Built Beyond Swap

Project Magda is a different kind of Land Cruiser build. It wasn’t about chasing a visual theme or restoring what was already there—it was about fundamentally reworking how an early FJ40 operates, and doing it properly. The starting point was a 1972 truck with all the charm and limitations that come with it. The objective was clear: integrate a modern drivetrain in a way that feels intentional, cohesive, and mechanically correct.

Full-System Integration Achieved

What followed was not a simple engine swap. The conversion to a Chevy Small Block 350 V8 paired with a manual AX-15 transmission and electronic fuel injection required full reengineering of how the truck is structured underneath. Mounting points didn’t exist—they were built. Systems didn’t align—they were redesigned. The drivetrain was positioned, removed, adjusted, and reinstalled multiple times until everything from angles to clearances—worked as a complete system.

Every supporting system was treated with the same level of attention. Cooling, fuel delivery, braking, steering, and electrical were all constructed or heavily modified to match the new architecture. The wiring was laid out from scratch. Fuel delivery was rethought for EFI. Even the shifter geometry and interior clearances required fabrication and refinement to feel correct in use.

Project Magda doesn’t announce itself. It looks like a classic FJ40, because it is. But underneath, it’s a fully integrated, properly engineered drivetrain conversion—built the way these trucks should have been if modern components had existed at the time.