ARCHIVE Wits' End Turbo Test Mule #3- no cartwheeling allowed (6 Viewers)

[Tommysosa]

There was some reporting of the numbers on the last development vehicle. It was something around 220 whp and about 280 wtq. Those are approximately 100 hp and 100 tq improvements on over the baseline vehicle. This is among the most effective real improvements in HP for the cost and being a fully supplied solution. I am sure that someone put an LS motor in their 80 series for $1000 one time. Good for them, but that wouldn't be my mechanically challenged reality. I do believe that I could install the WE turbo. In fact, this turbo kit has gotten me thinking about going the direction of an 80 more than once.

Who has dynoed ther Supercharged FZJ80

I have seen it done, and I want to know what numbers were pulled.

forum.ih8mud.com

I tossed around the idea of engine swap versus the WE turbo kit for quite some time. I thought 6k was a little pricey at first. Finding an LS is fairly easy and been documented many times to swap into our rigs. I looked at even doing a Cummins Crate engine (2.8l is 7k with harness and pulleys etc.)

In the end, the quality of the kit from WE seems to be the best bang for the $$ and keeps everything in the truck running as it should. No messing with motor mounts, transmissions, wiring harness, gauge cluster, the list goes on for an engine swap.

For 6K to get a quality kit that has shown to be reliable, practically bolts on, and been extremely thought out... Well shut up and take my money.

 

[NLXTACY]

I have had no time to do anything. Trying to play catch up this stupid pandemic has been a nightmare. But things must progress. My little brother Jason has been bugging the snot out of me to let him work on the truck. Well, I finally gave in. I let him attack the power steering pump, gear box and alternator and to his credit, he managed it all just using the FSM and couple of questions from me.

The first up was the gear box. Getting off the pitman arm was the hardest part for him but it eventually came off with a little help ;P

The decision was made to send it out to be rebuilt because I'm just not going to touch it and I don't think my brother is quite ready to do gear box tear downs. I pulled a set of Sector 105 shaft and pitman arm, along with a rebuild kit, and send everything off to Red Head Gears. Those guys were a little more money than West Texas but I've been hearing so many bad things about WC that I decided on Red Head. Totally not disappointed at all, especially since I asked them to port the box for a...hydraulic assist/winch for the future

Three days turn around and everything looks awesome. They rebuilt it, used the new sector shaft and ported it all within about three days. Amazing.

Once it arrived my brother wasted no time in getting it back installed in the truck. Now I just need to wait for a new tie rod end since he mangled that one getting it out

 

[NLXTACY]

Some pics of the rebuilt, upgraded and modded gear box

 

[NLXTACY]

What Red Head Gears did to make sure its not touched.

 

[NLXTACY]

THE BEST gull wings in the industry by far. @wagongear himself drove out last week to install his gull wing windows on two of the 80Series I had here in the shop. The Turbo truck being one of them.

The WagonGear gull wing windows are not only the original out here in the states, but by far the best engineered using OEM solid glass. As luck would have it, I actually have five sets of solid glass panels in stock. The gullwings are so utterly over engineered it makes my heart swell with pride.

Kevin was kind enough to spend the better part of two days here at the shop to get these installed. Couldn’t be happier with his work and the conversation. Kevin, you are a solid dude for sure. Keep up the awesome work.

If you have the time and resources this is the only gull wing you should consider. If funds are a little tight then I’d look to @yodaTEQ for his setup which is well done. Everything else is blah.

 

[NLXTACY]

Install pics

 

[NLXTACY]

Few more

 

[cvenom96]

Awaiting the Wits'End bandana next....

Those look awesome!

 

[retrofive]

Does Kevin still live in Oregon? Or used to?

 

[NLXTACY]

Awaiting the Wits'End bandana next....

Those look awesome!

its funny you say that. I have a design but I have yet to pull the trigger

 

[NLXTACY]

Does Kevin still live in Oregon? Or used to?

still here. Outside of Salem.

 

[retrofive]

That cut out in the flare looks great. How'd you accomplish that??

 

[NLXTACY]

That cut out in the flare looks great. How'd you accomplish that??

dude it’s my mad skillz!!








that and we just removed the little red light marker

 

[retrofive]

dude it’s my mad skillz!!








that and we just removed the little red light marker

Doh, forgot about those lights. Well looks great.

 

[Wompom]

Doh, forgot about those lights. Well looks great.

I thought the same thing when i was looking at it at first.

 

[jjdeneen918]

What does the lock do? Exterior key access to open/unlock windows I presume?

 

[NLXTACY]

Soooooooo tired of seeing the stupid compressor and locker switches on the clean dash. Wanted to use the OEM dial with the ARB lockers and ARB twin compressors. Final OEM splice wires and connector finally arrived and now it’s done. So utterly happy with the results.

Since it’s all dialed in I think I’m going to make up a kit and do the same with my turbo truck but with Harrops instead of stupid ARBs.

 

[FirstToy]

Those are awesome
also, that Wit's End Turbo badge is on point!

THE BEST gull wings in the industry by far. @wagongear himself drove out last week to install his gull wing windows on two of the 80Series I had here in the shop. The Turbo truck being one of them.

The WagonGear gull wing windows are not only the original out here in the states, but by far the best engineered using OEM solid glass. As luck would have it, I actually have five sets of solid glass panels in stock. The gullwings are so utterly over engineered it makes my heart swell with pride.

Kevin was kind enough to spend the better part of two days here at the shop to get these installed. Couldn’t be happier with his work and the conversation. Kevin, you are a solid dude for sure. Keep up the awesome work.

If you have the time and resources this is the only gull wing you should consider. If funds are a little tight then I’d look to @yodaTEQ for his setup which is well done. Everything else is blah.

View attachment 2377783

 

[jjdeneen918]

What does the lock do? Exterior key access to open/unlock windows I presume?

can you show the interior linkage?

I’ve got a bass speaker box inside my quarter panel area. Curious if it’s in the way.

 

[NLXTACY]

Before and after. Looking at these lame switches sitting on the dash was too much. I’ll have a write up shortly but basically you are turning the mess of wires and switches into using the simple OEM selector switch.