Builds Big Red Toy (9 Viewers)

[The Phoenician]

Got it. Thanks. It's still a while off, but I know I've got to address the suspension on my rig in the near future. At the least it'll be new springs and shocks. That might take care of the lean. I doubt I'll run tires bigger than 33s (still have a 2F and factory power steering pump) so I don't think I'll have the need to solve additional problems with the airbags, if the lift takes the lean away. But if they hold up to what you put em through, I'll keep it in mind.

replacing the shocks and springs should fix whatever suspension issue you have, if money wasn't an issue for me that's what I would have done.

Awesoem pics! That looked like a really fun trip. I hate the beach (i burn easily ), but would love to be able to do some more salt water fishing. camping on the beach looks pretty fun too.
What were you doing when you snapped the sway bar brackets? just driving?

The trip was fun, I'm sunburned and there's sand everywhere, but that's to be expected. Salt water fishing is tons of fun, just expect to catch seaweed with everything.
I power washed the the truck as soon as I could, but still I'm getting a little surface rust on the axle and bare metal components. Will have to clean and repaint when it stops raining. I broke the link when we were driving fast and the car in front hit a rut causing me to swerve to avoid him and hitting a few bumps. It wasn't bad the links were weak and bent anyway. The thing that got me was I had just replaced the bushings a few days ago.

Had a buddy, who after he asked to borrow my Buck 110 knife, I said "don't use it as a screwdriver", proceeded to break the tip off. He looks at me, "I thought it would bend before it broke", I guess he never owned a quality knife. Mine is 25+ years old, took it to a knife sharpener and he reshaped it perfectly, albeit a wee bit shorter, but not noticeable. I thought about reshaping in myself, but didn't want to destroy the temper.

That's a great idea to reshape the blade. My knife has a lifetime warranty, so I was thinking about sending it in. the problem is it's a fully automatic knife, which from what I understand is illegal in the US. The other problem is I don't want them to replace the blade since that won't make it the same. We'll see what happens.

 

[The Phoenician]

Before I forget I found out that I have longfields in my front axle, that made my day on saturday.

Stupid question time.

Where can I find sway bar links for SOA rigs. I went to man-a-fre and found ones for 5 in lifts, but I don't think that will be long enough. There's an 11in. distance in the link after the bushings on the one I broke. SOR doesn't carry them either and they are $70 for the ones they do have.

Stupid question number two. What do I need to buy to regear my diffs. Ring, Pinion, what else? and who do you guys recommend, Yukon, Nitro... anyone else? Remember I have an 80 rear axle now, not sure if that changes anything.

Any help in this would be greatly appreciated. Trying to catch up on work and can't surf the internet all day without getting in trouble.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Make your own sway bar links. Use allthread.

Ring and pinion (gears) along with a master install kit for each diff. It will be the same for both your 60 axle as well as your 80 axle, assuming that you do not have the e-locker.

 

[The Phoenician]

Make your own sway bar links. Use allthread.

Ring and pinion (gears) along with a master install kit for each diff. It will be the same for both your 60 axle as well as your 80 axle, assuming that you do not have the e-locker.

Thanks Johnny, I thought about using all thread, but wasn't sure if they would be strong enough.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Just get good all thread, and upgrade the thread size!

 

[The Phoenician]

the limitation is the bushing inner diameter, I'm looking for half inch bushings. I might just go with the 3/8 for now since I still have some new ones.

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

Mike, run to a Fastenal or order some from McMaster a B7 all thread, 125,000 tensile.. most all your sway bar bushings will accommodate 3/8" rod if you want to go bigger... drill them out a little for 1/2"

J

 

[The Phoenician]

i have a stainless steel one in the garage that fits 3/8. I'll give that a try and adjust from there if it's not strong enough.

I got the last fuel line today and a bunch of isolators, still waiting one two more brackets to show up. Shouldn't have any more fuel line issues (knock on wood) for a while.

 

[The Phoenician]

is this what I'm looking for?

http://www.justdifferentials.com/TLC-370-NG-p/tlc-370-ng.htm



I don't know the spline counts and I thought the ratio was 3.73, this one shows 3.7 only with 27 splines. The yukon gear shows 30 splines. So which one is it?
I don't want to ignore a fraction and put in hours of work only to hear some whine or shear something. Any insight is helpful, thanks in advance

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Drill out the bushing. That's easy

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

Mike, are you wanting to go 3.73s? I'd be interested in your 4.11 thirds if you just want to swap with me.... I have a set of 3.73 thirds and shipping buckets for them..

J

 

[The Phoenician]

J, that sounds like a plan. I don't know if the third member from the 80 axle will be direct bolt in or not for your applications. I still have to set up a time and place to get this swap done with the aid of someone who's done it before. So it will be a few weeks before I can take mine out.

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

I forgot you put a 80 in the rear.... I don't think its a direct swap on the rear.

J

 

[The Phoenician]

I forgot you put a 80 in the rear.... I don't think its a direct swap on the rear.

J

no worries, I'm kinda wanting to tackle switching out rings for the experience. Plus having new parts in there is always a good thing.

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

Understood.. The 3.73s w/ my OD look like it will lug me too much and steal power and fuel economy... However, 37s with 4.56s and my OD = SWEET.. 1950~ RPM @ 75MPH..

Guess its about time to break out the checkbook in the near future...

J

 

[The Phoenician]

I'm a bit worried about lugging the engine, but Dave and Johnny both have their 4bt with 3.73 and seem to do fine. I just need to lower EGT by a bit and gain a bit more highway speed.

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

Yep.. I just have the issue of the 27% OD.. my final ratio is .62 to 1 Johnny is running a NV4500 and IIRC is a .73 to 1 final. I need a little more gear to achieve the same ratio/rpm range. I can get the same ratio with the Ranger in high and in 4th gear and go with 3.73s.. Just want to use all the gears.

J

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Yup, my NV4500 has .73:1 OD. It is as close to perfect with my 37s and 3.73s as I can get.

I want to say that you can put your 80 rear diff into a 60 SF housing, but I don't know for sure, because I've never done it. You can swap diffs front to rear on a 60 (front is FF, rear is SF, and I've done it) and the rear 80 diff is the same as the front 60 diff (I've done that as well), so you should be good to go.

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

I was thinking the same Johnny, IIRC its the 80 Front that is different.. I'll have to get learned up a little more on it. I have FF front and rear on my 60. But, sounds like he wants new parts and well... I want BIGGER TIRES.. Kinda worked itself out HA! The 345 75 16 KM2s are back in stock..

J

 

[GLTHFJ60]

I was thinking the same Johnny, IIRC its the 80 Front that is different.. I'll have to get learned up a little more on it. I have FF front and rear on my 60. But, sounds like he wants new parts and well... I want BIGGER TIRES.. Kinda worked itself out HA! The 345 75 16 KM2s are back in stock..

J

Oh s***, you have a FF in the rear too? Then there's nothing to worry about, it's all plug and play. I had a FZJ80 e-locker in my FJ60 FF rear axle for a couple of years, and it worked great! The non-elocker diffs will work without modification in the FJ60 FF rear.