HDJdreams
SILVER Star
Did the Blackbox have ports for the cooling lines? (Or did you have to drill and tap?) Does it have an internal pump? If not what did you use for a pump?
Northwest fabworks BLACK BOX (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter RFB
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Did the Blackbox have ports for the cooling lines? (Or did you have to drill and tap?) Does it have an internal pump? If not what did you use for a pump?
HDJdreams
SILVER Star
Marks4wd 6L80 to HF2A, 8”, $1700
Blackbox for the same, $1750 (length?)
In the context of LS swap, Blackbox seemed like a no brainer, provided that it can run reliably on the highway.
It’s not the small pieces that’s a non starter, but it must work with highway driving. If extras are needed, that should be very clear up front, part of the build options on website, etc.
JohnnyOshow22
KK0TEQ
The black box has a breather/fill port (fill from breather) and a drain port as it comes from nwf so yes it does have ports but they aren't specifically ports for the cooling lines but you could route the lines in and out of those. It would need an external pump that could move synthetic gear oil and I'm not sure what pump will be used yet.
JaketheSSnake
SILVER Star
Well I'm glad I saw this thread. I figured it was an easy bolt in deal. Sounds like a real hassle now having to run an external pump and it not clearing the fuel tank.
hoser
SILVER Star
Interesting that it overheats in high range.... there are no gears meshing in high-range, right? Instead of a separate fluid reservoir, perhaps pump fluid in/out of the other transfer case.
RFB
97 FZJ80 LIFTED SC DUAL BATTERIES,37s
- Thread starter
- #27
your killin me, BUT Im very happy with my SC 4.5 and crate tranny I just want a lower gear. Crawling down into hells agte the weight of the truck overrides 4low a bit. not much but a bit. And Ive discovered after posting this, nobody offers up a black box solution for 97s
Dana axles offer lower gear ratios than toyota
RFB
97 FZJ80 LIFTED SC DUAL BATTERIES,37s
- Thread starter
- #29
Yea Im hip to that, But ive never had an issue with axles birfs or anything all I really wanted was a LO LO that wouldnt effect highway. Ive never done the underdrives but Im looking for a TC to rebuild with japanese gears from @cruiseroutfitters. Tis 80 setup as it is now. Has climbed, crawled and gone through everything Ive pointed it at I would just like a bit more control on descents. And I pulled the ABS to give me some semblance of brakes. Coming down this Fin pictured I had no control once the weight over road the
4low
inkpot
SILVER Star
So you dont want to try Lo Range Crawler Gears?
alia176
SILVER Star
RFB
97 FZJ80 LIFTED SC DUAL BATTERIES,37s
- Thread starter
- #32
where did you get them and did you install? Im looking at the japanese gears @cruiseroutfit have but dont know how long it would take or if I should go the the trouble of scoring a secnd TC to do so. I think @landtank may have an extra TC but being its from mass. its probalby in rough shape.
alia176
SILVER Star
Well let's see, this was done seven years ago so that means it must've been a set from Marks Adapters. Installation was easy peasy. My buddy and I did his 3:1 first, then he came back few months later and we did the 10% overdrive gear set project. Both were easy peasy and I think he bought both sets from Kurt but not 100% sure. Dropping the Tcase is the hardest thing, IMHO. The rest are just follow the directions, take craptastic amount of pics and follow the tips from this site.
RFB just use your tcase. I have tore into the tcase on both 80 & 100 and see no need to drop the t-case. 
The gearing in these boxes is based on the New Process transfer cases. It is a planetary system, the ring gear is fixed to the case, the planets and input gears are always in motion. There is a sliding collar that is meshed to the output shaft, and can be engaged with either the input shaft (hi range) or the planetary housing (low range). So even though the planetaries are not transferring power in hi range, they are in motion.
You said it earlier, no wife, no kids - just pay Kurt to install as you pass through Utah. No mess, no fussing. It’s not like it’s a procedure you need to know for a possible trail repair. In/out/down the road.
All this time I thought you had the low range gears. You might consider going part time also.
All this time I thought you had the low range gears. You might consider going part time also.
Bludozer
SILVER Star
To echo everyone, the low range gears are unquestionably the answer. Obviously even lower would be better but you will notice a huge difference over stock with these gears.
alia176
SILVER Star
Agreed and proven time and time again. Solid and reliable to boot.
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2004
- Threads
- 274
- Messages
- 23,233
- Location
- Chandler, AZ
- Website
- www.tontorecreationalliance.org
Mine are one of the first sets from Marlin, so old. Have installed a bunch of them, most brands, never removed a transfer. The press work is pretty precision, if that isn't your thing, getting help would be good. It's a solid day of work, a big part of it is doing a good job of cleaning out the grinding grit. They work well, some have been beat, hard and never a problem.
alia176
SILVER Star
While I agree that removing the Tcase is totally optional. Given that some of us are not young bucks anymore, couple that with dripping Tcase juice on your face, it made sense for me to remove it. Also, this gave me the opportunity to do the Tcase input seal, Tranny output seal at the same time. What I'd do for a shop with a two post hoist 
