5 years since my last post! I have some questions about manual locking hubs that I'll get to below...
Unfortunately I don't really have much to update other than we finally got my Tundra 4.7 engine and trans to the SRD shop earlier this year so the engine/trans mounts can be made. Back in 2019 or 2020 SRD moved from Vista (15 minutes from my house in Oceanside), up to the high desert a couple hours away. Trade deals can take forever, especially when both sides procrastinate. I don't think I posted an update about the FJ Cruiser manual transfer case that I bought. I swapped out the auto/electric shift Tundra transfer case because I don't want to mess with that wiring and prefer the manual shift t-case.
Once the engine is in, my friend Mike that has a new shop near Lake Havasu, AZ is going to pick it up and do allot of work for me. He built most of
@landcruisnman's FJ55 when he worked at Richer Racing. Mike will build all of the suspension and possibly bumpers, sliders, bodywork and paint.
For my front axle I have the custom Ruff Stuff housing that's made for the 9.5" LC diff that I already have, and I have the FJ80 knuckle balls that need to be welded to the housing. I still need to get birfields and longer inner axles. I just noticed that Trail Gear has a 25% off sale until Nov. 5th so I'm probably going to order a pair of the
Longfield gun drilled chromoly 30 spline birfields which would save me $200. They also make custom length axles but I haven't figured out the lengths I need yet. I'm going to try and figure that out before their sale is over ($285 each). My friend also said to check with Dutchman because they make custom axles at a good price and good service. I called and they haven't messed with Toyota axles very much. They could make them if they have the specs but said it would be in the $700-1000 range for the pair. Nitro Gear used to make them but they don't have those on their site anymore.
Stock FJ80 WMS is 63.5" and I had Ruff Stuff make my housing for a 66" WMS to match my 9" rear end. But I don't know if the diff location is exact compared to a stock FJ80 housing. So that extra 2.5" width that the axles need to be might not be an even 1.25" for each axle, if that makes sense...
Next thing is the hubs. The birfields I'm getting are the longer version for 94-97 FJ80's. I was planning on getting these Aisin hubs for about $300 for the pair
Hub, Free Wheel, 96-Up FZJ80, HDJ80, HZJ80, 80 75 Series - https://www.fjparts.com/hub-free-wheel-96-up-fzj80-hdj80-hzj80-80-75-series-p-1764.html
But the longer birfields will hit the inside of the hub so you need to cut the end of the axle off and use the inner snap ring grove. I've seen a spacer for the hub mentioned on the Round forge site. They said that Marks 4wd in Austraila is the only place they've seen that makes them. But the spacer on their site says its for the AVN hubs they sell and not what I expected to see for a spacer. I thought it would space out the entire hub how ever much you need to clear the birfield axle end.
Front Hub Axle Spacer Kit - 80 Series - https://www.marks4wd.com/mfk1210s.html
I found these early ASCO long body hubs on City Racer. (ASCO is supposed to be the same as AISIN from what I've read) Do I just get these for $250 for the pair and be done with it? (no need to cut the axles) I've never heard of City Racer but saw some threads in here where people bought parts from them. Not sure the quality of these hubs though. It says they are repoduction.
Long Body Locking Hubs for Land Cruiser FJ40 FJ45 FJ55 FZJ80 - Set of 2 - https://www.cityracerllc.com/products/long-body-locking-hub-for-land-cruiser-fj40-fj45-fj55-fzj80-set-of-2
