Build 80 Build Thread - PreWork & 1 Weekend

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Other than getting the 37s on and fixing a small rattle in the exhaust, I think we are ready for MardiKrawl.

I still have stock gears, but they were more than adequate for my 315s and am hoping the 37s won't big it down. If they do, 4.88s could come sometime later on.

For the trail, I'm also a little worried that low range isn't going to quote as low. I need to look into the Marlin Crawler transfer case gear options. Then, if stock gears are still fine for the road, I could lower the gears in the T-Case for low range crawling as a good happy medium without looking at a doublet type option of they could even work with out rigs.

Hopefully the current setup will work for now.

Will post more pics in the daylight once I get the 37s on next week and finally wash all the pollen off the cruiser.
 
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travisimo said:
This thread rocks. Thanks for sharing. Tons of useful info for someone building a stock cruiser (like me).
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Great to hear. Maybe some of my research and trial & error will help you out. It's a fun, ongoing learning experience.
 
We have done 3 or 4 true trail rides since the build began. I don't know about everyone else, but I am usually outnumbered 100:1 by JKs on the local club rides (Shunned in the back corner):
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But the cruiser always turns heads and holds its own:
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And takes us to some awesome places:

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Or stands out at the local 4WP event:
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I am sometimes envious of the JK front suspension setup - at least until we all convert to the new 3-link 4wheel underground setup with coilovers :) - but I love having an 80 that stands out from the crowd and holds its own on the trail.

I don't know about everyone else, but it is amazing how many JKs on 35s you see each day.
 
Nice build! I love the color you used for the bumpers and sliders.
 
That's the problem with JK's - they are everywhere and all modded the same. Just came from the Easter Jeep Safari and the place was loaded with them....

Curious about your on highway performance with the big tires and 4.10 gear sets. I presume your engine is stock. My 97 running on 265/75R16 M/T tires and a 1" lift will barely keep up with traffic on the interstate and gets about 12-14 mpg running at about 70 to 75, depending on the slope. The altitude here is 2500 to 7000 feet. I am wanting to put on 33" tires and about a 2.5" lift, along with bumpers and sliders, but am hesitant due to the performance loss. Truck just rolled 160k and has a fresh tuneup with OEM parts. Am thinking about an LS3 conversion just to get it to the driveable state.
 
tominboise said:
That's the problem with JK's - they are everywhere and all modded the same. Just came from the Easter Jeep Safari and the place was loaded with them....

Curious about your on highway performance with the big tires and 4.10 gear sets. I presume your engine is stock. My 97 running on 265/75R16 M/T tires and a 1" lift will barely keep up with traffic on the interstate and gets about 12-14 mpg running at about 70 to 75, depending on the slope. The altitude here is 2500 to 7000 feet. I am wanting to put on 33" tires and about a 2.5" lift, along with bumpers and sliders, but am hesitant due to the performance loss. Truck just rolled 160k and has a fresh tuneup with OEM parts. Am thinking about an LS3 conversion just to get it to the driveable state.
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Agree on the JKs although EJS was one of the best events of my life - mainly because of Moab (enough said) and the awesome people we met.

Well, I haven't mounted the 37s just yet, so we'll see. Mine is definitely slower on 315s than stock tires, but I honestly don't mind it. I probably get 12-14 mpg as well (used to get 15-16 mpg).

I can stay at 70-75 mph interstate without problem (215k miles on the engine now). If I'm about to head up a steep hill, I do hit the Extra Power button. Yours sounds like it may be more sluggish than mine - even with mine having more miles and 315s.

Could it be faster - yes. Would a LS3 be awesome - yes.

Is it so slow that it bothers me or isn't safe - no.

I feel confident that if I need it to go fast (merging into the interstate for example), it will not let me down. Overall I'm pleased and probably have adjusted my driving as I modified it further. It's never going to be a race car (even with a LS3 simply due to weight), and I prefer it that way.

Just my 2 cents.

Also, if you do a 2.5" lift, I'd run 315s. Anything else looks too small for our wheel wells. 315s just look right for <3" lift.
 
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Nice work !, I drove my rig on 37s for a while when I was building my new ARB thirds. I actually prefer the 4.10 to the 5.29s, Not off road much and I'm at 600 above sea level so that helps. Your correct to go 4.88 with the new 37s so your speedo will be normal. Im fast about 12%, speedo reads 62 when GPS on nav says 55 mph. Your rig will look great with the 37s, I like the mods. !!! :clap: :) !
 
Whileemptyheadsdream said:
Nice work !, I drove my rig on 37s for a while when I was building my new ARB thirds. I actually prefer the 4.10 to the 5.29s, Not off road much and I'm at 600 above sea level so that helps. Your correct to go 4.88 with the new 37s so your speedo will be normal. Im fast about 12%, speedo reads 62 when GPS on nav says 55 mph. Your rig will look great with the 37s, I like the mods. !!! :clap: :) !
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Great to hear. I'm going to stick with 4:10 as long as I can. Thanks for the feedback.
 
This morning I started on the wheel spacers.
Clean the rotors/hubs:
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Install the wheel spacers and torque to 100 ft/lbs:
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Mount the 37s:
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See if the center caps fit - Front caps fit without modification:
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Rear caps need some work:
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I started trimming the rear center caps, but ran out of time.

These cuts allow them to clear the bolts in the end of the axle, but the flanges that hold the ring and lock the cap into place are still too thick to fit between the wheel and axle end.

I'll finish them tomorrow.
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Overall the 1.25" spacers put the tire back in stock position - lined up perfectly with the outside of the flare and allowing them to tuck into the fender wells without rubbing.

I'm very pleased - glad my math worked out okay.

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Final impressions - I think 37s (true 37s, not 36s posing to be 37s) work perfectly with 5" of lift. On one hand it actually has the stock tire in the fender look again. But look again and you see that it is built conqueor any obstacle you throw at it - big aggressive tires, low center of gravity (relatively speaking), and high ground clearance with armor all around (and below).

Simply put - our fender wells (and cruisers in general) look like they are made for true 37s.

And by the way, I know Sequoia/Tundra wheels are the popular choice around here, but they are scarce these days and not the only option out there. I now actually prefer the look of these 17" 4Runner sport wheels on an 80 and they are both cheaper and much easier to source locally (there were 2-3 sets for sale locally).

Hopefully you will agree:
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Spacers worked out incredibly well:
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I'm still running stock axle gears and so far they are more than adequate on the street. I drive up a few large hills with no problems.

I'll be testing it at MardiKrawl in the trail in Low Range next weekend. If low range needs a reduction, hope trail-gear still as the $299 special on the T-Case 25% Low Range reduction gear set.

I'll probably stick to stock axle gears for the street.
 
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And since I think it is allays hard to tell the actual size of a cruiser from pictures in isolation, here it is parked next to a Mercedes GL while grabbing some new saldals for our daughter this afternoon:

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Charles4x4 said:
I'm still running stock axle gears and so far they are more than adequate on the street. I drive up a few large hills with no problems.

I'll be testing it at MardiKrawl in the trail in Low Range next weekend. If low range needs a reduction, hope trail-gear still as the $299 special on the T-Case 25% Low Range reduction gear set.

I'll probably stick to stock axle gears for the street.
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Not sure who makes the Trail-Gear T-Case 25% Low Range reduction gear set, but consider the Marlin Crawler group buy under way. High quality gears. I'm fairly sure you can still get in on them.

Marlin Crawler Low Range Gears Group Buy

Land Cruiser Crawler Gears | Marlin Crawler, Inc.

Your truck looks great...very nice !!!
 
Road Apple said:
Not sure who makes the Trail-Gear T-Case 25% Low Range reduction gear set, but consider the Marlin Crawler group buy under way. High quality gears. I'm fairly sure you can still get in on them.

Marlin Crawler Low Range Gears Group Buy

Land Cruiser Crawler Gears | Marlin Crawler, Inc.

Your truck looks great...very nice !!!
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Thanks - just signed up as "interested" for the group buy. I hope Marlin quality is worth 2x the price of the Trail Gear option.

If the gears are anything like the wheel spacers, it seems like they would be a great value...
 
Charles4x4 said:
Thanks - just signed up as "interested" for the group buy. I hope Marlin quality is worth 2x the price of the Trail Gear option.

If the gears are anything like the wheel spacers, it seems like they would be a great value...
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I can't speak to the quality directly, no having either gear set previously, but from others are posting, it seems the gears cut in China are more likely to break on the trail. I'm happy to pay 2x as much for some piece of mind that my gears will stay in one piece. Marlin Crawler is a company I trust to carry quality products, which is why I'm going with them.
 
How are the 37's working out with the 4" Slee lift and 30mm spacers?

Have you had a chance to see if they rub at full articulation?

Would you go with the 6" Slee lift if you started over again?

What would you change with your current setup?

Thanks

Ron
 
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