A short introduction about myself...
I was born and brought up in a garage, my father was with TVS for nearly 3 decades and then moved to the gulf, before retiring as the Head of Service for Toyota. As you can imagine, growing up with spanners and bush kits instead of chew toys set the tone for my life by providing me with the skills and seasoning of this glorious alternate vocation. Should my current, gainful employment at this MNC decide to head south... well you see it. I can take them apart and put them back together.... thanks to all that elbow grease with dad.
So, my dear fellow gear-heads, I purchased this neglected beauty from a friend-who-knew-a-friend-who-knew-.... last year. Safe to say, this TLC was in extreme need of TLC, with its 4.2L 6 Cylinder diesel, manual FIP (and therefore quite serviceable) direct import from Japan with original VIN plates. Come to think about it, I kinda feel bad that the guy let it go for so less. The 1HZ J80 was rough, but I immediately felt major surgery, while an overkill, would at least rest my fears of shoddy previous engine jobs. Armed with all my Toyota and Hummer experience from the middle-east and my resolute Taurean plodding, I went about my project methodically over the last several months. I am brilliantly supported by the local Toyota dealership here at Bangalore, where the vehicle is now being restored to its deserved glory... so much so that I enjoy a certain 'autonomy' when it comes to working on my car within their environment, with their SST, and their resources.
- First up, with Toyota's help I conducted the engine overhaul . Considering that these predecessors actually helped build the Qualis, Innova and Fortuner, parts in India aren't that unavailable since components can be retrofit from late models. Which is perhaps why companies like Toyota are so reliable... they reduce-reuse-recycle like none other. You just need to get in touch with Toyota and they will sort you out with OE.
- Second, its 8KO color code (midnight blue) had to go... had seen too many scrapes and patchy rework. 14 years of poor management does that. And I have a thing for pearl white (plus it would also hide the ageing panel waves better than any darker color).
- Third, I installed a 6" Iron Man lift kit, replete with the heaviest springs and foam shocks, castor plates, sway bar extensions and adjustable upper and lower control arms and front and rear pan hard bars, steering dampers... yes... the complete works.
- Fourth, I also have the complete Ironman polyurethane suspension bush kit - but surprise surprise... all of the bushes are currently in good nick. I think I will go ahead and change them out in any case.
- Fifth, I already have the double cardan drive shaft ends (OE from Koyo)... so should any vibration still creep in (despite all the control arms and castor plates), I can cut the propeller shafts and install and balance.
- Sixth, and I hate that we dont get these in India... I am looking for 33" or 36" Yokohama Geolandar AT or equivalent... typically 315/75R16.. Any help is most welcome!!
- Seventh, and I have already sourced these... ...only need to hit the buy button. Re-gearing of the differentials to 4.88 as advised for a 36-inch tyres (4.51 for 33"), so tyres first. There are several brands but my partners swear by Nitro... lets see! And when I re-gear the differentials, I will get air lockers as well - and then it's smooth sailing over the roughest weather.
- Eighth, Rear brake upgrade from drum to discs, aided by Powerstop Evolution Series drilled and slotted rotors with ceramic brake pads.
- Ninth, and this is bound to be most fun really since I now have access to a friend whose business is fabrication, and he can happily laser cut (upto 20mm thick) steel in minutes... so all I have to do is pass over to him my 3d / CAD drawings of my ARB inspired designs and voila... cut, TIG-weld, fit. But i decided to keep it light and 'executive-looking' for now when it came to the bumpers. Didn't do much with the front, and none of the rear... so there are a couple of projects I am itching to get my hands on. So maybe I'll bump this up earlier from ninth.
- Tenth, complete exhaust overhaul with 3 inch downpipes, mufflers, mandrels and the works... ...need to make another trip though (this is where heading a global function at an MNC is very useful)
- And eleventh, (on the drawing board) and this will probably push the wife over the edge, but I am planning a turbo inter-cooler kit with boost compensator from Safari the next year.
She is also completely dynamatted (pillars, floors, doors, ceiling) as well as the engine bay (firewall and hood supplemented with Dynamat Hoodliner). On cosmetics, so far, I have the NRG short hub adapter + NRG quick release + 3" deep dish steering en route. Adjustable bucket seats with four point harness are on the menu too. Of course, I have already recovered the DVD, amps and other paraphernalia, some from my Safari (which I now have sold after a 13 year relationship) and others OTS. Currently, I am awaiting some trims and plastic bits that my brother is ferrying over from the country that makes dreaming about all of this possible. Hopefully I will be able to sort her out and put her on the road this month.
So here she was... and here she is...
At the drawing board, many hours were spent trying to get it just right. While the blue looks cool in the renderings, test panels weren't all that WYSIWYG
Start of teardown
Engine Bay firewall - Dynamat + Hoodliner (after verifying from Dymanat)
Front Bumper - It is as easy as it looks... ...you technically have to get one half right.
Through my father's eyes (as Clapton sings it) - in fact, dad's advice actually made it into a sophisticated bad girl
Insides - All Dynamat
Spring is here!
My 5 year old calls this spaghetti...
Shocking!!!
Front axle
Rear axle
Just after suspension upgrade... ...what can I say about size that you all don't already know.
Awaiting the plastic bits
And here she will be.... when I complete her.
Wish me luck and some tyres too if you can help it.