ChaseTruck
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'93 80 vs. '97 LX - inside the box
I've decided this will be the mod blog for our two 80-series trucks...
We got the '93 last year, it lives in BTR.
acquired the LX here in PHX while I was abroad, and I got to see/drive it for the first time this weekend. Interesting how different they feel on the road...
Both are supercharged, on 285s for now; the '80 on Michelin E-rated street tires, the LX on D-rated Yokohama Geolandar AT/S; both have a small lift.
The '80 feels like a truck - don't know exactly what the lift is (coil wire diameter on the front is 17mm), but I'd say it's oversprung (or under-weighted...); it's got stink-bug stance: center-hub-to-flare in the front is 21 1/4", rear is 22 3/4"; I suppose spacers or J springs would fix that. Tracks straight on the freeway; it has yellow caster bushings installed.
The LX feels more like a car, softer spring rate - don't know what that lift is, either; maybe the sway bar makes it feel different. Center-hub-to-flare on the LX is 22 3/4" front and rear, coil wire diameter on the front is 17mm; it's got a short spacer on top of the front coils. It feels like this one would benefit from a little bit of caster correction. It also feels like the LX is quicker off the line compared to the '80, but that's a seat-o-pants measurement.
Not sure yet on the overall game plan - the BTR '80 was supposed to become the long distance runner in place of Claudia's '40 for trips to Death Valley or the Colorado passes and such, but the LX will probably take that role now. The black fan clutch out of the '80 has transitioned to PHX, and will make its way in the LX as the temp strains are higher here; unfortunately, so have the Marlin gears... The '80 currently has a blue clutch w/ 30k fluid and the 3FE fan, but a new-to-us black clutch is currently draining in order to fill w/ 10k fluid.
We'll see how it goes, I think maybe the '80 will get a few upgrades and see some of the trails in the South after all...
I've decided this will be the mod blog for our two 80-series trucks...
We got the '93 last year, it lives in BTR.
acquired the LX here in PHX while I was abroad, and I got to see/drive it for the first time this weekend. Interesting how different they feel on the road...Both are supercharged, on 285s for now; the '80 on Michelin E-rated street tires, the LX on D-rated Yokohama Geolandar AT/S; both have a small lift.
The '80 feels like a truck - don't know exactly what the lift is (coil wire diameter on the front is 17mm), but I'd say it's oversprung (or under-weighted...); it's got stink-bug stance: center-hub-to-flare in the front is 21 1/4", rear is 22 3/4"; I suppose spacers or J springs would fix that. Tracks straight on the freeway; it has yellow caster bushings installed.
The LX feels more like a car, softer spring rate - don't know what that lift is, either; maybe the sway bar makes it feel different. Center-hub-to-flare on the LX is 22 3/4" front and rear, coil wire diameter on the front is 17mm; it's got a short spacer on top of the front coils. It feels like this one would benefit from a little bit of caster correction. It also feels like the LX is quicker off the line compared to the '80, but that's a seat-o-pants measurement.
Not sure yet on the overall game plan - the BTR '80 was supposed to become the long distance runner in place of Claudia's '40 for trips to Death Valley or the Colorado passes and such, but the LX will probably take that role now. The black fan clutch out of the '80 has transitioned to PHX, and will make its way in the LX as the temp strains are higher here; unfortunately, so have the Marlin gears... The '80 currently has a blue clutch w/ 30k fluid and the 3FE fan, but a new-to-us black clutch is currently draining in order to fill w/ 10k fluid.
We'll see how it goes, I think maybe the '80 will get a few upgrades and see some of the trails in the South after all...
Last edited:
JP Weld fix will go.
