AIRAID's Product Development Manager, Keith Charvonia, recently debuted his latest project vehicle at the 2016 SEMA Show, a 1987 Toyota FJ60 Landcruiser known simply as The Trailhunter. The name ties in with Keith’s extracurricular pursuit as a photojournalist for the popular car culture site Speedhunters.com, where the build will unfold in detail.
Keith picked up the 'Cruiser as a basket case project that needed everything, “but at least I was able to drive it home and evaluate what it needed,” he says. The upside was that a lot of work had already been done; a 454 Big Block engine swap along with a TH400 transmission and NP205 transfer case were in place and running. Everything leaked though, the interior was trashed, and the 14 Bolt rear axle’s eight lugs were matched up front by a set of haphazard wheel adapters.
Instead of paint, Keith went with Aero Paint Film in a modern camo theme from Andy Blackmore Design
Searching eBay for the missing interior components, he slowly brought the Trailhunter back up to the condition it deserved. A rare, crack-free dash and low mile upholstery were sourced, then a new carpet kit was installed by a local upholsterer. When Keith learned that there was an open spot for an AIRAID feature vehicle at the 2016 SEMA Show, he decided to fast-track the build, completing a frame-on resto in less than three months.
The result is an FJ60 that appeals to the overlanding crowd; classic Toyota styling blended with the latest trends in car culture, such as the urban camo livery designed by Andy Blackmore. Keith couldn't stand the thought of destroying a new paint job on the trail, so Aero paint film was called on to install a wrap, but not just any old vinyl wrap. Aero is used in the racing industry on Formula 1 and Indy cars for its superior durability, something that will come in handy when dragging the FJ60’s body panels through tight trails and brush. With the Aero paint film installed, 4Plus front and rear bumpers were added. The front bumper holds a MileMarker 15,000 lb winch and PIAA LED light bar, while the rear swingaway bumper supports a spare tire and a pair of gas cans. Fuel wheels bring a modern yet fitting look, and Keith chose to run the newly released Nitto Trail Grappler for a tire that can handle anything off-road, but still track smoothly on the highway too.
The 454 Big Block Chevy uses an AIRAID Concept II air filter, Comp performance cam and Holley EFI
The tired 454 was freshened up with a Comp Cams valvetrain, including a mild camshaft and roller rockers. Classic M/T valve covers were installed with a Weiand Dual Plane intake manifold in between, and a new Holley Terminator EFI system now runs the old smog motor much more efficiently. Flowtech ceramic coated headers were added to the true dual exhaust, and the wiring was updated using Painless Performance products including their new Trailrocker accessory system. Dual Odyssey AGM batteries were installed so the FJ will never be stranded on the trail with a dead battery. Finally, to cool the Big Block Keith chose a heavy-duty copper radiator made by CSF.
Icon Vehicle Dynamics 2.5 shocks and SPC Jounce Shocks provide a smooth ride in the desert
Of course, Keith wanted to run the AIRAID Concept II air filter housing, which was designed by AIRAID’s in-house Product Development team. Concept II round air filter assemblies feature a lightweight aluminum lid which is curved to enhance air flow. The drop base is ideal for applications with minimal hood clearance, such as an FJ60 stuffed with a 454 Big Block! The Concept II's filter element is made using SYNTHAMAX material, a 100% synthetic, non-oiled, color fast, classic red media.
To address the mismatched eight lug rear axle, a forged six lug hub kit was sourced. This was also the perfect opportunity to convert to rear disc brakes, shedding over 100 pounds from the massive rear axle. Future plans include a shaving the bottom of the 14 bolt to improve ground clearance and a doubler kit with an NP203 range box for an extra low crawl ratio.
While the truck had already been converted to spring over axle (SOA) by the previous owner, the leaky, blown shocks left a lot to be desired. Icon Vehicle Dynamics stepped in with a full set of 2.5 piggyback reservoir shocks with twelve inches of travel front and rear. This required new shock mounts to utilize all the travel and keep the shocks tucked up tight out of harm's way. Coming from a long travel Tacoma, Keith knew this was an opportunity to make the FJ60 handle the whoops in his nearby Phoenix desert, so a full set of SPC Performance Jounce Shocks were ordered, allowing him to bottom out the suspension without cringing.
It was a work-filled couple of months leading up to SEMA, with Keith and his friends working on the truck up until the minute it went on the trailer for Vegas. Now that the hustle of SEMA is behind him, he's looking forward to hitting the trails and putting his rig to the test. Look for Trailhunter ride reports and build stories on Speedhunters.com in the future.AIRAID's Product Development Manager, Keith Charvonia, recently debuted his latest project vehicle at the 2016 SEMA Show, a 1987 Toyota FJ60 Landcruiser known simply as The Trailhunter. The name ties in with Keith’s extracurricular pursuit as a photojournalist for the popular car culture site Speedhunters.com, where the build will unfold in detail.
Keith picked up the 'Cruiser as a basket case project that needed everything, “but at least I was able to drive it home and evaluate what it needed,” he says. The upside was that a lot of work had already been done; a 454 Big Block engine swap along with a TH400 transmission and NP205 transfer case were in place and running. Everything leaked though, the interior was trashed, and the 14 Bolt rear axle’s eight lugs were matched up front by a set of haphazard wheel adapters.
Searching eBay for the missing interior components, he slowly brought the Trailhunter back up to the condition it deserved. A rare, crack-free dash and low mile upholstery were sourced, then a new carpet kit was installed by a local upholsterer. When Keith learned that there was an open spot for an AIRAID feature vehicle at the 2016 SEMA Show, he decided to fast-track the build, completing a frame-on resto in less than three months.
The result is an FJ60 that appeals to the overlanding crowd; classic Toyota styling blended with the latest trends in car culture, such as the urban camo livery designed by Andy Blackmore. Keith couldn't stand the thought of destroying a new paint job on the trail, so Aero paint film was called on to install a wrap, but not just any old vinyl wrap. Aero is used in the racing industry on Formula 1 and Indy cars for its superior durability, something that will come in handy when dragging the FJ60’s body panels through tight trails and brush. With the Aero paint film installed, 4Plus front and rear bumpers were added. The front bumper holds a MileMarker 15,000 lb winch and PIAA LED light bar, while the rear swingaway bumper supports a spare tire and a pair of gas cans. Fuel wheels bring a modern yet fitting look, and Keith chose to run the newly released Nitto Trail Grappler for a tire that can handle anything off-road, but still track smoothly on the highway too.
The tired 454 was freshened up with a Comp Cams valvetrain, including a mild camshaft and roller rockers. Classic M/T valve covers were installed with a Weiand Dual Plane intake manifold in between, and a new Holley Terminator EFI system now runs the old smog motor much more efficiently. Flowtech ceramic coated headers were added to the true dual exhaust, and the wiring was updated using Painless Performance products including their new Trailrocker accessory system. Dual Odyssey AGM batteries were installed so the FJ will never be stranded on the trail with a dead battery. Finally, to cool the Big Block Keith chose a heavy-duty copper radiator made by CSF.
Of course, Keith wanted to run the AIRAID 801-451 Concept II air filter housing, which was designed by AIRAID’s in-house Product Development team. Concept II round air filter assemblies feature a lightweight aluminum lid which is curved to enhance air flow. The drop base is ideal for applications with minimal hood clearance, such as an FJ60 stuffed with a 454 Big Block! The Concept II's filter element is made using SYNTHAMAX material, a 100% synthetic, non-oiled, color fast, classic red media.
To address the mismatched eight lug rear axle, a forged six lug hub kit was sourced. This was also the perfect opportunity to convert to rear disc brakes, shedding over 100 pounds from the massive rear axle. Future plans include a shaving the bottom of the 14 bolt to improve ground clearance and a doubler kit with an NP203 range box for an extra low crawl ratio.
While the truck had already been converted to spring over axle (SOA) by the previous owner, the leaky, blown shocks left a lot to be desired. Icon Vehicle Dynamics stepped in with a full set of 2.5 piggyback reservoir shocks with twelve inches of travel front and rear. This required new shock mounts to utilize all the travel and keep the shocks tucked up tight out of harm's way. Coming from a long travel Tacoma, Keith knew this was an opportunity to make the FJ60 handle the whoops in his nearby Phoenix desert, so a full set of SPC Performance Jounce Shocks were ordered, allowing him to bottom out the suspension without cringing.
It was a work-filled couple of months leading up to SEMA, with Keith and his friends working on the truck up until the minute it went on the trailer for Vegas. Now that the hustle of SEMA is behind him, he's looking forward to hitting the trails and putting his rig to the test. Look for Trailhunter ride reports and build stories on Speedhunters.com in the future.