Transfer case basics - 76 FJ40 (1 Viewer)

[Living in the Past]

When I talked to the engineer about the Torsen differential they did not make any differential for the Toyota 9.5". They were not compatible with the semi float axle because of the C-clips in the rear. The engineer on the phone assumed that the front axle was also a semi float and it had C-clips also so they did not have a differential for the front either. That conversation was back in the early 80s an things may have changed. I could not afford changing the differentials back then anyway.

The Torsen in my coarse spline axle has special bolt on hubs with pressed on bearings. The patent for the Torsen was in 1958. It's an interesting story on them. Popular in race cars. Original HUMVEEs were equipped with them. Believe it was Eaton that was offering a Torsen E-locker combo but not for the 9.5" Land Cruiser differentials.

I totaled a 2000 Tundra back in 2004. Dry road except for a rare patch of black ice. Wasn't until 2002 whenToyota offered a limited slip in a Tundra. Because it was mainly dry had it in 2WD. Interesting it was not an overpass where the black ice was. Expect it there and coast in those sections. Today have a couple of drivers that have transfer cases that have open 4WD. Those also have Torsens in them.

My two trucks do not have full time 4 wheel drive just chain driven part time transfer cases and a factory limited slip in the rear.

My 78 FJ40 was a daily driver and it did care if it was in 2wd or 4wd on the pavement with the factory open differentials. One time it had snowed so when I parked it was in 4 high, but the snow had melted and the Ex drove it to work on dry roads about 30 miles to work on I-80. She called me to ask why it was making so much noise.

The 71 Bronco I had, you had to back up to unlock the hubs and backup some more to get the transfer case back to 2wd. Probably because the differentials were not matched.

While I never drive it I do have a 76 FJ40 that has a Borg-Warner transfer that is full time 4WD. Few of them floating around in the US. Searched for fine spline Torsens for the axles.

I have a 84 mini truck front axle that has the auto lock and unlock hubs. Remember those hubs were popular in the seventies. The Blazer and GMC Jimmy required a change in the transfer case to install regular locking hubs. Think this was in response to Jeep's full time 4WD that came out in 1973 I believe. The later FJ55s had a Warn hub option that would automatically switch in to lock but had to manually unlocked.

 

[POPO AGIE]

My Dad had a new 73 IH Scout and it came with Warn semi automatic hubs. They only stayed locked under power, but not during compression braking and it said not to tow with them not manually locked.

I would guess since they would unlock during compression braking if the trailer was pushing the tow rig would be the same as compression braking and they would unlock.

 

[Living in the Past]

My Dad had a new 73 IH Scout and it came with Warn semi automatic hubs. They only stayed locked under power, but not during compression braking and it said not to tow with them not manually locked.

I would guess since they would unlock during compression braking if the trailer was pushing the tow rig would be the same as compression braking and they would unlock.

Crazy all the stuff they came up with. Believe it was when we were originally running out of fossil fuels scare that spurred this. This was in 1973. Better mileage and less wear on the front components. Plus the ease of not having to get out and lock and unlock the hubs. Know some including Toyota had a way to disconnect one of the inner axles when in 2WD. Can't remember who's it was but one would not work when really cold. Get stuck in snow and couldn't engage the front axle. I know my FJ62 the vacuum 4WD is sluggish when cold. I always make sure it's working when going off road to be sure it's there if I need it.

Prior to the first fossil fuel scare remember twenty-five cent a gallon gas. Which explains how I was able to survive on a minimum wage job which was around $2.25 a hour.

 

[POPO AGIE]

You must be the same age I am because I had a minimum wage job at $2.25 job to but did not have a car yet so I was not buying gas. I do remember when the Gay Johnson truck stop was advertising diesel for about .10 cents a gallon on I-80.

Every 4wd my Dad had all had lock out hubs from his 58 Willys square back to the F350 and I think they all had Warn hubs except for the IH 1/2 ton and the F350. I was too little to even know what a hub was so the Willys could have had anything available. Dad had a preference for Warn hubs.

I was in the back seat and Dad was driving the Willys on a road that a tracked Cat or something had driven on in the mud so I was being bounced and cracked the window with the left side of my head. Dad had to slow down.

 

[Living in the Past]

You must be the same age I am because I had a minimum wage job at $2.25 job to but did not have a car yet so I was not buying gas. I do remember when the Gay Johnson truck stop was advertising diesel for about .10 cents a gallon on I-80.

Every 4wd my Dad had all had lock out hubs from his 58 Willys square back to the F350 and I think they all had Warn hubs except for the IH 1/2 ton and the F350. I was too little to even know what a hub was so the Willys could have had anything available. Dad had a preference for Warn hubs.

I was in the back seat and Dad was driving the Willys on a road that a tracked Cat or something had driven on in the mud so I was being bounced and cracked the window with the left side of my head. Dad had to slow down.

Let's just say we were bought born in the fifties. During high school remember a gas station in Albany Oregon that had 10 cent a gallon gas and a cigarette machine with 10 cent a pack cigarettes. They didn't care how old you were for the cigarettes.


As for bouncing around. When I moved to AZ after high school the National Forest were open year round. Some bozo would always drive his big truck in the mud. Would fishtail back and forth. When it dried left ruts that were a wider track than my FJ40 and weren't in a straight line. Now the forests close down when and if the snow starts and keep them closed until the roads dried in the spring.

 

[POPO AGIE]

I have been in the Wind River mountains off of the Union Pass road and most people that went into the lakes up there had full size truck and the boggy places I would have a tough time because of my narrow track in the mud that the bigger trucks cut the path. But the rocks were the only place I got hung up because I was not following my spotters directions.

 

[Paul_A]

"My 78 FJ40 was a daily driver and it did care if it was in 2wd or 4wd on the pavement with the factory open differentials. One time it had snowed so when I parked it was in 4 high, but the snow had melted and the Ex drove it to work on dry roads about 30 miles to work on I-80. She called me to ask why it was making so much noise."

Hence the "Ex" part of the story....