Hi All. This is my first thread. I can usually find answers using the search. This time I can't seem to find any answers about the driveshaft length, and the info I found on the rear motor mounts was at least 10 years old.
Ok here goes:
Background: I bought my '73 pig about a year and a half ago running, but with a bad trans. It turned out to be a bad Hone overdrive, I think the PO put it in reverse while it was still engaged. Other than the bad trans and some mild suspension and drivetrain mods, it is a pretty honest, complete and original example. A couple of modifications that are relevent to my questions are that I believe it has a mild spring lift, and a later disc brake complete front axle swap, and FJ40 rear axle (no sway bar tabs on axle tubes). Front axle has the later bolt pattern on the pinion flange, but the rear pinion flange is early.
The Plot Thickens: I replaced the 3 speed trans/TC/Hone OD with a good used Trans/TC without an overdrive. What a PITA that was. I bought a stock rear driveshaft from one of the Land Cruiser dismantlers to install with this stock trans/TC. Two things I noticed when I tried to assemble:
First- Even fully compressed, the stock driveshaft I bought does not want to fit between the two flanges. When I was cleaning/greasing it before I attempted the install, I noticed that the locating ring on one of the mounting flanges was dented like someone else had the same problem with this driveshaft and forced it into place. I pulled apart the slip joint and lined up the two driveshaft pieces. It looks like they were fully compressed when I attempted my install, but it was getting dark yesterday so I still need to double check today that I don't have a slug of grease inside the short section. I see a few possibilties, but they all require dimensions from a stock pig.
1) The driveshaft is too long.
2) There is a big glob of grease stopping the slip yoke from fully compressing.
3) The centering pins on the (Downey?) rear leaves move the axle too far forward (the rear wheels look centered in the wheel wells). Note: It does have stock length shackles.
4) The ebrake/output flange isn't fully seated.
5) The sagging rear motor mounts are "shortening" the distance between the flanges. Which leads me to the second issue...
Second- When I attempted to install the skid plate I noticed the transfer case is touching the skid plate before the skid plate touches the frame rails.. A PO bolted a piece of tire between the TC and the skid plate, now I know why.
My Questions:
1) Does anyone have flange to flange dimensions for the rear driveshaft with their stock(ish) rig on the ground, and a leaf spring dimension from the axle tube to the forward leaf spring bushing?
2) Where do I purchase a pair of quality, new rear motor mounts for a 73 FJ55?
Thanks for putting up with my long-winded questions.
-Tom
And now, a photo.
Ok here goes:
Background: I bought my '73 pig about a year and a half ago running, but with a bad trans. It turned out to be a bad Hone overdrive, I think the PO put it in reverse while it was still engaged. Other than the bad trans and some mild suspension and drivetrain mods, it is a pretty honest, complete and original example. A couple of modifications that are relevent to my questions are that I believe it has a mild spring lift, and a later disc brake complete front axle swap, and FJ40 rear axle (no sway bar tabs on axle tubes). Front axle has the later bolt pattern on the pinion flange, but the rear pinion flange is early.
The Plot Thickens: I replaced the 3 speed trans/TC/Hone OD with a good used Trans/TC without an overdrive. What a PITA that was. I bought a stock rear driveshaft from one of the Land Cruiser dismantlers to install with this stock trans/TC. Two things I noticed when I tried to assemble:
First- Even fully compressed, the stock driveshaft I bought does not want to fit between the two flanges. When I was cleaning/greasing it before I attempted the install, I noticed that the locating ring on one of the mounting flanges was dented like someone else had the same problem with this driveshaft and forced it into place. I pulled apart the slip joint and lined up the two driveshaft pieces. It looks like they were fully compressed when I attempted my install, but it was getting dark yesterday so I still need to double check today that I don't have a slug of grease inside the short section. I see a few possibilties, but they all require dimensions from a stock pig.
1) The driveshaft is too long.
2) There is a big glob of grease stopping the slip yoke from fully compressing.
3) The centering pins on the (Downey?) rear leaves move the axle too far forward (the rear wheels look centered in the wheel wells). Note: It does have stock length shackles.
4) The ebrake/output flange isn't fully seated.
5) The sagging rear motor mounts are "shortening" the distance between the flanges. Which leads me to the second issue...
Second- When I attempted to install the skid plate I noticed the transfer case is touching the skid plate before the skid plate touches the frame rails.. A PO bolted a piece of tire between the TC and the skid plate, now I know why.
My Questions:
1) Does anyone have flange to flange dimensions for the rear driveshaft with their stock(ish) rig on the ground, and a leaf spring dimension from the axle tube to the forward leaf spring bushing?
2) Where do I purchase a pair of quality, new rear motor mounts for a 73 FJ55?
Thanks for putting up with my long-winded questions.
-Tom
And now, a photo.
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