Offroad-Express

Just after a little info on how part time 4wd on VX's works.

I'm looking at a jap import tomorrow, its a 1990, but part time 4wd from factory.
It sounds as though it uses the same vacuum setup as Prado's, with a button on the dash for 4wd hi, and the transfer case lever for 4wd lo.

What problems are you likely to encounter with this setup?

Also, are manuals usually quite low geared, as the owner said it would redline at around 140km/h in 5th. Not that I'm wanting to get to that speed, but it seems fairly low.



Cheers

it will be the same as any early cruiser setup mate being the first of the 80 series it doesnt have the full time setup like the 91 on that have a slip diff in the transfer case (kinda) they just have the 2 or 4wd. same as a 70 or 60 series Tcase

Any reason the part time would be inferior, as in weaker? Would all other parts still be interchangeable?


Cheers

nah mate the only differences are the engine,Gbox and T case and are strong as hell, same as the T case in the 60s and 70s cruisers, but with the 5 speed box bolted to them, the Gbox has lower ratio's as was primarily designed for towing/working vehicles.

what engine? 12ht or 3f ?

This is the wagon here
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =263838398

Heading down in the morning for a test drive, but don't want to buy one of these and regret it.

Cheers for the info, much appreciated

ohh its one of the cross over models, in that case it could be either way, with the 1HDT motor it may be the full time Tcase that has been converted to part time or the one i thought it was, either way still strong as.

only advice would be to do the big ends for peace of mind and regular services and dont do any reversing recoverys or hard reversing work as the front diffs dont like it

I'm told the diff problem is from the housing flexing, if thats right, can the housing be reinforced to help?

DaveM wrote:I'm told the diff problem is from the housing flexing, if thats right, can the housing be reinforced to help?

nah they are weak in reverse as its driving on the back side of a reverse cut gear. they are 30% stronger than a normal 8" diff going forward, making them about the same strength as a 9" diff, but going backwards they are weak, easy, just dont do anything to dramatic in reverse

Ah, ok, that makes more sense.
Thanks for the info, hopefully all turns out ok with it, although I might struggle to get a wof without a cert for the lift

I looked it up at carjam...i wonder why it had a COF at sometime...usually on commercial vehicles get them ...also the average auction prices are way below the asking price.

Yeah, noticed the COF thing, but it only had it once

I don't bother with the auction prices, every time I've looked at Cruisers etc on Turners site, they go for quite a lot, and I can get this a bit cheaper than asking price, as I'll need a cert etc anyway.

I'm in ChCh tomorrow to look at a few vehicles, including a SAS'd Bighorn in Rangiora hopefully.
Just need something to keep me going until early next year, as no doubt I'll be bored with whatever I have bought by then, and be looking for something else

Still trying to find a 3.0 Prado (solid axle) or hilux to test drive too if anyone knows of one down there.

Cheers