Nice truck, love the stance.
Newbie intro, 6" RC lift, 22 OEM chrome, 35" MTs
- Thread starter DADW4GN
- Start date
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DADW4GN
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olyelr
Full Access Member
yet the front has no spacers at all? Looks like the rc lift comes with new knuckles...those must push out the mounting face quite a ways or something.
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DADW4GN
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Correct zero spacers on front, and yes, thats what I've been reading too, that quite a few of the lifts widen the front with the new knuckles.
Wicked Mayhem
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- Sep 3, 2015
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Looks great
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DADW4GN
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Some updates:
Amp power steps came in after about a 3 month backorder. Just waiting for weather above the current 1 degree temps, or room in my buddy's shop to get them fitted.
Parts ordered to regear both diffs to 4.10. My buddy in my local Landcruiser club is a Nitro dealer and really does a great job at differential installs. The 5.3 is so capable of towing, but GM has really limited these trucks down in the last generation with the stock 3.08 gearing. Even the max trailer package only boosted the "heavy duty" diffs to 3.42. The old 5.3s combined with 3.73 gearing were work horses.
I'm actually thankful to have the 4L60 6 speed...don't think I would have messed with gearing if I had the 6.2 and "newer" 10 speed experiment.
With the 35" tires, 3.50 would correct the speedo, but we didn't feel the slight jump to 3.73 would really bring the gearing down enough to haul. Nitro was really pushing 4.56, but it gets plenty of highway miles with no load, and we felt those would be a bit of a dog on Hwy driving. 4.10 feels like a good compromise for my goals.
I dont want to flash or tune the computer...and GM is so gunshy these days of helping out with that. Speedo will go from showing slower currently, to about the same in the other direction. I can live with it.
I'll see how the springs do with a good weight distribution hitch. May add bags to the rear if needed down the road.
Tranny cooler will be added as well to help with Temps.
I know a bunch of people will have strong opinions. My towing duties will be my rock crawler and car hauler combo to our few off road trips a year with my club (about 8k loaded), and a small travel trailer, also under 8k loaded.
Will report back after install and break in, and after I haul the cruiser to Moab in May with my impressions.
Amp power steps came in after about a 3 month backorder. Just waiting for weather above the current 1 degree temps, or room in my buddy's shop to get them fitted.
Parts ordered to regear both diffs to 4.10. My buddy in my local Landcruiser club is a Nitro dealer and really does a great job at differential installs. The 5.3 is so capable of towing, but GM has really limited these trucks down in the last generation with the stock 3.08 gearing. Even the max trailer package only boosted the "heavy duty" diffs to 3.42. The old 5.3s combined with 3.73 gearing were work horses.
I'm actually thankful to have the 4L60 6 speed...don't think I would have messed with gearing if I had the 6.2 and "newer" 10 speed experiment.
With the 35" tires, 3.50 would correct the speedo, but we didn't feel the slight jump to 3.73 would really bring the gearing down enough to haul. Nitro was really pushing 4.56, but it gets plenty of highway miles with no load, and we felt those would be a bit of a dog on Hwy driving. 4.10 feels like a good compromise for my goals.
I dont want to flash or tune the computer...and GM is so gunshy these days of helping out with that. Speedo will go from showing slower currently, to about the same in the other direction. I can live with it.
I'll see how the springs do with a good weight distribution hitch. May add bags to the rear if needed down the road.
Tranny cooler will be added as well to help with Temps.
I know a bunch of people will have strong opinions. My towing duties will be my rock crawler and car hauler combo to our few off road trips a year with my club (about 8k loaded), and a small travel trailer, also under 8k loaded.
Will report back after install and break in, and after I haul the cruiser to Moab in May with my impressions.
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DADW4GN
Member
Good grief...lol.. yes 6l80...almost a perfect post!yeah, GM had to go w/ 3.08/3.42 to maintain MPG stickers
4l60? you mean 6l80?
i bet 4.10s make performance a kick in pants
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DADW4GN
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I Soooooo considered supercharging...but honestly the dealers are SUCH a pain in the ass, and I would've done the install myself. Once warranty is up, it may get some more tweaks for sure.
I'm about 12 MPGs currently. We'll see what the gearing does, but this thing'll never be a gas sipper, that's for sure.
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DADW4GN
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4.10 Nitro gears going in today and tomorrow.
Factory set had a surprising amount of wear!I Like more wear than we typically see when regearing our 200k mileage 80 series Land Cruisers, which was a little alarming. My hunch is the lift and tires over the last 6,000 miles coupled with using "auto" 4x4 frequently on wet or slick pavement through the winter. One of the local 4x4 shops told my buddy to stay away from the "auto" setting on his Tahoe Premier with 6" inch lift, and to just use 4hi as needed in snow or dirt. And I will say, it did growl a bit in the auto selection on the freeway. I just figured it was more the drive shaft and planned on going double cardan. My hunch is that it was ******* the rear gears. So I will probably stay away from the dummy switch and dedicate 2 or 4 wheel based on conditions.
Rear needed one adjustment at install.
Factory set had a surprising amount of wear!I Like more wear than we typically see when regearing our 200k mileage 80 series Land Cruisers, which was a little alarming. My hunch is the lift and tires over the last 6,000 miles coupled with using "auto" 4x4 frequently on wet or slick pavement through the winter. One of the local 4x4 shops told my buddy to stay away from the "auto" setting on his Tahoe Premier with 6" inch lift, and to just use 4hi as needed in snow or dirt. And I will say, it did growl a bit in the auto selection on the freeway. I just figured it was more the drive shaft and planned on going double cardan. My hunch is that it was ******* the rear gears. So I will probably stay away from the dummy switch and dedicate 2 or 4 wheel based on conditions.
Rear needed one adjustment at install.
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DADW4GN
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More pics
olyelr
Full Access Member
Heck yea!!!!
I dont think there is any possible way using the 4 auto (instead of full 4wd) would have anything to do with what the gears look like.
I dont think there is any possible way using the 4 auto (instead of full 4wd) would have anything to do with what the gears look like.
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DADW4GN
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Thanks! And I get it...just can't figure what else could cause them to be so chewed up at 43,000 miles.
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DADW4GN
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Some more progress on the fronts. Everything is out now. Tomorrow reassemble and reinstall.
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DADW4GN
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DADW4GN
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Regear complete. VERY noticeable difference, mainly in off the line power. No hesitation or lag for power when starting from full stop. Took a little getting used to easing into the gas because it's much quicker to launch from stop. Should do better towing.
Speedo off by 18%, so going to go ahead with the Hypertech in line speedo correction to resolve. It's a bit too much too get used to. Hard to get used to seeing 90 on the freeway when doing 75ish...
Also moving forward with airbag system inside the rear springs to assist when loaded. I just really like the current ride when unloaded, so don't want to mess with current setup too much.
Time will tell on knuckles and bushings for the RC lift. Wasn't my choice for lift as it had been freshly installed before purchase, but I have to say, at 6,000 miles, so far so good.
Really enjoying this rig.
Speedo off by 18%, so going to go ahead with the Hypertech in line speedo correction to resolve. It's a bit too much too get used to. Hard to get used to seeing 90 on the freeway when doing 75ish...
Also moving forward with airbag system inside the rear springs to assist when loaded. I just really like the current ride when unloaded, so don't want to mess with current setup too much.
Time will tell on knuckles and bushings for the RC lift. Wasn't my choice for lift as it had been freshly installed before purchase, but I have to say, at 6,000 miles, so far so good.
Really enjoying this rig.
olyelr
Full Access Member
Heck yea man, job well done!
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DADW4GN
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Finally had some free time and great weather, so flag window decals and AMP Power Steps went on.
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DADW4GN
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