AAM Answers
Question: I am planning a Land Cruiser wagon build (FJ-60). I plan on daily driving the truck and using it for my family wheeling shenanigans. I have sourced a 12V Cummins, and I am planning on running an A518 auto tranny mated to an NP203/205 combo. I am going to run a Dana 70 rear, but I don't have a front axle. I have found an AAM front axle out of a newer Dodge diesel. Pros and cons to using this axle? I want a seclectable locker. Available options? Is the 205 front output going to be OK spinning all the time? Are the front axles going to hold up? Am I crazy for swapping in something with unit bearings?
Rob B.
via 4wheeloffroad.com
Answer: I see nothing wrong with the AAM 9.25 front axle for your application. The axle is currently found under every Cummins Dodge 3/4- and 1-ton truck, and your FJ-60 will likely not weigh more than the average 1-ton. There is both the Dodge Power Wagon front selectable locker and the ARB RD51 Air Locker available for it. The current unit bearings will be fine, or you can upgrade to the Dynatrac free spin kit to keep your front driveshaft from spinning. The spinning of the 205 by the front driveshaft may increase wear slightly over the life of the truck, but nothing to really worry about. Just make sure the front driveshaft is well balanced. The AAM only offers 4.56 ring-and-pinion ratios as the lowest, but you'll probably want a more street-friendly ratio, as the Cummins doesn't like to spin high revs. We've run this front axle under our Cummins-powered JK Wrangler in the Ultimate Adventure and have only broken one front axleshaft, and that was with 42-inch tall tires. The axleshafts are 33-spline and 1.37 inches in diameter, so they should be fine for a family truckster-mobile. I have heard of these axles bending under extreme abuse in Cummins-powered race trucks, so before you jump it, I'd recommend a front axle truss.
Old Beater Or New & Neater?
Question: I'm 16 and recently got my license and I'm infected with the off-road bug. I'm getting an '00 Nissan Frontier 4x4 3.3L V-6 that my parents got for me and my brother, who is going to college. I can't really take the Nissan wheeling because my parents would not like me "wrecking" the truck they bought. So I would have to buy another truck to wheel. Now don't go telling me to buy an old beater, which I would very much like to do, because my parents will not let me drive a truck with no airbags (which I'm sure other kids can relate to). So if I were to get an old truck, I would have to tow it to go wheeling with the Nissan so it couldn't be a fullsize truck because it would be too heavy. Also to tow I would have to flat-tow, keeping me from having to buy and license a trailer. The other option would be to buy a newer truck with an airbag and only drive that to go wheeling to save money. I don't know which option to choose. Next year at school I will be taking an auto shop class, which will help me save money learning to work on my truck myself.
Jacob D.
via 4wheeloffroad.com
Answer: I was in your same situation once long ago. Mom and Dad had gotten my brother Sam and me a Volkswagen to drive to school, and even though it was a perfectly good commuter car I really thought we "needed" a Jeep CJ instead. Of course my dad told me that if I wanted a Jeep I should save my money and get a Jeep, so I did. By working on the farm and saving all my spare change I eventually came home with a $600 '73 CJ-5. It was a rust bucket for sure, but I did learn a lot about how 4x4s worked and how to make mine run.
In the end the simple old Jeep taught me more than I ever realized, and the crazy thing is I ran out of money before I ever got it to pass Pennsylvania safety inspection. Luckily for me I was able to sell it for a profit and spend that money on a newer '86 CJ-7 that ran and was licensed. In fact, the CJ-7 never needed much work, and had I started with a newer Jeep I wouldn't have learned how to rewire and fix all the stuff that was wrong with my CJ-5.
That is why I recommend an old beater 4x4 as your first 4x4. Lots of kids are given nice trucks by their parents. If you buy it, learn to fix it, and get it running all by yourself, then you will appreciate it much more and will be able to fix any problems when you're out on the trail. Plus, an old 4x4 is the perfect project for your auto shop class to help on.
As for flat-towing the rig, your Nissan has a recommended towing capacity of 5,000 pounds if it has an automatic transmission (3,500 if it is a manual), and though this will pull a 4x4, you'll probably save plenty of fuel by just driving your 4x4, unless you get something small and light like an old Jeep CJ, an early '80s Toyota pickup, or a Suzuki Samurai. In fact, I think any of these three would make a great first 4x4. They are all nimble, all have simple leaf-sprung suspensions and solid axles, and in stock form they were all available with hearty four-cylinder engines.
If an airbag-equipped 4x4 is needed, then realize that they weren't required until 1999, so you are looking for something built in the last 10 years or so. I'd still consider an open-topped Jeep.
Parts Please
Question: I've been wondering, when you replace your super cool 4x parts with super cooler 4x parts, what do you usually do with the original parts? I noticed you replaced the Dynatrac Pro Rock in the Ultimate Adventure Super Duty (aka the Ultimate Ranch Truck) with what looks like "The Super 60" from June '09, page 22. So what did you do with the Pro Rock 60? I know of a Super Duty that could really use it!
Ray
via 4wheeloffroad.com
Answer: Good question, Ray. Many of our project vehicles' stock parts or upgraded parts get reused, bartered, or sold to fund future projects and upgrades. It's a never-ending cycle of parts. Also, some parts are returned to the manufacturers for analysis or reuse. We have considered holding contests to give away parts of old project trucks, but we're not sure the corporate lawyers would look kindly on our pawning off used and abused parts to unsuspecting readers. Don't worry though; none of the parts are thrown away.
Nuts, I'm Confused
Dad's Little Helper
Question: My name is Jack. I need you to help me convince my dad into letting me fix up my grandpa's old Jeep. I am 11 and would like to drive it when I am old enough to drive. It is a '46 CJ-2. It has been behind the barn since before I was born. Grandpa says it needs some engine work and brakes. I am trying to get my dad to help me fix it up so I can use it to drive to school, but he says it is just a piece of junk.
Jack
via 4wheeloffroad.com
Answer: Tell your dad this will be a great father-son project and will teach you a lot about basic mechanics. You two could rebuild the brakes first and then get it running, then tinker with it till you are old enough to drive it. Project like this are a great way to learn, and to keep father-son relationships close and great old classics on the road. In fact, why don't you get Grandpa involved also? Ask him to help out, and maybe he'll even help foot the bill for new parts.
Maybe you need to make a deal with your dad and grandpa. Say you'll take out the trash and mow the lawn every week if they'll help you fix the Jeep and buy the parts you need. It doesn't hurt to tell your dad that all your friends are thinking about starting a street gang and you'd rather work on an old Jeep than a dead-end life of crime.
To keep you busy when you are not working on the Jeep, I am going to send you a new Team Losi RC truck. Losi makes a full line of RC cars, from rockcrawlers to race trucks, in many different sizes and powerplants. Plus, Losi trucks aren't your generic toy store off-roaders. These can be modified, hopped up, regeared, and built to your specifications. In fact, there are many small off-road competitions for RC racers, and the hand-eye coordination you get from "driving" these little trucks can lead to better driving skills when you're old enough to take your drivers test. Check out the Losi website for all sorts of tech advice, upcoming events and competitions, team rosters, and new parts and models. I bet you could barter with your dad to let him drive your Losi truck if he'll help you on the old Jeep. Find out more at www.losi.com or by calling 888.899.5674.