Registry 3FE Owners Check-In (6 Viewers)

[Marco Lau]

Finally got the Nomad Valve Body installed on the 3FE. It literally transforms how the rig drives now, and the improvement is immediate. The install was a total mess and took me about 6 hrs from start to finish by myself with basic tools and help from my brother when putting the new VB back into the tranny. Took a few test drives to get the air pocket all sorted and the tranny shifting nice and crisp and firm now with the 3rd lock up apparent. The A440F feels like a totally new tranny now and definitely hits the right gear when booted. This is by far my fav. mod i have done. Here is a pic of the old VB removed... Heading to the Rubicon next week and will test it out on the long haul.

 

[Josey1972]

Finally got the Nomad Valve Body installed on the 3FE. It literally transforms how the rig drives now, and the improvement is immediate. The install was a total mess and took me about 6 hrs from start to finish by myself with basic tools and help from my brother when putting the new VB back into the tranny. Took a few test drives to get the air pocket all sorted and the tranny shifting nice and crisp and firm now with the 3rd lock up apparent. The A440F feels like a totally new tranny now and definitely hits the right gear when booted. This is by far my fav. mod i have done. Here is a pic of the old VB removed... Heading to the Rubicon next week and will test it out on the long haul.

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A basically new tranny is wonderful thing isnt it?

 

[Marco Lau]

A basically new tranny is wonderful thing isnt it?

The old VB on the A440F with 240k miles is a little tired especially after our trip to Moab and back when the 3FE had to haul extra load with 4 ppl with 2 weeks worth of camping stuff after my brother's JK blew the head 40 miles outside of Moab. The new VB upgrade is exactly what is needed for long trips. Also got the valves adjusted and i am shocked at how quiet the engine purrs now.

 

[Josey1972]

The old VB on the A440F with 240k miles is a little tired especially after our trip to Moab and back when the 3FE had to haul extra load with 4 ppl with 2 weeks worth of camping stuff after my brother's JK blew the head 40 miles outside of Moab. The new VB upgrade is exactly what is needed for long trips. Also got the valves adjusted and i am shocked at how quiet the engine purrs now.

I got the full A440 from Rocket Rod via Georg. The shifts are scary precise and the downshifts make you take notice. They are a bit harsh. Combine the Tcase low range and she wheels as well as about any other 80. Temps stay low as well.

 

[Marco Lau]

I got the full A440 from Rocket Rod via Georg. The shifts are scary precise and the downshifts make you take notice. They are a bit harsh. Combine the Tcase low range and she wheels as well as about any other 80. Temps stay low as well.

Nice, so you got the full A440F rebuild? VB upgrade? both?

 

[Josey1972]

Nice, so you got the full A440F rebuild? VB upgrade? both?

The full tranny. Rebuild, TC and Valvebody From Wholesale.

 

[Marco Lau]

The full tranny. Rebuild, TC and Valvebody From Wholesale.

Awesome! How's your experience with the new tranny upgrade so far for you other than the apparent crisp and firm shifts?

 

[proteolytic]

Wholesale indicates that the Nomad HD Valve Body will improve fuel economy (and in their video they say it improves it enough to pay for itself). Can you post updates of your MPG with your new VB when you get that info?

 

[Marco Lau]

Wholesale indicates that the Nomad HD Valve Body will improve fuel economy (and in their video they say it improves it enough to pay for itself). Can you post updates of your MPG with your new VB when you get that info?

I avg. around 10 on my long trips fully loaded on 37s. I will see after my trip to the Rubicon in about a week. I am hopeful it will gain MPG especially on long steep climbs with a more efficient VB to reduce slippage on the torque converter. I can tell you that just by driving around town since the VB upgrade, the drive is much more spirited with the tranny more in sync with the drivers input and the precise gear selection upon load without hunting for the right gear at certain speed and rpm. Also I can feel the tranny and engine working more comfortably at high rpms with less effort.

 

[Icecreampaintjb]

Alright, here's a link to a video of the grinding issue. It's annoying harder to pick up in this than it is in person but you can make it out clearly near the end of the vid. Again, this is only a high rpm issue, also very consistent and replicable every time. Thanks in advance.

Replying to my vid from earlier. Well I'm glad some of you noticed the vibrations in the alternator because after going over the entire front engine area looking for anything out of order, I found a nut was missing on the back of the bolt to the left of the alternator (mounting arm?) Its below your line of sight if you're looking at the alternator straight on.

Was about to take a trip to the parts store and find a replacement nut when I realized the original had lodged itself just below the alt, blessed Toyota engineers must have accounted for this specific problem haha.

So now it's running perfectly. And it was a free fix. I imagine this is slightly unusual and maybe rare, but check your bolts back there. I never looked at the alternator when I bought the truck and I'm thinking it was replaced at some point and this bolt was wasn't tightened properly. If you hear what I heard, that's what I would look for. I'm hoping no internal damage was done to the alt from being slightly off balance and full of vibration for a couple weeks but I guess only time will tell.

Thanks for putting eyes on this issue btw.

 

[Josey1972]

Wholesale indicates that the Nomad HD Valve Body will improve fuel economy (and in their video they say it improves it enough to pay for itself). Can you post updates of your MPG with your new VB when you get that info?

I have a geared tase that went in about the same time as well as 5.29's and 35's so I can't say that I have improved fuel economy related to the tranny. I can say that my RPMs are now lower on the highway so therefore I am most likely getting better MPG's. I'm sure I'm doing better but not enough to make me take notice. If you notice a difference please post up. I'm interested to hear other peoples experiences. Rod suggests gauging the tranny and putting on a good cooler. Id do that if you haven't already. If you do, BRAZE the bung in, don't weld it.

 

[vsatking]

Replying to my vid from earlier. Well I'm glad some of you noticed the vibrations in the alternator because after going over the entire front engine area looking for anything out of order, I found a nut was missing on the back of the bolt to the left of the alternator (mounting arm?) Its below your line of sight if you're looking at the alternator straight on.

Was about to take a trip to the parts store and find a replacement nut when I realized the original had lodged itself just below the alt, blessed Toyota engineers must have accounted for this specific problem haha.

So now it's running perfectly. And it was a free fix. I imagine this is slightly unusual and maybe rare, but check your bolts back there. I never looked at the alternator when I bought the truck and I'm thinking it was replaced at some point and this bolt was wasn't tightened properly. If you hear what I heard, that's what I would look for. I'm hoping no internal damage was done to the alt from being slightly off balance and full of vibration for a couple weeks but I guess only time will tell.

Thanks for putting eyes on this issue btw.

Glad to hear it was something simple. I recently had some non fastened fasteners give my intake too much air. Don't ask me how it did not get fastened

 

[Marco Lau]

Some 3FE action on little Sluce on the Rubicon this week. The 3FE held up with just a tiny door ding from sliding off a big rock. Kept up with my group all on 37s 40s on heavily modified Wranglers. It was a good time

 

[vsatking]

Wow that looks like a good place to be Marco! Your 3fe is set up so well!

 

[vsatking]

The more I am driving my 3fe the more I am liking it. I have been driving it for a week straight and it is has a tun of character. I still have a lot of base lining to do before I start to build capability. It really reminds me of an old diesel.

I forgot how many people give the thumbs when an 80 goes by.

 

[Marco Lau]

The more I am driving my 3fe the more I am liking it. I have been driving it for a week straight and it is has a tun of character. I still have a lot of base lining to do before I start to build capability. It really reminds me of an old diesel.

I forgot how many people give the thumbs when an 80 goes by.

I tested out the Nomad VB upgrade on this Rubicon trip, and i am very impressed with how it performs. This might be my fav. mod so far for the 3FE. I was able to do 55-60 up the steep grade vs i would normally be doing 45-50. The temp seems to be running much cooler as well.

 

[vsatking]

I tested out the Nomad VB upgrade on this Rubicon trip, and i am very impressed with how it performs. This might be my fav. mod so far for the 3FE. I was able to do 55-60 up the steep grade vs i would normally be doing 45-50. The temp seems to be running much cooler as well.

Good to note! My trans seems to be doing well. I'll do some searching on your posts to see why you thought the VB was needed.

 

[Josey1972]

Good to note! My trans seems to be doing well. I'll do some searching on your posts to see why you thought the VB was needed.

I dont know that its needed necessarily. I did the full tranny upgrade because the goal for my truck was reliability. I had no idea of the age of the tranny or how many miles it had on it so I made the jump.

 

[vsatking]

I dont know that its needed necessarily. I did the full tranny upgrade because the goal for my truck was reliability. I had no idea of the age of the tranny or how many miles it had on it so I made the jump.

That makes a heap of sense. Just keeping ahead of potential issues. Glad it worked so well for you!

 

[Josey1972]

That makes a heap of sense. Just keeping ahead of potential issues. Glad it worked so well for you!

Well, it depends on your level of OCD and financial tolerance.