quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:
I wish the TOYOTA land cruiser like the ones used in Africa could be bought here, one would be in my garage right now!

Why is this, I wonder? Does anyone know why the Landcruisers of Africa and other parts of the world are not not available here?

Emissions? Safety? (airbags, ABS, etc.) I can't imagine, but that is my only logical thought.

quote:

Originally posted by Pete E:

quote:

Originally posted by Allan DeGroot:

Show me a 4x4 vehicle with "auto hubs"
and I'll laugh at you for having them.

auto hubs regardless of make fail.

Allan, How many modern 4x4's available new in the US still have manual hubs?

Automatic hubs used to be a weak point, and possibly still are for 4x4's that are really hammered off road, but they are pretty reliable these days..

quote:

Originally posted by Allan DeGroot:
Electric shift T-cases? Bwhahahah!!!
Why would you trust an electric motor over a STEEL LEVER? You just know a steel lever MUST work.

I'll ask the same question again..how many new 4x4's are still available with a manual T-case?
They are certainly not uncommon, but they are declining in availability as 4x4's get more "yuppie"
<snip>

Regards,

Peter

Actually after a brief (really stupid) dalliance with pulse vacuum activated lockout hubs on the Ranger/Mazda trucks starting in 1998 and ending in the mid-2000 model run the fords don't have hubs at all.

They simply let the shaft parts spin.

Though some versions have a disconnect device built into the diff that disconnects ONE axle shaft that that allos one shaft and the "spider gears" to spin and doesn't rotate the ring and pinion of driveshaft, and T-case internal chain drive.

Lockout hubs were a bandaid fix to eliminate high speed operation from causeing driveline vibration.
the real problem was the crude u-joints used in the front axles, when they switched instead to Lubro CV joints (like most FWD cars) there was no vibration needing to be eliminated...

People worry about the "Drag" affecting mileage
but the difference that I see even with my old crude U-joint front axle from driving in 2wd but with my manual hubs locked in is <0.2mpg
on a truck that averages 18mpg around town.


as for the toyotas being "superior" yeah, my neighbord toyota has more HP from his 3,4liter twin cam (very revvy) V6, but my crude iron pushrod V6 is making 200ft/lb practically right off of idle

His engine eventually makes 220ft/lb way up at 3600rpm, but mine is making 220ft/lb from about 1300-4100rpm. and there's a broad range (over 1000rpm) where it's argueable where my engine is making it's peak torque of 225ft/lb

Offroad it's all about the torque.... and how low you can get it.

T-case in low range trans in 1st gear it simply isn't possible to stall my engine.

Don't get me wrong I've owned toyota's (three of them) and Nissans (twice) in the past, but never again.


AD

Hi guys,

Wanted a bit of advice. Have a '72 Int. Scout in the back yard that is pretty much dead. How complicated would it be to put in a cummins 4B and pretty much keep the same drive train just do the engine swap and rewire?? Does anyone know who does this type of conversions. I wanted to use this as a hunting vehicle for myself. Thanks in advance.

I had a chevy S-10 ZR-2 xtend cab 4x4 with a V-6 that was about as good as it gets. This model had the full size truck frame/running gear on a modified type S-10 body. An awesome performer to the point that Toyota copied it with their Tacoma w/ off road package. That ZR-2 extend cab was well balanced on power/wt ratio, wheelbase dimensions and suspension ability. I gave mine to my son when I bought a new Silverado 2500HD extend cab 4x4 and I really miss that ZR-2. Impossible to get it stuck anywhere in anything if you know how to properly drive a 4x4 vehicle. Thats my choice and I'm sticking to it.

quote:

Originally posted by E. Gonzales:
Hi guys,

Wanted a bit of advice. Have a '72 Int. Scout in the back yard that is pretty much dead. How complicated would it be to put in a cummins 4B and pretty much keep the same drive train just do the engine swap and rewire?? Does anyone know who does this type of conversions. I wanted to use this as a hunting vehicle for myself. Thanks in advance.

Check out a website called 4BTswaps.com The guys there are all about this type of engine swap. Lot's of good info. - dan

I don't knwo what's wrong with just driving a full sized pick up. Great payload, you can tow things, and they mileage is as good as on of them "itty bitty" trucks.

quote:

Originally posted by calgarychef1:
I don't knwo what's wrong with just driving a full sized pick up. Great payload, you can tow things, and they mileage is as good as on of them "itty bitty" trucks.

To import a foreigh made pick-up you have to pay a 25% "Chicken Tax" !!
To get around that you can import a partly completed truck and assemble the rest here. This is just what the Mahindra is doing when it brings their pick-up here later this year ! That' supposed to be a rugged truck which has already seen use in some countries.
Ford will cease production of the Ranger in 2011 and it's replacement will be the F-0150 !!! With new efficient 6 cyl engine . I've got a 2009 F-150 and it's big ! I laugh at Ford's decision when I see locally the NAPA stores delivering things in a small pick-up ! They don't want a 4500 + lb truck to drive around !

Ford Ranger in 4WD these days, since about 2000, are not "compact" any more. The frame on the newer Rangers is the same as the Ford SUV, (Suburban?) -- which is the largest SUV on the market. 4 litre engine in the Ranger gets about 18 mpg on the highway.

I like mine, but think of it as a "big truck." (Although not as big as some.)