I'm a bit different four wheeler than most, I'm not into rock crawling, twelve inch lift kits, 54 inch "swampers", etc... In fact, the opposite is true.. I want to keep the stock ride height, 235x75R15 tires (with an aggressive "mud" tread) and "Freeway Gears"..
In Dec 1973, I bought my FJ-40 Landcruiser to use as a "Hunting Vehicle" from Sept to Feb and as a "Daily Driver" the rest of the time. (we get ice storms down here, and a "chained-up" 4x4 is a fairly safe way to get around)
During the first four years and nearly 100K miles of ownership, I did FIVE Valve Jobs.. the same burned #4 Exhaust. In 1978 I "fixed" the problem permanently.. I replaced the Japanese Imitation Chebby sick cylinder engine with a 1967 429cid Cadillac bolted to a beefed-up TH400 (Trans-Go Shift Kit, HD Clutches, Hurst Shifter, etc.), using an Advance Adapter Kit to bolt the entire thing to the T-Case. After that, I drove nearly a quarter million trouble-free miles (I did have to replace the Accelerator Pump's diaphragm in the Holley Spread-bore Carb.. a fifty cent part). That 250K miles on 4.11 gears probably equals a half million miles with stock Caddy rear gears, so the engine started blowing a bit of oil. I also pulled a 6000lb, 23' Travel Trailer all over Texas, during hunting season. Once thru miles and miles of hubcap deep mud with "chained-up Street Tires" on "unimproved roads".. The nearly 400lbs of torque was the only thing that kept us from getting stuck! I also fitted the Caddy's stock 26gal fuel tank on the floor, behind the front seats. Effectively giving me a 400 mile range, instead of the "stock" 150 miles.
All this brings me to the Pirate 4x4 forum. After I recover from my back surgery (just done on Dec 1 2011), my plan is to upgrade to four wheel disks. Since the "standard set-up" uses the GM "Metric" front Calipers (I'm going to use the "big bore" 2.75" pistons) and I'll be fitting the Caddy Eldo, with E-Brake, (two inch) calipers to the rears, I'm thinking of just basically swapping the Toy's front & rear differential assemblies with a set of GM 8.5" Twelve Bolts out of a 4wd pick-up. This will allow me to fit lockers and 2.73 gears. (I know I'll have to "offset" the diffs-- I don't "need" a centered rear), but I WANT to keep the Toy Front Knuckles and Birfield CV Axles, I believe they, along with aftermarket Birfields, are a helluva lot stronger than the GM "u-joint" set-up. The front diff will require Toyota "outers" with the "inner" splines cut to fit the GM 30 Spline spyders.
So, the question of the hour is..... Has anyone done something like this? What all is involved? What are the pitfalls, etc. Yeas, Nays, Rubber Room Time?? Any help appreciated.
Charles.
In Dec 1973, I bought my FJ-40 Landcruiser to use as a "Hunting Vehicle" from Sept to Feb and as a "Daily Driver" the rest of the time. (we get ice storms down here, and a "chained-up" 4x4 is a fairly safe way to get around)
During the first four years and nearly 100K miles of ownership, I did FIVE Valve Jobs.. the same burned #4 Exhaust. In 1978 I "fixed" the problem permanently.. I replaced the Japanese Imitation Chebby sick cylinder engine with a 1967 429cid Cadillac bolted to a beefed-up TH400 (Trans-Go Shift Kit, HD Clutches, Hurst Shifter, etc.), using an Advance Adapter Kit to bolt the entire thing to the T-Case. After that, I drove nearly a quarter million trouble-free miles (I did have to replace the Accelerator Pump's diaphragm in the Holley Spread-bore Carb.. a fifty cent part). That 250K miles on 4.11 gears probably equals a half million miles with stock Caddy rear gears, so the engine started blowing a bit of oil. I also pulled a 6000lb, 23' Travel Trailer all over Texas, during hunting season. Once thru miles and miles of hubcap deep mud with "chained-up Street Tires" on "unimproved roads".. The nearly 400lbs of torque was the only thing that kept us from getting stuck! I also fitted the Caddy's stock 26gal fuel tank on the floor, behind the front seats. Effectively giving me a 400 mile range, instead of the "stock" 150 miles.
All this brings me to the Pirate 4x4 forum. After I recover from my back surgery (just done on Dec 1 2011), my plan is to upgrade to four wheel disks. Since the "standard set-up" uses the GM "Metric" front Calipers (I'm going to use the "big bore" 2.75" pistons) and I'll be fitting the Caddy Eldo, with E-Brake, (two inch) calipers to the rears, I'm thinking of just basically swapping the Toy's front & rear differential assemblies with a set of GM 8.5" Twelve Bolts out of a 4wd pick-up. This will allow me to fit lockers and 2.73 gears. (I know I'll have to "offset" the diffs-- I don't "need" a centered rear), but I WANT to keep the Toy Front Knuckles and Birfield CV Axles, I believe they, along with aftermarket Birfields, are a helluva lot stronger than the GM "u-joint" set-up. The front diff will require Toyota "outers" with the "inner" splines cut to fit the GM 30 Spline spyders.
So, the question of the hour is..... Has anyone done something like this? What all is involved? What are the pitfalls, etc. Yeas, Nays, Rubber Room Time?? Any help appreciated.
Charles.