Transmissions / Transfer Cases / Traction AidsThis area is for discussion, questions and problems with the FJ Cruiser's gear train, including topics on A-TRAC, VSC, locking diffs, gear ratios, manual vs. AT, etc.
any body have done this before? I'm thinking to replace stock 4lo gear2.28:1 for 4.7:1 Marlin Crawler gear for more rock craw capability, this is probably next project in coming winter, please share info if anybody done this, and how do you like it, mine is 07 MT. And may be replace clutch for some kind heavy duty one at same time, I don't have any idea what clutch is good for FJ, I go trail in NH with many rocks.
The FJ uses a chain driven transfer case not a gear driven, there is no room. Besides, if it was doable, a LOT more people would have done this instead of spending 2 grand on an Inchworm Lefty.
DAMN IT! So only way to go little more slow beside not to go lefty is re-gear front and back by Nitro gear or some kind?!
You don't re-gear the axles to go slower and in more control offroad, you re-gear the axles for better on-road performance with a slight better offroad performance.
If you want to go slow, be in full control, and have all the torque at the wheels you could ever dream of, then go Lefty.
A lefty is close in price for front and rear gears plus install (both are close to 2K)
For gears, if running 35's, 4.56s are a good choice. 4.88s are too high IMO for the 4.0L unless 35's, heavy wheels, and a heavy as heck FJC.
The lefty also gives the benefit of being able to do the "tummy tuck" where you can raise your crossmember and greatly improve your breakover angle and ground clearance under the center of the vehicle.
any body have done this before? I'm thinking to replace stock 4lo gear2.28:1 for 4.7:1 Marlin Crawler gear for more rock craw capability, this is probably next project in coming winter, please share info if anybody done this, and how do you like it, mine is 07 MT. And may be replace clutch for some kind heavy duty one at same time, I don't have any idea what clutch is good for FJ, I go trail in NH with many rocks.
Layonnn is correct. You can not upgrade your stock tranfer. As mentioned, you can buy the lefty for about $2000. I have had a lefty for 3 years. I have the 4.7 low range gears, also in an 07 MT. This makes 6th lo nearly the same as 1st hi. Good choice. Your current stock box is 2.56, not 2.28. 2.28 is stock in the older gear transfers. (year 78 to 87 I think) For the Inchworm lefty you can also get 2.28, 4.0 as well as 4.7. I would recommend 4.7.
If you have an extra gear drive transfer, you can buy a kit to convert it to a lefty. Check with inchwormgear.com or marlincrawler.com. Inchworm is a whole lot more helpful over the phone. Marlin has a much better info on line.
The Inchworm or Marlin lefty (they are the same) go in fairly simply. You will need to pound the driver side tunnel a little to get clearance. I had to shorten my front drive shaft 7/8 inch. The rear was OK. The $2000 gets you started. You will need a shifter kit if you want the levers beside the trany lever, otherwise they will be back approx 4". You will also need the speedometer adapter kit. At least at the time I got mine, you end up with 30% speedo error. Dakota Digital makes a small electronic unit that will correct this error and is Also usful to correct for tire size. There are other out there. Also decide if you want to go "twin stick" before you order. It can be converted later, but you'll have to remove it to convert later. Mine is twin stick. Very nice for backing trailers!
You might want to consider a crawl box to go with the lefty. I am building one as we speak.
It appears that Marlin is building a crawl box that can be added to your original transfer. I know nothing about these, but it should be a good option. I'm pretty sure you will need to modify your gas tank if you want a crawl box. I know it needs to be heated and dented in a bit for a lefty and a crawl box. With just a lefty there is lots of room.
Also with a lefty you'll need to fabricate a switch mount for a lo range switch or install a switch in the 8 switch panel or do as I did and install both. (they are connected parallel if you do this). Speedo and hi/lo wiring will need to be extended. Oh, and I forgot that with a lefty you need to drill out one of the bottom threads in your transmission. (The bolt goes front to back, not back to front as original.) Take a long hard look at the adapter/trans to see which one. It is not easy to drill after the transfer is in place. You have been warned!
Get the shifter kit with the levers not welded on. That way way you can get the levers where YOU want them. You will need a welder to do this. I recomend you make a heat sheild between the transfer and the ex pipe. Make and install after the transfer is in. If you do do a lefty, it'll take at least 2 days to fit everything nicely, install, the lo switch, etc. It ain't gonna happen in one day if you do it right. Once you you have all the little details taken care of, the lefty can be removed and relaced in a few hours. A trans jack is a must so you don't damage the trany rear seal or the transfer in seal, other wise common sockets and wrenches are about all that's needed. I have made a couple special tools/wrenchs that speed things up.
If you off road where you need to CRAWL, you'll like it. I have found that 4.7 is a little slow on smoother stuff and still too fast on really harsh stuff like ledges. That's why I'm adding a crawl box. This will give me 1, 2.28. 4.7 and 10.7 : 1 in lo/lo.
By the time you get all the parts you need a lefty is about $3000. It's probably easier to install than I make this sound. It does take a lot of time and thought to do it right.
The Inchworm or Marlin lefty (they are the same) go in fairly simply.
You might want to consider a crawl box to go with the lefty. I am building one as we speak.
That isn't exactly correct. "Some" Inchworm lefty cases are the same as the Marlin Lefty. However, Inchworm does use (or used) two different mfgs for their gears. Marlin was one of them & Trail Gear was the other. Based on what I read on other boards it was quite clear the Marlin gears were superior in design and more robust. If you look at the output shaft on the lefty it either says TG (Trail Gear) or AME I believe which is Marlins setup.
I did read somewhere that Inchworm/Jim is now using all Marlin internals, but I would still confirm that you are getting Marlin internals before purchasing the case.
Quote:
gasgas previously said:
It appears that Marlin is building a crawl box that can be added to your original transfer. I know nothing about these, but it should be a good option. I'm pretty sure you will need to modify your gas tank if you want a crawl box. I know it needs to be heated and dented in a bit for a lefty and a crawl box. With just a lefty there is lots of room.
Main advantage from my understanding is that a chain driven case is inherently stronger than a gear drive transfer case. Thats why Wyatt paired the FJ Transfer Case + Crawl Box in his tacoma.
You also have a larger combination of options when you pair the crawl box & FJ transfer case. With Lefty your only option is 4.7:1(Or whatever gearing selection you choose )in 4LO. However, the gas tank is the main issue that you have to deal with.
For the Inchworm lefty you can also get 2.28, 4.0 as well as 4.7. I would recommend 4.7.
You used to could get all of those options, plus 5.0:1. As of now, you can only get the 4.7:1 from Inchworm, I don't know about Marlin.
If I was going to do mine over again and could still choose, personally I would go with 4.0:1 with an auto tranny and 4.7:1 with a manual tranny, but it depends on what kind of wheeling you want to do. Aiming for about a 75:1 crawl ratio in 1st gear low range is about ideal for Moab IMO, but you'd want more for the Rubicon or Dusy Ershim and a little less for lots of other places. The disadvantage of really low low-range gears is that you will be stopping all the time to shift back and forth from low range to high and back again in between obstacles because you are so slow in low range, even in higher transmission gears. Can be annoying to your trail mates who are not geared low.
Of course, having dual cases is the absolute best of all worlds, if they fit your truck and your budget.
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