Need advice, E-locker conversion into 85'

[DaveInDenver]

Limited slip means that the gears need to be reset and such doesnt it? That will add big costs?

Dont know if the rear end ever came with one with LSD, but if it did and its already in there, that would be a good option too!

Yes, all options with the exception of a lunchbox locker (Lockright, Aussie) will require you to set up the gears again. That does add cost. If you get a built third member, then it's bolt-n-go.

I think Supras had the limited slip as an option, but AFAIK no mini trucks had them from the factory. TRD offers them aftermarket.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

Also don't be scared to call on the ones that don't list the price.. I think lowest retail was $350.. The one I found for $275 was actually super low mileage and cheaper! Congrats regardless! Definitely the cheapest selectable locker around.. The harness and new studs should run you less than $50...

 

[Grim Reaper]

It is not really that hard of a job. I picked up a used e-locker (actually traded some tires and wheels for it). as for installing it. Took me a day to make the actuator control. Took about a day to install the diff taking my time. I am a above average shade tree though and I do own a welder.

Works great. Only complaint is a the place I got the resistors from didn't have the 10ohm so I went with 12ohm and it is a little slow to engage. The factory set up in my sisters Taco is about twice as fast.

There is some info in my build thread in my sig.

I have a set of low mile 4.30's that were on my locker for sale if you need them.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

Also I didn't use resistors and I did cook my motor. I had read from a few places that you don't have to, I think they were wrong..

 

[Erick Lihme]

Well, I'm hot on the trial, but the process is slow. The yard wanted me to confirm the part with a call to the dealer using the vin, which is provides only the options available, not specifics. They are sending pictures of it, and it should be either 4.10 or 4.30 gears. Hopefully it is the 4.30's, but can't loose whatever one it is for only $300 bucks, its a steal. Odds are it is the 4.30's which come with the automatic which are popular with the v6.

As essentially I'm also a shade tree mechanic, an easy day which Reaper describes should do it. Instead of doing the electric's, however, I'm inclined to do the cable to keep it simple and reliable. It's a $159 at Downey.

Without you-guys it wouldn't have happened...

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

I'm pretty sure the electric locker versions came in 4.1 only.. You can probably double check but I seem to recall this..

 

[Erick Lihme]

That'd do it!

 

[Grim Reaper]

I'm pretty sure the electric locker versions came in 4.1 only.. You can probably double check but I seem to recall this..

They came 4.10, 4.30 (thats what mine was) and 4.56. 4.30 was the most common coming in the high end V6 auto 4Runner. 4.56 is not very common at all but you can order them right from Toyota with that gear.
You can order them brand new for $876 at https://www.1sttoyotaparts.com/partscat.html


I found a factory front 4.88 after not being able to find a 4.30 front so I re geared mine to 4.88. Glad I did. you would never know the truck was spinning 33x12.5's driving it. Speedo is 1mph fat at 60. Getting 20mpg on the hwy no problem.

 

[shawkins]

I think the 4.56 was for the rare 4cyl. 4Runner with 31" tires.

 

[DaveInDenver]

I think the 4.56 was for the rare 4cyl. 4Runner with 31" tires.

Isn't it based solely on the transmission and tire size? I always thought that was how the final drive was determined. This seems to be the case up to 1995/96 (the Hilux based trucks). Toyota just seems to very rarely put 31" tires on a truck with a 4 cylinder engine, but the 4.56 ratio itself is actually very common with 1989-1995 V6 trucks (I dunno if that's true of Tacomas).

5 speed + 225/75R15 = 4.10
5 speed + 31x10.50 = 4.56
auto + 225/75R15 = 4.30
auto + 31x10.50 = 4.88

 

[Erick Lihme]

cable actuated

Apparently the electric actuators do have problems/fail, hence the cable idea.
This is all that was found on Google on cable actuated e-lockers, not much:

Again, Downey's site: http://www.downeyoff-road.com/ChassisComponents/Lockers.html

Investigating the Pro and Cons; Users comments:

http://members.cox.net/vavp/trdconversion.htm
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-139172.html
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-139090.html

CrusierDiesil:
Waiting for photos on the deal found. Vin # indicates the donor vehicle to have the options of 4.10 or 4.30. 4 banger auto's rare, V6 Auto's common. Hope to get lucky! 4.10 e-lockers are said elsewhere to be the most common found on car-parts. Will offer the local guy $500 for his fresh locker in 4.30's if none can be found otherwise. Shipping charges should be less...
Also did reading on how lockers easy trail driving and stress on the vehicle in general, got educated. It should be a sweeeet combination, and best mod ever for this old 85'.

 

[Grim Reaper]

Also did reading on how lockers easy trail driving and stress on the vehicle in general, got educated. It should be a sweeeet combination, and best mod ever for this old 85'.

I LOVE my locker. My last truck had a Detroit in it in the back and a Lockright in the front. It was modified where I could run 2 Low. I could run the majority of the trails that way and have steering. I only hit 4wd when I cam up on the bad spots.

In my 4Runner I so far can hang with my buddy in his stock Rubicon unlimited. I actually have better ground clearance. It climbs like a scalded dog!

For the trails most of us doing with expedition type travel it is a great combo.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Also did reading on how lockers easy trail driving and stress on the vehicle in general, got educated. It should be a sweeeet combination, and best mod ever for this old 85'.

It's true, a locked diff (particularly full spool, like the e-locker or Air Locker) means that each wheel on the axle see exactly 50% of the torque. So you are actually /less/ likely to break stuff with a locker than with another differential, as long as you drive reasonably. Bouncing around will still shift weight disproportionally and in a geared down drivetrain that's still a lot of torque. Grim is a smart guy and no disrespect, but that's part of the reason it's bad to use 2WD-low. You will more than double (2.28x in a 4 cylinder Toyota t-case) the amount torque delivered to the driveshaft. So you are putting a lot of torque into the rear axle. There definitely lower risk with the rear locked, but I still feel it's mostly unnecessarily stressing things.

 

[Erick Lihme]

After reading several accounts it appears approaches with a locker can be made slower and more controlled. Read about Marlin Crawlers looking for a similar advantage. At the moment, I'm undecided about the crawler, extra cost and extreme stress on the driveline, makes it something to avoid if the e-locker allows one to go slower, making momentum (speed) less necessary on steep hills to avoid loosing traction. However it would be good to crawl.....

 

[DaveInDenver]

After reading several accounts it appears approaches with a locker can be made slower and more controlled. Read about Marlin Crawlers looking for a similar advantage. At the moment, I'm undecided about the crawler, extra cost and extreme stress on the driveline, makes it something to avoid if the e-locker allows one to go slower, making momentum (speed) less necessary on steep hills to avoid loosing traction. However it would be good to crawl.....

The crawler does increase the torque (and by a lot). In theory I do not want one, but any time I get into a technical spot, riding the clutch and trying to keep the engine in it's power band has me convinced I need lower gears. That for me is the biggest advantage, with a Marlin or even just 4.70:1 t-case gears, the engine will be happier to go slow.