Toyota Obsession: 2008 Toyta FJ Cruiser

Jeff Miller, of Lake Elsinore, California, had never been off-road before he purchased his 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser brand-new in December of ’07. Now he says, “I can’t imagine my life without it. He goes on to say, “I still can’t figure out what the heck happened. If you would have told me then that I was going to take a completely good, brand-new vehicle and spend twice as much as it originally cost rebuilding it, I would’ve said you’re crazy.”

The catalyst for the buildup of his FJ was the ’08 FJ Cruiser Challenge, sponsored by the folks at All-Pro Off-Road. Held at the Hammers in Johnson Valley, California, Miller “watched in amazement” as FJs climbed Claw Hammer. “I couldn’t believe that any vehicle could make it up that trail,” he notes. “That’s how it started and became an obsession,” he adds.

The buildup was gradual. Miller says, “The first body damage was a little tough to take, but after bashing in every door and fender and breaking my taillights several times over, I have become kind of immune.” And like many of us, Miller is fixing and beefing components along the way. He says, “Lately I have found great joy in going fast in the desert. I was tracked on GPS in the whoops at 78 mph. Doing this has had its price and beckons me to continue to build this thing to handle it. My first insane attempt at hitting the whoops resulted in a broken shock mount, broken hydro-assist, and a twisted knuckle on the front axle. Yikes! After the photos were taken for this story, I hit it a little too hard again and busted a motor mount.” Has the carnage made Miller want to throw in the towel? We’ll let him answer that question: “This is the way that you find the weakness in your vehicle. You beat it until it breaks, and hopefully a time will come when it doesn’t break any more.”

Makes sense to us. And it looks as though Miller is on the right path.

»The Details
General
Owner/Hometown: Jeff Miller/Lake Elsinore, California
Vehicle/Model: 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser
Estimated value: $100,000+
Engine
Type: 4.0L V-6
Aspiration: Fuel injected, Airaid intake, Doug Thorley headers
Output, hp/torque (estimated): 269/304
Drivetrain
Transmission: Stock, Hayden cooler
Transfer Case: Atlas 3.8:1
Suspension
Front: All-Pro Off-Road three-link, Fox 2.5 14-in-travel remote-reservoir coilover shocks, Fox 2.0 4-in-travel air bumps
Rear: All-Pro Off-Road four-link, Fox 2.5 14-in-travel remote-reservoir shocks
Axles/Differentials
Front: Currie RockJock II, Currie chromoly axleshafts and stub stafts, Wilwood disc brakes, Howe Performance Ram Assist, All-Pro pitman arm, Warn Premium hubs/ARB Air Locker
Rear: Currie RockJock II, Currie chromoly axleshafts, Wilwood disc brakes/ARB Air Locker
Ring and pinion: Motive Gear 4.88:1
Wheels/Tires
Wheels: 17x8.5 Walker Evans beadlock Tires: 42x14.0/17 Super Swamper IROK

Up front, the factory IFS is long gone. Now there’s a custom, high-pinion Currie RockJock II axle sitting front and center. It’s made from ductile iron and has 3¼-inch-diameter axletubes, Ford F-450 knuckles, and a custom diff cover. Inside, it has Currie 4340 chromoly axleshafts and 35-spline stub shafts, Motive Gear 4.88:1 ring and pinion, and an ARB Air Locker. It also has Warn Premium hubs and Wilwood disc brakes with Wilwood Dynalite four-piston calipers. The axle was fitted to the FJ using an All-Pro Off-Road Solid Axle Swap Kit, which also converts the suspension to a three-link coilover system. The steering system consists of a Howe Performance Ram Assist with 2x8-inch hydraulic ram; All-Pro pitman arm; All-Pro 11⁄8-inch-diameter, 0.250-inch-wall drag link with FK chromoly spherical rod ends; and an All-Pro 1¼-inch-diameter, 0.250-inch-wall tie rod with FK spherical rod ends.
Up front, the factory IFS is long gone. Now there’s a custom, high-pinion Currie RockJock
This photo offers a clear view of many of the front suspension components. The All-Pro upper control arm is made from 1¾-inch-diameter, 0.120-inch-wall chromoly material and the lower arms are made from 1¾-inch-diameter, 0.281-inch-wall DOM material. The lower arms are fitted with Currie Johnny Joints, and the upper uses FK spherical rod ends. The coilovers are Fox 2.5 14-inch-travel remote-reservoir units, and there are also Fox 2.0 4-inch-travel bumpstops. You can also see the JE Reel-fabbed front driveshaft, which is made from 2-inch-diameter, 0.120-inch-wall 4130 chromoly tubing and uses 1350 U-joints.
This photo offers a clear view of many of the front suspension components. The All-Pro upp
Yep, that’s the original 4.0-liter V-6 engine nestled in the engine bay. It has undergone a few mods including the elimination of all the air conditioning components. An Airaid air intake helps it inhale better, and a pair of Doug Thorley headers help it exhale. Other underhood additions include an Optima RedTop battery, ARB air compressor, and Howe Performance hydraulic fluid reservoir. The engine is bolted to the stock automatic transmission, which is cooled via a Hayden cooler.
Yep, that’s the original 4.0-liter V-6 engine nestled in the engine bay. It has undergone

If you look closely, you’ll notice that the FJ’s wheelbase was extended six inches. The All-Pro suspension moves the front axle forward one inch, but Miller wanted more wheelbase, so the rear axle was moved five inches rearward. Making the big 42-inch IROK tires on Walker Evans beadlock wheels fit without hitting required radiusing the fenders and modification of the inner fenderwells. Additionally, the rear body mounts were impeding rear wheel travel, so they were relocated from the outside of the framerails to the inside to create more clearance. The exterior of the rig sports a slew of upgrades including All-Pro bumpers and rocksliders; Mad Dog Offroad diamond plate body armor; and a Warn 9.5xp winch with Master-Pull synthetic rope. And because the wheeling doesn’t end at dusk, Miller upgraded his headlamps to HID units, added a pair of Sol Tec HID floodlamps, and installed underbody LED rock lights. The truck was painted flat camo for easy touch up after trail excursions.
If you look closely, you’ll notice that the FJ’s wheelbase was extended six inches. The Al
The custom rear Currie RockJock II axle is similar to the front and sports many of the same components. It has an ARB Air Locker, Currie 35-spline chromoly axleshafts, 4.88:1 gears, and Wilwood disc brakes. It’s fed via a JE Reel driveshaft constructed from the same material as the front ‘shaft, and it has a CV joint at the transfer case and a 1350 U-joint at the axle. The rear suspension is an All-Pro four-link coilover setup. It uses Fox 2.5 14-inch-travel remote-reservoir coilover shocks, and the upper link arms are made from 1¼-inch-diameter, 0.120-inch-wall 4130 chromoly material and each end is fitted with FK spherical rod ends. The lower arms are made from 1¾-inch-diameter, 0.281-inch-wall DOM material and each end is fitted with Currie Johnny Joints. The rear axle bumpstops are standard poly fixed-mount.
The custom rear Currie RockJock II axle is similar to the front and sports many of the sam
Providing low-speed crawling ability is an Atlas 3.8 four-speed transfer case, and it’s protected from boulder damage by an All-Pro transfer case skidplate.
Providing low-speed crawling ability is an Atlas 3.8 four-speed transfer case, and it’s pr

Peering into the cargo area, you can see the custom All-Pro rollcage. The main structure is made from 1¾-inch-diameter, 0.120-inch-wall chromoly tubing, and it not only protects Miller and his passenger but also serves as the upper mount for the rear Fox coilovers as well as the shock reservoirs. Also visible is the 12-gallon Fuel Safe fuel cell. This fuel cell replaced the factory fuel tank and is fueled via 3-inch-diameter hose. It also sports Russell Performance braided steel lines. Not visible, but located in front of the fuel cell, is a 20-pound Power Tank and a pair of 2½-pound fire extinguishers.
Peering into the cargo area, you can see the custom All-Pro rollcage. The main structure i
Trail dust covers the interior and bears witness to the truck’s usage history. Interior upgrades include Corbeau Baja seats with four-point safety harnesses; Auto Meter oil, water, transmission, and fuel gauges; a Lowrance Elite-5M Baja GPS; a Cobra CB; Line-X’d tub; and a trio of custom shifters for the Atlas transfer case.
Trail dust covers the interior and bears witness to the truck’s usage history. Interior up