Sunburst 40: 1972 Toyota FJ-40 Land Cruiser

1972 Toyota Fj 40 Land Cruiser Front Sand Slide Shot

The four-wheeling community is as good as it gets. No matter what age, vehicle, or type of wheeling you're into, most of your fellow four-wheel enthusiast will be eager to lend a hand or a spare part. Recently we got the opportunity to peel off out on a weeklong off-road trip with one such helpful wheeling enthusiast, Jason Redfield. Piloting his ultraclean '72 Toyota FJ-40, the Montana native helped lead our group through some of the most scenic and challenging trails just south of the Canadian border.

Since Jason knows the importance of working as a team off-road, he was always the first to offer help, and served as a virtual Swiss Army knife of 4x knowhow throughout the trip. And while Jason wasn't afraid to power up and air out his classic FJ, he managed to keep the well-built machine running clean for the entire journey.

Built with the help of the fabrication gurus at Advance Frame Works (now Throttle Down Kustoms), the retro-mod FJ-40 retains the classic lines of the '70s Toyota and is filled with neatly placed touches of modern performance. Though a quick glance at the Sunburst Orange paint job and cleanly laid tubing might make you think that this classic Cruiser is all show, we assure you this classic Cruiser is built for go!

Tech Specs
1972 Toyota FJ-40 Land Cruiser
Drivetrain
Engine: 6.0L V-8 from an '04 Chevy pickup, Howell wiring harness, Corvette exhaust manifolds
Transmission: 700R4
Transfer case: NP205
Axles: Dana 60s, ARB Air Lockers, 5.38 gears

Suspension
Springs & Such: Custom 4 1/2-inch multilink by AFW, 2 1/2-inch King coilovers in front; 4 1/2-inch Rubicon Express TJ coils in the rear; Rancho shocks
Tires & Wheels: 37x12.50 BFG Krawlers on 17x9 Trail Ready beadlocks
Steering: Custom high steer with a PSC hydraulic-assist kit
Other Stuff: 1-inch body lift, 1 3/4-inch DOM tube cage and custom bumpers by AFW, 9,000-pound Warn winch, Master Craft seats

With a 6.0L V-8 stuffed under the hood, there is no shortage of power on tap. To help make the late-model engine conversion possible, Jason used a complete Howell wiring harness to route the delicate electrical cleanly under the hood.
With a 6.0L V-8 stuffed under the hood, there is no shortage of power on tap. To help make
The interior of the Cruiser was updated with a few modern touches but still keeps much of the classic styling. In addition to a set of MasterCraft seats, Jason outfitted the FJ with an aftermarket heater to keep warm during those long Montana winter rides.
The interior of the Cruiser was updated with a few modern touches but still keeps much of
Anyone who has ever built a cage in an FJ-40 knows that floor space is limited in front. Advance Frame Works helped Jason out by bolting the cage through the dash and into the engine bay.
Anyone who has ever built a cage in an FJ-40 knows that floor space is limited in front. A

This allows him to remove the cage easily when needed and still maintain a sound safety barrier for the occupants.
This allows him to remove the cage easily when needed and still maintain a sound safety ba
Mated to the 700R4 transmission is a beefy twin-stick NP205 transfer case. At 1.96:1, the geardriven transfer case doesn't have an extremely low range, but the 5.38 axle gears and healthy V-8 give the FJ all the low-end grunt it needs.
Mated to the 700R4 transmission is a beefy twin-stick NP205 transfer case. At 1.96:1, the
Since Jason likes to put his rig through its paces, he fitted it with a high-pinion front Dana 60 that was pulled from a '78 Ford truck. Controlled by a multilink suspension and aided by a hydraulic-assist steering kit from PSC Motorsports, Jason gladly drives his rig to the trailhead and back home. No trailers needed here.
Since Jason likes to put his rig through its paces, he fitted it with a high-pinion front

Working with AFW, Jason fitted the rear of the FJ with a suspension design that borrows parts and cues from the widely supported Jeep Wrangler TJ. Netting around 5 inches of total lift, the 40-series has a balanced stance that allows it to work well in a variety of terrains.
Working with AFW, Jason fitted the rear of the FJ with a suspension design that borrows pa
While out at the Idaho Falls sand dunes Jason decided to put his suspension through a little air-based durability testing.
While out at the Idaho Falls sand dunes Jason decided to put his suspension through a litt