Toyota BJ40 (FJ40)

[octanas]

I've already built some rock crawlers but this was my 1st attempt to build a scale car. This car has been sold already but when I built it, I didn't knew if I was in to a very ambicious project, or not, but I had at it.

I always wanted to have a scale car that would look like a small version of my very 1st 4wheel drive car that I bought 15 years ago.

The objective...:
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_00.jpg

In order to build this project, I bought some parts.

Chassis:
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_01.jpg

Axels and suspension:
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_02.jpg

Bodyshell (not exactly a good replica, but it gives the general idea of the original car):
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_06.jpg

I just went through the process of locking up the differentials and flip over the steering knucles because, the "original" BJ40 had the steering links in the front of the axel.

This process (fliping the knucles) resulted in a huge steering angle :D

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_15.jpg

Resembling something like a 4 wheel drive:
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_18.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_17.jpg

I'll continue later because of image limit on the forum.

[PsycoJuana]

Ah come on what a TEASE lol

Looking great so far :)

[Moondoggie]

Oh boy! This looks like one sweet project... I am gonna have to watch this one close. Excellent teaser shots!:D

[Arcocustom]

Nice rolling chassis. I have a couple of questions, if you don't mind. What trans did you use? Where did the servo mount? Just curious.:crawlers:

[octanas]

Nice rolling chassis. I have a couple of questions, if you don't mind. What trans did you use? Where did the servo mount? Just curious.:crawlers:
Transmission
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_04.jpg

The servo is attached to the chassis in the front plate... check the 2nd pict of the 1st post and you I'll see the plate

[octanas]

Mounted the transmission and drive shafts (had to extend them)...
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_34.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_33.jpg

After mounting the transmission, I had to place it a little closer to the earth because there was some kind of "friction" due to the angles of the drive shafts.

Also placed some shock mounting points over the chassis to help lowering a little more and improvised some sort of a bumper.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_36.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_37.jpg

Body shell painted in the color of the "original one"...

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_38.jpg

In fact, after beeing painted the color was a exact match of the "original one" but, after drying it became a little "pink" depending on the angle of the ligth. The problem was that this color had to "be made" by mixing other colors because I couldn't find the exact color... I belive Tamiya has a pretty close color to the one I needed.

Also made a mistake and forgot the white part arround the headlights... but I didn't care because this was going in the right direction. Since Proline bodyshell is not an exact match of Toy BJ40, the stickers an details are a bite different from the original.

Picts of the 1.9 version with SDI Trail Doctors XL

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_40.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_44.jpg

Picts of the 2.2 version with hybrid tyres (half moab and half masher 2000)

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_46.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_47.jpg

[octanas]

Added some little details and changed the front bumper...

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_48.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_49.jpg

Could not resist the temptation of choping off some of my kids toys

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_51.jpg

I discarded the passengers because they would need a little more "choping" in order to look more "scale".

Then was time for it's 1st run and mounted some heavy 2.2 wheels (weight inside) and Losi Rock Claws. I thought it would be a bite underperformant because of the leaf springs, but I must say that I was impressed, in a good way, with the performance this car has.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_57.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_58.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_59.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_61.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_63.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_64.jpg

Since I didn't like the way it looked with the original stikers, I changed them to different locations and added some details to the bodyshell.

[Wyoming]

Very nice looking old Toyota, the chassis looks amazing.

[octanas]

Added a home made snorkel, fitted a 3 racing winch and added bit of rust... a BJ40 without rust, isn't a really BJ40 :D

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_69.jpg

Since I didn't like the looks of the 2.2 wheels, I used the sidewalls of TLT tyres and glued them to the 2.2 moabs and they looked more "proportional"... although it looked like a Artic Truck :cool:

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_71.jpg

compared to this...
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_55.jpg

And...That's all folks... had some very fun outings with this car and then I sold it... now it lives in France (hope the person who bought it, enjoy's it as much as I did).

I posted one video in the video section (http://www.tamiyacrawlers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=568) of outing with a TLT based scale crawler... the difference in behavior are obvious because the Toyota had leaf springs (front and rear) and the jeep had "regular" coil over shocks :D

P.S.:
I have more picts of this build and didn't post them all because of the image limit on every post. If you want to see some other detail, please let me know.

[Arcocustom]

Transmission
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_04.jpg

The servo is attached to the chassis in the front plate... check the 2nd pict of the 1st post and you I'll see the plate

Thanks for the reply. Looks like you tried every tire and wheel combo in the book, and then some. IMHO the Trail Doctors looked the best. The custom 2.2's with TLT rims had a cool look to them as well. Which ones did you finally decide to use?

[octanas]

Ended up using the custom tyres with TLT wheels.

With the trail doctors there was a big gap between the tyre and the bodyshell and, even under extreme articulation, the gap was still very big... the car seemed to be "floating" over the tyres. Besides that, the proline bushwacker is on 1/8 scale side, hence the 1.9 look a bit ridiculous under that bodyshell.

[Arcocustom]

Ended up using the custom tyres with TLT wheels.

With the trail doctors there was a big gap between the tyre and the bodyshell and, even under extreme articulation, the gap was still very big... the car seemed to be "floating" over the tyres. Besides that, the proline bushwacker is on 1/8 scale side, hence the 1.9 look a bit ridiculous under that bodyshell.

How hard was it making mutant 3 peice tires? I liked the tall sidewall on those. Like a 56 inch tire on a 20 inch wheel.:tinfoil3:

[octanas]

It wasn't that hard... the TLT tyres have a small groove (or lip or whatever it's called) on the sidewall, close to end of the thread pattern.

Just need to cut tyre along that groove... this is a circle with a diameter 2.2'' so it fits the "inside" of any 2.2 tyre... it may require some trimming or sanding to sit flush with the receiving tyre. Then you just need to run a thin layer of CA glue, and glue the parts together.

After gluing the "discs" on to the 2.2 tyre, it's better if you run another layer of glue on the inside of the tyre and along the bead to make sure everything is well glued.

Remember that when you do this, you need to use the standard TLT wheels because they have different diameters on both sides... it's a 1.9 on the inner side and even smaller on the outer side.

If you want to run 2.2'' tyres on 1.9'' wheels, then you need 8 TLT tyres because you are only going to use the inner sidewall of the tyre.

You also need some taller foams to fill the extra "gap" provided by the taller sidewall... but you can use any piece of foam just to fill the gap and then use the 2.2 tyre foam as usual.

[Moondoggie]

Wow! That is one amazing rig! Chassis looks great! :thumb:

[octanas]

Wow! That is one amazing rig! Chassis looks great! :thumb:

Thx... for my 1st "semi-scale" build, it turned out nicelly.
Now that I know how to build this things, my head is boiling with ideas ;)

This one crossed my mind while I was building the Toyota... using the same chassis
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Build_2/LC_24.jpg

or with a TCS chassis clone...
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Trail%20Truck/Trail_Truck_03.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h172/octanas/Rock%20Crawler/Trail%20Truck/Trail_Truck_02.jpg

[Arcocustom]

[QUOTE=octanas;5824]If you want to run 2.2'' tyres on 1.9'' wheels, then you need 8 TLT tyres because you are only going to use the inner sidewall of the tyre.
That's alot of tires gettin' cut up. I love the look though. Tall sidewalls do have their advantages. Have had ideas like this bouncing around in my head for a little while.
Nice yellow thingy. How well does it crawl?:tinfoil3:

[octanas]

It's still in the "oven"... just placed the bodyshell on top of the chassis to see if it would fit... but it needs a bite of trimming on the underside to fit the chassis perfectly (and I still have to figure it out how to disassemble the cab without breaking anything)

Don't know when or, if it will ever see the daylight.

[Arcocustom]

It's still in the "oven"... just placed the bodyshell on top of the chassis to see if it would fit... but it needs a bite of trimming on the underside to fit the chassis perfectly (and I still have to figure it out how to disassemble the cab without breaking anything)

Don't know when or, if it will ever see the daylight.

Maybe a frame like this would work.
http://www.tamiyacrawlers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=112&pictureid=789

There's this guy in New Jersey:link:http://joescustomtruckshop.com/ who makes all kinds of awesome trucks and parts. Check it out.

Also saw this today. How about tandem axles?
http://www.tamiyacrawlers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=112&pictureid=790
:rockon:

[Moondoggie]

This one crossed my mind while I was building the Toyota... using the same chassis

That would look really good on there! :first: