Expedition I
Expedition I is a highly modified 1985 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ-60. This is truly a "go anywhere" vehicle. Well-suited for extreme off-road conditions, this vehicle has logged thousands of miles off-pavement from Slickrock and Tundra to mud and snow.
As a platform I chose a clean stock wagon and began a complete tear down of the vehicle. I built the thing up in stages as time and money permitted. The only current drawback to this vehicle is poor fuel economy and somewhat unruly manners on the highway. Hence, the inspiration for Expedition II, its subtle step-sister. When considering the journey to Central America, Expedition II became the obvious choice because XI has become such a high-profile and high dollar vehicle.
Tech Stuff:
The motor is a high out-put Chevy 350. This is a factory 330 horsepower crate motor with an aluminum radiator and GM accessories, including AC. This is mated to an NV-4500 transmission that was salvaged from a tow-truck. It features low-ratio gearing. The transfer case was moved back about four inches and I had the drivelines remachined.
The axels are stock FJ-60 axels and hubs. ARB airlockers are featured front and rear and the pumpkins are filled with 5.29 gears. The suspension is custom, mixing Alcon springs, a shackle reversal, and a 4 Plus running gear. This allows me to turn the 35" GoodYear MT/Rs and it has massive articulation. On my last trip to Moab, it flexed 1130 on the ramp, with the sway bars connected. When I disconnected the sway bar, a tire came up through the fender and thus, I decided just to leave them hooked up. I went with the ARB Bull bar and warn winch. Never used it, but glad it's there.
I have onboard air- CB, CD, GPS, all the goodies! In the back is a custom tool box, where i carry a spare EVERYTHING (including birfields.) I have an airtank, grill, coolers, etc.
Expedition II
In lieu of all the modifications to my 1985 Land Crusier, the need for a second land crusier came to light and hence the birth of Expedition II. The goal was to build something durable, low-profile and reliable. What could better fit the bill than a 1990 FJ-62? I looked long and hard for a good BJ-60, but they are hard to come by and most have over 300,000 miles on them. I found X2 locally. She was totally stock and had less than 100,000 miles. The A/C blows cold and she gets a little over 16mpg. Perfect. I started with the intention of replacing all the worn parts I could find, but the vehicle was so well maintained that instead I opted for a good supply of spare parts in the boot. X2 was emerging as the obvious choice to do the Pam-American in, as she was set-up for long hauls down the highway and I suspected was very reliable. So, I added a couple of leafs to the rear supsension, which leveled her out. Up front I put an ARB bulbar and an 8,000 pour Warn winch. Inside she already had a disc-changer, which was going to help me keep moving on th interestate. On the roof, I installed a Hannibal Roof Rack, Hannibal Tent, Jerry Cans, Propane and a High-Lift Jack. With a couple of kicks to the tire, she was ready to go.
Here's what I carry in the truck:
A full SAE and metric tool kit. This includes screwdrivers, hammers, vise grips- all the essentials. I carry repair stuff such as Goop, hose clamps, tire plugs, duct tape, electrical connectors, fuses, wire, epoxy, loctite, shop manuals, etc. People often ask me what spare parts I carry and the list includes these: antifreeze, oil, washer fluid, gear oil, ATF fluid, brake fluid, and power steering fluid. I carry oild, fuel and air filters. Spark plugs, wire, cap, rotor belts and hoses. I have a few pump and a voltage regulator. An alternator rebuild kit. U-joints, birfields and bearing. Pinion seals. Thermostat and starter. Lugnuts. Brake MC rebuilt kit and a gasket kit. I also carry fuel caps, an oil cap and extra headlights and wiper blades. I carry a powertruck for filling tires and a patch kit. I bring along for my safety, a high-lift jack, shovel, axe, and recovery kit- including snatch block. Tire chains made the cut, along with gloves, first aid, and a fire exstinguisher. Hopefully, someone else will find this helpful.
If you want to talk cruisers or have any questions for our own build-up drop me a line!