Project Hundy Build Thread - 2000 UZJ100 Land Cruiser

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Diesel and Dust
Location
Smithfield Utah
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No way LOL :rofl:


:cool:
 

cruiseroutfit

Cruizah!
Moderator
Vendor
Location
Sandy, Ut
It's getting to be new tire time and I'm torn on what to do. I'm hearing fantastic things about the new BFG AT's however they won't be available until starting in November and I need them before this truck heads south again for the Baja 1000. We (Canguro Racing) are going to make a second attempt at the Baja 1000 and again the Death Star will serve as a chase rig for our team. These tires 'might' make it but that is a long trip on 25% tires. So, do I roll the dice and wait or just pony up for another set of standard AT's?
 

moab_cj5

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
What's the worst that can happen if you wait? If the risk is too high, buy now. If the risk is low, wait. A guy with your connections can't get a set early?
 

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
I've been eyeballing the new KOs as well. I'm excited to hear they're coming so soon. I say roll the dice. You may have less traction, but I wouldn't be too worried about punctures or longevity. Do you have any plugs in the tires?
 

SLC97SR5

IDIesel
Location
Davis County
I'm in the same boat, well except for the Baja part.

I've been holding out for the KO2's for over a year. I would buy a new set of KO1's and sell them when you get back. If you end up getting stuck with them that is ok too as they are still a solid tire.
 

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
[video=youtube;xSePKMdqVek]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSePKMdqVek[/video]

[video=youtube;22lEnYDEIYQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22lEnYDEIYQ[/video]
 

cruiseroutfit

Cruizah!
Moderator
Vendor
Location
Sandy, Ut
I've tried some inside routes with the BFG including their racer program (we just purchased 37 Baja KR2's for our race truck) and none are thinking they will be able to ship by then. I'm going to see how they look in another month. AT KO's are just a day away if I order so I'm not in a rush there. Thanks for the thoughts!
 

Cody

Random Quote Generator
Supporting Member
Location
East Stabbington
I think it might not be best to risk it on a rig that is going to be out in BF Mexico. Same dilemma with my truck at the moment...

Hey, does the BFG Race program offer discounts for chase vehicle tires? ;)
 

cruiseroutfit

Cruizah!
Moderator
Vendor
Location
Sandy, Ut
I think it might not be best to risk it on a rig that is going to be out in BF Mexico. Same dilemma with my truck at the moment...

I'm weighing options... They still pass Safety specs, so I'm not super worried about them but then again...

Hey, does the BFG Race program offer discounts for chase vehicle tires? ;)

Yes, absolutely. Prices are amazing on big race tires, Baja's, Krawlers, etc... decent on smaller stuff BUT by the time you pay the marked up value on mount/balance, etc... I'm not sure there is much savings? We can certainly look into it. I have Race Program pricing at my fingertips.
 

cruiseroutfit

Cruizah!
Moderator
Vendor
Location
Sandy, Ut
Well, it appears the size I'm running (295/75R16) isn't even scheduled yet. So who knows if they will ever produce it?

The next closest size is 305/70R16 and I think it would work just fine BUT it isn't available until March 2015 and considering I'm worried about these tires working for the next month... they surely are not going to have me feeling comfortable on off-road trips until March.

Should I be considering other tires? I've ran my fair share of tires and I really can't think of one that has been more consistent and performing than the BFG AT, perhaps that says it all and I should just grab another set and worry about the KO2's in another two years?
 

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
Bunmer. If you love the old KOs, I'd go that route. Do you prefer them over your old maxxis tires you used to run?

A few that have piqued my interest are:
- dick cepek fun country 2
- cooper st maxx (what I'm running right now)
- toyo at2
 

cruiseroutfit

Cruizah!
Moderator
Vendor
Location
Sandy, Ut
Bunmer. If you love the old KOs, I'd go that route. Do you prefer them over your old maxxis tires you used to run?

For sure I like them better for long drives and milder uses, much quieter and they last a lot longer. I really loved the Maxxis Bighorn's and would run them again on a rig needing a true MT and something lighter. Given how they lasted on the Tacoma, I think they would wear really fast on the much, much heavier 100?

Teaaron suggested the General Grabber AT2. The AT2 is actually the only other common tire made in the 295 size, much less $$ too. I am a bit beholden to BFG not just because of my experience with them on a bunch of different rigs but they are a sponsor of ours for the Baja1000 so I feel a bit obligated there BUT in the end I want to do something that works for this rig. It's had a lot of great use in the two years these tires have been on, Mexico and all over the west... can't say the AT's ever left me wanting but I'm doubting the AT2's from General would disappoint, General makes a great tire.
 

cruiseroutfit

Cruizah!
Moderator
Vendor
Location
Sandy, Ut
Desert racing season is in full swing and the Baja 1000 race is just a few weeks away. As such I've been spending 2-3 days/nights a week wrenching on the 200 Series race car with our team (Canguro Racing) which hasn't left me much time for personal vehicle projects. I was able to enlist the help of teammate and Toyota master tech Will C. on the Doug Thorley header install and replacing the t-case front output seal. It had been weeping for quite some time and the bearing was a little loose as well. All fixed now and the headers seem to have added a bit of giddy up as well? At a minimum I won't have any exhaust leaking in the future. Along with that I went ahead and replaced the front O2 sensors on the manifolds (headers) themselves. One had a code following the install and while it didn't come back after a resent, they were 180k old and I wanted to replace them before I re-installed the skid system. While I had it back in the shop we swapped some rear brake pads and adjusted the park brake. I sure do miss the self-adjusting park brake setup.

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DT Headers installed, no more exhaust tick at startup!

On the tire front, I had made up my mind to stick with BFG. Other options came with great reviews but I have an agenda to stick with not only what has worked well for me personally, but also a company that supports our desert racing endeavors. With that said, the new KO2's in the 285 size were just becoming available here locally. I was really torn on dropping a tire size (approx. 1/2") 3to get the new model or just sticking with the tried and true 295 KO I have been running for the last two years. Price is a near wash between the two. I languished far too long over such a trivial thing BUT tires are freaking expensive and I didn't want to regret the purchase. My buddy and Canguro Racing team mate Dave C. is also re-shoing his 100 Series for Baja and was dead set on the KO2's, he called me to tell me they arrived at the local warehouse and his 5 were en route to the tire shop. I called my tire guy and there were no only 2 left in Utah, the other 3 would have to come from Grand Junction, CO with a $25/tire shipping charge if I wanted them soon. That made the decision... 295/75R16 BFG AT's got mounted yesterday.

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It didn't end there however. After mounting the tires they tried to align the truck and my rack had too much play :eek:. I had know about a little play and had ordered in a couple of OEM Toyota inner tie rod ends hoping that was the culprit. It wasn't... the rack guides were gonzo on the drivers side. They had it apart at the tire shop to inspect and quoted me 2 hours to swap a rack. I doubted the possiblity but had a new Toyota rack sent over anyways. Sure enough after a few hours battling it, they didn't even have the hoses off. They buttoned it back together in 20 minutes and I took it back up to my shop. My buddy (and old shop hand) Jake offered to come rock out some late night wrenching and by 10'oclock we had the rack swapped and R&R's a lower ball-joint with a torn boot. Both LBJ's were new 555 units but this boot appears to have been the victim of a rock or branch? Last project is to lower the motor back down and bolt the motor mounts back up, low and behold my drivers motor mount is shot, one more project to knock out before B1K. This poor girl is having a rough month. Crazy thing, it still drove like a dream albeit a tiny shimmy at 75+ mph, gotta love the robust Land Cruiser!

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Next up, the big drive down the Baja peninsula chasing a much faster 200 Series :cool:
 
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