Land Cruiser TLC ICON Baja 1000 edition

[DaveInDenver]

They are not a resto it is a replica. Its new stem to stern.

Yup, the only thing reused is a Toyota frame. TLC uses 1974 and older frames so that they are 50 state legal and getting smog tested and titled is easy. Whether or not you like their component choices, they do nice work. TLC will do any sort of build and while the LS6 is one engine, they do offer the International HS 2.8L diesel as an option.

Whether or not $85K+ is worth it, that's up to the person who has that kind of money. I drive an old 4 cylinder Hilux because I can't see spending 80 or 100 series Cruiser kind of money on a truck, so it's all relative. If it came down to a brand new UZJ130 or complete frame-off and built ICON, it would be a tough choice.

 

[pete.wilson]

Hey

All in good fun; no harm intended. I have to admit Bman's TOY pic absolutely rocks; I would love to know more about what went into that build, even the graphics are cool. That looks like money well spent!

 

[ntsqd]

I've seen the std TLC product at the Off Road Expo in Pomona and I must say that I am impressed with it! Fit & finish looked OE. Which anyone in mfg can tell you isn't easy to do. I'm sure it was polished a bit for the show, but even still if it's a turkey can't polish it that much.

I don't really care what engine they put in it as I do not see it as a Toyota product, but rather a semi-custom built vehicle. Having worked on one vehicle that got an LS1 put in it, and then having driven that vehicle I can't think of a better gasser option. Only issue I'd have with that choice is that it's OBD II, and in CA that's a can of worms (BT,DT). The IH diesel option is new to me. More diesel engine research required.........

 

[BMAN]

Hey

All in good fun; no harm intended. I have to admit Bman's TOY pic absolutely rocks; I would love to know more about what went into that build, even the graphics are cool. That looks like money well spent!

The rig belongs to Don Campbell, father of famed rock racer/ rock crawler Shannon Campbell. It was built by Campbell Enterprises in Gilbert, Az.

More info here: http://www.campbellent.com

This thing is SICK. It's the truck i've been dreaming up in my head for years but can't afford to build.

 

[mountainpete]

Thanks guys and gals :wings:

 

[tacollie]

I hate Chevy more than most, however we did a 350 and tranny conversion in my brothers fj40 and it was the best thing we ever did. He got better gas milage, more power, and could drive 75. I am debating wether to do one in my 55. If I pay $145k for a truck it won't have a 350. My $400 fj55 my get a 350. I think that is the true issue with the ICON. For that price I want more. Even so, I think they are hot.

 

[Bruce Behnfeldt]

**EDIT**

Damnit Bruce! You ruined my fun. I guess that's what I get for watching the videos of the Wildcat instead of posting.

have you seen the top gear episode......

 

[DaveInDenver]

I hate Chevy more than most, however we did a 350 and tranny conversion in my brothers fj40 and it was the best thing we ever did. He got better gas milage, more power, and could drive 75. I am debating wether to do one in my 55. If I pay $145k for a truck it won't have a 350. My $400 fj55 my get a 350. I think that is the true issue with the ICON. For that price I want more. Even so, I think they are hot.

In my old FJ40 I was at the point of choosing to rebuild the 2F or go SBC. I'd driven a couple of FJ40s with V8 conversions and it I'm not sure I liked the way they drove off road. Mostly I think it's that the weight balance of the truck is changed. But I didn't have very much seat time and it could certainly be a matter of modifying my techniques.

I completely agree, for $80~$150K, nothing short of an LS7... Yeah, 7.0L, 505 hp, 470 ft-lbf, 7000 rpm redline.

View attachment 11090

 

[tacollie]

I totally agree about the weight distrubution of v8 Conversions. It took us a long time to get the suspension right in my bro's 40 before it drove right, but after that it was sick. There is a lot to be said about a well built 2f. I am now leaning toward it in my 55.

 

[ntsqd]

I've wanted to do a 7M-GE in one of the FJ wagons for several years. For a non hard core crawler that seems like a decent non-stock yet still Toyota power plant.

 

[BMAN]

Bruce,

Yes! The TopGear segment for the Wildcat and the 5thGear segment about the Nemesis are both on Youtube and get plenty of airtime at my office. The trucks are both super cool and chock full of power.

Tacollie,

I just put a TBI 350/700r4 combo in my FJ60 and so far am LOVING it. The first tank of fuel netted me 15MPG which I'm stoked on because I was shooting for 12-15 range anyway. Once everything is borken in I should get improved mileage. I will however be adding a whole bunch of weight to the truck with drawers and accessories but I fully expect to continue seeing mileage in my target range. Some people are purists though and just can't be convinced. I say do it. But that's just my opinion.

Dave,

A 350 weighs about 200lbs less than an F motor. A fully dressed smog version of a 2F weighs 780 lbs where a Fully dressed 350 weighs right in the neighborhood of 550lbs. That kind of weight difference will make for completely different handling characteristics. But what's the real benefit of your rig loosing that much weight? A question you need to ask yourself.

 

[DaveInDenver]

A 350 weighs about 200lbs less than an F motor. A fully dressed smog version of a 2F weighs 780 lbs where a Fully dressed 350 weighs right in the neighborhood of 550lbs. That kind of weight difference will make for completely different handling characteristics. But what's the real benefit of your rig loosing that much weight? A question you need to ask yourself.

Well for me it just felt different. I only owned the FJ40 for a couple of years and was tired of always working on it, so I sold it. Thus I only got used to the stock kinda handling, chugging along at 600 RPM. The SBC was different and I completely could understand suspension tuning would take some time. But I also thought the short wheel base and power of the engine had something to do with it, not just shaving a couple of hundred pounds off the front. The FJ40 was pretty well 50/50 FR/RR with the 2F, which was cool. Like I say, just different, good or bad is definitely left to the individual.

 

[pete.wilson]

Hey

B-man,
I checked out that site on that FJ40 and all I can say is "AWESOME", thats got to be one of the best look custom jobs I've seen, even for a Jeeper like me. I wonder how much that would cost? By the way, did you notice their phone number? LOL

 

[BMAN]

Yes I had noticed the #. Most of Shannon's work has always been Jeep based vehicles. Hence the number. And in all reality I'd hardly call the FJ48 a Toyota, but that's what it resembles most so there ya go. I have no idea what that rig would cost but based on the prices of the other rigs on their for sale page i have to guess that you'd be under $100k. Hell, even at $100k it's a better buy than the regular ICON with an $80k price tag. But that's just my opinion.

 

[Grim Reaper]

I've wanted to do a 7M-GE in one of the FJ wagons for several years. For a non hard core crawler that seems like a decent non-stock yet still Toyota power plant.

As a owner of a Supra....I would never want a 7M-GE or GTE in a truck. The engine is designed for upper end and just doesn't have a torque curve conducive to a truck. They also don't seem to like Olinging off camber. They also are pretty prone to popping head gaskets.

4rnrick on Pirate has a very detailed post on the conversion and the outcome. After pooping 2 motors he scrapped the whole truck and started over with a 2.7 replacing a 22RET in the next truck. He also has a good write up and Marlins Son has a awsome 2.7 conversion write up at www.marlincrawler.com

If I were to use a larger toy Plant in a project I would go with the 3.4 or the V8.

Honestly I would probably go with a 350 Ram Jet Chevy with a NV4500 and a Atlas...Just like TLC. I know its not all Toyota but bang for buck and durability is pretty high. Weight wise it is probably a lighter combo then the 2F and stock Toy crusier 4 speed.