Strong drive train with' tortoise power' make for a long life ... Mr. T's says
Possible HDJ81 purchase, thoughts?
- Thread starter BCGeo
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Small block Chevy and auto transmission are also good for a million miles, ask any Checker cab
BCGeo - the rocky trillium pc is a wash n the wokkapash corridor north of fort nelson...gods country for sure!
I run 35s which proly measure to 34.75 new..I run 4.88s at 100kmh I probly rev 2200 already so 130kmh your revin pretty high...I think 4.56 would be nice for 35s....although for seriois wheelin its awesome ..no need for crawler gears..
The trillium frame beef up was phase 3... I got cracks beefed it up then it cracked in a different spot...I put a receiver hitch on the back for a bike rack and started cracking tbe frame in the back...I carry a bunch a gear when ix go up north hunting including 600lbs of boat and now with my new trailor lift I can really wheel it but that means a lot of stress...
I run 35s which proly measure to 34.75 new..I run 4.88s at 100kmh I probly rev 2200 already so 130kmh your revin pretty high...I think 4.56 would be nice for 35s....although for seriois wheelin its awesome ..no need for crawler gears..
The trillium frame beef up was phase 3... I got cracks beefed it up then it cracked in a different spot...I put a receiver hitch on the back for a bike rack and started cracking tbe frame in the back...I carry a bunch a gear when ix go up north hunting including 600lbs of boat and now with my new trailor lift I can really wheel it but that means a lot of stress...
Mud_Guppie
EBI Cruisers
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I'm pretty sure I put "Partially due to valve body problems and loose cables" & "Over sized tires" after I said crappy trannys. The 81's auto tranny is a weak link in the system
there are better & worse trannys out there from the era
With a well proven history of $$$$ repairs and $$$ mods needed to make the tranny better. I can "honestly" say there are better trannys out there.
I have nothing against repairing or modding the trannys.
for example, chevy had their 700r4 tranny for years
left alone in stock form it was a good tranny
mess with it a bit or add larger tires or even worse "not adjust the cable correctly" and it was easy to kill/fry/burn up
spend $$$$$$ on it and you would have an awesome tranny that you could kick the crap out of and it would take it
there are better & worse trannys out there from the era
With a well proven history of $$$$ repairs and $$$ mods needed to make the tranny better. I can "honestly" say there are better trannys out there.
I have nothing against repairing or modding the trannys.
for example, chevy had their 700r4 tranny for years
left alone in stock form it was a good tranny
mess with it a bit or add larger tires or even worse "not adjust the cable correctly" and it was easy to kill/fry/burn up
spend $$$$$$ on it and you would have an awesome tranny that you could kick the crap out of and it would take it
There is one 81 at ateb late 93 model fully locked with tow package. 33" tire with lift. Ready to go.
The auto tranny in the hdj81 is pure junk. Absolute garbage. With the money I've spent trying to repair it(yes trying..... Still not fixed) I could have imported a complete 5spd and transfer had it bolted up and been driving worry free right now
Dan is being dentist #5, his is one of the rarer cases. Sure you can find a 5 speed hdj81, but they are pretty rare, and don't come with a center console cooler
Dan, you really should just buy a used tranny that you know works and swap it perhaps?
I would trade my cooler for a 5spd any day of the week
Yep..
I think everyone is in agreement that you should not drive an 80 series auto without an aftermarket transmission temperature gauge. No matter how good of a driver you think you are , you learn alot about heat control , h aveing it . the Aussie v/b is great for highway towing (3rd gear lockup ) but it still doesn't help in first or s ecound which is u ssually the gears that kill any auto with heat.
GTSSportCoupe
2LTE abuser
I tow a 3500lb (loaded) camper trailer with a A343F equipped cruiser (70 series LWB) and never have had any trans issues whatsoever. I did add an external trans cooler, and I do completely flush it with new trans fluid every year. Anyhow, although the A343F is a little smaller than the A442, I personally feel it is a better transmission, as I rarely hear of people having problems with it (and its in lots of V8 Toyotas Suv/trucks). While with the A442, I hear nothing but problems. So if you have a chance to pick up a later HDJ81 with the A343F, that may not be a bad option. Or find something with the H151 manual. They do show up for sale once in a while.
"HDJ81 tranny is pure junk" Hmmm, I also have a 91 HDJ81, although I installed a hitch for towing, I barely tow except for a few trips to the transfer station for my household clutter/garbage. Should I be worried? Maybe not, I have no external cooler yet but maybe an option but not now. I wanted to share my experience with my truck. First of all it is an HDJ81, Japanese market, how many Japanese use this truck for towing in crowded Japanese roads compared to Canada/US highways, FSR, rock crawling, big tires etc, the reason why they have low mileage. Then suddenly they are in Canada, I guess driving habits has to change then, upgrades to consider. I still don't have gauges, just relying on the dash instruments, although power rod modification was done at ATEB, awesome Year 2012 with CC club trip to Indian Arm, since a few of us with auto tranny have no idea of the long stretch slow uphill in an area of the FSR following a long convoy and leaving tranny on High, we all got Tranny High Temp. Switch to 4L and no more issues. I have joined the clubs trips, CC, 4WDABC to Churn creek, Hale, the Vrock, Whipsaw, Mt Cheam, the Harrisson FSR loop out to Pemberton and Whistler. Year 2013, I did a road trip to AB via Coq. Hwy, Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper outbound then Hwy 3 inbound. Loop trip Kootenays to Spokane ski pass and back to BC plus my wife's nagging multiple trips to Portland, Tacoma, Seattle for her shopping. Next plan will be the Washington-Oregon Backroads. Did a portion of it, Mt. Ranier, St Helens but I want to complete it. Last year, went back to Indian Arm and made sure I was on 4L on that long uphill stretch. I never saw again tranny high temp alarm. What I learned from my personal experience when going long uphill is that when the RPM starts to go less than 3000, I take evasive action to make it go back to 3000 whether gearing down, mostly by being vigilant especially at Coq. from the bottom of the hill, when it is clear in front of me, I floor down so I still have enough RPM on the top without gearing down if I can. Simple logic, high RPM cools down the tranny What has been done on my truck: Got it on 2008 from Outback with only center diff lock. and has been my wife's daily driver until I got the lockers from George sometime 2011, early 2012 2.5" lift kit from OME (those bushing that came with it are the real junk, now busted) knocking sound left and right, need to upgrade to control arm bracket and use stock bushing, they are more robust. Alternator rebuilt once, starter rebuilt twice, it got so bad that the 3rd time the solenoid got melted and made a permanent contact even when the engine has been shut off, starter still cranking (awefull noise) according to my wife, scared her really big time. Thanks to 2 Mexican mechanics nearby near Surrey Stn that heard the noise and came to the rescue by opening the hood and disconnecting battery terminal and to their surprise after disconnecting the first battery they saw, still cranking, until they saw a 2nd battery only then it stopped cranking. I now have a battery disconnect switch to the starter just in case it happened again. No, any fuse related to ignition is going to cut it out): Two years ago my diesel pump started leaking, re-sealed by ATEB, nozzles still good until now, just the seals. Tranny flush every 50K due again this year. That is the story of my HDJ81. My wife still use as her daily driver. I only have it for weekends and holidays. She love the panoramic view. I must sequester it from her. Multiple starts in a day is bad for the starter): This truck is going to be with us for a very long time Currently over 200K. clicks.
Year 2012 with CC club trip to Indian Arm, since a few of us with auto tranny have no idea of the long stretch slow uphill in an area of the FSR following a long convoy and leaving tranny on High, we all got Tranny High Temp. Switch to 4L and no more issues. I have joined the clubs trips, CC, 4WDABC to Churn creek, Hale, the Vrock, Whipsaw, Mt Cheam, the Harrisson FSR loop out to Pemberton and Whistler. Year 2013, I did a road trip to AB via Coq. Hwy, Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper outbound then Hwy 3 inbound. Loop trip Kootenays to Spokane ski pass and back to BC plus my wife's nagging multiple trips to Portland, Tacoma, Seattle for her shopping. Next plan will be the Washington-Oregon Backroads. Did a portion of it, Mt. Ranier, St Helens but I want to complete it. Last year, went back to Indian Arm and made sure I was on 4L on that long uphill stretch. I never saw again tranny high temp alarm. What I learned from my personal experience when going long uphill is that when the RPM starts to go less than 3000, I take evasive action to make it go back to 3000 whether gearing down, mostly by being vigilant especially at Coq. from the bottom of the hill, when it is clear in front of me, I floor down so I still have enough RPM on the top without gearing down if I can. Simple logic, high RPM cools down the tranny What has been done on my truck: Got it on 2008 from Outback with only center diff lock. and has been my wife's daily driver until I got the lockers from George sometime 2011, early 2012 2.5" lift kit from OME (those bushing that came with it are the real junk, now busted) knocking sound left and right, need to upgrade to control arm bracket and use stock bushing, they are more robust. Alternator rebuilt once, starter rebuilt twice, it got so bad that the 3rd time the solenoid got melted and made a permanent contact even when the engine has been shut off, starter still cranking (awefull noise) according to my wife, scared her really big time. Thanks to 2 Mexican mechanics nearby near Surrey Stn that heard the noise and came to the rescue by opening the hood and disconnecting battery terminal and to their surprise after disconnecting the first battery they saw, still cranking, until they saw a 2nd battery only then it stopped cranking. I now have a battery disconnect switch to the starter just in case it happened again. No, any fuse related to ignition is going to cut it out): Two years ago my diesel pump started leaking, re-sealed by ATEB, nozzles still good until now, just the seals. Tranny flush every 50K due again this year. That is the story of my HDJ81. My wife still use as her daily driver. I only have it for weekends and holidays. She love the panoramic view. I must sequester it from her. Multiple starts in a day is bad for the starter): This truck is going to be with us for a very long time Currently over 200K. clicks.
I would consider a cooler and a guage...stock light doesnt come on till almost 300 degrees..and with fuel mods done an egt guage is necessary..you ll be surprised when you hit those mountain passes in summer how fast everything gets hot...