Gears

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

cook

cook

Joined
Sep 16, 2008
Threads
39
Messages
509
Location
Phoenix
Zuk is out of town until September or October, so we only have two, maybe three months to resolve the issue of my regearing to 4.88 or 5.27. So, let’s get started.
As a refresher, I have a 1997 lx450 with 315, sliders, front and rear bumpers and will be sporting J lifts (currently has the 2 1/5 mediums, but the J springs and shocks are in the garage waiting to go on). I presently have a roof rack, but will be getting a trailer shortly. The winch will be added next year.

The desire to change the gears is caused by carrying a family of six, the dog, and all the gear up the hills between here and the rim. The speed up the hills falls off considerably. But for the trailer, I’d be going 4.88. With trailer, I’m thinking 5.27s.

Phil, you stated that your 80 was perfect with original gears (https://forum.ih8mud.com/az-copper-state-cruisers/419339-s.html). Does it still have original gears? Even with larger tires and pulling a trailer? If you re-geared, did you go 4.88 or 5.27?

Tools, you stated that I should only get the pinion kit (https://forum.ih8mud.com/az-copper-state-cruisers/419339-s.html). Please expand on this this.

Given that most of the trail runs require a lot of highway miles, I’d like to hear from anyone that has 35s and 5.27s about their rpms at 75 mph, and their thoughts on highway driving with this set up.

Thanks all,
Cook.
 
Drop the tranny to second gear and keep the pedal to the metal...it works wonders.......
 
Cook, have you tried using your Mother in laws 100 to do this? A great way to "test-drive" before you buy.
 
When the twins get their permits, I’ll probably pick up a couple of FJs. Until then, I’ll be playing with my 80. I’ve driven Janice’s 100 and it is a pleasure. However, I like my 80 and can’t see any reason not to put a little money into making it do what I want.

Not sure what part of my question started the ‘buy a 100’ chorus. The 80, even without a trailer, can be slow going up the hills between Phoenix and Payson. Yes, I can pick up speed on the downhills and make it back up without going to slow. But the thought of adding a trailer tells me it is time to regear.

Brit can’t be the only one that put new gears into his 80. Where are the regear supporters?
 
4.88's with tall 35's and love them! Put the oomph back in your hill climbs - the biggest help was being able to better stay in the sweet spot in the power curve versus either screaming rpm in second or lugging in third.

There ya go :D

You running 35's or 33's? that will determine the right regearing ratio.
 
Thanks.

35's. Sent an email to Zuk on the project, as everyone suggested.
 
I'll be interested to hear if you get a reply from Zuk, last I heard he was not doing set ups anymore. Maybe he's back in the game. Good guy, he rebuilt the rear on my 80 a few years back.

I have the same setup as Murf, 4.88's with 35's. Works well.

Chris
 
cook said:
...
Not sure what part of my question started the ‘buy a 100’ chorus.
Click to expand...

The intended use that you specified, is better suited to a '100, Sequoia, etc.

cook said:
The 80, even without a trailer, can be slow going up the hills between Phoenix and Payson. Yes, I can pick up speed on the downhills and make it back up without going to slow. But the thought of adding a trailer tells me it is time to regear.

Brit can’t be the only one that put new gears into his 80. Where are the regear supporters?
Click to expand...

The FZJ80 is what it is. Is an OK highway cruiser, but will never be a great highway cruiser and will never be a good tow rig. So if you like the '80, enjoy it's off road abilities, have to deal with it's short comings. Without adding more HP, nothing is going to be a huge game changer.

For a loaded, lifted, N/A, '80 to go uphill effectively it needs to be in the power band. Geared so the motor makes full power. Look at the power band, if you want to to go up in the most effective way, it needs to be at +4000RPM. This is not "screaming", it is ~1200rpm short of red line, in the designed max power range. If you are attempting to lug it up hill at 2500RPM, it's only making ~125HP, so yep, going to be SLOW!

Yes, regearing is the "correct" way to do it, maybe? But, for the highway, it really doesn't matter, as long as the motor is in the power band, trans gear selection, diff gear, will perform about the same. Don't expect regearing to be a huge game changer, wont add any HP, etc. For off road, it will be a bigger change, allow for more torque at lower speed, etc.

I have zero problem with you regearing, if I weren't booked right now, would have no problems doing it for you. But, have the correct expectations, it's not going to make it a mountain climbing rocket or even a respectable facsimile of a tow rig.:hillbilly:

1FZ_curve.jpg
 
If you insist to keep the '80 "and" tow the 'whole fam damily' then 4.88's would not hurt over the stock gearing. You will still need to keep your foot it in even with the 4.88's.

Bottom line "DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT!" ;)
 
Hey Cook, I regeared my 4Runner and my 80, both are 4:88's. Zuk did the gears in my 80. I would definitely recommend him! I love my new gears off road. But, on the highway, both vehicles are definitely slower. I agree with Kevin, regearing isn't going to make your 80 an awesome highway/tow vehicle. But, it will give you more torque on the low end. I like technical trails so I enjoy the low end torque. I also pull a pop-up (w/ my 4Runner) so I don't mind driving slow on the highway. Eitherway, fifth gear (or o.d.) is no good for highway climbing.
I want to put in a 4.7L from a 2003. Jackson recommends a vvti engine from 2006. The 2003 swap is supposed to be significantly easier...Good Luck!
 
Cook- I regeared to 4.88's and have 35's. On our way to Payson for the Payette Run I was pulling a pop-up trailer and easily passed a lot of other cruisers going up. Notably Rob Clark with stock 4.10's, 6" lift and 35's. When I regeared, lifted, and put 35's on, my truck shifted and accelerated the same as when it was stock because of the gear change.
 
Sorry i disappeared. With work I either have time on my hands or none at all.

Zuk did reply to my email. I don’t know if it is a secret, but people around here tend not to post prices for people’s labor. But if you email him he will tell you the cost and when it will be done.

AZRider, thanks! That was what I was looking for. Did you get the yellow box to adjust speedometer and shift points?

I’m trying to get away and head up to Payson today or tomorrow to try out the advice concerning 2nd gear on the hills. Will see.
 
cook said:
<snip>.

AZRider, thanks! That was what I was looking for. Did you get the yellow box to adjust speedometer and shift points?

<snip>.
Click to expand...

If you install a yellow box, make note of your shift points prior to the installation and after. I have ask for this data change from others and no one has been able to produce it.

Reason: My interpretation of the wiring diagram show different speed sensor for the dash(spedo) and the computer input. If my interpretation is correct they will no change in the shift points on a 80 series with a yellow box just spedo correction.....
 
Cook-no yellow box. I'm sure the speedometer is off a bit, but the shift points are the same to me as stock.
 
4.88's, 35's, no yellow box or speedo correction. I'm not concerned what it does on the highway, personally, but what others said is right. You need to punch it on the hills if you want to keep the speed up. 4k rpms will keep you going. Robbie (powderpig, 1FZFE guru) told me this motor will do 4k rpms all day long and not even sweat it.

The real advantage to the 4.88's is off road, especially going downhill.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom