80 Cruiser Build

[canadian bum]

That's a good idea. Hadn't thought of it before, but I'll look at incorporating that into the design.

I've always gone away from the idea of using countersunk bolts since at least if a regular bolt head gets mangled you can get it off with vise-grips, but for this vulnerable spot a simple guard would keep them intact.

Thanks for the input!

Awesome build. Can't wait to see how the front suspension is going to be set up.

Thanks, I got the idea from a bulldozer belly pan.

 

[utopoo]

Ohh man, I'm glad you took a lot of pictures ! The 3 link should be finished this weekend, more pictures and detailed measurements to come!

 

[Letsgomoreplaces]

gears

Sorry to hear that. Most general offoad shops dont deal with Landcruisers to often. And most differential outfits tech info drops off after fj40 for their install kits.

Alright, time for some updates!

Here's a close up of the part time kit installed. Put t-case back together then locked up the diffs and pulled the thirds.



This is trying to drain the front diff. I don't even know how this ran. It's almost like it was filled with grease...



Then installed new 5.29 gears from Big Country Customs. My experience with these guys has been a bit rocky. First they sent wrong axle seals. Then while doing gears found out they sent the wrong pinion shims for front and rear. Also sent wrong carrier bearing shims for rear and wrong bearings, It's like everything was wrong! Thought it was straitened out after a week on the phone, but then when I got the new "right" shims, they still were wrong, they had just sent a bag with 3 different types of shims none of which were the size I specified... I defiantly do not recommended ordering from them. Anyways, finally did get it all back together with the help from a local machine shop and Altitude Adjustments.



Old gears.



New gears.





You can see the original shim and then the ones I was sent...

 

[Clint79]

Nice mods mate
be a bit carefull with those hubs ,have had a few mates with 80s that have part timed them with those hubs and destroyed them.

 

[Sir Flops Alot]

Nice build. Can't wait to see how well this thing flexes and I'm curious to see if you'll have any tire clearance issues at full flex. I'm planning on running 37's with my current OME 3" springs but I'm thinking I may have tire clearance issues.

The grease in the front axel was probably caused by bad inner axel seals so the gear oil got into the outer axel hub and mixed with the grease from the birfields and back into the axel housing. Make sure you pack the new birfield bearings and the surrounding hud with grease.

 

[utopoo]

Nice mods mate
be a bit carefull with those hubs ,have had a few mates with 80s that have part timed them with those hubs and destroyed them.

Thanks, I've heard of the issues with these. Going to keep an eye out for some Aisins and eventually switch them out.

Ran into a little hiccup with the 3-link, should be finished this week though.

 

[utopoo]

Alright, have had truck back since Saturday. It's just plain awesome. Here is a teaser, lots more pictures and details to come. Wasn't actually able to fully flex this out yet because of brake lines and needs some cutting.

 

[CreeperSleeper]

DROOL!!!

 

[thisbugger]

AWESOME!!!!!

 

[94SRUNNER]

Very Cool Build!

 

[arndog123]

Nice. More pics please.

 

[Jacket]

Impressive flex.

That goop in the front diff was amazing. When I first drained my 40's front diff it was similar to that, and I assumed that no one had ever bothered to change the seals and the grease and oil mixed like a blender. But yours is almost like someone put grease in the diff fill hole.....

 

[julstirn]

flexy!!!

 

[hakalugi]

impressive - subscribed

 

[Cruisin']

Oh my!!! Nicely done. Can't wait for the details and more pics of this setup.

 

[canadian bum]

Well the 3 link was done nicely. With the exception of a problem with the steering it turned out great. Had to move the tie rod in front of the axle and to do this had to use Chevy steering parts. However when turning to the left because the axle has been moved ahead the steering binds limiting the amount you can turn. Proper high steer when it is available will correct this problem.

Here are some more pictures.

 

[canadian bum]

And some flex pictures.

 

[canadian bum]

One more picture. Some wheeling will be in order for this weekend if proper brake lines show up.

 

[js93cruiser]

clean build man!!! how much did you pay the shop to do that? are you sure you have enough link separation? and did you just take your drivers side steering knuckle and flip it?

 

[julstirn]

What does that put your lift at in front??? How do the coilovers ride??