transfer case at the other with adapters designed and made at
Marks 4WD – along with all the hardware and gear needed to
make it work. This includes a shifter and custom-made console
that looks factory in the Toyota cabin. The transmission is
calibrated to suit the engine tune, be it standard or modified,
for more grunt. And, in the case of this tuned 1VD, it’s a perfect
match.
The 1VD-FTV engine benefits from a host of upgrades to
improve its breathing and efficiency, starting with a flash
tune to make the most of the added hardware. That hardware
includes a Safari Armax four-inch snorkel that draws air into
an airbox modified with larger openings. A fabricated four-
inch intake tube then leads to the factory turbocharger. The
pressurised charge is pushed through an Australian-made HPD
intercooler that, with its billet tanks, is pure parts porn and
improves the efficiency over the standard top-mount cooler.
Combustion gases exit through a Redback three-inch exhaust,
accompanied by a V8 sound that bellows through the bush.
The engine upgrades have been designed to make the most of
the factory turbocharger and injectors, and they deliver a 70 per
cent increase over factory performance.
DRIVE TIME
REGARDLESS of its hulking height, the Marks 4WD 79 has an
OE feel about it. Climb inside – and you do have to climb to get
in it – and the auto shifter and bespoke console have factory
feel, but turn the key and the V8 grumble lets you know there’s
more on offer. The first squeeze of the brake pedal is the next
indicator that things are not as Toyota engineered, as the pedal
is firm and positive with none of the factory sponginess.
Slip into suburban traffic and the auto feels at home. It’s
sweetly matched to the engine and gives smooth yet firm shifts
through its six ratios. A towing mode holds gears longer for
hauling, while a full manual mode lets you choose the shift
points when you want them.
On-road curves and bends pose an odd mix of 70 Series
familiarity and new-found prowess. On the one hand this 79
doesn’t pitch and roll like a stock 70, or any other six-inch-lifted
4x4, yet midway through the bend you’re reminded of the
Toyota’s slow steering, as you’re provoked to dial in more lock.
Leigh is still playing with the suspension on the car and at the
moment it rides on stock front coils, Tough Dog shocks and rear
leaves lifted just enough to level the stance.
The ride is a bit firm, but we know Leigh likes to load up his
utes with firewood at this time of year, so the carrying capacity
is retained. Lifting logs into the high tray could be an issue,
though.
The extra height of the Cruiser comes into its own when
you get off-road, so we threw it at a steep, rocky track to test
its mettle. Like the freewheeling hubs, the factory front and
rear lockers have been converted to air-actuation, so it’s simply
a matter of priming the ARB air compressor and hitting the
Hubs button on the Switch-Pro panel to put it in 4x4. It’s then a
matter of actuating the transfer lever and factory locker dial to
get everything locked and loaded – you can leave the transfer
in 4WD-High when on-road and just disconnect the front hubs
via the button.
We expect any well-set-up 4x4 with front and rear lockers
and 35s to take on this track without raising a sweat, but few
would do it with the poise and ease of the Marks 79. There’s
no lurching and pitching around on tall springs, and you’re
never worried about touching down on any of the many rocks
and boulders on the track. In fact, the diff housings and MCC
sidesteps went untouched on the few passes up and down the
hill for photography.
On forest tracks the Cruiser climbs, descends, turns and
On forest tracks the Cruiser
climbs, descends, turns and
drives with a confidence that
is unheard of in a standard vehicle
Air-actuated front and
rear lockers activated via
in-cabin Switch-Pro panel.Upgrades to 1VD-FTV donk
improve breathing and
effi ciency by about 70 per cent.The park brake drum mounts
to the transfer case.http://www.4X4australia.com.auCUSTOM MARKS 4WD TOYOTA LC7930