Axles and lockers

[WarDamnEagle]

OK. I've done a bit to my stock 1985 4Runner (see pic below) and have decided that the gears need to be changed to 4.56. I have a new engine in it which is doing fine but with the 31" tires I think the engine will be running more in the power band if I get the overall ratio back to stock.

I don't climb rocks but I do like to do things right. I would like to put a Toyota elocker in the rear with 4.56 gearing. I've already looked into all the threads and I don't think I have any questions.

The front is a different issue. I have concluded that I would like to go with a Detroit truetrac and of course I need to change the ring and pinions to 4.56. I also think that a hi-pinion front carrier would be really cool but I don't know that it's worth the money to me. That seems to add quite a bit of money to the parts list.

My only other consideration is whether or not to buy a set of Marfield birfield joints and/or new axles. I only want to go into the front axle once and I want it to last for a long time. We've had this 4Runner since it was almost new and I don't think the wife would let me sell it if I wanted to (not that I want to!).

The other option for the front seems is a 30 spline longfield set of Birfields and axles. I'm not sure how this affects the carrier set-up, if at all. It's probably also a bit of overkill for my application - but that never stopped me before.

Opinions?

Thanks!

 

[tntoyota]

Carb or EFI?

Sounds good,

If you got the budget go for what you said.

If you don't REgears (and traction) are mucho money ALONE! Most people don't regear for 31's but its a free country and with that ratio it would pull awesome!

I believe you can bolt on an exhaust (get better mpg) and that will get you back to the power band cheaper.

Also NOT very hard to REplace the carrier in front diff w/ TrueTrac, your good to go at 1/4 the cost on your wish list.

Stock front end can handle it.



Have fun!

 

[jasonmt]

I would just go with F&R low pinion 4.56 E-Lockers rather than regear the front with a TrueTac. A complete 4.56 LP E-Locker from Inchworm is $925 compared to $425 for a TrueTrac, $175 for gears and $125 for a master kit.

 

[beatdown83fj60]

Oh plan on the future, not saying you are going to go crazy and turn this thing into a rockcrawler, hopefully not....Put some 4:88's in it, with a full detroit in the rear and an ARB front, of if you don't want to be that locked up a Truetrac in the front. What I'm saying is you may just put a lil body lift on their and stuff 33's under it one day and you wouldn't mind having 4:88's and some good old detroit differential beef to beat up on. You've done it right so far, don't do any skimping here.

And, don't waste any time with a hi-pinion if you aren't going to play in the rocks HARD. Won't be worth it. Also (remember this is all a matter of opinion) don't worry about getting HD birf's if you are running a 31-33 inch tire, there are plenty of people that last a long time on 35's with stock birfs and they are probably abusing their vehicles quite a bit harder than you will. You will be happier with 4:88's, trust me on this. I was barely happy with 33's and 5:29's in my last "real" rig, but my motor wasn't nearly as cherry as yours.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

Oh plan on the future, not saying you are going to go crazy and turn this thing into a rockcrawler, hopefully not....Put some 4:88's in it, with a full detroit in the rear and an ARB front, of if you don't want to be that locked up a Truetrac in the front. What I'm saying is you may just put a lil body lift on their and stuff 33's under it one day and you wouldn't mind having 4:88's and some good old detroit differential beef to beat up on. You've done it right so far, don't do any skimping here.

And, don't waste any time with a hi-pinion if you aren't going to play in the rocks HARD. Won't be worth it. Also (remember this is all a matter of opinion) don't worry about getting HD birf's if you are running a 31-33 inch tire, there are plenty of people that last a long time on 35's with stock birfs and they are probably abusing their vehicles quite a bit harder than you will. You will be happier with 4:88's, trust me on this. I was barely happy with 33's and 5:29's in my last "real" rig, but my motor wasn't nearly as cherry as yours.

Thanks. How's your build of the tow truck accident going? I was dissappointed when you posted with the details as I wanted to hear how your OME suspension install went. Mine's great now but it took a bit of presuasion and a procomp draglink to get the steering to work. I haven't contacted ARB but I really think that lift is closer to 4" than 2". I have the rim to fender well measurements. Would be interesting to compare to stock. Unfortunately I didn't take any before measurements.

Anyway, I'll have to think about 4.88. I might loose too much top end on the interstate. I'll break out my sliderule...

I don't want to be locked up front with an elocker or ARB. Two words: mud and hills. I really need to be able to steer up a hill with as much traction as possible in rather slippery conditions. Without any lockers that simply means a running start. I thought a rear elocker and front truetrac would be a fairly good combination as I don't think the truetrac will interfere with my steering as much as a full Detroit or an elocker (or an ARB for that matter). It is tempting to have two switches though.....

tntoyota: I should have given this link in my first post:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=175296

New DOA Racing engine, LC Engineering SS/cermaic coated header, SS exhaust w/ new cat, etc. etc.

It's not that the truck doesn't go. I just want it to go a bit better!

 

[Letsgomoreplaces]

4.88

I would go 4.88. It is only about 7% lower than the 4.56 and will help w/ low end power and if you go with a bigger tire. It wont kill your highway driving either.

Thanks. How's your build of the tow truck accident going? I was dissappointed when you posted with the details as I wanted to hear how your OME suspension install went. Mine's great now but it took a bit of presuasion and a procomp draglink to get the steering to work. I haven't contacted ARB but I really think that lift is closer to 4" than 2". I have the rim to fender well measurements. Would be interesting to compare to stock. Unfortunately I didn't take any before measurements.

Anyway, I'll have to think about 4.88. I might loose too much top end on the interstate. I'll break out my sliderule...

I don't want to be locked up front with an elocker or ARB. Two words: mud and hills. I really need to be able to steer up a hill with as much traction as possible in rather slippery conditions. Without any lockers that simply means a running start. I thought a rear elocker and front truetrac would be a fairly good combination as I don't think the truetrac will interfere with my steering as much as a full Detroit or an elocker (or an ARB for that matter). It is tempting to have two switches though.....

tntoyota: I should have given this link in my first post:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=175296

New DOA Racing engine, LC Engineering SS/cermaic coated header, SS exhaust w/ new cat, etc. etc.

It's not that the truck doesn't go. I just want it to go a bit better!

 

[beatdown83fj60]

4:88's won't hurt that bad when it comes to your top end, unless you always have your truck in 5th gear trying to trip tap out the speedo. You will kick yourself hard if you go 4:56 and decide that 33's look pretty good one day. I still haven't been compensated for my wrecked 4Runner, apparently the local sherrif fawked the vin inspection up for the tow company and that apparently pushes the title transfer out another 2 weeks, it's getting old. I'm getting closer to just throwing my hands up and proceeding to court, it's been almost 2 months.

Your truck is coming along nicely, I am supremely jealous.

Just go 4:88, you will never regret it, ever. For what you plan on doing I think a truetrac will fit the bill for the front quite well, they work different than a locker, they TRY to transfer power to the wheel with the most traction, I've driven a vehicle with one in the rear but it was a vast improvement over stock, just not quite as nice as a full detroit or something similar.