School me on a MC Toybox in a 55

solidfrontaxle · 10-02-09, 06:08 PM

I've been searching but can't seem to find any specific threads on this topic. If anyone knows of some good informative threads please post up.

Basically I know very little about the MC toybox other than:
-it uses a minitruck gearbox and adapter
-you have to replace your transmission tailshaft (I've found several writeups on how to do that)
-you have to modify or forgo reverse lights

Questions:
What are Iron Pig specific issues dealing with the toybox install?
-Are these even available for a stock drivetrain? Will they ever be again? (I only see 5 speed or SM applications on their site, though it is all under construction)
-Do you have to cut any holes in the floor if installed in a stock drivetrain? {EDIT: Looking at the picture, I see you obviously do, so next question is how far back from the gear shifter does the hole have to be?}
-How much does it change your driveshaft lengths?
-Is a stock transfer case able to realistically hold up to the torque?
-Any other install issues like fitment under the truck?
-Will it need a cross member to hold all the weight of that stuff hanging off the back of the engine?
-E-brake and speedo cables need extending?
-Performance wise are there any issues (weakness, popping out of gear, hard to shift, etc)?

Thanks

PabloCruise · 10-02-09, 06:24 PM

If I were looking to put a toybox in a Pig, I would reference Chris Hatfield's build:

http://forum.ih8mud.com/fj55-classif...5-sale-co.html

He had a write-up in Toyota Trails as well. I think you can search for it at TLCA.org

Found it! Sept/Oct 2005 issue

RHINO · 10-02-09, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solidfrontaxle

Questions:
What are Iron Pig specific issues dealing with the toybox install?
>>you can squeeze it in the stock tunnel, but i lengthened mine.

-Are these even available for a stock drivetrain? Will they ever be again? (I only see 5 speed or SM applications on their site, though it is all under construction)
>>yup H42, no 3 speed that i know of

-Do you have to cut any holes in the floor if installed in a stock drivetrain? {EDIT: Looking at the picture, I see you obviously do, so next question is how far back from the gear shifter does the hole have to be?}
>>about 5"? i can measure more exact

-How much does it change your driveshaft lengths?
>>7"give or take, perfect for a pig

-Is a stock transfer case able to realistically hold up to the torque?
>>mine has for over 7 yrs now

-Any other install issues like fitment under the truck?
>>hmm, i think i moved the fuel line where it crosses over behind the case, all i did was rebend it a little different

-Will it need a cross member to hold all the weight of that stuff hanging off the back of the engine?
>>i put an additional crossmember behind the case that was also the mount for a traction bar. maybe not needed but good insurance

-E-brake and speedo cables need extending?
>>swap in a 40 e-brake cable, its a little longer, and i added the speedo cable extender from marlin, but i prolly coulda got by w/o it.

-Performance wise are there any issues (weakness, popping out of gear, hard to shift, etc)?
>>nothing i have ever noticed

Thanks

anything else i can try to answer?

solidfrontaxle · 10-02-09, 11:41 PM

That was easy. Thank you so much.

A few more:
-Just to make sure, this will work with my H42 to 3 speed case conversion, correct?
-may I see a pic of your crossmember/trackbar setup? I'm considering doing a trackbar since I don't like bending hard to find rear 55 springs and I'd like to see how it holds up the case as well.
-And uhhh, are you still selling your drivetrain with the toybox.

(I found your for sale thread from two years ago and it doesn't say SOLD...)

RHINO · 10-03-09, 12:49 PM

oops, i didnt sell the drivetrain whole so i bought the parts i needed to make my new drivetrain. gimme the link so i can delete it.
if your interested i can save you some money and you can just buy the back half of the toybox from marlin.
i have the H42 with the shaft done and the front adapter. i also have the input gear for the 4.7 set, if you want to order individual parts and do it all yourself.
heck i can even sell ya my crossmemeber as its for the old set-up and i dont use it.

what you will need from marlin is the toybox itself and the rear adapter for your cruiser case. i think you can do the whole thing for under 1k if you want to go this route.

i would call marlin to make sure its available for the 3 speed case. but if i remember when i ordered mine i had the option of all 3 splines.

i cant believe i dont have a good pick of the cross member in the rig, but i'll get a pick of it on the ground and you can see how it worked, in the meantime here a pick of the traction bar and you can just see the cross member, also i included this pick of the toybox so you can see what it looks like with the cruiser stuff, the parts i can sell you are the tranny, and that front adapter i also think i still have the black angle iron, thats the shifter bracket for the case i made, it moves the shifter back requiring a new hole but keeps the linkage stock.
i also made a mistake on my reply earlier, the space between the H42 shifter and toybox is more like 9", i was thinking about my current set up.

solidfrontaxle · 10-03-09, 07:08 PM

So if I understand correctly, you pieced your kit together instead of buying the whole setup from Marlin. Because of that, you kept the stock linkage which had to move back rather than using the marlin extensions like in this picture:

Is that correct?

I am interested in your stuff, and I'll send you a PM.

solidfrontaxle · 10-03-09, 08:19 PM

Also, are the instructions for building a minitruck crawl box center unit (here) basically the same for buillding the toybox (not including the transmission work)? I assume only the input and output shafts will be different, correct?

RHINO · 10-04-09, 12:39 AM

i originally bought the whole toybox kit,,, MC08 or whatever it was i dont remember, i dont think those extensions were available yet, i bought real early when they first came out and it was still kinda DIY for extras. the kit i built was for the new drivetrain when i put in the diesel and 5 speed and thats why i only have the front half available.

that PDF looks about right, in any event the toybox is the same as the mini center with different splines in-out.