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Write to:
Nuts & Bolts
4-Wheel & Off-Road
6420 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90048-5515
fax 323.782.2704.
Email to:
nuts@4wheeloffroad.com
Lost In Bumperville?
Question: In the article "Dual-Purpose Building/Upgrading" (Dec. '08, page 76), the first picture is of a Jeep Wrangler JK that has a very simple bumper with a grille-protecting bar. I have been trying to find it. Who makes it?
Henry
Answer: That JK front bumper is built by Mount Logan Off Road (435.752.4272, www.mtloganoffroad.com) and goes for about $600.
Diesel Toy
Question: I have an '85 Toyota diesel 2WD truck with a good engine, and I am looking for a 4WD transmission and transfer case for it. Do you have any suggestions where I can find one?
Ron Haining
Via 4wheeloffroad.com
Answer: Diesel Toyota mini-trucks came with a G52 transmission up to and including the '84s, and a W56 transmission in '85s and later when they upgraded to a turbodiesel. I'll assume you have a turbodiesel since you said your truck is an '85. You have two choices to make your truck four-wheel drive. You can rebuild your current transmission by getting the rear housing, 21-spline output shaft, four-wheel-drive shifter linkage, and shifter base from an '85 to October '91 gasoline Toyota mini-truck. However, this will require a complete rebuild of the transmission.
The other option is to simply swap in a W56 transmission and transfer case from an '85 to October '91 gasoline-powered Toyota mini-truck, but you will need to reuse the special diesel bellhousing your truck already has and install it on the four-wheel-drive W56. The W56 was also used until the '95 model year, but the later transmissions have different shifter locations. Both the early and the later transmissions and transfer cases will likely require your cutting into the floor to clear the shift levers. You can also order all these part expertly rebuilt from Marlin Crawler (559.252.7295, www.marlincrawler.com).
Which Way Jeep?
Question: I have a '61 CJ-5 with a '90 Chevy 4.3L TBI, stock drivetrain, power steering, power brakes, 35-inch Baja Claws, and a disc-brake conversion on a Dana 27. As far as I can tell I have about 4.10 gears in the axles (it screams at 60 with 35s). The T-90 tranny is getting bad (the mainshaft bearing is cracked) and I am scared of the 9-inch clutch.
I bought a good SM420 tranny for $20, and I bought a Dana 300 and twin-sticked it. I own a set of '79 Wagoneer Dana 44 axles with both passenger-side pumpkins and 3.07s. With a 7:1 First gear in the SM420, would I have to put different gears in the 44s? I have also found a set of '79 Toyota axles with 4.38s in them (I can buy the axles, driveshafts, and front springs for $300).
The third option is to find a '73-'78 Chevy and buy the axles out of it. To have the axles cut down will cost me $600. Toyotas won't be cut, but the steering is goofy. I would also like to know which you prefer for tranny/trans adapter-Advanced or Novak? I have wheeled the Jeep pretty hard for two years with the 35s and no axle breakage yet, but it needs lockers bad. I was thinking I would go with a spool in the rear and Detroit Truetrac in the front. I have done 90 percent of the work, fab, and welding myself. I would really appreciate your advice for a bulletproof daily driver, mud buggy, river runner, and hunting buggy.
Josh M.
Via 4wheeloffroad.com
Answer: The boss (Pw) likes your Jeep and says to leave the Jeep alone and just add a locker to your current axles and maybe a one-piece rear axle kit and a locker.
My advice is to use your Wagoneer axles, as they'll be wider than your current axles and will add stability. They have front disc brakes and larger and higher spline-count shafts. The question is whether or not your Wagoneer rear axle is centered or offset. If it is offset like you claim, then it is from a Quadra-Trac-equipped Wagoneer and I would suggest you keep the Spicer 18 transfer case you already have. This case can be adapted to your SM420, and a Saturn overdrive from Advance Adapters can be installed for better highway miles. Plus they are not as weak as some folks claim and should be fine with your setup after a rebuild.
Your rear axle should currently be a Dana 44 and most likely has 5.38 gears in it, which is why it screams on the highway. I say keep those gears, buy a matching set for the front, and install them in the Wagoneer axles when you install some lockers. It may seem low, but with the Saturn overdrive you'll be fine cruising with 35s. You can probably sell the Dana 300 for some extra cash also. The problem is that you will now have a six-lug bolt pattern instead of the current 5-on-51/2 pattern. You can either get custom axleshafts to swap to 5-on-51/2 and swap in front hubs from a Ford Bronco or F-150, or you can just get some six-lug wheels. I'd get new wheels, preferably some from a later-model GM or Toyota with a fair bit of backspacing to help suck the tires back in toward the body. If you keep the Dana 300, then you need an older Wagoneer axle or something with a centered rear differential to alleviate compound driveline angles like that Toyota axle you mentioned.
Advance Adapters and Novak make great products and have a long reputation in the adapter market. I recommend both.