Just Differentials Project "Inigo" 87 bj73 Landcruiser LHD, from Spain
 

Well the 10+ year quest for a clean, rust free, removable top, mid wheelbase, Left hand drive, 70 series landcruiser has finally yielded us this fine beauty. With the help of Landcruiser 70 guru, Hugh of Safari LTD, we have the unicorn vehiclethrough JDMLandcruisers.com to start this long awaited project. Spain must be a great place to live if you are a BJ73, as this there is no rust, and even the original paint is in good shape. The "Mi Toyota Es Fantastico" decal on the rear window is the only modification so far, and it will stay! Our latest addition to the our "familia" of land cruisers will be named "Inigo" Montoya. For those that haven't seen princess bride

Stock vehicle specs:
1987 Toyota Land Cruiser BJ73 LX: Silver with white FRP top, original 80's multicolor decals, 3b diesel, full float Lsd rear axle, 5 spped mt, 24 volt, "Mi Toyota Es Fantastico" decal

Planned upgrades will be a multi purpose offroader and daily driver. Big tires, more power, etc, retaining and/or improving drive ability.

Planned upgrades:
-servicing of basic maintenance items, injectors, etc.
-Turbocharger for more power.
-Coilover front suspension via 3 link and panhard.
-Coilover rear suspension w 4 link
-80 series full float disc brake rear axle with Nitro custom 32 spline chromoly axles, 100 series type 4.88 Ring & Pinion, solid spacer, air actuated locker
- 80 series width hybrid 9.5" front axle Nitro 80 series chromoly birfield kit and custom 32 spline axles, Aisin hubs with chromoly hub gears, nitro 100 series type 4.88 Ring & Pinion set, solid spacer, air actuated locker
- upgraded crossdrilled cryo'd rotors
-37" tires on beadlock wheels
-3" lift height, custom fender work
- bumpers, sliders, winch
- HID headlight conversion, Rigid overhead light bar & duallys
- ARB twin compressor, air tank, 24v to 12v converter for stereo and aux

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Well, got the turbo kit ordered today, as well as a bunch of maintenence items. Also installed an ARB CKMTA12 24 Volt Twin 100% Duty Cycle compressor.

The turbo kit we used was this one:
http://jeffersonstatemachining.com/P...s_Services.php

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The kit was sourced from Keith at Jefferson State Machining, he was quite knowledgable, and quick to return my call, and is in the USA. Price is good too, but I told him he should raise his price:

Products/Services

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The kit was very nice and features:
-Garret GT Series Turbo
-Oil feed line w/ direct fitting, return line w/ weld in bung for oilpan
-13bt type reproduction Exhaust Manifold, gaskets
-Turbo to Manifold adapter plate.

Not included:
-12" piece of 2" exhaust
-3 bolt flange w/ flare to attach downpipe
-Exhaust
-Depending on your air cleaner tube, you may need to source a 2" 45 degree silicone connecter, and a 2.75-2.0" reducer and another roughly 12" chunk of 2" tube.

Install is pretty straight forward.
Before starting the job:
-check your oil filter, if it points up you will need a new adapter. Ours did, so we sourced the appropriate parts from Steven at EBI Cruisers in BC.
-I'd also suggest picking up a 2' chunk of 2" stainless exhaust pipe to use for the turbo-intake and the air cleaner-turbo
-I'd suggest bringing the turbo to an exhaust shop to have them fab a 3 bolt flared flange with a 90 deg bend and about a 16" downpipe so you can at least drive it to the exhaust shop when finished.

If you do these few things before hand, its no problem to do the job in 1 day.

Results were great. Turned up the fuel about 1/2 turn to stay on the safe side before gauges are in. I then drove about 150 miles accross the state to bring the vehicle to our good freind Luke at Hazzard Fabworks in Spokane,WA for some suspension & cage work. Luke has loads of experience with many high end, high profile vehicle builds and was the official fabricator of the 2012 Petersen's Ultimate Adventure.

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Axles are out, hangers removed, frame prepped for link bracketry. Luke having fun with a bit of tire mockup

Thinking the 37's look better than the 40's.

Photo gallery here:
Nitro Gear Land Cruiser bj73 from Spain "Inigo" | Facebook

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80 Series rear axle housing stripped of factory brackets, getting ready for double triangulated 4 link and 12" coilovers in the rear. Lot of work cutting the brackets off, thanks Tacklebox!

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Some Sliders, and a nice start on the front bumper (note, stinger will be smaller.

Next up Warn XD9000 24 volt winch, Custom roll Cage!

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Wow very impressive. Looks pretty kicka$$ the way it is. Was the snorkel factory?? Whats something like that worth or IF you could find another one what does something like that go for?? Very impressive build so far!!

Big thanks to RuffStuff Specialties for getting the axle housing built for us under our tight deadline.

We really didn't want to use the 8" front on this project, so we cut the knuckle balls off to use on the new 9.5" Ruff stuff housing. The housing will except our off the shelf chromoly LC 80 axle kit. We will be using our new 32 spline chromoly Birfield kit and a 100 series style 3rd member and gears

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We have made a jig, and can offer these complete turnkey, as of now will also require a core 80 frontend for the knuckle balls etc, we can provide.

Parts list and price (today):

NPHTLC95HOS CUSTOM HD TOYOTA LC 9.5" AXLE HOUSING, NO BRACKETS OR ENDS, MUST SPECIFY LH, RH, OR CENTER DIFF, 3.5" TUBES $800

JTOTLC80-KNUCKLES FJ80 HI-STEER KIT WITH KNUCKLES, ARMS & BUNGS $900

AXTBIRF-FJ80KIT-32 NITRO HIGH STRENGTH CHROMOLY BIRFIELD AND AXLE KIT WITH CUSTOM 32 SPLINE INNERS $1099

TLC100-488-NG 98+ STYLE LANDCRUISER 4.88 RING & PINION, 29 SPLINE $449

YOKT35100-MULTI 29 SPLINE FLANGE $55

ARBRD152 98+ LC 9.5" REAR LOCKER, 32 SPLINE $996

MK TLC-B 91+ LANDCRUISER 9.5 MASTER KIT W/ KOYO $192

SK CSTLC-90+ LC 9.5 SOLID PRELOAD SPACER KIT

KNCLKIT-FJ80 LC 80 KNUCKLE REBUILD KIT $140

AK TOY-FRONT X2 FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS & SEALS $40 EA

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Turns out the Synergy rear Jeep JK bumper was close in width, so we modified it a bit. Turned out to be more work than expected as we had to move the pivot and latch and widen the carrier. Next up is doing the links and axles & some Icon Vehicle Dynamics 2.5"x12" travel remote reservoir coilovers with compression adjusters. Hoping to have it done in time for a shakedown at Cruise Moab.

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Luke has also been making some progress on the rear axle truss:

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Getting the rear links in place:

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Here's the latest rendering. Even pasted in the Hutchinson Rockmonster's I'm thinking larger logo on doors instead, but otherwise looks good. The idea is to match the RV tow vehicle and the mountains will help cover the minor paint issues left from removing the OEM gold and orange graphics. What do you think?

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Hutchinson Rockmonster Beadlocks. 3 link w/ panhard & Hellfire knuckles / arms w OEM 80 series tie rod ends

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Landcruiser BJ73 Top off and building Cage.
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More of the suspension being designed and built by Hazzard Fabworx

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Might as well do a fuel tank and oil pan skid plate. While we are at it lets do the 2006 Grill and turn signal lenses.
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Wow you guys must be bankin $$$$ to bulid a rig like this. very nice.

Icon Vehicle Dynamics 2.5" x 12" travel Remote Reservoir Coilovers with compression adjusters - IN had to notch rear frame and wheel wells to outboard the coilovers.

-PSC Hydro assist installed, all new brake lines run

-Frame, skids, Links and axles painted

-Dual Oddyssey group 65 batteries

-lots lots more

-Cage is at powdercoat

Coming along nicely, it's pretty much a driver. Should be taking first spin soon!

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Looking naked with no top, cabrio hoop or cage
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Skid plate and Viair tank

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Getting picked up from Hazzard Fabworx:

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Flexes pretty good!
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Installed the Advance Adapters Transfer case gear kit. These feature a .9 underdrive in high range and 4:1 in low range. Combined with the 4.30 Ring & Pinion ratio, it runs very nicely on the highway.

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Carl has been finishing up some more details on the rig and taking a bunch more pics in the process:

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Hellfire knuckles:

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Icon shocks:

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80 series rear housing:

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Nitro Gear & Axle top secret 32 spline pinion 4.30 ratio landcruiser 9.5" gears, utilizing the 98+ type 32 spline ARB USA (ARB Air Locker). Big stuff, and all toyota:

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Painted up the RuffStuff housing:

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Time to do some last minute local shakedown. Then drive across the state to load it on a trailer to go to Ultimate Adventure.

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amazing work

.....

Love it. Read the whole article. How do you like the smaller wheel base for climbs and in the bigger rocks?

More pics and update Nitro Gear BJ73 Landcruiser "Inigo"
 

Some pics from Ultimate Adventure:

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Towing in style:

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Check out the Winter 2013 Issue of 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine's 4x4 Garage for coverage of "Inigo."

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Since installing the PSC Hydro Assist Ram, the steering has been a bit slow when counter steering. We picked up a High volume pump, and Aluminum Reservoir from PSC. The pump was made for the 22r, and to our surprise fit pretty well in the stock location after cutting and redrilling/tapping the OEM PS bracket. Results are amazing. No delay when countersteering, very strong. Excellent road manner.

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More pics before the top went back on.

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Little to our surprise Project "Inigo" BJ73 was said to be "easily the most exotic vehicle on the trip" in Petersen's 4-Wheel & Offroad Magazine for 2013 Ultimate Adventure Coverage.

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Some More pics of the BJ73:

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