T4RNightHawk's Build Thread

I haven't posted in a while but I'm finally done (for now) with the bumper and car work in general. Got the swing out finished last weekend then reinforced the bumper and moved the latch out friday night. Then today I replaced my passenger tie rod and wheel bearing. FYI you can do bearings yourself if you buy the buy the assembly from Doorman which for $50 more is way worth it IMO.

Up next: Stainless steel brake lines and more skids. (Or not after editing this for photos)

IMG_0374_zpsyggpnxpj by muscarellaw, on Flickr
 
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Went to Adventure Offroad Park with the Atlanta 4Runners group and decided I need more skids.

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I'm almost done making a transmission skid plate. I figured it's a flat piece of steel I can build that easy and my buddy gave me a 3x6 ish sheet of 3/16" he was gonna throw away. I just have to add bolt protectors tomorrow and paint it this weekend.

IMG_0391_zpspia1skt0 by muscarellaw, on Flickr
 
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Went to AOP in TN yesterday for a 3 day trip and blew my rear diff on a blue trail at 10 am after camping the night before. It took 5 hours to get down after pulling the driveshaft being towed and riding the brakes. I could've driven if I locked the center diff (V8) but I wasn't thinking clearly at all.

untitled-13-2.jpg by muscarellaw, on Flickr

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Went to AOP in TN yesterday and blew my rear diff on a blue trail and took 5 hours to get down after pulling the driveshaft to isolate the problem being towed and riding the brakes. I'm still unsure whether or not I could've driven if I locked the center diff (V8) not entirely sure why I lost everything when I pulled the drive shaft. Any explanation would be greatly appreciated.

IMG_0486_zpsyxxi3qgd.jpg~original

Bummer. Might need to give ECGS a call.

The center diff acts just like any other open diff but instead of sending power to a set of tires like the rear or front diff, it sends it to the front and rear differentials themselves. All the torque goes to the differential that is spinning freely until you lock the center diff, just like all the torque will go to the free-spinning tire that looses traction until you lock the diff that is driving them, then the torque gets split 50/50 to each tire. In this case, 50% to the front diff, and 50% to the rear diff once locked instead of 100% to the rear and 0% to the front unlocked.
 
Bummer. Might need to give ECGS a call.

The center diff acts just like any other open diff but instead of sending power to a set of tires like the rear or front diff, it sends it to the front and rear differentials themselves. All the torque goes to the differential that is spinning freely until you lock the center diff, just like all the torque will go to the free-spinning tire that looses traction until you lock the diff that is driving them, then the torque gets split 50/50 to each tire. In this case, 50% to the front diff, and 50% to the rear diff once locked instead of 100% to the rear and 0% to the front unlocked.

Yea after all the drama I realized I could have driven to the shop with the CDL engaged. Thanks for confirming that. Good thing is my buddy had AAA so towing was free. I'm going with nitro 4.56.
 
Nice rig; just compelled to say thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience. I've learned something and it is appreciated. Best, S619
 
Went to AOP in TN yesterday and blew my rear diff on a blue trail and took 5 hours to get down after pulling the driveshaft to isolate the problem being towed and riding the brakes.

IMG_0486_zpsyxxi3qgd.jpg~original

Hey I blew my diff today may I ask what nonsense you were doing? I pulled my rear driveline and drove home in 4 hi and let me tell you the sound was terrible but it finally chewed up the gears enough to where it went away. What are you looking price tag wise to fix it? Are you gonna buy a whole new 3rd or a ring and pinion?
 
Hey I blew my diff today may I ask what nonsense you were doing? I pulled my rear driveline and drove home in 4 hi and let me tell you the sound was terrible but it finally chewed up the gears enough to where it went away. What are you looking price tag wise to fix it? Are you gonna buy a whole new 3rd or a ring and pinion?

I was doing a blue trail went over a rock like I've done many times before (wasn't cross axled didn't slam into anything) then I heard a pop and it bound up more and more with each turn until it was completely bound. We had to hook a jeep to my buddies xterra and tow me up a hill to fully break the gears so I could roll out. I'm regearing now and probably going with an air locker so very expensive. To fix it stock I think it should be around $1500 but I'm not entirely sure.
 
Hey I blew my diff today may I ask what nonsense you were doing? I pulled my rear driveline and drove home in 4 hi and let me tell you the sound was terrible but it finally chewed up the gears enough to where it went away. What are you looking price tag wise to fix it? Are you gonna buy a whole new 3rd or a ring and pinion?

When my brother blew his rear diff he went through ECGS and exchanged his core, it came out to $800 for a fully setup 3rd member he dropped in himself including new gear oil.
 
When my brother blew his rear diff he went through ECGS and exchanged his core, it came out to $800 for a fully setup 3rd member he dropped in himself including new gear oil.

Yea I just wanted to have a shop do it since I don't have the time right now to do it myself.
 
Ended up going with Nitro 4.56 and an ARB air locker in the rear. Got the gears broken in and it's ridiculous the low end torque. I beat my friend with a silverado with a pedal commander, performance throttle body, and tune to about 50 mph.

I'm gonna make a better trim plate but this is my setup right now.

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Haven't updated this in a while been pretty busy with graduation and stuff. Before the rear diff grenaded I did a isolated dual battery setup using 4 ga welding wire, a PAC 500 isolator, and military terminals. Which I don't have picture of because Photobucket wont let me access my library. I haven't had any problems with it and it works great. I winched a bunch when the diff gave out and had no problems.

Also put in a LC80 snorkel that plumbed for the most part. Easily the scariest mod I've done but the fit is near perfect with the fender trimmed. I used a flex hose from Advanced so it's only temporary and not waterproof but I am getting the dust and splash protection I bought it for. As far as I've seen I'm the only V8 running one and let me say getting it plumbed to the airbox is a PITA. I think I'm gonna buy a silicone 3-4" increasing elbow and use that to plumb it in the end.

D1946471-2923-4898-8B63-497C17EF1E46 by muscarellaw, on Flickr

F6E0A090-DC69-4C6F-819F-C4D85CF14DA1 by muscarellaw, on Flickr
 
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Just got back from the Red Clay Rally. We went from Northern TN to GA over 3 day. I was a time keeper and it was a ton of fun. Great course only thing is that time keeping you finish 30 mins after the last team so we got into camp around 10 each night. Definitely gonna compete next year.

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Well I didn't notice it until now but when I smashed my bumper into the ground I bent a fender or at least knocked it out of alignment. Which again no picture because of photobucket.
 
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Went to AOP today to get in one last trip before I leave her behind for first semester. The Kings make a night and day difference and I couldn't be happier about spending the extra money on the compression adjusters however my washer fluid reservoir is a spray bottle right now. Also hammering the pinch weld got rid of all major scrubbing up front. I did almost shit myself when I almost rolled and had to winch up a hill that was super slick.

I also apologize for the terrible iPhone pics I couldn't find my camera went I was rushing out the door at 7.

As you can see the guy I went with from our group kicked my ass six ways to Sunday on the RTI ramp.

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I also just realized I never posted about Colorado and Moab. A couple Atlanta 4Runner guys and I drove out the week before summit. On the way out with the tent I was averaging about 10.5 MPG and I maxed out at 80 in Arizona. I took a bunch of pictures and videos but unfortunately I took more videos than pictures and they all turned out like shit since I didn't have a rig.

We camped at Red Rock Canyon in Oklahoma on the way out.

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Monday we did Kendall Mountain in Silverton. Saw some cool mine shafts. I was climbed under the grate of one but then decided I didn't want to explore w/o a good flashlight. Unfortunately we couldn't make it to the lookout due to snow on the trail.

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Tuesday was the alpine loop. We also hit the ghost town towards the end of Cinnamon (not Animus Forks) one of the guys from the East TN Overland group we were also with blew an axle seal but couldn't get the axle out due to a stripped nut.

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Tuesday night around 10 we decided we were tired of the scenic easy stuff and since Poughkeepsie and Black Bear were closed we decided to drive to Moab. So Wednesday was Top of the World. On the way down my tire carrier latch broke and when it swung out sheared off the pin that locks it open so I ratchet strapped it closed and kept going. Also before we even started I looked in my bumper to find my winch had rattled apart.

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Thursday we did fins and things and then headed back to the Ouray KOA.

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Friday was our last day and we did Engineers pass but held off on Black Bear due to the forecasted rain.

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