Moby's next hurdle.....

[mobydick]

Next thing on my list of upgrades to get my truck to the level of performance that I'd be satisfied with is to change out the stock 4.11 gears for 4.88's. I'd like opinions from you all on the merits of buying new vs used R&P sets. Georg is on the "look out" for a good set of used 4.88's. The installation kits alone aren't cheap. Any opinions about how you think I might proceed would be appreciated.

 

[gnob]

dollar for dollar i would look and see if you cant find complete diffs to swap.

it cost a s***load to build chunks from new.
i would think a non locked 4.88 could be found relatively cheap with someone parting or upgrading their current piece..

basically you are into ONE chunk about 600$ with setup cost. not including install in most cases.
ive seen used sets for diffs for less.

 

[mobydick]

Thanks Aric. That's the advise I'm looking for. Sounds like a good excuse for me to head back down to Stockton if Georg comes across complete 3rds. Maybe someone in the club could buy my stock 4.11's or Georg down in Stockton might offer me a few $$ in trade- If so I'd have to have him swap them out while I'm down there..?? Just thinking about options right now.

Anyone up here looking for some 4.11's to use in their rig???

 

[mobydick]

I've located a pair of nib Nitro 4.88's for $300. Still thinking about what you said though Aric. Once I start buying parts I'm committed to a "build' vs a swap. This is also not anything I want done before the run. It's also- and this is always my biggest problem- I can't afford to waste money. What to do...

 

[toyrunner]

Chris,
With the automatic, are you sure you don't have 4:56's in the axles?
I may be way off, however in the trucks/4Runners, autos are 4:56 and manual is 4:10.
Just thinking out loud here.

 

[CreeperSleeper]

All FJ62's have 4.11 gears.

 

[mobydick]

All FJ62's have 4.11 gears.

Yuuup! However, a good point has been brought up. How do I know the stock 4.11's are still in there?? I don't know PO's history?? Pull the cover and count teeth??

 

[CreeperSleeper]

Here you go.

 

[mobydick]

Hey thanks Chad!

Gonna make Bobby do that Saturday!!

 

[Kief]

count

Yuuup! However, a good point has been brought up. How do I know the stock 4.11's are still in there?? I don't know PO's history?? Pull the cover and count teeth??[/QUOT

It takes 4.11 or 4.56 turns of the pinion to get the wheels to turn once. Jack up the rear axle, support safely and with a locker I think you will get both wheels turning, if an open diff jack up one wheel and the wheel will spin 2x as much. If you spin the pinion 8 1/4 turns you should get close to two full rotations or 9 with a 4.56 diff. with your locker.. You will need some help counting.. I think I explained that right..
Or you can spin the wheel 10 times and mark the drive line with a zip tie/paint/tape and you should come up with 41.1 rotations of the driveshaft/pinion if locked and 20.55 if an open diff- I think..

 

[Russ in California]

Yuuup! However, a good point has been brought up. How do I know the stock 4.11's are still in there?? I don't know PO's history?? Pull the cover and count teeth??

Posted by mobydick:
Hey thanks Chad!
Gonna make Bobby do that Saturday!!

It takes 4.11 or 4.56 turns of the pinion to get the wheels to turn once. Jack up the rear axle, support safely and with a locker I think you will get both wheels turning, if an open diff jack up one wheel and the wheel will spin 2x as much. If you spin the pinion 8 1/4 turns you should get close to two full rotations or 9 with a 4.56 diff. with your locker.. You will need some help counting.. I think I explained that right..

Bobbyyy...!!

 

[mobydick]

Yuuup! He turns 20 today! He'll learn at 20 what took me 54 years to do!!

 

[mobydick]

Thanks Kief for trying to help me out today! Too bad it was the wrong side. Wish I had known you were coming, I would have brought those springs for you! Next time I guess.

 

[mobydick]

After Deer Creek I have to clean Moby up again and continue the prep for Mcgrew. I was able to confirm that Moby is definitely still wearing the stock 4.11 gears. I have secured 2 sets of 4.88's and the install kits from Marlin Crawlers for a great price so next year hopefully I'll be regeared and running 33's! And I think, for me anyway, that will be it for Moby mods.

BTW, can you replace the tranny mount w/o taking it(the tranny etc.) all out? It has a crack and I suspect it is the source of some occasional clunking under load.

 

[4lowNgo]

Not to hijack the thread, but I'm going to 'upgrade' to 488 gearing on my 86 FJ60, and have some questions, with this caveat: after reading a bit on this, I've confirmed that I need some "hand holding", cuz I'm just not mechanically minded but willing to learn.

SO:
1. It looks like buying just the gear is under $300? Or are there related parts? (ie; yoke and ring gear bolt kit that Rockridge 4x4 requires with their gear)
1a. Which are the top three brands in a replacement gear?
2. I don't NEED a locker - I'm not into lots of off-roading where this would be useful.
3. Is there a step-by-step (with photos preferrably) on replacing said gear and related parts? I've searched 'mud to no avail. If it doesn't exist and I end up doing this job, I'll chronicle it for future noobs.
4. What additional upgrade(s) would be wise at this time, keeping in mind I'm not into crawling. The rig is for excursions into E. Oregon, Northern Cal, car camping, etc.

Oh, and I'm in Medford.

thanks!

 

[mobydick]

Not to hijack the thread, but I'm going to 'upgrade' to 488 gearing on my 86 FJ60, and have some questions, with this caveat: after reading a bit on this, I've confirmed that I need some "hand holding", cuz I'm just not mechanically minded but willing to learn.

SO:
1. It looks like buying just the gear is under $300? Or are there related parts? (ie; yoke and ring gear bolt kit that Rockridge 4x4 requires with their gear)
1a. Which are the top three brands in a replacement gear?
2. I don't NEED a locker - I'm not into lots of off-roading where this would be useful.
3. Is there a step-by-step (with photos preferrably) on replacing said gear and related parts? I've searched 'mud to no avail. If it doesn't exist and I end up doing this job, I'll chronicle it for future noobs.
4. What additional upgrade(s) would be wise at this time, keeping in mind I'm not into crawling. The rig is for excursions into E. Oregon, Northern Cal, car camping, etc.

Oh, and I'm in Medford.

thanks!

Marlin's current price for 4.88's is about $283 per R&P set. Multiply X 2 for front and rear, then add about another $400 for the install kits and you're looking at over $970 just for parts. They may give a percentage off for a special and free shipping...??? I don't know. As far as installing them I would never even try it. A club member will be doing mine but not for a few months. It takes skill and experience- I possess neither! Maybe we could do all 4 diffs at the same time and get a discount from my mechanic for "quantity"..?? Just ask that we do your 2 first- for practice!

 

[Kief]

Why 4.88's? Stock fj62 axles come with 4.11's, and most 60 owners don't down gear until they run 35's. I have a rear fj62 axle for $200 obo .. If you want to bolt it up to try and see if you like how slow it is you can do that for free and if you want it, buy it. Then you can hunt for a front FJ62 diff.. It would be a good time to do axle maintenance also. After driving a stock LC with 4.11's and stock tires I was in heaven with the 60, 3.73's and 33's..
Most FJ60 owners want to get more MPH on the freeway and go with the H55f stock 5 speed for the overdrive which would run you 2-3k but is a bolt in for your year. 4.88's with your tire size would put you at about 60 mph and be screaming.. I lugged around in my 1984 offroad with 33x9.5's and the stock 3.73's and was content. Your fuel economy will drop as well.
By the way, Moby dick was sporting your old springs for a while..