Tlc: Icon

[edgear]

I just received my latest copy of 4WDTO, and was quite impressed with the article on the TLC ICON (http://www.tlcicon.com/) project. I've never owned a Land Cruiser, but if I had the money, I definitely think this would be an amazing vehicle to have. I know there is a sense of pride & accomplishment in building and modifying your own vehicle. But for those that don't have the time, tools or know-how, this looks like a good alternative method of attaining an incredibly capable offroad vehicle. For those of you Land Cruiser enthusiasts, what are your thoughts?

http://www.motorpasion.com/archivos/images/tlc-icon-01.jpg

[pskhaat]

I think he does a fantastic job at building them and most in the LC community would welcome this vehicle with open arms. I do wish the price tag was significantly lower.

[Boston Mangler]

Gorgeous Truck!

That new style ARB front bumper is ugly though! What are those big giant square holes for?

[flyingwil]

Gorgeous Truck!

That new style ARB front bumper is ugly though! What are those big giant square holes for?


I think there is a shackle option that goes in the squares:confused:

[Boston Mangler]

:confused: bizarre

[UncleChris]

HiLift jack points on an ARB bumper.

Mine has them as well.

There was an article about the icon in another magazine. No price listed, but check out the website.

I really like it!

[CLynn85]

It's listed on TLC4x4's site as starting at $88,000. If I win the lottery one day.....:smileeek:

[calamaridog]

Hmm,

If I had $80,000+ to spend on a Toyota, it wouldn't be that bastardized one...

My dream truck DOES NOT have non-Toyota parts on it:lurk:

But hey, that's just me:ylsmoke:

[ChuckB]

I agree Jonathon does awesome work! If I won the lottery I would have several trucks from them, and agree with Bryan, they would be ALL Toyota :exclaim:

[pskhaat]

The only other thing I would add is I would like to see it with the inline-5 or -6 cyl Chevy motor vs. the V6/V8 that they have in there...

[Nullifier]

What I do not get is why they did not do a shackle reverse on it. I mean for 80+k why not? Not to mention using the 4.7 liter engine instead of a chevy. I know it's because of the fact that it is a common swap but it is sacrilige lol!

[DaveInDenver]

I think they keep the shackle out front because they are using an OME suspension. A shackle reversal would lift the front and mean a more custom suspension. At least that's why I assumed. I personally thought the stock configuration also wheeled better, since the wheel is tracked into the obstacle. Although in the end, my reasoning was mostly money. I could only afford to bolt a Superlift suspension on mine...

The SBC is the easist of swaps on 40s, but I completely agree that an inline 6 or the iForce both make more sense. At $80K, doing the cheapest conversion seems, well, cheap, even if it is a crate 350. I wonder why not just do a diesel? But I suppose they built it as a demo and a built small block sounds and looks pretty cool.

[pskhaat]

The shackles on the LCs to my understanding were designed to be facing aft and fore to assist in speed steering control. As the body in a turn rolls and the outside spring and shackle compresses, the front axle moved slightly forward; the rear slightly back, the converse condition on the inside. This adds a very slight angle to the axles in the direction of turn.

Honestly, how much this helps I don't know as I know many folks with flipped shackles with perfect highway driving manner, that's just as I understand the historical suspension design on the leaf spring LCs...

[DaveInDenver]

I'd heard that explaination about leading shackles, but never gave it much thought because everyone reverses them to gain highway manors. My assumption was always that the steering theory probably is true because the reversal caused the steering to settle down because it's less reactive.

[Nullifier]

Yea I have heard the same thing about the shackles up front but on the trail it is a negative. Having the shackle in the back allows the tire and axle to come back and up, rather then just up. This makes it easier to crawl over large obstacles on the trail. And if your driving a 40 it's not for how it handles on the road right. If that were the case you'd be in a longer wheelbase rig.

Besides the hieght could be controlled by the length of shackle. The spring still has to have mounts at each end.

[clarkrw3]

I love it. But I do think the price is very hi, however, I understand they are building them for people that would pay to have a body off resto so price is inline with that. What I find more interesting is that they have talk about making a 4 door slightly stretched 40-45 in the future. Now that would be sweet. I understand the reason for the v8 was for parts and repair. I would rather have a toyota v8, if you are talking 88k what's a few more k?

[Scott Brady]

It is fun to drive :p

They are all built by hand in So. Cal, and use FJ60 springs. The motor is a ramjet 350 connected to an NV4500/Atlas.

Look for other "interesting" motor options soon.

[Solid Taco]

Gorgeous Truck!

That new style ARB front bumper is ugly though! What are those big giant square holes for?

I think it is the winch clutch access area. Thats what I have them on my tacoma ARB bumper for.

[edgear]

It is fun to drive :p
Lucky!!! So - are you going to expound upon that statement, or just leave us hanging??



Look for other "interesting" motor options soon.
I did read somewhere that they're planning on a biodiesel option in the future, with something like an estimated 40mpg. Now that would be a fun daily driver to have (but still, with a pricetag of $80k, it would take a few thousand years to make up the difference in gas savings).

[Scott Brady]

I drove the prototype a few months ago (at the same time I checked out the FJ Cruiser). The vehicle rips, with tremendous thrust. However, it is a car for an experienced driver that knows the limits of 93" WB and 350hp. Brakes are strong and handling is pretty flat and secure. Steering is evolving for the production unit. It also has great trail hardware, and would be a killer tow-behind after a motorhome, cruising the US and running all of the classic trails in style. For the tire size used, everything is WAY overbuilt, and the systems are very simple and proven.

The most important feature of the truck is great design and tightly integrated package. Everything works great, and is assembled with precision, using two person teams. Every part has been considered and painfully tested.