What began life as a mild-mannered family SUV gasser has evolved into something entirely different. Austin St. One’s 1995 Toyota Land Cruiser now packs legendary Cummins turbodiesel power, 1-ton axles, 42-inch tires, and suspension travel to spare. It is the kind of build that blurs the line between diesel truck and hardcore trail rig.
When Austin purchased the Land Cruiser in 2023, it was a completely stock vehicle with 220,000 miles on the odometer. The original plan was simple enough. Use it as a daily driver, make a few practical upgrades, and enjoy it. But like many vehicle projects, things escalated quickly. Before long, the plasma cutter was out, major fabrication was underway, and the build was heading toward a radically different destination.
Reviving A Forgotten 12-Valve Cummins
At the heart of the Land Cruiser sits a 6BT 12-valve Cummins that Austin rescued from a shop where it had remained disassembled for roughly a decade. Although the project had been abandoned, the components were carefully organized, allowing him to bring the engine back to life.
The result is a stout diesel combination producing 275 horsepower and more than 700 pound-feet of torque. The engine is bored 0.020-inch over, fitted with a modified cylinder head, and includes a Holset HX35 turbocharger. At present, it runs without an intercooler. Austin says the block and injection pump are capable of supporting 500 horsepower.
Additional upgrades include a custom cold-air intake and a 3-inch-diameter exhaust system. Cooling remains surprisingly straightforward, relying on the Land Cruiser’s factory radiator and the stock Cummins engine fan.
Behind the diesel sits an NV4500 five-speed manual transmission sourced from a second-generation Dodge truck. Austin milled the transmission’s output shaft down to 19 splines, allowing it to mate directly to the stock 80 Series Land Cruiser transfer case. A custom adapter plate joins the two components.
For Austin, the drivetrain is one of the build’s defining features.
“The sound of the mechanical, grungy diesel engine coming from a Japanese classic instantly turns heads. It also gets 20 mpg with 1-tons and 42s.”
1-Ton Axles Built To Handle Cummins Torque
Putting more than 700 pound-feet of torque to the ground requires stout axle hardware, and Austin found it in the salvage yard.
The front axle is a Chevy kingpin Dana 60 sourced from a 1980s K30. It has been completely rebuilt and upgraded with an ARB Air Locker, East Coast Gear Supply manual lockout hubs, 35-spline Yukon Gear & Axle chromoly inner and outer axle shafts, and an ARB differential cover.
At the rear is a rebuilt 14-bolt axle pulled from a 1978 Chevy truck. It features 30-spline chromoly shafts, an ARB Air Locker, and an East Coast Gear disc brake conversion and differential cover. Both axles run 4.56:1 gears. Dana Spicer components handle duties in the front differential, while Yukon components are used in the rear.
Driveshafts are equally unique. A Toyota Tacoma rear driveshaft carries power to the front axle, while a Toyota 4Runner driveshaft serves the rear. Both double-cardan units have been strengthened with dual-wall tubing construction.
Custom Suspension Delivers Serious Flex
Up front, the Land Cruiser utilizes a Barnes 4WD Enduro Joint 3-Link Suspension Kit combined with King 2.5-inch remote-reservoir coilovers offering 14 inches of travel. The upper mounts tie into Apollo 9 Motors shock towers that are part of the company’s Custom Shock Towers & Frame Plates kit.
The rear suspension required considerably more fabrication. Austin removed the original axle brackets from the Land Cruiser housing and adapted hybrid versions of them to work with the 14-bolt axle.
“I plasma-cut all the original brackets from the Land Cruiser rear axle and used hybrid versions of them to adapt the OEM geometry onto the 14-bolt,” he explains.
The resulting four-link suspension uses Ironman 4×4 Foam Cell shocks and 4-inch lift coil springs.
At each corner are massive 42×14.50R17 Goodyear Wrangler MT/R with Kevlar tires mounted on 9-inch-wide KMC Impact beadlock wheels.
Body Mods Make Room For Massive 42s
Significant body modifications were necessary to accommodate the oversized tire package.
The front fenders were radiused approximately 6 inches, while the rear openings gained roughly 2 inches. Every wheel well has been tubbed to maximize tire clearance throughout suspension travel.
Protection comes from custom welded rock sliders constructed from 1.75-inch DOM tubing. At the front is a Cruiser Company winch bumper carrying a Harbor Freight Badland Apex 12,000-pound-capacity winch. Out back, an Overkill Racing and Chassis high-clearance bumper helps improve departure angles.
One particularly functional modification is the addition of gullwing cargo-area doors. Opening either side reveals a MOLLE panel storage system designed to keep trail gear organized and easily accessible.
Built For Long-Distance Adventure
While the Land Cruiser is undeniably trail-focused, Austin also configured it for extended travel and off-grid exploration.
The factory second-row seating has been removed in favor of a 300 Ah lithium 12-volt battery system, a 40-amp DC/DC charger, and a 2,000-watt inverter. Solar charging capability is included, along with an Anderson plug connection.
Additional support equipment includes a dual-zone Iceco fridge/freezer and an ARB air compressor.
A Diesel-Powered Land Cruiser Unlike Any Other
Austin’s Land Cruiser has become a machine that sparks strong opinions, but that is often the mark of a memorable build.
“The vehicle started out as a clean, triple-locked soccer mom car. After I broke my first Birfield joint with the Cummins torque and 42s, I knew that 1-tons were the answer. Some people say that I’ve ruined it, others say it’s the most awesome Land Cruiser they’ve ever seen.”
Regardless of where someone falls in that debate, there is no denying the transformation. What was once a stock 80 Series has become a Cummins-powered diesel trail machine capable of turning heads on the street and tackling serious terrain with equal confidence.
Photos by Austin St. One
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