Locker and New Ring & Pinion install

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Howardkats

Howardkats

10 Year
Joined
Dec 21, 2013
Threads
9
Messages
40
Location
West Point, UT
To ih8mud members in Utah: I need a referral for getting my new lockers and ring & pinion installed in my FJZ80 3rds. Can anyone recommend someone that does a great job for a fair price? I can take the 3rd anywhere along the Wasatch front. Thanks in advance.
 
BILT4ME said:
@just differentials

Zuk. Period.

Ship it to him, He'll ship it back.
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I won't argue that Zuk will do a meticulously good job, but he's certainly not the only one around that knows how to set up a diff. I know for a fact that there are many reputable gear guys here local in Utah. I also happen to know that Cruiser Outfitters uses a very reputable one, and that's who I'd contact. See Kevin's link below.

Tools R Us said:
May ask Cruiser Outfitters who they use?
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bryson said:
I won't argue that Zuk will do a meticulously good job, but he's certainly not the only one around that knows how to set up a diff. I know for a fact that there are many reputable gear guys here local in Utah. I also happen to know that Cruiser Outfitters uses a very reputable one, and that's who I'd contact. See Kevin's link below.
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I guess I'm biased. I'm in the middle of the country and I'll ship my stuff to him because of his reputation and his advice. He's done very well for me. I was going to ship my Dana 60 rear axle to him because I was having a hard time finding a competent shop locally to do it for me, but he ONLY does Toyotas except personal and close friends.

When my LC blows out a diff, I WILL ship it to him.

I'm sure @cruiseroutfit also uses some fantastic folks because their reputation is on the line, and Kurt has also treated me well! Maybe I would buy parts from Kurt and ship them to Zuk.........

Good Luck!
 
Cruiserdrew said:
Zuk-then you only have to take it to the closest FedEx.

@gearinstalls.com

Gear Install Harrop

Here's my latest:
Harrop elocker HP8 FZJ80
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What Andrew said. :bounce::bounce2:

Ken/Zuk has specialized in gear, diff, locker set up. If you want fast, simple, reliable and reasonable price, worth a call - wherever you are.

Nothing negative on anyone else in Utah, Colorado, or anywhere else, but it is a question of focus, commitment and specialization. Kind of like going to a Land Cruiser specialist vs. a generalist.

We have a bunch of other installing shops that resell our products, but not all are keen to deal with mail-in/walk-in diff builds.
 
Kurt will do them, but he's always a little booked out and I get the impression that his shop is less interested repair and mod work as opposed to outfitting....and honestly can you blame him? If you are in Utah and going to the overland expo at the expo center this weekend you can ask around there. I know State Automotive will be there, they are the ones that helped me with mine (done badly by one shop, re-setup correctly by them).
 
BILT4ME said:
I'm sure @cruiseroutfit also uses some fantastic folks because their reputation is on the line, and Kurt has also treated me well! Maybe I would buy parts from Kurt and ship them to Zuk.........

Good Luck!
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This is exactly what I've done. Gears, seals, and bearings from Kurt, Lockers from Harrop, off to Ken (Zuk). Very good experience.
 
BILT4ME said:
I guess I'm biased. I'm in the middle of the country and I'll ship my stuff to him because of his reputation and his advice. He's done very well for me. I was going to ship my Dana 60 rear axle to him because I was having a hard time finding a competent shop locally to do it for me, but he ONLY does Toyotas except personal and
When my LC blows out a diff, I WILL ship it to him.

I'm sure @cruiseroutfit also uses some fantastic folks because their reputation is on the line, and Kurt has also treated me well! Maybe I would buy parts from Kurt and ship them to Zuk.........
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Also, my two cents - if I hire a shop to do a job, I let the pro source the parts he wants to use - and make a little margin to help keep him in business - lockers, gears, install kits..... :)
 
Our gear guy has done hundreds and hundreds of Toyota diffs for us over the past 15 years, and he was doing Toyota diffs before then too! Oh and he's a Land Cruiser owner too :D His setups are in my personal Cruisers, have finished desert races, professional rock-crawling (he and I have competed in dozens of professional rock-crawls together) and have driven up and down the Panamerican Highway from Prudhoe to Ushuaia. I'm good with that. Some of his work:

IMG_2219.webp


We just did a full regear (Nitro 4.56) and axle overhauls (Sumo) on this Cruiser Wed and Thurs this week :cool:

IMG_2220.webp


Zuk does amazing work too and I've enjoyed working with him on projects over the years, his setups are rock solid!

To the OP, out of curiosity where did the parts come from? Were they not willing to assist with the setup? Complete diffs are easier to ship than parts :D
 
another vote for Zuk ! not only he did an amazing job, but he took a lot of time responding to my questions and educating me on diff

Great guy !
 
One more vote for Zuk @gearinstalls.com

I've referred a number of customers to Ken and he's always delivered a top notch product.
Another reason to send your diff to Zuk is tech support. Why deal with a middle man if you can go straight to the source and get your tech questions answered in real time?
I've spoken to Ken on numerous occasions and he's one of my go-to guys.

Georg @ Valley Hybrids & Cruiser Brothers
 
landtank said:
I've setup my share of diffs and haven't had any issues. It's not like it's rocket science. The first and most important decision is on the gear manufacturer. By far the easiest and quietest gear sets I've done have come from Nitro, period!
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Think of the audience you are posting to....
 
landtank said:
I've setup my share of diffs and haven't had any issues. It's not like it's rocket science. The first and most important decision is on the gear manufacturer. By far the easiest and quietest gear sets I've done have come from Nitro, period!
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I agree with this if youre mechanically inclined but Zuk would get my vote any day.
 
cruiseroutfit said:
Our gear guy has done hundreds and hundreds of Toyota diffs for us over the past 15 years, and he was doing Toyota diffs before then too! Oh and he's a Land Cruiser owner too :D His setups are in my personal Cruisers, have finished desert races, professional rock-crawling (he and I have competed in dozens of professional rock-crawls together) and have driven up and down the Panamerican Highway from Prudhoe to Ushuaia. I'm good with that. Some of his work:

View attachment 1450112

We just did a full regear (Nitro 4.56) and axle overhauls (Sumo) on this Cruiser Wed and Thurs this week :cool:

View attachment 1450122

Zuk does amazing work too and I've enjoyed working with him on projects over the years, his setups are rock solid!

To the OP, out of curiosity where did the parts come from? Were they not willing to assist with the setup? Complete diffs are easier to ship than parts :D
Click to expand...
I bought my Harrop lockers from Yota Lockers (Cruiser Bros) and I bought a Nitro Master Re-Gear kit. I had every intention of doing the install myself. Even bought all the tools. I am a fairly competent back yard mechanic/fabricator but I have never done a re-gear and frankly a little nervous. If I didn't have over $2K in lockers and another $1K in Nitro's I probably wouldn't hesitate but I am chickening out. I don't want to mess them up or redo it twice or three times. I have been in contact with Zuk, I think his price to do the work is fair but the shipping costs are a deal breaker. Thanks to all for the advise and opinions. I will talk to Cruiser Outfitters see if they will give me a lead. Thanks again!
 
My post wasn't meant to indicate that the people on this board should be able to setup their own gears. More to the point that any professional shop should be able to do it.

A local club should be able to point you to somebody who does this locally or even in the club
 
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