LJ78 Hub Conversion

[Landyota]

Hi all, new member. Currently placing LJ78 Prado front and rear axles under a LandRover Discovery. Rear complete, begin front tomorrow. The LJ78 Beam front axle has 'power hubs', the concept leaves me cold. I have a spare set of Aisin maual hubs off a surf sitting here, would be good to use those, but could be issues from what I read. There was a guy called Old Blue or similar that used to post on here and TradeMe with a 'manual' conversion for the exisiting hubs, is he / they still around / available? Or does someone have some sharp idea that may point me in the right direction? Cheers Shane.

[Jerry]

4 options

1, they could just need a clean out (do a search on here, be careful pulling them apart...)
2, you can get adaptor plates to fit normal hubs on
3, OldBlue is still around, he can do a manual conversion on them
4, you can convert them fully you need the parts off a beam axle hilux etc....

[Landyota]

Thanks Hard Yakka, they function OK however I have a tendancy to break stuff, so want to make things as simple as possible before the breakage starts. I will figure out how to PM Old Blue, the adaptor plates sound interesting, is there a link to someone who sells them or any instructions for manafacture?

[turoa]

What are you going to do to widen it out to disco width?

[IcedJohnno]

Adapter plates are a BAD idea. Too many joint faces and too many stressed components. The parts start moving on the joint faces and things start breaking.

Personally I have had almost no trouble from my Lecky hubs in 130k. If you must convert them to manual get Old Blues mods as the factory lecky hubs are stronger than any other.

[oldblue]

You'll need to convert them to manual if as you say your going to fit the axle to a landrover. My E-Mail is oldblue@clear.net.nz

[NJV6]

I think you will need at least Surf hubs on Hilux stubs to get the width right othewise it'll have the wheel track of a series 1.

Std Prado track is really narrow.

[Landyota]

Thanks to all who have replied, I have decided 'Old Blue's' option sounds like the one for me and have sent an email to that end. To those who have mentioned track with you are quite right, the Toyota track width is 140mm narrower WMS to WMS. However standard LR rims are +33 offset, so the effective difference is around 40mm each side, which can be achieved with a standard Toyota 10 inch rim offset of -40mm. In my case I am also using 28mm wheel spacers for one set of tyres (sand tyres are 30x13). My biggest problem has been working out how to fabricate and mount the front coil perches which required 40mm more axle width than I have. There were a few option here, but for the sake of low cost and less fabrication I have decided to go up an additional 60mm and out over the CV housing, I will swap my hi-lift springs back to standard to compensate (will loose a small amount of upward travel). Also the castor angle of the Toyota in relation to the third member is much smaller, so the universal will have a little more work to do, but should be manageable. Thanks for all your help, and please let me know if I have forgotten to consider something as I have not fabricated the front axle components yet!

[NJV6]

Have you considered going to 80 series land cruiser axles to get the width without worrying about how you mount the springs? Or GQ Nissan front end which basically just bolts in??

[Engineer]

can i ask why ur putting toyo difs under a landy?

[Pedro]

can i ask why ur putting toyo difs under a landy?

take the strong diffs out of a rusty body and put them under a non rusty body with weak diffs!!

[Engineer]

can i ask why ur putting toyo difs under a landy?

take the strong diffs out of a rusty body and put them under a non rusty body with weak diffs!!

lol
i thought it may have something to do with strength

[Landyota]

can i ask why ur putting toyo difs under a landy?

take the strong diffs out of a rusty body and put them under a non rusty body with weak diffs!!

lol
i thought it may have something to do with strength

Pedro - bang on.

[Landyota]

can i ask why ur putting toyo difs under a landy?

My preference would have been 80 series, wanted disc front and rear beam axles, the Prado ones came up with factory locker, so 'just did it'. Perhaps GQ would have been a better way to go, don't have much experience with them other than they seem strong and capable on the mud but are hard to get to climb in the sand. Lots of stuff on Toyota haven't changed since LD copied Jeep and Toyota copied LD (brake lines, axle breathers etc). Why have I put Toyota under LD, well... 3 diffs and 2 axles in 18 months hasn't been fun (using steel instead of chewing gum DID change with Japanese product). Almost just went for a 1uz converted Hilux, but it just felt too ... cloned I guess. Also with all the beach stuff really wanted an aluminium body. Also have a family and often kids in tow, so 7 seats was good. Mostly I just wanted to spend a lot of time doing hard filthy work instead of relaxing and enjoying myself...?

[Engineer]

can i ask why ur putting toyo difs under a landy?

My preference would have been 80 series, wanted disc front and rear beam axles, the Prado ones came up with factory locker, so 'just did it'. Perhaps GQ would have been a better way to go, don't have much experience with them other than they seem strong and capable on the mud but are hard to get to climb in the sand. Lots of stuff on Toyota haven't changed since LD copied Jeep and Toyota copied LD (brake lines, axle breathers etc). Why have I put Toyota under LD, well... 3 diffs and 2 axles in 18 months hasn't been fun (using steel instead of chewing gum DID change with Japanese product). Almost just went for a 1uz converted Hilux, but it just felt too ... cloned I guess. Also with all the beach stuff really wanted an aluminium body. Also have a family and often kids in tow, so 7 seats was good. Mostly I just wanted to spend a lot of time doing hard filthy work instead of relaxing and enjoying myself...?

3 diffs and 2 axles in 18mnths, what size tires? v8 disco? lotsa loud pedal?

[oldblue]

E-Mail received

[Landyota]

3 diffs and 2 axles in 18mnths, what size tires? v8 disco? lotsa loud pedal?

Small 31x11.5 Mudzillas, too much loud pedal, but really just weak. Last run 12 landrovers -3 diffs. Standard 3.9 V8 - 180hp on a good day. I have 35's, a supercharger and methanol injection system going in next, so had to do something about the diffs / axles. Next thing to break will probably be the transmission.

[IcedJohnno]

I see that you've bought all this stuff, however you would be much better off with a safari front axle and a 80 series rear. The serious toyo Prado's and the odd jeep or two are going to this configuration and for good reasons.

[Landyota]

I see that you've bought all this stuff, however you would be much better off with a safari front axle and a 80 series rear. The serious toyo Prado's and the odd jeep or two are going to this configuration and for good reasons.

What is the logic behing the mix & match, why not safari OR LD80? Is the LD 80 part to do with the change ti IFS, if so why not Safari all the way. Too late for me, but some of the other LD guys might be quite interested. Are the standard diff ratios the same (4.33) ?

[NJV6]

Nissan has a centered rear diff which causes vibrations.

What are you going to do with diff reatios if you are running 31 inch tyres, going to 4.3's even running 35's, it is going to be very low geared!

[IcedJohnno]

Others will know more and be able to offer informed comment.

To my knowledge the safari front end does not require Longfield axles or CV's, with big tyres. They are strong enough as they are. Same over all width as 80 series and same ratio. 9" Crownwheel (Prado and 80 series front axle only 8")

80 series back axle gets the diffhead in the correct place for a straight driveline from the Prado and other LC transfer cases. 9" CW

[IcedJohnno]

Nissan has a centered rear diff which causes vibrations.

What are you going to do with diff reatios if you are running 31 inch tyres, going to 4.3's even running 35's, it is going to be very low geared!

Low Geared? More like higher geared!
What ratio does the Disco come out with as Standard?
Prado is 4.3 out of the 1KZ (KZJ-7x) version and 4.88 from the 2LT LJ-7x version. My KZJ version runs 31's still due to heavy abuse using heavy chains just before winter. The ratio is just fine, with a usable rev range of 2k to 3.5k Hmm after a new K&N filter today its been seeing 4.5 too easily!

Anyone in a KZJ Prado going to 35's goes to 4.88. Going bigger 37 etc, or powered by petrol (less torque given the same RPM) you find that the Prado owners will be using 5.29 ratios. Get aftermarket CW & P rather than factory as they are stronger.

These 5.29 ratios can be got for the Nissan and LC80's too.

[turoa]

Discos have 3.54 ratio standard so yes it will be quite low. 4.1's and 35's bring the gearing back to stock so 4.3's will be a lil low

[skid]

Others will know more and be able to offer informed comment.

To my knowledge the safari front end does not require Longfield axles or CV's, with big tyres. They are strong enough as they are. Same over all width as 80 series and same ratio. 9" Crownwheel (Prado and 80 series front axle only 8") Safari also high pinion I believe, which matchs the Prado

80 series back axle gets the diffhead in the correct place for a straight driveline from the Prado and other LC transfer cases. 9" CW

[Landyota]

Some usefull questions and info in there. Yes, the Disco is 3.54 standard so moving to 4.3 will lower the gearing by around 20% with the tyres being around the same ratio higher - so around standard gearing on 35's - I being fairly loose with the maths there Got the old front axle out and hubs off to send to Old Blue tonight. Would like to track down a set of -60 or 70 offset white spokes, or someone who does customs??

[IcedJohnno]

Where abouts do you live?
Put it up in the info that appears on the LH side of the screen, it helps us help each other...

Three places here in Chch, off the top of my head.
Elite wheels, Circle Track Engineering, Royce Clive Engineering

[Landyota]

Not sure how to edit my location, doesn't appear in my profile options. Based in AK, Pt Chev. I am assuming there would be a few guys around here that do the custom wheels?

[skid]

Not sure how to edit my location, doesn't appear in my profile options. Based in AK, Pt Chev. I am assuming there would be a few guys around here that do the custom wheels?

performance metalworks
silverdale

[Landyota]

3 places in CHCH and 1 just out of AK, no wonder the mainlanders seem so smug when I'm down there!

[IcedJohnno]

I would think that there will be others in Jafa land too. Plenty of Off-road racing and Speedway done in Ak, let alone the number of motorists on the roads....