At last, the secret to FJ40 performance!

[Jonathan Hanson]

After years of searching for a way to increase both power and fuel economy, I've realized that the best way to do both simultaneously is to reduce the weight of the vehicle. At last, Specter has introduced a product to do just that:



http://www.sor.com/shared/image/172-100A-big.jpg


That's right: Carbon fiber dash trim for the FJ40.

I sent Specter an email asking for independent test verification of reduced quarter-mile times and increased fuel economy, but I haven't heard back yet. I'll let you all know when I do . . .

[Boston Mangler]

Now, if they come out with that for the 80, i will be in business!

:victory:

[ducktapeguy]

Thank god I found these in time. I was just about to have a set custom made, I didn't think the steel ones were gonna last much longer with all the stress they were going through.

:1888fbbd: <------random smilie added because that looks just like me on my last camping trip, except the marshmellow flies off the stick when it gets all hot and gooey and then you have to go chase a flaming marshmellow before it sets your tent on fire

[bigreen505]

Great idea. That type of dramatic weight reduction will also reduce fuel consumption. In fact you could go so far as replace all sheet metal with carbon. Of course when you hit a rock and the entire truck shatters, it is possible that the repair costs might offset the reduced fuel costs. :xxrotflma

I'm not sure why, but carbon on a FJ40 just seems so wrong on so many levels, despite the added performance possible with the dashboard kit.

[Desertdude]

I wonder if they come in Freeborn Red - the fastest color :088:

[bigreen505]

I wonder if they come in Freeborn Red - the fastest color :088:

http://www.joesbicyclepainting.com

They have a stunning clearcoat red so you can still see the weave. Make sure you have a layer of clearcoat under the translucent red so the light has a layer to reflect through before it gets to the red -- makes it look deep.

[tarbe]

That's nothin'. I hollowed out the insides of my tires and replaced the rubber with air. Now there's some weight savings!

[ChuckB]

So where are the Carbon fiber horn buttons for my 60 :littlefriend:

[mep1811]

I bet Spector sells quite a few of these kits. The guys that like chrome will go for these.

Mike El Paso
TLCA 8009

[panzer]

Now, if they come out with that for the 80, i will be in business!

:victory:

They do. Well somebody does. I have CF panels in my 80. Looks 10x better on a grey interior than the faux woodgrain that was there. Unfortunately I don't remember who I got them from. Search the web, you'll find them.

[bootzilla]

aww, man - they never make the cool stuff like that for Troopers - I want to be faster in the straights and more nimble in the corners, too!! :smiley_drive:

We gotta find someone with a G-Tech Pro to get us the numbers - I bet those things will shave a second out of the quarter mile, and 4/10ths off of 0-60!

Whatever shall I do?!?!

[david despain]

http://www.holley.com/data/Logos/NOS.jpg i think before you go to the trouble of carbon fiber you should add stickers to the windows. this one seems to have the most hp per dollar. although maybe the jl audio windshield banner would give you more useable torque. in either case they seem to make mid 90's hondas go faster.

[bigreen505]

David, you are close, but I think your observations are a little off base. The stickers only help with the aerodynamics by creating a turbulent boundary layer closer to the vehicle.

The Hondas get the power from having an exhaust pipe big enough to cram a basket ball up. :hehe:

[david despain]

so if we create a turbulent boundry layer within the fart can we could DOUBLE the hp generated by the neon lite-up windshield washer squirters? im going to invent a muffler with vortex generators on it!

[Desertdude]

from Dana on the Norcal 80's landcruiser list:

This whole deal with muffler bearings has been hashed out before, especially on the old LCML. It was determined that the BEST muffler bearings are the diesel spec. They're lubricated, so they last much longer than the older sealed kind. The older diesel-spec ones had a zerk fitting that you could grease, but it was found that at the unusually high speeds of the Center Rotating Assembly Parts (CRAP) inside the muffler, these bearings would eventually heat up the lube and seize. So Toyota devised a new approach, and on their newer diesels, they use an air bearing. Works great! This way the CRAP doesn't get all over the place anymore. I've been a satisfied customer of Kaleco for many years now, bought many products, always been happy. I gotta say their "instant delivery" system is the best in the industry. I think they pioneered it, if I recall. Simply fax over your money, and they will fax over your part, usually within 15 minutes. Hey, it's worked for me so far. gotta love technology, eh

[Jonathan Hanson]

I'm shocked - shocked - to see how you people have degenerated my serious post about Land Cruiser performance.

[DaveInDenver]

These are the best muffler bearings I know of (personally I think the OEM Aisin air bearings are junk, obviously designed by the same group who thought nylon timing chain guides were a good idea in the 22R/-E). At $50, the KaleCoAuto sealed are a steal, which IIRC are actually repackaged Nachi or NTN.

http://kalecoauto.com/images/MuffBearing.jpg

[Desertdude]

Dave - you are the king of muffler bearings...

Jonathan - how could you expect less from this knowledgeable and well traveled group