SD Trux (My taller twin)

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Bluetribal

Bluetribal

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Mar 14, 2006
Threads
280
Messages
6,004
Location
Sandy Eggo
Website
www.markkuz.com
Anyone know this guy? He has the same color scheme as my truck even the chrome rims too, I think, but with a 4" lift at least and a license plate that says "SD TRUX"
I have seen him a few times on Miramar Rd. and just this morning. I had a chance to go pull up to him today but I didn't. I probably would have just missed him as he walked into the deli and I didn't have time nor the willingness to chase him down.
 
I've never seen it. In fact, I never see any lifted 80's other than our gatherings for runs.
 
I've seen his truck a few times. Its really well kept and built tough. I've been to his shop a few times. His name is Jonathan and owns SD Trux. Very nice and helpful guy. I went in one day with a sticky center diff. actuator(stuck locked) and in a matter of a 5 minutes he had fixed it (at no charge.) When in a pinch and no time to do your own work, go to him. Obviously, he knows his Landcruisers.:D

7730 Formula Place
San Diego 92121
619-530-8789
 
Here's the rig your talking about..
g.sdtruxSIGN25.jpg


Looks like they deal with the Landcruiser rigs quite a bit. Good to know.
 
I took my truck in there when I first got it for a post purchase inspection (because I am barely a 3/4:banana: and this is my first 80). They were great, and spent some time with me going over the truck to show me some of the interesting engineering aspects of my cruiser. Jonathon also encouraged me to do a lot of the maintenance that needed to be done myself, which was different, to say the least.
Anyway, they deal exclusively in Toyota trucks and suvs.
 
Yeah, they are near me, met the dude a few times, forget his name.

Super nice guy, deals with 4Runner, Cruisers and Tacos almost exclusively!

ALMOST had him do my head gasket! :D
 
Would you guys have him do gears for ya? I got some 4.88's and ARB's that need to mate, but I'm a little hesitant to take it to a shop I don't know well.
 
DBS311 said:
Would you guys have him do gears for ya? I got some 4.88's and ARB's that need to mate, but I'm a little hesitant to take it to a shop I don't know well.
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If it were my rig, i would pull the 3rds and bring them to him, when he is done, check the pattern very closely before you put them back in. If the pattern is not PERFECT, make him adjust it until it is!

Gears are one of those things that need to be absolutely dead on or the result is one very expensive failure! :D

Regearing is expensive and not something i would "Shop Around For The Best Price" on! Do it right the first time or pay later!

I did my regear myself on my FJ60 with a Master Toyota Tech watching over me, the time and precision involved is brain damaging and there is no such thing as close enough!

I learned a bunch and have the utmost respect the folks that have the patience to do this for a living and can do it well!

Thats my .02
 
DBS311 said:
Would you guys have him do gears for ya? I got some 4.88's and ARB's that need to mate, but I'm a little hesitant to take it to a shop I don't know well.
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I'd say the best thing to do is give him a call and ask him what kind of experience he has with re-gearing. My bet is he has some good experience.
 
All good advice, thanks guys. I have been sitting on these parts for a while waiting to get them installed, but knowing how critical the setup is, I can't make up my mind where to get the work done. I have been eyeing a shop in El Cajon called San Diego Gear and Axle, and they are heavily involved with off-roading, off-road racing, drag racing, etc., so I know they know what they are doing.............but then a thought enters my mind that because they do SO MANY diffs, what if they just blow through mine 'cuz the workers are in diff building robot mode? Sounds like the best thing for me to do is take Kevin's advice, pull the thirds and do a heavy inspection when picking them up.
 
DBS311 said:
Sounds like the best thing for me to do is take Kevin's advice, pull the thirds and do a heavy inspection when picking them up.
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I strongly recommend it!
 
SOCALFJ said:
Yep, make sure they know what they're doing. A paper thin error can be devistating.
I would go with the company that does a ton of gear swaps, not anyone that does one 'here and there'.

Up here in the OC area i use Currie, Unitrax and All 4Wheeldrive.
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Heard MANY a horror stories about Curries gears and issues back in my Heep days!
 
Boston Mangler said:
Heard MANY a horror stories about Curries gears and issues back in my Heep days!
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My dad put a $ 3K Currie axle in his '55 a few years ago which grenaded within a few miles. After flatbedding his car back to Currie they admitted that they didn't set up the gears right but were willing to fix it after it was flatbedded back to them. Maybe an isolated incident but worth some thought.
 
619TOY said:
My dad put a $ 3K Currie axle in his '55 a few years ago which grenaded within a few miles. After flatbedding his car back to Currie they admitted that they didn't set up the gears right but were willing to fix it after it was flatbedded back to them. Maybe an isolated incident but worth some thought.
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No, its not an isolated incident. Search hard enough on Jeepsunlimited.com and you will find DOZENS of similar stories!

Somewhat suprised they are still in business!
 
DBS311 said:
Would you guys have him do gears for ya? I got some 4.88's and ARB's that need to mate, but I'm a little hesitant to take it to a shop I don't know well.
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Well I stopped by SD TRUX today and didn't get to meet the owner of the shop or my taller twin but I talked to one of his guys that has been working there for about 10 years. The shop used to be located in the AutoMall on Miramar and then moved to there current location 5 years ago.
Anyway they do all kinds of work on cruisers of all years with the exception of tires and tranys. They will even do after market stuff like lifts and even Super Chargers.
Specifically about the gears, they would pull them and they have a guy that they would source out the work to whom they met from the Baja race team (Forgot Name) across the driveway.
Anyway seems like a good shop especially since it is 3 blocks from me. :D
 
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