fj80 front axle swap w/ full hydro into a mini truck

[wizzo]

fj80 axles w/ full hydro into a mini truck

here's what i've got
double ended ram in front of the axle using rhd arm. i really thought i was gonna be able to utilize the hi steer arms more but the leaf spring clearance was too cloose to mount it any other way.

the hi steer arms tie into the abs sensor hole and i drilled and tapped the bolt hole for the sensor for a larger bolt

i hope to link this rig next year, but for now i just want to do some wheel'n. front will get narrowed soon. had to pull the fenders to ride last weekend (little rubbage), but they will get trimmed and fire wall will need to be clearanced.

bed is narrowed and chopped kinda a hack job for now, but it will get tube and bedsides will just be skins soon

after the first ride with these axles i was pretty pleased with the added width for stability and disc brakes all around is nice!

 

[Red Sox Cruiser]

nice job!

 

[swamprunner]

nice work...

I'm getting ready to do the same thing.

Are you using the stock 5spd and centered tcase? Or did you use a offset tcase. I think the rear 80 axle is close enough to being centered not to matter on a wheeler.

Sent you a pm with a few questions.

 

[wizzo]

thanks for the compliments

i'm running a 4.3 w/ a th350 and duel toyota transfer cases. they are factory center out put and the fzj80 rears are close enough to center to not fool with an off set case. you will have a little angle in your drive line but for me it's not a big deal.

 

[Tapage]

can you share with us the piston and PS pump specs .. ?

nice nice job .. how you feel the steering speed ..

 

[Tapage]

can you share with us the piston and PS pump specs .. ?

nice nice job .. how you feel the steering speed ..

 

[wizzo]

my steering is a complete kit from psc, don't beleive its anything really special. i just ordered their kit. steering is good at speed, i also think how well you set your toe in and other stuff plays a big part in how your rig handles at speed

 

[71-CRUISER]

did you use 2 passenger side arms to get the driver side arm in front of the axle? Looks good.

 

[wizzo]

i'm using the normal (for US vehicles) lhd steering arm on the passanger side knuckle and i'm using a factory rhd steering arm on the driver knuckle. i got the rhd steering arm from a guy in austrailia where rhd stuff is the norm, so they have plenty.

 

[lt1fire]

what high steer arms are you using?? Slee?

 

[wizzo]

hi steer arms are custom machined by a friend of mine.

 

[lt1fire]

nice work...

I'm getting ready to do the same thing.

Are you using the stock 5spd and centered tcase? Or did you use a offset tcase. I think the rear 80 axle is close enough to being centered not to matter on a wheeler.

Sent you a pm with a few questions.

I have been told on TTORA that the slight offset on the rear will interfear with the gas tank.

 

[lt1fire]

hi steer arms are custom machined by a friend of mine.

Any idea how much he might charge??? If he is interested.

 

[wizzo]

doubt he's interested b/c it took him 25+ hours

 

[swamprunner]

OTT will still make high steer arms. You just have to get the knuckles machined to accept the arms.

Without hydro you still have to address the drag link and leaf springs.


I'm toying with the idea of putting a mini truck body on an 80 rolling chassis. My rig is gonna be a daily driver so a stock suspension setup is fine with me.

It will probably be best just to link to mini. The cost of the coilovers is my main hangup of going this route.

 

[dirty rock star]

Im just wondering if anyone knows how to get intouch with OTT and a price on their high steer arms? or anyone else? the SLEE kit is abit steep for me $770 + 2 new abs knuckles.


im about to put full PSC hydro steering on my Tuff Truck with 80 series diffs in australia and am looking into high steer arms.

also, does anyone in the states have a good source on where i can get a LHD factory steering arm?

Im weighing up between a high steer kit and getting a fab shop to knock me up something just using standard lower arms on both sides??

cheers

Tony

 

[Arya Ebrahimi]

There is a guy on Pirate4x4 that goes by billybob13. He has started production of a beefier replacement knuckle with provisions for high-steer arms.

I believe a pair of brand new knuckles WITH high-steer arms is in the $800 range.

He currently has a waiting list going, but he seems to be getting close to having stock on the shelves.

 

[ardentyota]

also, does anyone in the states have a good source on where i can get a LHD factory steering arm?
Tony

I'll find you one here and send it your way if you find me a RHD arm and send it my way.

 

[dirty rock star]

ardentyota yeah no problems. PM sent.

Im sure the upgraded knuckles will be great but i havent broken one yet.
and ive been following that thread on pirate for a while now. and it does seem to be dragging out a little bit.
but personally i would go that way instead of the slee kit.

cheers

DRS

 

[billy138]

yeah, it's been dragging out a lot actually. i could have had these out 4 months ago but i cant charge anyone $1200 per kit for these. it's taken a lot of work to get the right people involved to make this happen for a price that i'm not embarrased about. they'll be out soon, and you'll be seeing more mini truck guys going to fj80 front axles. for those who say that stock knuckles are strong enough for hard core wheeling, i will gladly accept a stock knuckle with available high steer arm and do a test on both set-ups to compare breaking strength. it will cost a bit to build the fixturing but it will be worth it to me and all of you just to know what holds up and what doesn't.