnut, but the advantage of using the Yakima ones are they are much bigger to grab onto.


And finally a few shots with the shovel in place.
One nice thing too about mounting it more forward like this is I can step up on the sliderz to get up and take the shovel off.


It turned out pretty good, and I have two of the 23H Mighty Mounts leftover that I can use for another project up on the rack.
Maybe the kitchen sink I can mount to them.

While I was up there working on the roof, I tried to finally mount my 48" Hi-Lift on the Slee mounts.
It is not going to happen.
Jack is to heavy, and I can not get close enough on the ladder to heft it up there.
Chalk it up to getting old.

I am still working with a friend on making a Hi-Lift mount for the spare tire, or I may end up getting the Demello Hi-Lift mounts for the side of the rack in the future.
Not as hard to put the rack on the side as it is trying to put it all the way up on top.

I do not see why everyone is in such a hurry to ditch the factory FJ Cruiser rack.
I like it a lot, and with a little creativeness, you can do a lot with it by fabbing up your own stuff like I did the shovel mount here.
With the two leftover 23H mounts and buying another box of four mounts (would use four mounts), I could fab up a nice jerry can mount adding back the fourth slat.

[Strap22]

Very nice. Looks good.

I just put the KayMar HiLift/Shovel holder on my BVG rack on the old 4Runner and it is great.

[04 Rocko Taco]

<idiot.....but we all had to learn somwhere...whats a jerry can?

[Corey]

Fuel can
This one is 2.5 gal
http://www.pnw4runners.com/runs/41203/14.jpg
http://www.pnw4runners.com/runs/41203/5.jpg

Not that I would run out with the new rig.
Bigger tank than the 2nd gen had, and way better gas mileage.
May just skip doing that mod altogether.

[04 Rocko Taco]

lol. Thanks. Yeah the FJ gets pretty goog mileage from what I hear. Looking good with the shovel mounts!!

[Corey]

Thanks.
It is a pretty good idea to carry along a shovel when off road.
We even used them a few years ago to help un-bury a members rigs rear tires.

I also carried an axe on the 4Runner, but not so sure if I will on this.
It is probably one of the lesser tools used, but I could be wrong, I will have think about it.

I could easily drill two holes into an axe handle like I did the shovel, and mount it right next to the shovel, or even on top of the shovel with longer bolts to go through both the shovel and axe.

[Strap22]

Corey your right, a shovel is a must an I too carry an axe. You never know if you will need it and it doesn't take up any space or weigh very much.

[Corey]

You might have just pushed me to my next mod Phil for tomorrow then
I have two extra 23H mounts, and 2 of the same bolts I used today.

However...the axe I carried on the 4Runner is pretty old, my dad had it 30 years ago.
I do not think I would drill into it.

Are you using an ash handled one, or one of the newer fiberglass handled ones?
I could drill into either.
The 5/16th holes do not really weaken it at all.
If I have to drill, then I would pick up a new axe.

[Corey]

With two leftover Yakima 23H Mighty Mounts and two of the hex bolts leftover also from the shovel mount project, I present you with my custom axe mount.

Went to Lowes and picked up a fiberglass handled True Temper 36" Premium Michigan axe, part number 118590.

Drilled two holes in the handle 21.75" apart after measuring the distance between the two bolts once they were mounted.

The axe fits neatly besides the shovel.

I am loving these Yakima Mighty Mounts.
It would be very easy to get another set and more hex bolts and mount a jerry can holder up there.
I may do that, but I would carry water instead of fuel.

[BT17R]

Corey, time to enter a car show! Simply awesome.

[Corey]

Thanks Bob.

I missed the Boeing carshow.
It should have been held sometime in August at the Renton 737 plant.
I am not sure if they even had it this year, but I am sure they did.

It would have been hard for me to enter though, since I work off site now.

It is a hell of a lotta fun moddin' this rig.
This is the nicest rig I have ever had the pleasure to own/drive.

I can not wait for the OME 3" lift, ARB bumper, and my old winch to jazz up the rig.

[WillsFJC]

[quote=Corey;997790]
It is a hell of a lotta fun moddin' this rig.
This is the nicest rig I have ever had the pleasure to own/drive.
QUOTE]
Yeah the FJ really is a great dual purpose vehicle, I love mine. I've got a few friends with stockish Yotas that I go up to Evan's creek with, you should come along some weekend Corey! The absolute worst body damage anyone has incurred on the trails we've done is a small tree scratch, that buffed out though.

[Corey]

Ahhhh, nothing like a mod on a work night to rush me, so excuse me if I type fast, gotta hit the hay in a bit.

These mounts use the circle rings that are similar to Demello's.
They have a bigger wingnut on them though.

I still have my Slee mounts up on the roof, I gave up on them since I can not heft the jack up.

I gotta tell you, putting these mounts on was a piece of cake.
I angled up the bolts that you slip the jack over so it would lean in towards the FJ Cruiser.
I can lift the jack up with ease to do this, I stood on a small step stool, will try it later without the stool, but I was in a hurry to get this mod done by tonight.

To purchase these, contact owner Luke at FourTreks Precision Off-Road Products.
Here is the direct URL to the product.

The diameter you want is 1.75", and you will see it listed in the drop down list to purchase them.

Also on the Hi-Lift is WabFabs Hi-Lift adaptor.
The Wabbit makes them in many sizes to fit various diameters of sliderz.
His device will allow you to use the Hi-Lift with your sliderz and not worry about the jack slipping off of them.
Here is the URL to WabFab.

Here are some pictures below including a break down of the parts in the first photo.

[Corey]

Not really a mod, but it goes with the Hi-Lift just as much as the Wabbit's WabFab Hi-Lift adaptor.
Look in the upper right corner of the Hi-Lift.

Just picked it up from Central 4WD.
This one is made by Daystar.
http://www.central4wd.com/inventoryd...folder%7C15387



It simply slips over the jack and handle and keeps them from rattling.
I had some Velcro strap on there before, this will be much better.

[BT17R]

Nice. It's the details that make the difference between good and great. Sounds like a motivational poster, but when it comes to off-road mods it could make the difference between getting home or getting towed.

Really looking forward to your Greenwater writeup, especially tire performance/fitment issues. Have fun!

[Corey]

Thanks Bob.
This rig truly motivates the crap out of me
I have never ever been so excited about a rig before such as the FJ Cruiser.

It took me a whole lot longer to mod the 4Runner than it did this.
This rig is almost done.

All I have left to do is the ARB bumper, OME 3" lift, and my old Warn XD9000 winch.
That should all happen over the next few weeks.

Then the stereo upgrade with an Alpine W200 head unit, better speakers, and possibly a good amp and put the 15" sub back in.
May decide against the sub.
Getting older here, and the bass right now from the 6x9s in the door (as cheap as the factory speakers are) does not sound to bad.

Looking forward to tomorrows maiden voyage of my new rig.
Will not be beating it for sure, I never beat the 4Runner.
I respect my rigs, and they end up giving me a lot of life back.

Hope to have some good pictures for you of everyone out there.

[20Montana]

Corey, are you going to do the install on your OME Lift, or have a shop do it?
Have you checked prices from any shops on doing it? I am trying to decide whether I can do this myself.