Well, after a few months of deliberation between selling the FJ60 or keeping it, I finally decided to keep it; which meant installing the Mark's Adapters 3.05/1.08:1 gear set. Mudrak did an excellant job of grinding the case (needs about 1/8" off a couple ribs) and making sure eveything fit properly. I finally stabbed the tranny and case in and filled it last night... first thing I did was slip in in low-range and idle down the street.

I run a smallblock chevy, h55f, and FJ62 diffs (4.11)... so the crawl ratio is about 62:1 (sm420/J30=67:1).

So, does it crawl? Yup. Shore does. Nice'nslow. (of course, a 203 kit would give me... 124:1, Mmmmmmm).

Only drawback so far is... the gears are loud. Around 40 mph, the wine becomes quite noticable. Hopefully this is normal. About the noise of an SM420 (which is weird cause the Marks gears are not straight cut).

We'll see how they do on Rubicon and Fordyce this summer (or winter, if I can get a SOA soon :)

-B

Where did you purcase your gears? I noticed AA had them on sale for like $1245 or something...not much of a sale. I'm currently looking into getting some sent directly from the source for my FJ62. How difficult was the installation...or how long did it take Mudrak?

We purchased 5 or 6 sets directly, shared shipping and duties... saved about 500 bucks each or so. Most of the installation time is spent cleaning. Other then that, about 10 very carefule minutes with a grinder... they slip in like stock gears... so it is no more difficult then rebuilding a stock case... which is to say, you should have someone who has done it before.

Its really too bad that AA can't sell them cheaper. They tell me that they get really hosed on the import duties (which may explain why OME springs are so damn expensive), otherwise I think they would be a pretty good deal.

-B

muddogbob, if you guys, need someone over here to organise it all, then keep me in mind, because i will be getting a set of these gears in the next few months, and live in Oz...cheers

I am currently talking to Nick at mailto:nick@mannellmotors.com.au he is currently getting a total price calculated for me with shipping and everything. I definitely want to get a set in the near future if i can get them for a good price.

Brian wrote:
>Its really too bad that AA can't sell them cheaper. They tell me that they get >really hosed on the import duties (which may explain why OME springs are >so damn expensive), otherwise I think they would be a pretty good deal.

OME ha! Almighty buck baby. Gross profit margins in the US on all ARB products. Not import duties, money, money, money.

and with AA, they have an exclusive distributorship with Mark's so there is no competition. After pricing a few items new in Oz, no wonder why people skip the US dealers and resellers.

just a quick update... I decided that the cause of the excessive gear wine was in fact: my stereo; it wasn't loud enough. There's no doubt about it, the gears are loud. Going to try running sunthetic oil in the case... see if it quiets a bit.

-B

Brian, give us an idea...louder than an SM420? Ranger Overdrive loud? Loud, as in, would be unbearable on a 10-hour trip at 65 MPH, or loud as in annoying-loud, but definitely worth the lower ratio?

dangone-it! i just wrote a very nice detailed witty rather longwinded explaination... then the 'puter crashed. so, i'll have to make it short this time.

the gears are about this loud:

"Wrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr"

Seriously folks... heh heh, i'll be here all week.

the wine is about as loud as an SM420... maybe a worn sm420. The cause is either the largely spaced teeth and/or if the gears are machined really tight, the shearing of the oil could be causing the noise. I'll have some other cruiserheads drive it, see what they think. The noise is loudest at 45MPH, after that, road noise, mudders, V8, and my singing while a drive seem to drown it out.

definately worth the money if you can get around AA's helmet and do a group buy straight from the source.

-B

BTW, Henry do you have anyone who can give me advice on bending knuckle arms?

Originally posted by muddogbob
I am currently talking to Nick at mailto:nick@mannellmotors.com.au he is currently getting a total price calculated for me with shipping and everything. I definitely want to get a set in the near future if i can get them for a good price.

cool thanks, might go through, him, he seems pretty cool, has a fba shop called mannell motors, does patrols, but ill wait and see yet!!

the gearsets are $1575 Aus + freight Fedex air is $210 Aus & arrives usually within 2 days.I need to know the following to fill your order.
1: The idler gear diameter (either 38mm or 34mm)
2: 4 or 5 speed gearbox?
3: Does the input gear have a seal runner or not.
If all this info is supplied the correct gearset can be sent.
Hope we can help fullfill your requirements.Have you seen our website? mannellmotors.com.au.
Regards Nick.

At the moment $1 American = Approx $0.52 Aus.
So my invoice total of $1785 will cost you approx $920.

This is what I've heard from Nick...sounds pretty decent...$920 compared to $1300+...I think i'm going to get some in the near future...anybody else want in?

Just a note, he says:

1: The idler gear diameter (either 38mm or 34mm)
2: 4 or 5 speed gearbox?
3: Does the input gear have a seal runner or not.

Now, Oz cases are a bit different from ours, in that we never got 5 speeds. So, when I ordered mine, I told them, 34MM, 4 speed... but now I have a 5 speed. Which confused Marks, so I just said, it was a 4 speed case. I ended up with a 34MM idler shaft, but the input (or drive gear) was incorrect. I needed one with a seal runner. Now, if it was a 38MM case, I believe they _all_ have/need the seal runner on the drive gear.

If you have a 34MM case... I think (_THINK_), up to early '85 needs no seal runner... and late '85 on up (which can be bolted to H55F) needs the seal runner.

Best way, unfortunately... is to open the case before hand.

http://www.birfield.com/~morgan/img_2208.jpg

on left is new (incorrect) drive gear with no seal runner (oops).
on right is original (my case is a late '85 34MM).

just so y'all know.

-B

Well my case is definitly a 4 speed. Mine is a 1990 in an FJ62 behind an auto...so it must be a 38mm and require a seal runner...RIGHT?

Muddogbob-

If you have the stock FJ62 transfer, it has reverse cut gears with seal runner. You loose all the old gears switching to Marks so you should have no problem with the change. get seal runner style.

Brian et al-

I think I have this figured out.
If you are using a H42 long or H55 t-case, you need the seal runner.
If you are using a 34mm H42 but H55 compatable case, get seal runner style. If you have an early 34mm case (non H55), then get 4sp.

Rick, I think you are right on. I have never had an early (pre-85, non seal runner, and as the Aussie's call it, "4 speed") split case apart, but I am sure that is the application for the non-seal runner gears (34MM, 4 speed).

someone should tell AA... cause ya know they're going to screw it up for anyone who orders (not that anyone would, at their prices).

-B