Under the Hood: Supercharged V8 and 19” Travel on This FJ45

When you spot a ‘72 FJ40 rotting away in someone’s driveway, most people see a lost cause. Cameron Chin from Nefarious Kustoms saw something completely different - the foundation for one of the most badass prerunner builds you’ll ever lay eyes on. This isn’t your typical restoration story where someone brings a classic back to factory specs. This is about taking a rust bucket and turning it into a long-travel monster that would make any Baja racer jealous.

The transformation started with some serious surgery. Chin literally cut the FJ40 in half and converted it into a pickup configuration, creating what’s essentially an FJ45 body style. But here’s where things get really interesting - instead of trying to rebuild the original chassis, he went completely off-script and mounted that classic Toy body onto a 2007 Tundra frame. That move alone opened up a world of possibilities that you just can’t get with the original setup.

The heart of this beast is that Tundra’s 5.7-liter V8 paired with a six speed auto. But Chin wasn’t satisfied with factory power levels, so he strapped a Magnuson supercharger on top. The blower is so massive they had to raise the hood an inch and a half just to make everything fit. When you’re talking about serious desert running, that extra power becomes essential for maintaining speed through sand washes and up steep climbs.

The suspension setup is where this build really shines. Up front, they’re running LSK’s 4WD kit designed for the Tundra platform. The beauty of using the Tundra chassis is that LSK already engineered a solution that delivers 17" of wheel travel in stock form. But since Chin had complete control over body placement, he positioned the bump stops higher and managed to squeeze out 19.25" of travel - that’s serious long-travel territory.

The rear suspension tells an even more impressive story. Those 56" trailing arms from Giant Motorsports are pulling 24" of wheel travel. Instead of using the standard bushings, Chin upgraded to 1.5" trophy truck heim joints with wobble stoppers for added strength and articulation. The whole setup could have delivered even more travel, but at some point the driveshaft starts binding and you have to know when to stop pushing the envelope.

King shocks handle damping duties throughout, with 2.5" race series units up front featuring 10" travel and 3.5" triple bypasses. The shock package alone probably costs more than most people’s entire project budget, but when you’re building something this capable, you can’t cheap out on the components that matter most.

The track width received serious attention too. This FJ is 10" wider than a stock Tundra, adding five" per side to create a 92" front track width. That extra width provides stability at speed and helps prevent the dreaded desert roll that can happen when you’re pushing hard through whoops and jumps. The wheel and tire combo consists of 17x7.5 Race Line Avenger beadlocks wrapped in 37" BFG Baja T/As - a proven combination for serious desert work.

Inside the cab, everything focuses on function over flash. PRP Podium Elite seats provide the necessary support for long desert runs, complete with seat heaters because desert nights can get surprisingly cold. The brown suede finish adds a touch of class while remaining practical for dusty conditions. A full cage built from 1.75" DOM tubing provides protection, while Crow five point harnesses keep occupants secure during aggressive driving.

The dash setup showcases modern technology with a Holley touchscreen gauge cluster that allows complete customization of the display. An S-Pod control system handles auxiliary lighting and accessories, while the factory Tundra shifter maintains the ability to manually control gear selection when needed. The NRG steering wheel features a ball-bearing disconnect hub that eliminates the slop common with splined quick-release systems.

One particularly clever addition is the Jamar cutting brake, which allows locking up one side for tight turns or those Instagram-worthy donuts. Dual batteries from Total Power ensure reliable starting and power for accessories, with a Blue Sea battery cutoff switch for safety.

The paint job deserves special mention - Snapper Rocks BMW M5 Blue with pearl metallic finish applied by in-house painter Matt Miller. The color choice perfectly complements the aggressive stance while maintaining that classic Toy aesthetic.

This FJ45 prerunner represents everything great about modern off-road building. It combines classic styling with modern reliability, serious capability with street drivability, and old-school cool with new-school technology. You can check out more of Nefarious Kustoms’ work at their website or follow along on Instagram for behind-the-scenes build content.

The finished product proves that sometimes the best approach to a classic 4x4 isn’t restoration - it’s complete reimagination. This FJ45 prerunner takes everything people love about vintage Toy trucks and amplifies it with modern performance and reliability.