1980 TOYOTA LANDCRUISER FJ40
THE FJ40 needed a fair bit of mechanical attention before it was kitted out with accessories. ARB workshop manager Ian Bailey rebuilt the diffs, fitted ARB air lockers and rebuilt the gearbox and transfer case to make sure the oldest of the Icons would be ready to take on Australia’s Red Centre.
It should be noted that all of the accessories fitted to the FJ40 are available in-store. It’s been equipped with a full Old Man Emu suspension kit – four new leaves, shocks all ’round, bushes and U-bolts – which has lifted it up about 50mm. It also sports an ARB Deluxe bullbar, a Warn M8274-50 8000lb high-mount winch, a Safari snorkel, a set of AR32 Intensity LEDS, upgraded IPF Fatboy H4 headlight globes, and a new wiring loom.
Down the back, a Kaymar rear bar not only offers protection but also holds the sparewheel carrier, double jerry can holder and work light, while underneath a Long Ranger 87-litre auxiliary fuel tank more than doubles the standard capacity of the Landcruiser. Just as well, as it was sucking down ULP at a rate of 25.9L/100km on the relatively easy drive from Alice Springs to Mt Dare.
The ARB team made the most of the 40’s small cabin, fitting a single Outback Solutions roller drawer and finding space for accessories including an ARB twin air compressor and air tank, power outlets for the fridge and some other electrical components including a Redarc BCDC battery charger, auxiliary battery and solar set-up.
A pair of Recaro seats provided a lot more comfort, and there’s a GME UHF radio, a glovebox-mounted sound system, a heap of Redarc gauges, a remote fridge monitor and an ARB reversing camera.
Finishing off the Landcruiser 40 Series is a set of black Dynamic steel rims wearing 265/75R16 Cooper S/T Maxx tyres.