Featured Customer Build | Toyota Land Cruiser 150 Supercharged Desert Edition

Customer Build Story: “Old Chen Who Loves to Play” — A Desert Journey from China

At the beginning of September, I set out for the desert once again. During my last desert adventure, the 4.0L engine in my Toyota Land Cruiser 150 felt a bit underpowered, so this time I prioritized upgrading it with a VT supercharger kit built on an Eaton core, running a steady 1.3 bar of boost. It’s a mild upgrade, but just right for desert fun.

To support this setup, I also installed a larger radiator and a 65°C thermostat. With proper cooling, even an external supercharger setup can stay stable and reliable.

Since this trip was all about sand, a proper off-road bumper setup was a must. After exploring many options, I finally chose the BP4WD bumper kit. Interestingly, BP4WD comes from Taiyuan, Shanxi, China — my hometown, where I’ve lived for over twenty years.

When people think of Shanxi, they often think of coal, vinegar, and noodles, but few realize it’s also a heavy industrial hub, home to giants like Taiyuan Steel (TISCO) and Taiyuan Heavy Industry (TYHI). That strong industrial foundation shows through in BP4WD’s products — rigid, precise, and solidly built, yet designed for easy installation and user-friendliness.

The suspension setup remains the same as last year’s: Bilstein B8 5100s. If they ever give out, I’ll probably move to 6112 + 5160. For this build, I focused on reliability — the rear air springs were removed and replaced with Eibach 1.75" lift coils, while the front OEM springs were adjusted to their maximum height.

After the supercharger installation, the transmission needed some time to adapt and relearn, but now the performance feels great — smooth, linear power delivery, and before I knew it, I was already over the speed limit.

This is the build story of Old Chen from China, a true off-road enthusiast who just loves to play.