FJ Cruisers of Northern California

Lefty install

For anyone who's interested..

We recently installed a "lefty" in my FJ. I could not have done it without the help of Mr. and Mrs. Bozley, Boz's shop, BZ, and Sol. We started on Friday afternoon and finished on Saturday. The install went relativly smooth. We had a few problems with wiring and the shifter but overall it really went well.

Some issues I've had since the install:

1. My Doug Thorley Y-pipe was hitting the transfer case and when you gave the truck gas, you would hear a chatter. As you can probably imagine, this was very disturbing to hear. It took some time to figure it out where the noise was coming form but with the help of Bozley and Sol, problem solved (FYI: DT Y-pipe for sale, w/out resonators).

2. When the t-case is put into 4-low, there is a whirling/light grinding noise. I called inchworm and played the noise for them and they want me to bring it in on Tuesday morning. They think it's a pin in the shifter that's rubbing when in 4-low (the noise is only in 4-low). They have heard it before and they want me to come up so they can remove and re-install.

3. In one of the bottom holes on the adapter where lefty meets the transmission, there is a slight leak. It isn't enough to even put a drip down over night but if you dry it up by the next day you can find some fluid on it. Again, inchworm is going to look at it but it's really not an issue.

I bought the lefty over the course of 3-4 months. I would just put money into it as I got it. This was something that Inchworm let me do. It really worked for me in my situation. I would take my spending money and put it towards the lefty. Before long it was paid off.

Hopefully I'll be able to take the FJ to the Rubicon this year to test it out.

Go Syracuse!

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sonof40 on March 22, 2010 at 5:38pm

Thanks offer Darly. According to Peter it could be a few minutes or a day so we'll have to play it by ear. I do plan to go fishing however.

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Permalink Reply by pkelly72 on March 22, 2010 at 6:46pm

I got your pm. I'll call you tomorrow mid morning and let you know. I'll leave a message if you can't get the call.

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Permalink Reply by C4B_ROCKs on March 22, 2010 at 7:13pm

Congrats on the lefty...

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Permalink Reply by pkelly72 on March 23, 2010 at 4:11pm

I just got back from inchworm. All problems solved. I had 2 leaks. One was from a bad seal which they replaced, the other was from not enough sealant on a bolt that attaches the lefty to the transmission. The whirling/grinding was due to the stock shifter (another reason for a twin stick) was hitting the taller gears for 4w-low. I was there from 8:30-1:30, cost-$75 for the labor. I am very pleased with the level of customer service I recieved. They are all great guys.

Thanks to Steve and Daryl for stopping by. I'm sure it didn't hurt having you guys show an interest in the lefty.

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Permalink Reply by Sonof40 on March 23, 2010 at 9:25pm

Jim seems like a first class guy. I would buy one from him now but I have to find some gold in El Dorado first.
(caught a 12 inch rainbow on the South Fork after I left)