LX450 - SLEE 2WD Conversion ?

[Madsbell]

Picked up my '97 LX Friday and working with SLEE to put together my build parts list. She's getting a DIY 4" lift with 35" DuraTrac. Her usage will be 75% overland/DD & 25% wheeling. Considering the SLEE 2WD conversion to minimize wear and help with gas mileage. I believe I'll lose ABS when in 2WD mode & wondering others application experience if this has proven a good mod?? Thanks for your time!

 

[CruiseOrlando]

Very much worth it. Forget any MPG improvements, won't happen.

With a 4" lift you get to avoid the front shaft issues with a PT kit - otherwise you're going to be chasing issues for a long time, possibly wihtout a good solution. Do it now while the truck is 'under the knife'.

 

[wearsabrowncoat]

Get the low transfer gears while you are in there.

 

[FJRanger]

I put in part time hubs in when I redid my birfs the last time and plan on putting the spool in at some point in the future. The gas mileage increase, if there is any, is not the reason to do this. The reduced wear on the front end parts is my reasoning, at roughly 170k the birfs were well worn and could of gone a few thousand more miles but I decided to replace them and now have two trail spares. The hope is to double the miles with the reduced wear on them.

You can keep ABS but it, as always, requires more money:
http://www.marks4wd.com/mfk2045.html

 

[scrowley]

I just did my install a month ago. Works great! Nice and smooth with a 4" lift. It will also save my longfield axles. I did a Lokka spool, and 60 series hubs. Only other part you could use along with kit is the main bearing for the spool. You can re-use the bearing also. It is quite large and my original with 217k looked great. I will also be deleting the ABS module in the next couple weeks. I've been rolling around with no abs for a year and it seems to make no real difference IMO.

 

[Madsbell]

Very much worth it. Forget any MPG improvements, won't happen.

With a 4" lift you get to avoid the front shaft issues with a PT kit - otherwise you're going to be chasing issues for a long time, possibly wihtout a good solution. Do it now while the truck is 'under the knife'.

Good point Thanks!

 

[Madsbell]

Get the low transfer gears while you are in there.

New to all this... What function will the LTG's give me??

 

[scrowley]

New to all this... What function will the LTG's give me??

A 25% lower low range than stock.

 

[Madsbell]

I put in part time hubs in when I redid my birfs the last time and plan on putting the spool in at some point in the future. The gas mileage increase, if there is any, is not the reason to do this. The reduced wear on the front end parts is my reasoning, at roughly 170k the birfs were well worn and could of gone a few thousand more miles but I decided to replace them and now have two trail spares. The hope is to double the miles with the reduced wear on them.

You can keep ABS but it, as always, requires more money:
http://www.marks4wd.com/mfk2045.html

Previous owner had Toyota full service the birfs at 97K... I picked her up with 124K so I'm tinking with this mod I should be good for a long while - Thanks for you feedback

 

[Madsbell]

I just did my install a month ago. Works great! Nice and smooth with a 4" lift. It will also save my longfield axles. I did a Lokka spool, and 60 series hubs. Only other part you could use along with kit is the main bearing for the spool. You can re-use the bearing also. It is quite large and my original with 217k looked great. I will also be deleting the ABS module in the next couple weeks. I've been rolling around with no abs for a year and it seems to make no real difference IMO.

What size tires you running with your 4"?

 

[Madsbell]

A 25% lower low range than stock.

Cool thanks! Any recommendations on spec'n the parts?

 

[CruiseOrlando]

Cool thanks! Any recommendations on spec'n the parts?

There's not many places to get the low range gear. Marlin is one of them.

https://www.marlincrawler.com/transfer-case/line-ups/single/land-cruiser-crawler-gears

They have a 5% off presidents day sale going on now, if you're ready to buy.

 

[scrowley]

What size tires you running with your 4"?

37" truxxs mt's on oem wheels. J springs. 1" fr spacer

 

[Madsbell]

There's not many places to get the low range gear. Marlin is one of them.

https://www.marlincrawler.com/transfer-case/line-ups/single/land-cruiser-crawler-gears

They have a 5% off presidents day sale going on now, if you're ready to buy.

Rite on Thanks CO!

 

[Madsbell]

37" truxxs mt's on oem wheels. J springs. 1" fr spacer

Running big girls - Nice!!!! How long have you had the 4" lift? I'm slightly concerned lifting that much and its long term effects on the rigs drive lines which has me tinking of a smaller 2.5" lift but I dont want rubbing with the 35's!!

 

[Madsbell]

Very much worth it. Forget any MPG improvements, won't happen.

With a 4" lift you get to avoid the front shaft issues with a PT kit - otherwise you're going to be chasing issues for a long time, possibly wihtout a good solution. Do it now while the truck is 'under the knife'.

Forgot to ask - In your opinion will I also be "chasing" issues with my rear shaft with a 4" lift?

 

[Dirty Koala]

Forgot to ask - In your opinion will I also be "chasing" issues with my rear shaft with a 4" lift?

It is very likely that you will get vibrations/noises. The most common is due to the flange of the rear pinion and xfer case output not being parallel after the lift. You want those two flanges to have 0 degrees of difference. I have Metal Tech upper and lower adjustable control arms to account for the added height.