How do I get more power out of my 1992?

[OGBeno]

Gears and an H55F conversion are the best overall increases to power on a US 3F-E.

The A440F is absolutely a power hog (as are all Aisin transmissions from the 1980's).

It will cost a bunch up front but will turn the 80 in a great reliable truck for years to come.

 

[alltel05]

Put the LC on a diet and lose about 3k pounds of steel?

 

[Kbug]

Gears and an H55F conversion are the best overall increases to power on a US 3F-E.

The A440F is absolutely a power hog (as are all Aisin transmissions from the 1980's).

It will cost a bunch up front but will turn the 80 in a great reliable truck for years to come.

I plan on doing a manuel transmission conversion eventually, but don't have the time or money to do one right now. I know that the A440F isn't the best on power, but I still don't see how it couldn't have spun a single wheel in that situation.

 

[Funner]

So you never even tried 4low and allowed yourself to get towed? The things we learn

 

[Kbug]

So you never even tried 4low and allowed yourself to get towed? The things we learn

The first time I tried to put the transfer case in L, there was a really bad grinding sound. I went ahead and got the tow straps hooked up and and was then able to put the transfer case in L (I have no idea what the grinding sound was, but it didn't do it again after that). Since the tow straps were already hooked up, I just went ahead and got pulled out. Once I'd gotten pulled out of the really loose sand, I tried once again to drive out (when the picture was taken) and I still couldn't get a wheel to turn. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that a stock 1992 FJ80 3FE (even with the A440F) should be able to turn stock-sized 31" ATs on nearly level sand in first gear, despite the transfer case not being in L.

 

[KS-Ryan]

Did you put the transmission in neutral before putting the transfer case in low?

 

[alltel05]

In all seriousness I recently had to go into L and since I don't know the last time it's was done... It's really took a good tug to get it there. At first it gave a grinding sound. I immediately put back to N... I gave a really good tug back and I felt it go into place. Then it worked like a champ. It pulled me uphill in red soupy clay.

 

[jonheld]

Yea, doesn't look like much in the picture. It's also very hard to diagnose what's going on with your truck over the internet.
On the road from a stop with the AT shifter in D, are you getting all the shifts out of the AT? 1-2; 2-3; 3-4; 4-TC lockup at 45 mph. It's possible that for some reason you're not getting 1st gear.

 

[jonheld]

In all seriousness I recently had to go into L and since I don't know the last time it's was done... It's really took a good tug to get it there. At first it gave a grinding sound. I immediately put back to N... I gave a really good tug back and I felt it go into place. Then it worked like a champ. It pulled me uphill in red soupy clay.

(sigh) Folks, these are gear driven transfer cases and they're not made of eggshells and feathers. You're getting grinding because the gears are still moving inside the case. If you go from any drive gear to neutral in the transmission, gears are still rotating for a while due to inertia. You're not hurting anything unless you're trying to jam it into low range while the transmission is still in gear.
If the H-N-L shift lever is difficult to move in any condition it is due to corrosion of the pivot point in the shift lever assembly that is bolted to the top of the transmission, not the transfer case.

 

[alltel05]

Thanks jonheld, as this is my first LC... I am still getting used to what turns her on and off and I try to be gentle. After a few years like you crusty old LC owners I am sure I will get it.

 

[CJF]

On the road from a stop with the AT shifter in D, are you getting all the shifts out of the AT? 1-2; 2-3; 3-4; 4-TC lockup at 45 mph. It's possible that for some reason you're not getting 1st gear.

Sure sounds like no 1st to me.

 

[Kbug]

Did you put the transmission in neutral before putting the transfer case in low?

I thought I had it in either park or neutral, but it may not have been.

Yea, doesn't look like much in the picture. It's also very hard to diagnose what's going on with your truck over the internet.
On the road from a stop with the AT shifter in D, are you getting all the shifts out of the AT? 1-2; 2-3; 3-4; 4-TC lockup at 45 mph. It's possible that for some reason you're not getting 1st gear.

What is TC lockup?

Thanks jonheld, as this is my first LC... I am still getting used to what turns her on and off and I try to be gentle. After a few years like you crusty old LC owners I am sure I will get it.

This is my first LC as well. I've only been driving it for about a month (I'm 16 and it's my first truck) so I'm sure I'll learn more about them as I drive it more, but for now, I'm still pretty clueless on a lot.

 

[jonheld]

You are the same age as my youngest so I'll be gentle.
TC was referring to the torque converter in the automatic transmission. It acts like a clutch in a manual transmission...sort of. It remains in an unlocked state with varying amounts of slippage depending on engine RPM, gear the transmission is in, and road speed. The only time it is truly locked is in 4th gear over 45 MPH. Some people mistake that for another gear which it is not.
So there are 4 forward gears with a TC lockup around 45 MPH. From a stop with the transmission in D you're starting out in 1st gear. Shifts should be 1-2; 2-3; 3-4 TC unlocked; 4 TC unlocked - 4 TC locked.
Clear as mud?

 

[Kbug]

You are the same age as my youngest so I'll be gentle.
TC was referring to the torque converter in the automatic transmission. It acts like a clutch in a manual transmission...sort of. It remains in an unlocked state with varying amounts of slippage depending on engine RPM, gear the transmission is in, and road speed. The only time it is truly locked is in 4th gear over 45 MPH. Some people mistake that for another gear which it is not.
So there are 4 forward gears with a TC lockup around 45 MPH. From a stop with the transmission in D you're starting out in 1st gear. Shifts should be 1-2; 2-3; 3-4 TC unlocked; 4 TC unlocked - 4 TC locked.
Clear as mud?

Thanks. I haven't payed attention to see how many times it shifts (to know if it's missing any gears), but I do know that it shifts into 4th (or the TC locks-up) around 55-60 mph. I'm going somewhere in a little while though, so I'll count the shifts then.

 

[Kbug]

Been going through a move so haven't had Internet for a while. Truck shifts through all the gears, so it's got 1st.