Hey there...

Went back home for a couple of weeks and wheeled as much as I can (seriously!)...here are a couple of stories from the trip:

Started off replacing the rear 4.88 Toy R&P that has given me 4 years of good service...I believe this break is due mainly to bad set-up (will be doing the diff set-up myself from now on...):

http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v333/173/43/772765505/n772765505_3962641_6776.jpg

http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v333/173/43/772765505/n772765505_3962642_7129.jpg

I weighed the truggy with no recovery gear except for a hilift, and it came in at 2,280kg, that's 5,027lbs...with a 58/42 Front/Rear split, which is quite good (with recovery gear, that may skew towards the rear more)...was hoping for something below 2T (~4,500lbs), but I believe with what it has (42s, steel beadlocks, dual winches, dual Optimas, stock windsheild, LOTS of thick tubing...), its a good number...

I also grooved the 42s and that netted out a total 1.5lbs weight loss (I know...that's like a dump before going wheeling...)...

Some wheeling pics:

http://photos-e.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v333/173/43/772765505/n772765505_3962644_7753.jpg

http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v333/173/43/772765505/n772765505_3962651_83.jpg

http://photos-e.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v333/173/43/772765505/n772765505_3962652_423.jpg

http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v333/173/43/772765505/n772765505_3962659_2840.jpg

http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v333/173/43/772765505/n772765505_3962665_5002.jpg

http://photos-g.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v333/173/43/772765505/n772765505_3962662_3915.jpg

http://photos-e.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v333/173/43/772765505/n772765505_3962684_2341.jpg

http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v333/173/43/772765505/n772765505_3962690_4664.jpg

This last climb was tricky and I decided to winch given my short wheelbase and the trucks propensity to pull a wheelie...

http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v333/173/43/772765505/n772765505_3962691_5072.jpg

http://photos-e.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v333/173/43/772765505/n772765505_3962692_5486.jpg

http://photos-h.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v333/173/43/772765505/n772765505_3962695_6711.jpg

http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v333/173/43/772765505/n772765505_3962698_7927.jpg

I lost the ZF 1/2 way up and we noticed that the oil pan was dripping ATF...pulled a new seal and redid it and refilled it...

http://photos-e.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v333/173/43/772765505/n772765505_3962700_8756.jpg

Didn't make the climb as it was late and the trucks with me wheren't willing to play anchor...next year :flipoff2:

So the plan is to:

First, drop some sprung weight...going to redo the exo in this format:

I really don't need all that surface area, the waffles and the pull-pal haven't been used since I went to 42s and with the new plan on going larger, I believe keeping them at home isn't a bad idea...the rear winch is to be set up higher and tucked closer...the reason for that is to have enough room to tuck in the rockwell diff and keep the truck as low as possible:

http://photos-g.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v333/173/43/772765505/n772765505_3962654_1105.jpg

The rear above the stock fuel tank will be recessed and act like a bucket/truck for my toolbags...all my ropes/cables/recovery stuff will be in the cab under the seats or behind the seats...

http://photos-h.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v333/173/43/772765505/n772765505_3962655_1446.jpg

The front will get a narrowing treatment as well...given that I'm going with either airshocks or coilovers along with full hydro, the stock chassis will start to disappear after the engine mounts...so lots of saving here...also the front winch will be set on the front diff...trying to keep sprung weight to a minimum...

http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v333/173/43/772765505/n772765505_3962656_1793.jpg

So with rockwells, I should get much more width (hitting 102" wide) and wheelbase is going to be around 130", +/- 5"...4 link front and rear, square driveshafts, front steer for now, and 20" rims...tires are either going to be the 47 LTBs or the 54 Boggers (both somewhat shaved)...I'm aiming to have as much up travel as possible with these differentials (ultralocker front, spool rear) and keep as low a center of gravity as possible...will retain current engine/ZF/LT230/Ashcroft until I can afford something better...but the wheeling in Lebanon doesn't need high HP...as long as they stick together I'll be happy for now...

The suspension/Rovota axles/wheels and other stuff will go on my 1998 Disco and run 35" street tires for wife/brother/daily-driver duties...

Oh, and yeah, aiming to maintain the weight despite the increase in tire/diff...fingers crossed...work should commence in Xmas (as some of you know, I live in NYC and travel rarely to Lebanon...and I want to do the work myslef...)

Any constructive chriticism is welcomed :flipoff2:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3529694548439436492&hl=en

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9003897708080640402&hl=en

Dino, your truck is a total inspiration to me - in fact I think it made me go for 37s instead of 35s, and then you went and fitted 42s. You can't go and re-do it all so much more advanced, I'll never catch up!

What axles are you running at the moment?

Hey Rich,

Thanks - i just read your article in LROI...first time I pick up that magazine in ages...5 hour layover in Heathrow...so had to digest some LRing...

Currently running the Rovota axles (Rover axle housing, Toyota 8" 3rds, Jac Mac axles - 30 spline, 1.31", and Longfield CVs)...future is larger (& heavier!)...

Cheers,
Nadim

looking good