Build Reconstruction after rollover - building The Champ!

[baldilocks]

I had to buy some tools to do this front axle job. The arrow points to a side bearing nut adjuster adapter tool I bought on eBay from some dude in Louisiana named Earl Zimmer 2. For some reason his fictitious sounding name made me feel confident.

The old pinion flange is in the pic because I’ll be attempting to turn it to a pinion flange holding tool. Hoping my little Hypertherm 30 will whack through it. Pretty sure it will

Sterret dial indicators rock the wallet so I picked up this Mytutoyo Japan made dial indicator for $208 at Global Industries. Let’s get to cutting and creating.

By the way, my housing weighs 75 pounds including the hydro assist bracket and the plates welded on to reinforce the arm brackets. So it probably weighs 65ish pounds in stock form. We will weigh it again once I’m finished welding more to it.

 

[Broski]

I almost went down the 9.5 rabbit hole. Even bought the 3rd. Then started research custom housings, custom shafts, gears, etc. The costs adds up quick so I thought at that point I might as well build a junkyard 60. Those costs also add up quick so I said hey, might as well go with a fully-built 60 from ECGS. Ready to go, just weld up some brackets. Then I slapped some sense into myself and realized none of that was justified for what I do with the truck.

What's my point? Sell your rig and buy @NCTrey133 badass build. 9.5 front, 609 rear, 3 link front, double triangulated 4 link rear, coilovers, and the first-ever NWF double on a stock 80 drivetrain. Pennies on the dollar for what it would cost to replicate For Sale - Mebane, NC: 96 Lexus LX450 "Sweet Brown" - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/mebane-nc-96-lexus-lx450-sweet-brown.1297650/#post-14686587

Haha already suggested that to him twice

 

[Feldrian]

Lol... Your definitely on a buggy roll. I can't bring myself to hack up an 80 as much as you're considering (I've been down the same road). If I was going to do that I'd buy a rear -ended GMC canyon/ Chevy Colorado and truggy the crap out of it. Links, coilovers, 42s, exo cage and go and beat it.

 

[baldilocks]

This pinion holder turned out satisfactorily.

 

[baldilocks]

Lol... Your definitely on a buggy roll. I can't bring myself to hack up an 80 as much as you're considering (I've been down the same road). If I was going to do that I'd buy a rear -ended GMC canyon/ Chevy Colorado and truggy the crap out of it. Links, coilovers, 42s, exo cage and go and beat it.

My vision of what a Landcruiser is is different than some. These vehicles are the apple of Toyotas eye If not the roots of a cult following. Believing is seeing and doing. The LC makes us believe as it does.

After 8 years of experience in an 80, I’m beginning to also believe in its logical limits. Big and heavy when loaded creates the situation that I have experienced a few times.

Down time makes me want to go but that only agree’s with the fact that we always want what we can’t have. I’ll embrace this winters work and take my time. Still have under dash rewiring work to do and a new carpet kit sitting here.

 

[baldilocks]

The third member holder is built and ready. Total disassembly took five minutes. Don’t let them fool you. A good differential guy could do the whole job in an hour. I’ve watched it.

Remember to mark your caps and bolt to ensure reassembly goes back as it was before. I used a center punch.

 

[80t0ylc]

I like your propane heater. The older I get, the more important my propane heater becomes, this time of year!

 

[baldilocks]

 

[baldilocks]

I like your propane heater. The older I get, the more important my propane heater becomes, this time of year!

It doesn’t get super cold here but knowing I have some heat to stand next to like a camp fire is good to know.

 

[80t0ylc]

Not just the cold, but the dampness! I bet you've noticed that, since you've been in the PNW. Single digits forecast-ed here in eastern OR, in the next several days. Anyway, back to your thread - I also like your 3rd member stand. Several yrs ago, I had Zuk do my thirds - installed the Harrops and 5.29's and he had a similar stand, but it was adjustable for many different axles. Instead of shipping them, I took my 3rds down to him and he gave me a quick tour of his shop. Hell of a nice guy and very talented. Since I brought them to him, he put me at the head of the line and did them while I stayed at an RV park. You're braver than me, plus I don't have the welding skills. Your pics remind me of my axle project. My 80 sat on jack stands for about a month, including tear down, trip to AZ for the 3rds, and rebuild when I returned. I'm going through this thread, starting at page 1. I'm on page 3 and have some 40 pages to browse Just interested. You were discussing earlier 1 ton axles and 9.5 diffs. I'm of the opinion to stay with 80 axles, but was wondering, did you ever check your frame near the steering box for cracks? I'd seen the thread somewhere in the past about the tendency for cracks near the steering box. You probably did, knowing the wheeling you do, just haven't got that far in your thread yet.

 

[baldilocks]

Not just the cold, but the dampness! I bet you've noticed that, since you've been in the PNW. Single digits forecast-ed here in eastern OR, in the next several days. Anyway, back to your thread - I also like your 3rd member stand. Several yrs ago, I had Zuk do my thirds - installed the Harrops and 5.29's and he had a similar stand, but it was adjustable for many different axles. Instead of shipping them, I took my 3rds down to him and he gave me a quick tour of his shop. Hell of a nice guy and very talented. Since I brought them to him, he put me at the head of the line and did them while I stayed at an RV park. You're braver than me, plus I don't have the welding skills. Your pics remind me of my axle project. My 80 sat on jack stands for about a month, including tear down, trip to AZ for the 3rds, and rebuild when I returned. I'm going through this thread, starting at page 1. I'm on page 3 and have some 40 pages to browse Just interested. You were discussing earlier 1 ton axles and 9.5 diffs. I'm of the opinion to stay with 80 axles, but was wondering, did you ever check your frame near the steering box for cracks? I'd seen the thread somewhere in the past about the tendency for cracks near the steering box. You probably did, knowing the wheeling you do, just haven't got that far in your thread yet.

Look back 18 months or so. Steering box and frame fixed.

 

[Feldrian]

Not just the cold, but the dampness! I bet you've noticed that, since you've been in the PNW. Single digits forecast-ed here in eastern OR, in the next several days. Anyway, back to your thread - I also like your 3rd member stand. Several yrs ago, I had Zuk do my thirds - installed the Harrops and 5.29's and he had a similar stand, but it was adjustable for many different axles. Instead of shipping them, I took my 3rds down to him and he gave me a quick tour of his shop. Hell of a nice guy and very talented. Since I brought them to him, he put me at the head of the line and did them while I stayed at an RV park. You're braver than me, plus I don't have the welding skills. Your pics remind me of my axle project. My 80 sat on jack stands for about a month, including tear down, trip to AZ for the 3rds, and rebuild when I returned. I'm going through this thread, starting at page 1. I'm on page 3 and have some 40 pages to browse Just interested. You were discussing earlier 1 ton axles and 9.5 diffs. I'm of the opinion to stay with 80 axles, but was wondering, did you ever check your frame near the steering box for cracks? I'd seen the thread somewhere in the past about the tendency for cracks near the steering box. You probably did, knowing the wheeling you do, just haven't got that far in your thread yet.

Hydro assist takes a hell of a lot of stress off the steering box/ frame interface too.

 

[baldilocks]

Hydro assist takes a hell of a lot of stress off the steering box/ frame interface too.

That’s why I did it.

 

[NCTrey133]

I almost went down the 9.5 rabbit hole. Even bought the 3rd. Then started research custom housings, custom shafts, gears, etc. The costs adds up quick so I thought at that point I might as well build a junkyard 60. Those costs also add up quick so I said hey, might as well go with a fully-built 60 from ECGS. Ready to go, just weld up some brackets. Then I slapped some sense into myself and realized none of that was justified for what I do with the truck.

What's my point? Sell your rig and buy @NCTrey133 badass build. 9.5 front, 609 rear, 3 link front, double triangulated 4 link rear, coilovers, and the first-ever NWF double on a stock 80 drivetrain. Pennies on the dollar for what it would cost to replicate For Sale - Mebane, NC: 96 Lexus LX450 "Sweet Brown" - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/mebane-nc-96-lexus-lx450-sweet-brown.1297650/#post-14686587

Yea what Jose said! Come get my 80 and let me put some $ towards buggy mania over here!

 

[baldilocks]

Yea what Jose said! Come get my 80 and let me put some $ towards buggy mania over here!

Sweet Brown is an amazing build. I do need the cab though. If I had a place to park it inside I’d be coming to take a look at your rig. It rains here a lot and sitting out under a tarp would be no good. I’ve wanted to build a shop since moving here nearly five years ago. I got quoted $75k for a nice 30x40 shop with I-beam framing all in. I had just spent a wad on the home so I held off. The same contractor quoted me the same shop at $225k in todays prices a couple months ago. Guess I should have done it back then.

 

[NCTrey133]

I hear that. When we bought our house the inspector valued my shop at around 60k. When we we’re thinking about selling and got it appraised they valued the shop at almost 110k which blew my mind.

 

[Marco Lau]

Sweet Brown is an amazing build. I do need the cab though. If I had a place to park it inside I’d be coming to take a look at your rig. It rains here a lot and sitting out under a tarp would be no good. I’ve wanted to build a shop since moving here nearly five years ago. I got quoted $75k for a nice 30x40 shop with I-beam framing all in. I had just spent a wad on the home so I held off. The same contractor quoted me the same shop at $225k in todays prices a couple months ago. Guess I should have done it back then.

Hit me up, i will design your dream garage and put it all in CAD...all you need is get a GC (Broski?) to price and get you a permit...

 

[baldilocks]

Hit me up, i will design your dream garage and put it all in CAD...all you need is get a GC (Broski?) to price and get you a permit...

What an awesome offer! I’ve been wanting to have you up here to my place anyway. You can see what’s going on here and go from there.

 

[Marco Lau]

What an awesome offer! I’ve been wanting to have you up here to my place anyway. You can see what’s going on here and go from there.

Maybe early next year...heading down to Baja next week

 

[baldilocks]

I’ve never been inside or seen inside an ARB air locker. I took it apart to replace the bonded seal that seals the air piston. This unit is 13 years old and is in great condition. The seal I’m replacing is the large, flat washer looking ring. It took a good amount of effort to release it from its spot. Pick and pry.