[Project FJ80]

Originally Posted by TiredIronGRB

Just use Volvo portals like I did, the centered pinion should give you enough room for the oil pan.

I read your install and love it. the only problem though, is that I am limited to a max of 3000rpm, and a working range of 1800-2200rpm, using the Cummins I-6. Volvo does not offer on-road friendly gearing. I can get a 4.9 ratio right now, and am seeing about trying for a set of 1 off 2.1 r&P for a final drive of 4:10. I also need better/larger brakes,(16" willwood with 6piston calipers should stop me again.) and I want to streach the axel length out about 1-2 inches in the front and rear.(I dont like the tires being too close togeather.. looks sometimes like it will fall over.) Ill also beable to use my same rims with the newer axles,(same toyota bolt pattern) and, ill have a warrenty . though with 300M axles, I dont think I should have a problem.

Sure, after I get the drive train installed (Engine/Tranny/transfercase/F&R Portals/drive lines/fueltank installed, I could have just bought a brand new Toyota, or any other vehicle out there. But there is only going to be one landcruiser like mine when everything is all said and done.

Plus, im already in the process of having them built.
Ive been talking to Russel over at Portel-Tek, for about 3 months now, and everything is comming along with the axles. They will be getting in all the parts they need in about a week or two, and then a week or two to build them. So hopefully, I should have the axles by the end of the month, or the beggining of July. Which is fine, because thats when the TransferCase should be done, along with the transmission. I have decided to go ahead and just buy the complete transmission from ATS, this way I get a warenty, and a teseted and dynoed unit, alls ill have to do, is just bolt it in.

[Tapage]

Originally Posted by Project FJ80

I have decided to go ahead and just buy the complete transmission from ATS, this way I get a warenty, and a teseted and dynoed unit, alls ill have to do, is just bolt it in.

no joke .. !

Keep us posted

[yosemitesamiam]

Question...a bit off topic, but Diesel talk nonetheless. Has anyone considered a Mercedes built MBE900 series engine? They come I-4 and I-6 designed, and anywhere from 170/420 and 190/520 power number for the I-4 all the way to 330/1000 numbers for the I-6. Weight wise, the I-4 is 926lbs, the 6 is like 1250lbs. I know that is a bit heavy...well, sounds heavy...dunno what a cummins weighs...but hell, nothing some axles can't fix! LOL.

Figured I'd throw this out as another idea for engine swap. Looks like Dodge maybe forced to go this route when the Cummins contract is up...maybe even by 2008? Only time will tell!

[Project FJ80]

I think the only down side to using Mercedes is Price and Avi. of Parts. the reasons I went with Cummins is that they are just about everywhere in the world, Parts are easy to obtain, and I dont have to run a computer. Mercedies also has a very nice transmission. It just wouldent work out cost effectivly with my setup.

[squeezer]

Originally Posted by yosemitesamiam

Question...a bit off topic, but Diesel talk nonetheless. Has anyone considered a Mercedes built MBE900 series engine? They come I-4 and I-6 designed, and anywhere from 170/420 and 190/520 power number for the I-4 all the way to 330/1000 numbers for the I-6. Weight wise, the I-4 is 926lbs, the 6 is like 1250lbs. I know that is a bit heavy...well, sounds heavy...dunno what a cummins weighs...but hell, nothing some axles can't fix! LOL.

Figured I'd throw this out as another idea for engine swap. Looks like Dodge maybe forced to go this route when the Cummins contract is up...maybe even by 2008? Only time will tell!

Anybody want one of these with a matching 6 speed...new in the crate ? Slightly bigger than a 6BT but swapable with the right motivation.

[GLTHFJ60]

How much would one of those engine combos cost? I would speculate that they would cost more initially, cost more to maintain and only to produce the same power and last just as long. I'm not saying that it's a bad idea, but it just seems unreasonable.

What would one call that truck? A MJ80? That is neat!

[Project FJ80]

I would like to know the prce of a Crate Engine and Transmission from a diesel Mercedies.
Please share.

[squeezer]

If you had to go to the parts counter and order up the set you would pay 18'ish for the engine and 8'ish for the tranny.

Freightliner has a surplus shop here in Portland and they sell off extra components, and such (test truck parts, test engines, bla, bla, bla...). If there are extra engines left over at the end of a model year that don't meet the next years spec they go pretty cheap. They sold off a bunch of the MBE's for 4-6K depending on the condition/configuration. (not all of them are new).

The last time I was in there they had a dozen or so ISBE's and 1000 series allisons. 8K would have bought a matching pair with all electronics and full warranty. (all gone now...)

[GLTHFJ60]

WHAT?!?!?!?! That's about the same as a running 6BT and NV5600 combo!!! That's insane.

What would be the advantage of running a merc diesel as opposed to a cummins?

[yosemitesamiam]

Originally Posted by squeezer

If you had to go to the parts counter and order up the set you would pay 18'ish for the engine and 8'ish for the tranny.

Freightliner has a surplus shop here in Portland and they sell off extra components, and such (test truck parts, test engines, bla, bla, bla...). If there are extra engines left over at the end of a model year that don't meet the next years spec they go pretty cheap. They sold off a bunch of the MBE's for 4-6K depending on the condition/configuration. (not all of them are new).

The last time I was in there they had a dozen or so ISBE's and 1000 series allisons. 8K would have bought a matching pair with all electronics and full warranty. (all gone now...)

To quote myself several other times on these boards, "holy crap." I hope someone does that convert some day...I'll be first in line with my

[squeezer]

Originally Posted by GLTHFJ60

WHAT?!?!?!?! That's about the same as a running 6BT and NV5600 combo!!! That's insane.

What would be the advantage of running a merc diesel as opposed to a cummins?

The MBE 906 is a really refined package. In Medium Duty service it would be ranked with a C series Cummins or a 3126 (C7) CAT.

I would not be so bold as to say they are better than a Cummins, smoother, quieter, more fuel efficient... Yes. But "better" is defined on the end use. As for swapping, a B is going to be much easier to work with.

[Project FJ80]

Well, Its been a few months since the last information was given.
It is now July 15th, and still no axles, transfercase or transmission in the truck.
But not to worry. My time has come. My Atlas 4-Speed will be built sometime next week, as soon as they get the receiving input shaft back from ATS, who is building my Transmission. ATS had to notch the input shaft so it would accept thier output shaft. The transmission will be built next week as well, as soon as i send in my core on monday. As far as the axles, im just waiting on some custom gearing and a few more parts from Protal-Tek, hopefully that build will start sometime with in the next two weeks. If all goes well, Ill have the tranny and transfercase by the end of the month, and the axles by the first or second week of august. Its been a very long wait for me. I havent drove her since march. Im having Cruiser withdrawls.

In the mean time, ive been concidering the spray in bed liner for the underbody and/or the inside as well. it would run $800 each. The only down side to the underbody is that i have to deliver the body to them frameless if i want it done right. I also think i will need to have it sandblasted.

For the under body,Im wondering if using the spray in bedliner will compare to dyna-mat and keep things quiet. And at the very least, wouldent that make her rust proof. and seal the cracks and holes making it water proof during thoes deep crossings? maybe a possible boyancey affect?

And for the inside, same thing on the soundproofing? would it do a good job, or a poor job? the advantage for the inside though, is that I could get rid of the carpet and crap that asorbs and keeps in water/moisture which leads to rust. also, if I do go a little in the deep side, no worries about carpet. It can also be washed out or blown out with air, no worries about the beach, mud, snow, rain, or dirt. You will also have a good grip no longer worring about your feet slipping or what ever else that comes in contact with it.

Finally, to do both? or just one or the other?

The only downsides I can see would be the weight. How much wait would that add? (vs dynamat) also, Is it possible for rust to form inbetween the spray in liner and the frame? What all do you think?

-Ron

[yosemitesamiam]

Hey dude! Good to hear things are coming, even if slowly. As for having the spray in done both top and bottom, heck yeah! That stuff, done right, will keep moisture at bay completely. Usually guys use spray in bedliners in trucks in order to keep truck beds from getting worse...so yeah, it will have a "healing" effect on anything you spray it on.

As for the interior and no carpet...I'd be all for that too. I don't know what kind of wiring, harnesses, etc you might run into under the carpet though, if at all...that might be something to consider. Just don't armerall it though, and it won't be too slippery!

From Rhinoliner's website: "Today, you can trust Rhino Linings to protect everything from boats and trailers to hundreds of other surfaces. In fact, you can trust Rhino to provide an impenetrable seal for just about anything that floats, drives or tows."

Then Linex...some cool video! Stuff is totally blastproof! http://www.paxcon.com/

Sounds like you are going to be a while on the rest of the installs, so my vote is gett'rdone!

As for weight...bah...not like that 6BT is going to notice! Honestly, my truck bed liner was about 1/4" thick, maybe 1/8" or so on the walls...consider it extra heavy paint. Figure on what a 5 gallon paint weighs at home depot, and I'd say triple it. From what I've heard, in a truck bed, it isn't much heavier than a slide in plastic liner.

Good luck man...let us know how it goes!

[warpdriv]

Originally Posted by yosemitesamiam

Then Linex...some cool video! Stuff is totally blastproof!

That is a cool vid. I wonder if I can coat my birfs in that stuff.

[yosemitesamiam]

Originally Posted by warpdriv

That is a cool vid. I wonder if I can coat my birfs in that stuff.

That would be hecka cool! Hecka! LOL

[gnx7]

You are worried about maybe a hundred pounds in Line X and you added a 1000lb Cummins 6BT? ha ha ha

Can't wait to see the next progress you make here in the next few months. It will be a beast.

[Project FJ80]

I have already been able to trim about 100lbs off of the engine. and about 200lbs out of the engine bay. I wont be using the heavy fan and mount that comes with the cummins, that will save me about 3-5" of space where I can install lighter electric fans. the battieries will be moved to the rear, and what ever else is not needed was also removed. that should put me right back to about stock weight in the engine bay. As far as the line-x, I just have to find away to get the body off the frame and get her over there. The problem is.. what to do with the frame.. I cant leave it out side... either A.. dissapears or B. HOA will fine me..

[yosemitesamiam]

Originally Posted by Project FJ80

I have already been able to trim about 100lbs off of the engine. and about 200lbs out of the engine bay. I wont be using the heavy fan and mount that comes with the cummins, that will save me about 3-5" of space where I can install lighter electric fans. the battieries will be moved to the rear, and what ever else is not needed was also removed. that should put me right back to about stock weight in the engine bay. As far as the line-x, I just have to find away to get the body off the frame and get her over there. The problem is.. what to do with the frame.. I cant leave it out side... either A.. dissapears or B. HOA will fine me..

Let them fine you...how much could it be?

[Project FJ80]

lol. 75 for the first, 100 2nd, eventually .... eviction by 3ed or 4th. ... eviction, over weeds. lol.. and if you dont pay.. they turn you into collections.
Never again will I get involved with a HOA.

[Project FJ80]

Hello again.
Its been too long since ive been able to drive my baby, but the parts are slowly trickling in. My transmission came in a week or 2 ago, and today my 4Speed Transfercase came. Unfortuantally my camera was taken to Czech, so I have no pictures... Ill see about getting some posted..

At least by this weekend I will have the Engine, transmission and transfercase installed. and by the end of the month, I hope to beable to move it in front wheel drive. Since the rear is not centered. then alls i have to do is wait for the axles. They keep getting pushed back...Hopefully they will be here before the Surf and Turf. Im told another 6-8 weeks.

Here are a few pictures from Portal-Tek taken from Pirate 4x4 of the new castings.

[Tapage]

really wide axles !!!

and ..

[gnx7]

Glad you are making headway. I would love to see your rig at Surf n Turf. Would love to do this to my rig one day.

When do you propose to have the engine/trans/tcase positioned in their final resting spots in the chassis?

[Project FJ80]

the Engine/tranny/and transfercase will be set sometime this month. Ill compansate for the extra height of the diff. before its set.

I tried taking some picts, but my driver is not compatible with winxp.. I might have to go buy a new one of thoes cheap $20.00 cameras.

[Project FJ80]

Well, a few weeks ago, I ended up breaking my overdrive section of the transmission I just got, seems that the shaft was a little too long, So if anyone is using a dodge transmission hooked up to an Atlas 4-speed, make sure everything comes togeather before you draw them in.

Tonight I was able to reinstall the overdrive portion of the transmission and the transfercase. with in the next two weekends, Ill have the mounts made and installed. After that she'll go in for a fuel tank, radiator, intercooler, and by that time, I hope to have the axles from portal-tek finsihed so I can get the drivelines made up. Ill post some pictures next week of the new progress. Just waiting on the camera.

-Ron

[beno]

Originally Posted by Project FJ80

And for the inside, same thing on the soundproofing? would it do a good job, or a poor job? the advantage for the inside though, is that I could get rid of the carpet and crap that asorbs and keeps in water/moisture which leads to rust. also, if I do go a little in the deep side, no worries about carpet. It can also be washed out or blown out with air, no worries about the beach, mud, snow, rain, or dirt. You will also have a good grip no longer worring about your feet slipping or what ever else that comes in contact with it.

-Ron

Hi Ron:

Nice build you have going here...been watching patiently to see your progress.

Regarding Rhinoing or Line-Xing your interior:

I recently did this to the interior of my 80 series. Just the flooring and wheel wells. I like it a lot in terms of ease of cleaning and having a non-skid surface to be able to place things on, etc.

That said, it is not good for sound proofing....in fact, you will hear everything that is going on underneath your rig and inside of the engine compartment even more. Every little driveline vibration, sounds, metal clanking when you are wheeling, squeaks, etc. You'll hear them...and they will be very pronounced. I put three coats down (~1/8") and it's still loud.

My next move is going to be coating the interiors of the door panels and then putting some sound proofing material between the interior sheet metal and the interior door panels. This way, hopefully, I'll get a bit of sound dampening.

There are wiring harnesses that run down both sides of the vehicle and those will get in a the way abit....as well as making sure to keep the stuff out of the bolt holes for the seats and the tie-downs.

Good luck.
Best.
-onur
Oberlin, OH

[Rezkid]

Update?? Btw awesome build, truly one of a kind

ttt

[cody c]

just read the thread. awesome, im on the end of my seat waiting to hear how those portal teks work. what kind of rubber have you decided on? you can also get 40"x17" r17 ground hawgs , up to 40" baja claws for 17" and bigger rims. or 54" boggers. no just kidding about the boggers.

[projektdotnet]

I actually met one of the guys doing the portal-tek axles on the freeway last saturday...seems like a pretty cool dude. I will have theMule get him going on those axles gonna be a sweet 80

[Project FJ80]

I will be adjusting the position of the drivetrain this weekend, I will also post some pictures. If all goes as planned, Ill beable to start the engine this month, and drive it a fer days after I get the axles in. Hopefully this month.. if not, nov or dec.

[zach]

nice build up. can't wait to see those axles..