OzTrack Custom's LC79 is the ultimate showcase vehicle

Australia has a love affair with the humble 70 Series LandCruiser. There’s just something about them that speaks to us on an almost genetic level.

Rugged and adventurous, without all the glitz and glamour that’d see them compared to a tall poppy.

They’re part of our culture, ingrained in us so deeply that it almost seems ludicrous that Burke and Wills didn’t just load up a Troopy and slip on a pair of thongs for their ill-fated adventure up through the Red Centre.

81

Combine those romanticised ideas of the old leaf sprung 70 trundling along a dirt road, with the off-kilter idle of a V8 diesel under the bonnet, and is it any wonder we collectively lost our minds over the double-cab 79? You’d be hard pressed imagining a better vehicle for Aussie conditions.

Unless of course your name is Ben Kingham, the man behind the ideas and the spanners at OzTrack Custom. Then your job would be to literally imagine a better version of a 70 Series, and set about building them for willing customers.

If Ben was a painter, we’d call this 79 his masterpiece. But what exactly has he done here to flex those creative muscles? Let’s take a closer look.

81

Tracking right

Any 79 built to the nines is going to have a shopping list as long as your arm to get the suspension working, and when it comes to making the suspension work, Ben’s 79 doesn’t leave anything on the table.

Starting from the ground up, the factory Toyota rear axle has been relegated back to the Jurassic era when it was first designed. In its place, OzTrack has slotted in a Superior Outback Tourer Diamond diff.

This not only allowed a significant GVM boost up to 4T, but also corrected the track-width issue, bumping the rear in line with the front, and afforded a strength upgrade as well. The US-built 300m RCV axles slot into OzTrack 4340m billet drive plates and trick anodised axle caps for a sleek finish.

81

It should come as no surprise that the Diamond housing also ditches the old leaf spring mounts, and instead a Superior Engineering bolt-in four-link coil conversion now holds the rear-end in place with all the usual heavy duty this, and adjustable that.

It rides four inches higher than stock and has a huge pair of 2.5-inch body remote reservoir Superior Engineering shocks to make the Cruiser ride like a Caddy. When loaded up, a pair of Airbag Man helper bags add a little spring rate, giving Ben a versatile setup.

The front-end copped a similar working over, albeit without the need for a coil or diff conversion. The factory housing has been canted back with a set of Superior Superflex radius arms, freeing up some much-needed travel and rolling the castor back into place.

81

More adjustable heavy-duty items got thrown in on the Panhard, drag link and tie rods. Matching 4-inch coils and 2.5-inch body remote reservoir shocks got the nod to balance the ride front to rear.

The Superior Engineering kit also ticked the boxes for an upgraded brake booster, extended braided brake lines, bump stop extensions and a whole host of other goodies to make it legal on a federal level, even with the fitment of 35x12.5R17 Nitto Trail Grapplers on17x9 ROH Hammers.

Like we said, a list as long as your arm!

81

Power pack

Sending the whole affair motoring down the tracks is the factory 4.5L V8 turbo-diesel, probably the most recognisable engine on the tracks, at least by exhaust note.

Ben and the rest of the crew at OzTrack Custom ensured the big oiler would have no issues sucking in guts full of fresh air thanks to the huge twin snorkel system from Fatz Fabrication.

Feeding into matching twin airboxes with K&N filters, the 1VD-FTV engine draws through a high-flowed turbo by Motovated Turbo & Mechanical, before an ECU remap by Ray Peruzzi at RPM Repairs gets the diesel firing more efficiently, resulting in more power and torque to boot.

81

The exact figures remain a mystery as it’s never been run on the dyno but judging by the aural symphony out of the 4-inch 304 grade stainless steel mandrel bent exhaust, it packs plenty of punch.

While power figures are great for bragging rights, reliability is what gets the job done, both sides of the black stump, and Ben’s Cruiser has that covered too.

A heavy-duty NPC clutch and flywheel package ensure the V8 and five-speed manual always stay connected, while a beefy bash plate up front armours up the radiator and incorporates two recovery points into the mix. A Brown Davis 180L fuel tank provides a touring range close to the magic 1000km mark.

81

Lookin’ good

If you thought the OzTrack custom team had gone to town on the Cruiser’s drivetrain then hold onto your hats when it comes to the exterior – it’s a doozy.

Before a single spanner was spun, the crew at KB Wraps coated each and every panel in a trick matte finish vinyl wrap known as Primer Grey; a full open-door job means you’ll be hard pressed to find a single clue to the Cruiser’s original colour.

The tip of the spear, so to speak, is an ATD Customs two-post bullbar. Manufactured by a combination of steel plate, huge tube and boxed-in steel posts, it not only looks a million bucks, but armours up the Cruiser’s front-end tougher than a Sherman tank.

81

Nestled inside the ’bar is the big-dog winch from Carbon Winches, their huge 15,000lb rated TANK model with enough grunt to clear the next Suez Canal blockage.

On the lighting front, this Cruiser turns night into day thanks to a set of Micks HID headlights that have replaced the factory candles. Inside the ATD bar itself, Stedi ST3K 11.5-inch light bars illuminate the track ahead, twin Stedi Type-X EVO 9-inch lights turn the power up more, and with a 40-inch Teralume light bar up on the Wedgetail roof rack Ben will have enough firepower to spark up a campfire just by flicking on the high beams.

Moving along the Cruiser’s flanks, Clearview has supplied Power Boards and tow mirrors, while more lighting includes four Stedi floodlights along the rack, and a whole bunch of Black Edition cube lighting pointing backwards.

81

Out back

If you’ve been side-eyeing that flash canopy trying to work out how to get one on your rig you’ll need to call the OzTrack Custom crew there too.

Designed and built in-house, it’s a versatile little number that pairs down to the Track Edition steel base, but with alloy components that don’t add unnecessary weight.

It’s full of trick details like the 4-inch mandrel bent headboard, under tray tool-boxes with lighting, and a hidden fuel-filler, but it’s the 1500mm long trundle draw that has us dreaming of all the camping kit we’d load it with.

81

Of course, there’s plenty of touring tidbits fitted already. The 60L poly water tank underneath feeds into a 12v pump and coiled hose.

The Redarc BCDC system keeps the Pro C12-100XLi lithium battery behind the rear seat charged up and feeds into the canopy and solar outlets built into the headboard.

Poke your head inside the pressurised side box and you’ll find an ARB twin-piston compressor plumbed into the Airbag Man setup with a quick-connect fitting primed and ready to pump those 35s back up after a hard day on the tracks.

81

Inside story

Now’s where we’ll call intermission so if you need a smoke or a drink take your chance, this roller coaster isn’t slowing down when we hit the inside.

Sling open the door and climb up into the cockpit and you’ll find one of the flashest interiors to ever grace the old faithful tractor. Both front bucket seats and the rear bench have been stripped down to their stuffing and built back up with high-end leather coverings, the orange stitching and OzTrack logos making it clear who’s who in the zoo around here.

The door cards got the same treatment, but not before Alpine R2 speakers got the nod front and rear; they’re powered by a huge 9-inch Alpine stereo in the dash giving the old-fashioned Cruiser new tech like wireless CarPlay, reverse cameras and Bluetooth connectivity.

81

Sydney-based company Department of Interior was responsible for the roof console, full-length floor console and the rear side consoles. There are also plenty of power accessories throughout while a host of Redarc gauges, GME communications, and a CelFi phone booster round out the interior package.

There’s been a noticeable shift in the 4x4 landscape over the last few years, with people wanting more of everything with every conceivable gadget and gizmo quickly finding a fanbase.

81

While you’d talk yourself hoarse trying to run through all the upgrades to this OzTrack Custom Cruiser, it’s plain to see it’s all quality gear. The right kit fitted for the right reasons with the right results.

The OzTrack Custom crew really have pieced together a professional rig that’s just at home tackling hardcore local tracks with a few mates, as it is taking on the Red Centre with the family in tow.