Builds The Short Rib (2 Viewers)

[kbahus]

While researching Dana 60 housings I have also come to the realization that you can't get 5.29 gears for a D60, 5.38 is the closest axle ratio. I wouldn't be able to tell the difference with the pinion rotation test, but I bet the tcase can tell a difference. What a mess this is turning into.

 

[cruisermatt]

Time to pull the cover and count teeth.
If the diffs are mismatched, you will 100% tell in 5 seconds in 4wd. It will chirp.

You really should just put an FZJ80 rear in that thing and be done. It will fix all your problems.

 

[kbahus]

I think you are right on the FJZ80 rear end.

 

[tucker74]

Unfortunately manufacturers are moving away from 15” tires

 

[sofj45]

15” and 16” are not as common as they once were now you have to have cool 18” and no sidewall. I’m still running 35x12.5x15 on my soa pig. It’s hard for manufacturers to produce tires for a small amount of people in the overall picture. swamper tsl still in 36/12.5/15 Mickey Thompson makes a 35/12.5/15 I’m running falken wild peaks in 35/12.5/15

I can buy 35 37inch 15 inch tires for a stupid sxs all day cause that’s where the money is going. 4 wheel drive trucks and crawlers are going by the way side to sxs and dumb mall crawling overlanders That want the look over function. Hard to air down a 35x12x20 but damn it looks cool cruising thru the coffee shop drive thru.

 

[sofj45]

As far as axle goes 80 series isn’t a bad option or just get it running driving the way it is and go play with it tell you find things that work for you. Or that you think are a big concern may not be nice you start driving it and seeing that it’s worked the way it is for how many years. No company is going to recommend wheel spacers but out of thousand and thousands of miles I’ve had one crack and that was overtighting it.

 

[PabloCruise]

Thanks for posting that link, some good stuff is in there. I found some other old pics too I will post up. This forum has lost some great people over the years. While I never met him Delancy was a huge contributor to the site. FJ40zen (Bob Paul) was my local Land Cruiser mentor when we lived in Colorado and passed away a few years ago too. Sad times.

You were local to Bob?
Sad times indeed...

 

[kbahus]

Yeah Fort Collins, we have met before too but that was a long time ago. The blue top on my 40 came from Bob's rig. I had a black 80 series before I got the 40.

 

[RUSH55]

Is an 80 series rear offset or centered diff?
I suspect one of the reasons one of the PO’s opted for the Dana rear is the centered diff to align with the NP205 t-case.

 

[kbahus]

You are spot on, the Dana is centered and the 80 offset. Matt and I were just discussing this via text, he did say that the 80 is 4" less offset than the 60 housing so that is a help. I have done some more internet research and found out that a lot of mini truck guys run a Dana 44 in the front with the 5.38, 5.29 combo and get away with it. sofj45 is right though, this rig has been together for a while. I can't confirm when the gears and ARB's were installed, it may have been the most recent PO. I might just try to run it and see what happens.

 

[J Mack]

and the 80 offset

Will that make any difference on this pig?
What's the highest speed you're likely to see?

 

[kbahus]

I would love to drive it to Kentucky, Tennessee, and the UP so 5-7 hours. Might be a tall order, too tall. My time and money might be better spent on a car hauler trailer. That was my biggest regret with my last 40, I was too worried to take it anywhere and never drove it further than to get milk at the store. The irony was when Matt purchased it in WV and drove it to Florida

 

[bobm]

I would love to drive it to Kentucky, Tennessee, and the UP so 5-7 hours. Might be a tall order, too tall. My time and money might be better spent on a car hauler trailer. That was my biggest regret with my last 40, I was too worried to take it anywhere and never drove it further than to get milk at the store. The irony was when Matt purchased it in WV and drove it to Florida

I have driven 1 6,000 miles to and fro from Colorado . And another to Southern Missouri and back 2500 miles and same truck following year to Southern Illinois and back another 2500 + miles. What stopping you, get in it and drive it . It's not a show truck

 

[kbahus]

Good point, carb kit is sitting on the bench along with rear brake parts, booster, master, etc. I just need to get to work on some stuff. I want a "plan" but I really just need to get it going. Windshield is optional at this point

I would love to drive this back home to Colorado.

 

[RUSH55]

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[RUSH55]

You are spot on, the Dana is centered and the 80 offset. Matt and I were just discussing this via text, he did say that the 80 is 4" less offset than the 60 housing so that is a help. I have done some more internet research and found out that a lot of mini truck guys run a Dana 44 in the front with the 5.38, 5.29 combo and get away with it. sofj45 is right though, this rig has been together for a while. I can't confirm when the gears and ARB's were installed, it may have been the most recent PO. I might just try to run it and see what happens.

Not like you have to jump on a decision right away, but considering the rest of the drivetrain, I’d look into just getting a Dana 60 and building it right, and installing that at some point down the road. Not much point in reverting back to something Toyota that ‘might’ work or work OK.

 

[kbahus]

I like that option, I should be able to find a housing relatively easily and build it the way I would want.

 

[J Mack]

I would love to drive it to Kentucky, Tennessee, and the UP so 5-7 hours.

Compound driveline angles are less than ideal but.....
No one will take your birthday away if you get some driveshaft vibration at 65 or 75 MPH, just speed up or slow down until they get to a manageable level...
IMHO you have some hurdles to clear before this becomes a daily that you drive cross country anyway so if the 80 rear-end solves some of your issues at a reasonable cost time/money/effort then why not.
A 60 hangs too low for me unless you plan to run 42" or taller tires..

 

[RUSH55]

80 series rears are too wide for me. Unless it was shortened (same as you’d do for the Dana) you’re going to have wheels sticking way out on the back end and a narrower track in the front, OR you matched it with an 80 series front and ran the same steel Tacoma/FJ Cruiser wheels everyone else runs when they’ve done an 80 series frame swap.

 

[kbahus]