WANTED: exhaust resonator / spare Birf

[zanyzonies]

I have a 1996 Land Cruiser, and I need a few things.

Does any one local have an exhaust resonator they cut off that can be welded back on they would like to sell?

Also, I would like to buy an extra birfield in good condition to have as a trail spare.

Let me know what you have, and what youd like for it.

Thanks

 

[Tools R Us]

...
Does any one local have an exhaust resonator they cut off that can be welded back on they would like to sell?

I may have one, but not pristine, has seen rock contact.

Also, I would like to buy an extra birfield in good condition to have as a trail spare.
...

How big of tires are you running and how hard do you intend to flog the rig?

I have been on many trail miles with a bunch of '80s, a lot of them pretty challenging and have seen one broken birf. The postmortem inspection showed that it looked to have been cracked for a long time, most likely had an inclusion, defect from the factory.

I wouldn't carry a spare, if I were going to flog my rig hard enough to worry about front axle spares, my first worry would be the diff. They are usually thought of as the weakest front axle part, the '80 birfs are pretty darn strong.

 

[zanyzonies]

I'm running 35" tires now, and dont plan on going any bigger. it still has stock gears, and I'm not sure if I'll regear or not.

as far as what kind of wheeling I plan on doing? well, I bought this mostly so we could take family and friend out wheeling with us. the hardest trails I plan on running would be Lower Termirnator or Martinez Canyon and the like. I have another vehicle for Hardcore stuff ( but ya never know!)

I have a very good idea of what these vehicles are capable of in just stock form with factory lockers. let alone, after they've been built up just a bit.
I'm of the mind that if I have a spare, (what ever) I most likely wont need it. but have found many a time that it was good to have planned ahead.

as for the Resonator, we took a nice drive up to Wickenburg, and up the Hassayampa and the Box Canyon and played on some rocks and other Canyons over to Rich Hill then up to Prescott and back down to the Valley. It was a nice day, but the former owner cut the tail end of the exhaust off to fit a rear Slee bumper, and the Humming Bird sound started to get anoying after a few hours.
and best of all, the Cruiser managed an overall fuel millage of 14.75 mpg from Suprise, up and around and back to Suprise.

so my thought is to re-install a resonator and eliminate the problem. if you have one that would still be serviceable I'll be happy to take it off your hands.
What are you opinions?

Thanks

 

[Tools R Us]

...
I'm of the mind that if I have a spare, (what ever) I most likely wont need it. but have found many a time that it was good to have planned ahead.
...
What are you opinions?

Thanks

In my opinion the '80 is a heavy enough pig as it is. Adding more weight makes it less capable and more likely to break, so I only add/carry necessary items. IMHO a spare birf is unnecessary, properly maintain and make sure the birfs are in good condition and don't worry. In the very rare chance of breakage, what is the worst that would happen, have to remove it and take a strap on hard obstacles to get home?

On the resonator there is one here, your welcome to it. I wouldn't do it, if you can't take the whistle, change that big, rock grabbing, pos, bus muffler. While your at it, change to a smaller/shorter cat and route the pipe over the frame solving all of the problems in one shot!

 

[zanyzonies]

In my opinion the '80 is a heavy enough pig as it is. Adding more weight makes it less capable and more likely to break, so I only add/carry necessary items. IMHO a spare birf is unnecessary, properly maintain and make sure the birfs are in good condition and don't worry. In the very rare chance of breakage, what is the worst that would happen, have to remove it and take a strap on hard obstacles to get home?

On the resonator there is one here, your welcome to it. I wouldn't do it, if you can't take the whistle, change that big, rock grabbing, pos, bus muffler. While your at it, change to a smaller/shorter cat and route the pipe over the frame solving all of the problems in one shot!

You have some good points. the 80's are heavy biotches! not nearly as heavy as my Dodge Mega cab diesel 4X4 (pushing 9000lbs) but still wheels good.
My style of wheeling is usually 20+ miles from any where, and all by my self were "getting the strap" from some one probably isnt going to happen. (allthough I am very well equiped for self exstraction) and going home to work on said junk, is not an option. being self reliant and having the propper tools & spare parts can save your bacon.

Toyota axles "are" incredibly tough. and I've watched guys just thrash the cr_p out of 1st gen 4runners & pickups on 40" tires and not break any thing! and some just explode doing easy stupid stuff!
I run 37" Creepys on beadlocked rims on my 85 4Runner, and have wheeled the snot out of it and have never broken a thing! having 20 forward gears, and 4 reverse's helps too. but it is rather modified!

I roll on 40" beadlocked Creepys on my heep crawler on custom one tons, and having spare's parts just make for a more better day of wheeling! particapating & watching guys swap hubs or axle on the trail about as fast as some guys would change a tire and get right back in the game is where it's at for me!

I know your right about the toughness of the 80's axle's, but running 35"s and lockers fore & aft and smoking all four tire's on a waterfall wile trying to build traction, or hitting something just right with the wheels turned while trying not to fall back down can be detrimental to axle componets!

Slee seems to have some good stuff. if I cant find one second hand, I'll just buy new. thanks for the offer on the resonator. one of my buddys PM'ed me and has one "as new", and we'll be customizing the exhaust tomorrow!

We'll have to hook up and go wheeling soon, and see what kind of trouble we can get in to!

Thanks

 

[Tools R Us]

Here is a pic with a mini/40/60 and an 80 birf, the 80 birf is somewhat larger. The 80 runs the same size front diff (but hi pinion) as the mini, so if I were to smoke tires on a waterfall, my first concern would be the diff. I run '37s and don't carry a spare birf, but also wheel with others.

 

[zanyzonies]

Here is a pic with a mini/40/60 and an 80 birf, the 80 birf is somewhat larger. The 80 runs the same size front diff (but hi pinion) as the mini, so if I were to smoke tires on a waterfall, my first concern would be the diff. I run '37s and don't carry a spare birf, but also wheel with others.

Excellent comparison! and point well taken. what gears are you running with your 37" tires? and how is the streetabillity? I havent heard of many rear axle/diff problems, but the front 8" does concern me for some reason. maybe I should just let it go.

With what your running and who you run with, Your thoughts are more of, that with 35,s and stock gears (for now) I really should'nt worry about the Birffs? other than the pinion & diff, are there any frontend parts I should be concerned with, steering, what have you?

Thanks for your input. I'm new to the Cruisers, and wish to learn from Guys like yourself that know from experience what works and what dont!

Kevin

 

[ChaseTruck]

...but running 35"s and lockers fore & aft and smoking all four tire's on a waterfall while trying to build traction...

We typically don't run trails that require this approach.

... what gears are you running with your 37" tires? ...

ahem, he's not exactly 'running' the lower gears . They're on the shelf in his shop, to make sure they're safe.

 

[Tools R Us]

Excellent comparison! and point well taken. what gears are you running with your 37" tires? and how is the streetabillity? ...

I'm running stock 4.10 gears, it's drivable, wheels much better than with the 295" they replaced. Own 5.29 gears, they have been holding down a shelf for a couple of years, when I get the motivation to install them, it may run even better?

IMHO the 80 will never be a great rock crawler, too big/heavy, but wheels well, is amazingly capable for a big station wagon. What I like best about it is; the components are very well matched, well thought out to work together, but like any rig there are design compromises/weaknesses.

On the front axle: The diff is only 8", but hi pinion, reverse cut, in forward runs on the power side of the gear, so is stronger than a mini diff that runs on the coast side. In reverse is somewhat weaker, so some care is needed. It has proven to be reliable, if a little tenderness is used in reverse I wouldn't worry about it.

The steering pressure all goes through the right knuckle, when lifted the drag link angle increases, this combined with large tires puts a big load on the knuckle/steering arm studs. They need more attention than most, check torque often.

The biggest design compromise/weakness is the rear locked diff. The locking collar engages the passenger axle to the carrier, so all of the drive for both tires goes through that axle. If excessively torque loaded tends to twist the axle between the lock collar and spider, making axle removal impossible without cutting a window in the housing and cutting the axle.

This most often happens from big wheel spin ending with high traction wheel stop, most common when wheeling in slop, mud. Overall it's relatively rare and in our wheeling conditions pretty much not an issue, as long as wheel spin is kept in check.

 

[zanyzonies]

Good stuff! I dont intend to use th 80 as a rock crawler, but knowing it could is comforting. I like the 35's for touring and exploration, it just rolls over the washboards and rocks nicer than 32's. 37's would be even better
I'm debating on gearing myself, wondering if at this time 4:88's would make that much of a differance? with te automatic tranmission, I got to admit it does just fine, and is a pleasure to drive! it seems to wheel on ruff steep stuff in low range with no arguements or issues.

Have you guys heard of "Zuk" (aka Ken)? He is a Toyota diff magician! this man is amazing, and his built ring & pinions are even more amazing! he's done three for me so far with 5:29 gears & Detroit lockers and one with 5:29's & re-did the factory electric locker.

He cryo's the gears, and really builds some quality stuff. He's known on lots of other boards, T.T.O.R.A., Wild Yoats, Pirates. he live in Chandler and told me last week he'd do my 4:88 swap and clean up the factory lockers for $200 each, if I pulled them and orderd the gears & install kits (about $400 for parts) and brought them over to him. he likes to use "Justdifferentials.com" for his gears & parts.

The front end steering was my next set of idea's of how can I make this bigger, stronger, and more substantial,,, just like me!
Also, it's good to know about the rear axle and locker collar. It really helps to know your limmitations before you get ass deep in aligators!

Thanks for putting up with me, and giving me some sound knowledge and imput. I'm a little slow, but I'll get there. I blame most of it on the fact that I'm old, phat, and servived raising teenaged girls! I just dont care any more!

Thanks

 

[FJ40LVR]

Have you guys heard of "Zuk" (aka Ken)? He is a Toyota diff magician! this man is amazing, and his built ring & pinions are even more amazing! he's done three for me so far with 5:29 gears & Detroit lockers and one with 5:29's & re-did the factory electric locker.
Thanks

Zuk is well know here as well - he has done two for me over the years - no equal when it comes to knowledge / workmanship and fair pricing - great guy and reference for questions.

JJJ

 

[Tools R Us]

Zuk is a good guy, several here have used him for regear jobs.

I like to refer to the '80 as the Swiss Army Knife of wheelers. It's a good rig to jump in, drive to Utah, run say Lockhart (~70mi dirt) the next day run Golden Spike (~17mi of ~4.0 rock), it handles it all without missing a beat and in relative comfort.

They are amazingly capable box stock. If your the type who looks forward to tons of necessary mods to trail prep a rig, maybe disappointed. IMHO bolt on your lift and tires of choice and wheel it, then see what other mods you want. With just lift and tires they handle most 4ish trails, pretty good for a station wagon.

For AZ trails and a highway/trails combo rig, Nitto Terra Grapplers work very well. A good lift is OME hybrid, J springs in the front, heavy rear springs and L shocks all around. This makes for a level lift that is relatively easy to setup and wheels/flexes well.

A couple of pix of azrider's rig on Spike running this setup. More pix of the trip; https://forum.ih8mud.com/az-copper-state-cruisers/282439-cruise-moab-2009-pix.html

 

[MaddBaggins]

4.88's do make a difference on the trail. I especially notice this when descending something steep.

As far as spares, I carry
hoses
belts
1 front and 1 rear ujoint
rear driveshaft (because I have one)
some other little odds and ends but thats it.

The only spares I have ever needed on the trail were tires and a battery. I now run dual batteries.

I run with the stock birfs on 35's and 4.88's.

 

[zanyzonies]

4.88's do make a difference on the trail. I especially notice this when descending something steep.

As far as spares, I carry
hoses
belts
1 front and 1 rear ujoint
rear driveshaft (because I have one)
some other little odds and ends but thats it.

The only spares I have ever needed on the trail were tires and a battery. I now run dual batteries.

I run with the stock birfs on 35's and 4.88's.

Yea, I need to pick up some front & rear u-joints. I'm a thinking 4:88's as well.
I do belive the "Dual Batteries" mod will be my next project. as well as diff breather extensions. I'm looking for a roofrack also, one that clamps to the gutters and dosnt cover the Sunroof, and is low profile.

Do you know, how close did the 4:88 gears bring you speedometer to your actual MPH?

 

[MaddBaggins]

Yea, I need to pick up some front & rear u-joints. I'm a thinking 4:88's as well.
I do belive the "Dual Batteries" mod will be my next project. as well as diff breather extensions. I'm looking for a roofrack also, one that clamps to the gutters and dosnt cover the Sunroof, and is low profile.

Do you know, how close did the 4:88 gears bring you speedometer to your actual MPH?

4.88's and 35's makes my speedo/odo read 8.5% faster than reality. I GPS'ed it to get that figure.
So when I figure my mileage, I take the total miles, subtract 8.5% then divide by the gallons.