Project Baby Runner/Mini Crawler: R.J.'s Navajo Build

[DB_1]

I will show you what I mean next trip out.

Uh oh, now you did it...you HAVE to finish your truck now:

 

[Dannyboy]

Uh oh, now you did it...you HAVE to finish your truck now:

And I get to drive it on the night run LOL.

 

[carlover]

Here's why I say go 5 spd, a line lock would be a pretty slick setup for you as well if you needed a 3rd leg for running the brake, but once you release it's done, also a retrofitted
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
C5 ratios 2.46 / 1.46 / 1.00
A4LD ratios 2.47 / 1.47 / 1.00 / 0.75
5 speed 3.40 / 2.05 / 1.31 / 1.00 / 0.79

Quick question. is the .75 on the 4ALD the overdrive ratio??? I cant see myself racing on the 4r55e and the c5 seems to have very similar ratios but of course without the OD....

RJ the race is November 8th at Stoddard Wells, which is just south of Barstow. Its a morning race, ill get an exact start time for you later today. Brandon and i will be out there pitting and chasing for a friends 1450 truck.

 

[Dannyboy]

Yup, I condsider "overdrive" and "4th" pretty much the same thing in this chart.

FYI, in my A4LD with 35s on 4.56s and 37s on 5.13s the only time I ever used overdrive was on the highway cruising.

And I've driven my truck in the upwards of 70 offroad if I can get the wheelspin up faster on a bit harder surface than sand, if I run 1st gear close to 40, then take 2nd over 60 I can hit 3rd and maintain speed closer to 70. If I shift to 2nd at like 20 though I'm done and can't really get it past 45 mph.

 

[carlover]

Yup, I condsider "overdrive" and "4th" pretty much the same thing in this chart.

FYI, in my A4LD with 35s on 4.56s and 37s on 5.13s the only time I ever used overdrive was on the highway cruising.

And I've driven my truck in the upwards of 70 offroad if I can get the wheelspin up faster on a bit harder surface than sand, if I run 1st gear close to 40, then take 2nd over 60 I can hit 3rd and maintain speed closer to 70. If I shift to 2nd at like 20 though I'm done and can't really get it past 45 mph.

Nice, so at 70 mph im at about 3k on the street. Not too bad at all, not the greatest but it could be worse. My plan for the 9" is 2 third members, one with like 4.10's for the street, and one with 5.30's or lower and a spool. Definatly gonna have to look into a C5 very soon.

 

[Tbars4]

...Carlover, who is racing, HXCKidd???

 

[carlover]

...Carlover, who is racing, HXCKidd???

I dont think Adam (hxckidd) is racing in that event. We are chasing for another friend in a Ranger Edge. Should be a good time, it always is when the bunch of us get together...

 

[R.J.]

With the doubler it will be fine. I can hold the brake pedal with one foot, then let the clutch out with the other. Once it starts to grab I can start letting off the brakes. This allows me to not stall and not roll backwards. I will show you what I mean next trip out. I use the brakes to slow the truck down as well. Instead of driving with the gas I can drive with the brake.

i can do this pretty good with the stock t-case, but the doubler will make it much nicer

the whole sunday run (since it was way to long and played out) i worked on my clutching, braking, and gasing. im using the brakes to drive just as much as i use the gas now. i drove the whole sunday run in 2wdH without haveing to slip the clutch going through ditch's, ruts, and other obsticles. i huse the brakes to slow down as much as possible when coming up to a ledge/climb or whatever and let the car pretty much idle, anticipate when i'll need to give it just a little gas at the base of the obsticle and it'll crawl right over. go as slow as possible, just before the engine stalls, when the front wheels touch what your trying to go up, giveit some gas = no problem

 

[R.J.]

I don't hate the 5 speed. It is better than the alternative. I smoked 2 a4lds before I swapped mine in. I would rather change clutches twice a year then mess with another slush box! Atleast I can wrap my mind around how a clutch works. If I was Jaime or Brett then another auto wouldn't boggle my mind, but I am not so I will stick with the tried and true simple clutch and a stick.

this is what im thinking. i'd rather work on the 5spd. although i really hope i don't smoke clutches. i hope to do the least amount of slipping the clutch that i can.

 

[R.J.]

You and I might need to have a conversation in private about an idea I've got up my sleeve we can unvail on both of our trucks, auto and manual.

well? send me a pm

also, what is a line lock?

 

[techieman33]

well? send me a pm

also, what is a line lock?

It's a solenoid that goes in the front brake line, when you use your brakes, you press the button and it will hold the front brakes even after you let your foot off of the pedal, then to release your front brakes you just take your finger off of the button. It's used a lot in racing for brake stands to warm up the rear tires.

 

[DB_1]

And I get to drive it on the night run LOL.

Just keep an eye out for them holes, they tend to jump out at you

RJ, do you have to make shifters and linkage for the doubler or did it come with it?

 

[R.J.]

it came with two shifters but i have to make the linkage between the t-cases and the shift lever. i talked to the differential shop we usually go to and he said he could help us out it together and it would be no problem

 

[R.J.]

haven't posted pics of this yet, so... changed the front styling

 

[R.J.]

looks like the navajo's going on vacation for a while. i need a new rear end. the diff is breaking away from the axle tubes if i take it out again i'll probably spin the whole diff. so i don't plan to have this guy out on any trips soon. money and school are not liking me right now.


so, does anyone have an 8.8 for sale? or maybe a 9"?

 

[Tbars4]

...Swap the rear of the X that is for sale???..

 

[mounty71]

I have an 8.8 with 4.56 gears...$3500? I'll throw in a truck with it.

On a more realistic note, couldn't you weld the tubes to the center section and truss the axle to prevent further damage?

 

[R.J.]

yess i could

options

1) get a used 8.8, swap the gears and locker. will probably break it in another two years

2) take my axle apart and send it to a shop to to get welded. $350+

3) 9" it and never look back

 

[R.J.]

...Swap the rear of the X that is for sale???..

huh?

 

[Tbars4]

...Don't you have an explorer that is for sale???