Twistys Jimny Buggy Venomous Maximus - No Longer being built, got a FJ40

[Twisty]

Well as most of you would know i picked up my new toy, a Suzuki Serria last weekend. Its going to be setup as a purpose built offroad 4x4, and for competing in Tough Tracks (formally Short Course) and the new event at LCMP the Superior All-Terrain Challage.

My mates and I had an old rally packer once called Venomous Maximus, and I've been wanting to use that name again since, so thats now the Zook's offical name.

I bought it off a mate, Steve, for the small sum of $4000. Steve has giving this thing a hard life, its driven every track at LCMP, and it shows on it. But he's put a lot of work into it so it can handle that kinda stuff with minimal damage.

Here's what I got for my $4000...
1992 Serria on a 1997 Coily Chassis
1.6 EFI Vitari Motor
Hilux Diffs front and rear, which are heavily braced.
Rancho 9000 shocks (rear are too short)
Custom 4 link front and rear (3 links with panhard rod) (1 Helm Joint at end of each control arm)
Rockhopper Series 3 Crawler gears (awesome low range!!)
ARB Airlocker in Rear Diff
Swift GTI seats
Uniden UHF
ARB Winch Bar with Warn 9000lb low mount winch
Custom roll bar and Fibreglass Hard Top (will be removing both)
Custom offset 15x8 White Wheels (will be for sale soon)
31x10.5 Bias Ply Baja Claws (also for sale soon)

And now some pics of it all.....

Picking the zook up from Maryborough....with the current suspension setup, and those bias ply claws and offset rims its not the most stable truck to drive. So we towed it the 2hr trip back to the Sunny Coast, which my V8 4Runner just ate up....towed it really well.


Back and home and after a quick wash....probably its first wash for a couple of years...


The rear flex....the shocks are way too short on the rear...but not for long...


The front flex, with more to go yet....flex's really nice!!

[Twisty]

1.6 EFI Vitari Donk


Font suspension/diff setup, not much will be done to this, except mod the upper link so the castor is adjustable. Its out a fair bit becuase of the lift at the moment.


The front suspension/diff looking from behind


The rear suspenion...and hilux diff....heavily braced....but not too good for clearance...


The rear suspension/diff from the front


Polished Alloy Snorkerl...this was wierd...so much work had gone into making a great looking snorkel...except there is no mounts on it....its held on with zip ties and a dodgy bracket near the snorkel head.


Swift GTI seats, checkerplate door trims...


I ripped the hardtop off last night....much better

[Twisty]

Fitting the 15x10 MT Classic II wheels and 33x12.5 Radial Claws off the 4Runner. Looked awesome, but the wheels woudln't turn. All my balance weights are on the inside of the wheel and they hit the calipers on the hilux diffs, the IFS calipers must be smaller.

[Twisty]

And now whats planned....

First off I need to get some stuff engineered, and then a roadworthy so it can then be registed in my name. So a lot of tidying up first is happening at the moment, and getting everything up to speed both engineering and road worthy wise.

Once it is registed in my name the real fun begins...I've hopefully bought some 15x8 beadlocked wheels with 35" radial claws to go on. So a little more lift, and a lot of guard trimming is going to be needed.

The rear diff/susp is going to be moved as far back on the chassis as possible to increase the wheel base, or maybe even a chassis extension to get some decent length out of it. The body will be cut into a ute at this stage too.

Then a full roll cage, half doors, custom guards to cover the rubber, and bits of other cool custom metal fab, which Kane from Komited Kustoms will be donating his time for.

So its going to be a totally different beast when its all done, and will have plenty of bling on it too!!!

[Nemesis]

Hehehe I remember a guy last year who told me he was over the hard 4wding :P

Again.... I'm jealous as hell!!!!

[Twisty]

[quote author=Nemesis link=board=18;threadid=9424;start=0#msg162864 date=1117688377]
Hehehe I remember a guy last year who told me he was over the hard 4wding :P
Again.... I'm jealous as hell!!!!
[/quote]

Yeah, it amazing how getting married changes your thoughts on life........gotta get this out of my system before the missus makes us save to get a house!!!

[Nemesis]

Too late for me

The 1UZ got the nod because I convinced her it will be cheaper in the long run, being able to sell a working 3VZE...

[boof]

cant wait to see the build up should look good when its finished if the 4 runner any indication on your idea of a little bling

[FJ_351]

hahaha holy shit havn't seen that bus for a while!

last time i saw it was out kruzer park...goes f@#!ing hard ay

have you had a chance to take it for a play?

well good luck with the build and hope to see you out there sometime!

[PJ.zook]

Man those tyres are almost as bald as the ones on my stato!

Nice vehicle, me wants

[Humpy]

[quote author=Twisty link=board=18;threadid=9424;start=0#msg162860 date=1117687857]
And now whats planned....

First off I need to get some stuff engineered, and then a roadworthy so it can then be registed in my name. So a lot of tidying up first is happening at the moment, and getting everything up to speed both engineering and road worthy wise.

Once it is registed in my name the real fun begins...I've hopefully bought some 15x8 beadlocked wheels with 35" radial claws to go on. So a little more lift, and a lot of guard trimming is going to be needed.

The rear diff/susp is going to be moved as far back on the chassis as possible to increase the wheel base, or maybe even a chassis extension to get some decent length out of it. The body will be cut into a ute at this stage too.

Then a full roll cage, half doors, custom guards to cover the rubber, and bits of other cool custom metal fab, which Kane from Komited Kustoms will be donating his time for.

So its going to be a totally different beast when its all done, and will have plenty of bling on it too!!!
[/quote]

I dont think you need any more lift, the longer wheelbase will help stability a lot

[Mad Cruiser]

What can i say Twisty ? I just love the name you've given the zook "Venomous Maximus" has a nice ring to it !!

You for sure got a real good buy on this, not many competition 4wds already done up like that are readily availble at that price !

I am looking forward to the changes you'll be making to it and watching you compete in future events.

I think i need to work harder, make more money and get my project comp 4wd off the ground ;D

[Soft roader]

Twisty looks bloody brilliant so far, can't wait to see the finished product if the 4 runner is anything to go buy

[Nath]

Nothing but good fun to be had in that truck Twisty. Good luck.

[smac]

that looks great already man!

all that for $4000? gee

[Twisty]

Thanks for all the comments guys.....I still can't believe the bargain I've got.....and it's still going to be a cheap truck even after I finish doing everything planned.....I just wish I could start cutting it up now....

Humpy - I think the extra lift is going to be needed to clear the 35" rubber if I want to keep some kind of guards on it. If I don't have to lift it more I wont.

As for taking it out on some tracks, I haven't yet, I'm hoping to try and get out this weekend, But its still very dodgy to drive with the coils that are in it (way too soft) So I've been waiting to get the other set of springs he's sending up.

I will be sure to get pics of its mayden vouge offroad but.

[2 BRUTAL]

AH mate your fun is just beginning trust me. these projects are never ending, it took me 2 years to get Brutal on the road and it still needs more mods. at least you have a good head start on things, looks good mate.

[Humpy]

[quote author=Twisty link=board=18;threadid=9424;start=0#msg163344 date=1117750352]
Humpy - I think the extra lift is going to be needed to clear the 35" rubber if I want to keep some kind of guards on it. If I don't have to lift it more I wont.

[/quote]

Become friends with an angle grinder and a large hammer ;D

[De-lux]

do you still need to get that roadworthy?

i'll message ya after i get mine done and let you know how it went. (or if i can do yours )

[crack]

twisty that is one little number you got yaself there love it! good work mate!