Moving to Alaska... What should I do to my Cruiser

[Devils Paw 80]

AKxplorer,
Your perspective may be useful for others considering a move here, and I appreciate the great photos. I hear you about guys spending money on worthless mods. Here in Juneau, there actually is not any off roading available, yet there are many lifted 4x4's with oversized tires. Just in the past decade or so, I've seen an explosion of huge, shiny 4x4 poseur pickup trucks on the roads. Most never see anything in the bed, but some haul snowmachines. Well, you gotta do something with your money, right?
Are you running a LSD that works well in snow and ice?
About the dielectric grease: Where ever you are, it can't rain more than it does here, and I've had my 62 sitting out in the elements for 10 yrs. now, without noticing any corrosion issues.
But, maybe I should take another look, when weather permits.....

 

[AKxplorer]

If you don't want studded tires you could always get chains.

I concur. After an entire day of waiting on the winds to stop, I got tired of the wait. Went out in my storage shed looking for chains, knowing fully well the warm temps/soft ice was just too dangerous....even with studs. Couldn't find em, got complacent, and decided to make that run into town for half n half, a loaf of bread, and some beer.

The winds had subsided, but on the return, they were tearing people's roof's/windows apart. As I idled about 15 mph down a steep angles hill, winds blew me off the road as I rounded a bluff was exposed to the full force of the winds. It felt as if I hit the accelerator pedal. hung upside down cradled in the alders after smashing my head off a rock....It caved my door in. Didn't knock me out, but came close. Every gust of wind threatened to roll me down the ravine again. Wasn't sure if I should dial 911 and keep my seatbelt on, or unlatch. Had a heck of a time finding my beers, bread, and half n half. The walk home involved getting blown off the road as If I was a feather. I eventually crawled to someone else's house till my knees were bloodied up a bit, and called a good friend.

Not finding my tires chains cost me a 2004 Tacoma, and a one beer....bottle broke. Oh well, 1400 dollars worth of body parts, 800 dollars of glass.....because my jasckas was on liability insurance. Recovery was hairy, had to use a ratchet rope, and cut a trail thought the alders. Engine was oil-locked, the ole 62 still yanked er out, with chains of course.

Some folks complain about the heft of a 60/62, I think the hefty weight is a great attribute. I've been thinking about bolting three 45 lb plates down low.....using the tire carrier bracket during winter months, at least the weight would be down low, instead of sand bags intruding on your interior space.

 

[AKxplorer]

Are you running a LSD that works well in snow and ice?

Thanks for your kind words sir. I haven't run an LSD in either my old 60 or my current 62. It was however, in the rear end of my second-gen isuzu trooper. I frequently stay in four wheel drive all winter, but in the trooper, it never needed four wheel drive on the roads, except for a few steep hills for a "shift on the fly"

You can bet your home-town brewed Alaskan Amber......that Auburn LSD's will find their way into the front and rear diffs of my current 62.

Oil seal leak in the rear-end is a great excuse to fix that pesky open differential at the same time.