Shop Truck: 79 Series Cruiser by Pinnacle 4x4

Sometimes a 4x4 workshop completes a build for a client that makes its team incredibly proud of what they’ve achieved.

With countless hurdles and challenges over the past two years, this immaculate Cruiser is one of those special builds for the team at Pinnacle 4x4, an Australian-owned and family-run business based in Queensland.

This particular client was familiar with the venerable 79 Series, owning one previously, so choosing a vehicle was the easy part ... it just needed to be taken to a completely new level.

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Enter Pinnacle 4x4’s 2019 Toyota LandCruiser 79 Series build, aptly named ‘Why Not’ and draped in Toyota’s famous Sandy Taupe hue. The brief of the build was simple: It needed to be a comfortable full-time tourer for a family of five and their four-legged companion, and it needed to be stylish yet remain practical.

“During the early quoting and design process, there were a lot of discussions between Darren – Pinnacle 4x4's Summit Build manager – and the client,” said Stephen Cowling, owner of Pinnacle 4x4.

“We worked together to get the ball rolling on this project. Once the vehicle arrived at Pinnacle and our creative juices started to flow, direct lines of communication with the customer were happening on an almost daily basis.

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“After a few weeks of the Cruiser being here, the customer felt more than comfortable enough in handing over the reins to Pinnacle 4x4 to continue to design, modify and get creative on the build.”

Now with complete discretion, Pinnacle 4x4 paid particular attention to ensure accessories chosen for this build were best suited to both the vehicle’s and the family’s needs. This is best illustrated by the lengthy consultation process undertaken for every aspect of the build.

Take the seating, for example. Pinnacle 4x4 consulted with its own auto trimmers on a particular foam insert and pattern design, to complement the rest of the vehicle but remain comfortable and unobtrusive.

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“We trimmed the seats with Recaro fabric as well as the centre console and door cards, to give an overall fit and finish deserving of a build such as this,” Stephen added. “Multiply this design and thought process across the entire build and you start to understand the level of thought, effort and complexity involved.”

A build of this magnitude takes an enormous amount of planning and work, so it’s fraught with challenges, especially during a global pandemic.

“Co-ordinating the external suppliers so work is completed in the correct sequence, is always challenging, especially during a world pandemic where parts and lead-time are blown out from the normal,” Stephen said.

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Of the build itself, Stephen told 4X4 Australia that the biggest challenge was completing the first 300mm chassis extension with that specific tray/canopy combo (read canopy breakout), while also fitting the rear winch underneath and maintaining roof-rack height from front to back.

The build took eight months overall – three if you exclude time spent waiting for parts. But despite the issues encountered along the way – unavoidable on a job this big – the end result makes it all worthwhile.

“When you work with a bunch of talented, creative and passionate people like we have at Pinnacle 4x4, the end result is always going to be amazing,” Stephen said. “Everybody at Pinnacle 4x4 is super proud of what we have achieved with the building, innovation and attention to detail of Why Not.

WHY 'WHY NOT'?

Stephen Cowling told 4X4 Australia the 79 Series actually got the name Why Not because of the owner’s wife. “He would go to her with his and Pinnacle 4x4’s ideas for the vehicle and she would inevitably say, ‘why not’, so it seemed fitting to call this amazing Cruiser Why Not.”

SUSPENSION

Suspension tweaks include a Superior Engineering coil conversion, with four-inch coils front and rear that are colour-coded Sandy Taupe. King Shocks’ remote res 2.5-inch shocks were opted for front and rear, with a King Shocks steering dampener.

A four-inch lift was performed under a pre-rego second-stage manufacturer (SSM) compliance plate. Other improvements include a Superior Engineering rear sway bar, front swaybar extensions, and a Superior Engineering rear coil cradle welded in to place.

SOUND SYSTEM

An Alpine stereo upgrade with a hideaway amp and Type-R speakers drown out in-car comms chatter, with Cruiser Consoles door speaker pods (front and rear) and full Dynamat sound deadening (roof, doors, floor and rear wall) to create the perfect environment to listen to banging tunes. Sound deadening also reduces road noise and heat transfer.

WHEELS AND TYRES

The 17-inch King Hurricane wheels live within chunky 35-inch Mickey Thompson Baja Boss mud-terrains.

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COMMS

The client opted for a GME UHF, which sits in the roof console. It’s mated to a 2dB antenna which is colour-coded Sandy Taupe to match the vehicle’s exterior. Redarc gauges live in a pillar pod, controlling exhaust gas temps, boost and battery levels.

VEHICLE ELECTRONICS

A PVS upgraded centre switch-panel features OE-style switching, and Pinnacle 4x4 installed a custom wiring harness and an electrical panel with fusing and winch isolators. There are 12,000lb Carbon Winch winches fore and aft, with dash-mounted switch controls and Factor 55 pintles. Also fitted are an Redarc Tow-Pro and an upgraded cranking battery.

CANOPY

The Style Craft canopy houses an ARB twin compressor, 9L alloy air tank, 4WD Evo tyre-inflation system, Bushman 130L fridge, 9m retractable air reel, water tank, toolbox, Lightforce drawer lighting, touch switches throughout, ample USB and power sockets, and carpeted floors. Two 200amp/h Enerdrive lithium batteries, an Enerdrive 40+ DC Charger, Enerdrive 60amp AC Charger, Enerdrive E-Pro+ battery monitor and Redarc 2600W Inverter keep accessories alive.

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DRIVETRAIN

Pinnacle 4x4 installed a PWR intercooler fan kit to keep temps down. On the dyno at G&L Performance, it made 232hp (173kW) and 305lb (414Nm) of torque at the rear wheels thanks to an ECU remap.

To aid performance Pinnacle 4x4 installed a Fatz Performance Airbox; a Phat Bars Twin Snorkel (only one is connected); an Ultimate 9 throttle controller; a Process West catch can; and a Direction Plus Aux Fuel Filter with water alarm. Pinnacle also added its stainless-steel turbo crossover pipe; and an NPC 1300nm clutch upgrade.

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EXHAUST

A dual-exit exhaust system with the custom crossover pipe was fabricated in-house by Pinnacle 4x4; it runs from the DPF and exits behind the ATD side-steps. The twin tubes were recessed together to give a sleek look and a style which complements the rest of the vehicle build.

VEHICLE LIGHTING

The Cruiser is beaming with an assortment of lighting solutions, including two Lightforce HTX2 spotlights; six Lightforce Strikers in a Zennith light pod; six Lightforce Ultra floods on the roof for side lighting; and wheel-arch lighting.

INTERIOR

Plenty of work went in to ensuring Stephen’s client was comfortable on long off-road stints. To this end, custom seat foams were added to all pews, with Summit Series seat bolstering increasing both lumbar support and comfort levels – as does electric lumbar support in the front seats.

Stephen and the crew also retrimmed the seats and door card, to get them looking brand-new again, and Recaro fabric inserts were added to the seats, door cards and centre console. The steering wheel is a limited-edition Sandy Taupe tiller.

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Also new is a Department of the Interior full-length floor console, and a T-shaped roof console sits snugly above. The rear wall is carpeted, and ceramic window tint fends off prying eyes.

ENGINE
4.5-litre V8 turbo diesel

SUSPENSION
Four-inch lift, King Shocks remote res shocks, Superior Engineering coils and sway bar

CLUTCH
NPC 1300nm clutch upgrade

EXHAUST
Dual-exhaust system w/ custom crossover pipe

WHEELS/TYRES
17-inch Hurricane / 35-inch Mickey Thompson MTs

SPECIAL THANKS
Darren U, John M, John C Andrew C, Brendon S, Brad G, Riley L, Marib R, Jacob G, Tamara G, Lachlan M

MORE INFO
W: https://www.pinnacle4x4.com.au/
E: summitseries@pinnacle4x4.com.au
P: (07) 3808 4200