1972 Toyota FJ45: Tundra DNA, 550 HP, Long-Travel, Back-Halved, Heavenly.

This may be one of the most unique 1972 Toyota FJ45s in existence. Built by Cameron Chin at Nefarious Kustoms, it blends the classic Toyota FJ look with Toyota Tundra DNA and adds custom back-halved fabrication for good measure.

Built By Nefarious Kustoms

The first time we met Cameron was at an off-road event in La Grange, Texas, back in 2003. He was driving a 1993 Ford Bronco on 36-inch Interco Super Swamper TSLs. At the time, he was a student at the University of Texas and one of the architects of the Longhorn Off-Road Club. Fast forward a couple of decades and tack on a few extra years, and today he owns Nefarious Kustoms, with facilities in Houston, Texas, and Las Vegas, Nevada. The company has built a reputation for crafting serious off-road and custom vehicles.

Part FJ 45, Part Tundra, Lots Of Custom Fabrication

The foundation for this build is a 2007 Toyota Tundra sourced from Facebook Marketplace. Well, part of the foundation, anyway. The Tundra’s chassis was cut just aft of the B-pillars, and a custom back-half chassis was designed and fabricated to complete the structure. Onto those underpinnings, Cameron installed modified Toyota body panels. As you might expect, that’s the simplified version of the build, and a tremendous amount of work went into turning this rig into a functioning machine.

Supercharged 5.7-Liter V8

The Tundra’s 5.7-liter i-Force V8 remains in place, but it now produces an estimated 550 horsepower. That’s a healthy jump over the stock 381 horsepower, thanks largely to a Magnuson supercharger kit. The engine breathes through a UMP intake and is cooled by a rear-mounted 31×19-inch crossflow radiator with dual electric fans. Exhaust exits through long-tube headers, Magnaflow mufflers, and handmade exhaust tips. Fuel comes from a 32-gallon JAZ Products fuel cell and is delivered by a pair of Bosch 044 fuel pumps. A pair of rear-mounted Total Power batteries supply the electrical current.

Power flows through a Toyota AB60F six-speed automatic transmission that is cooled by a Derale cooler. Bolted behind it is a Tundra Aisin JF1A part-time two-speed transfer case.

Long-Travel Suspension

The front Tundra suspension has been reworked with an LSK Suspension long-travel Race Kit that widens the track. It features King Race Series 2.5 remote-reservoir coilovers with Swift Springs USA coils and 3.5 triple-bypass shocks. Cameron says the suspension is strapped and bumped with King air bumps at 19.25 inches of travel.

Out back is a triangulated four-link suspension with Giant Motorsports trailing arms, King Race Series 2.5 remote-reservoir coilovers with Swift coils, and King 3.0 quadruple-bypass shocks with piggyback reservoirs. Like the front, the rear uses King air bumps and limit straps. Rear travel measures an impressive 24 inches.

4.88s And Upgraded Brakes

Up front is a Tundra differential. Out back is a limited-slip-equipped Tundra axle that has been significantly reworked. Both ends run 4.88:1 Nitro gears. Each axle is also upgraded with PowerStop brake pads and slotted and drilled rotors.

The truck rolls on 37×12.50R17LT BFGoodrich Baja T/A KR tires wrapped around 8.5-inch-wide Raceline Avenger beadlock wheels.

Custom Cab, Datsun Bedsides

Topping off the Toyota’s serious mechanicals is a custom FJ45 pickup cab with a four-inch extension that’s fabbed from a donor FJ40 wagon. The rig’s bedsides come from a vintage Datsun pickup. Other exterior features include a Campbell Enterprises hood, LED headlights, and BMW Snapper Rocks Blue Metallic paint.

Custom Interior

Inside, the cabin is packed with custom touches. Highlights include a Fiberwerx dash, heated PRP Podium seats, and a 4×4 sPOD Source power management system. There are also Crow five-point harnesses and a Holley EFI touchscreen display. The steering setup includes a tilt column modified to work with an NRG Innovations quick-release hub and a Max Papis Innovations steering wheel.

The Bottom Line

It’s a carefully executed mix of old-school Toyota character and modern off-road engineering that actually works in the dirt.

Photos: Nefarious Kustoms