Project 4x4 Commuter Mazda

[legoms013]

I would build new rear shock mounts higher up on the frame

You would have to cut your bed. Mine are maxed out as they are.

 

[Bennybooster]

well, your probably going to have to do something as those shocks are too long, and Im sure that will limit flex

 

[legoms013]

well, your probably going to have to do something as those shocks are too long, and Im sure that will limit flex

Na they are fine for now. Only would be a concern if I had some weight back there like a quad.

They will stay b/c I am going to add a 1" block and then eventually do Chevy leaf springs. They have worked for a year now without coming close to bottoming out...those Skyjacker springs have no uptravel.

If I come across a set of Bilstein 12" travel ones I will swoop them up though....and keep the 14"ers as back ups for later modifications down the road.

Side note:

I fixed my mushy brake pedal. Turns out Autozone sold me two left hand side calipers, and thus the one on the right side had the bleeder screw below the brake fitting, trapping air. They exchanged that one for a right hand side caliper, and after I bled the brakes, all is well. Braking capacity and responsiveness is greatly improved over the drums. Disk brakes rock!

Another side note.....33's, 4.88's, and the speedo says I am doing 72mph when I am in the slow lane trailing a semi-truck (which are required by law to only go 55mph here in CA, but most drive about 60mph.

The only nuances left are the emergency brake likes are not exactly as I would like, and the emergency brake doesn't work very good (might be the worn inner pads) and I need a small axle shim to adjust the pinion angle (but it is better than it was before).

 

[legoms013]

Changed out my speedo gear (18T) for a 21T gear and now it gives a much better reading, but still not perfect. I will continue to look for an after market 22T or 23T gear to bring it almost back to perfection Still reads a bit fast.

Also, I ordered a 1.5" lift block for the rear (since I lost about that much when I did the expo swap) and some 2 degree shims. I may move the axle back an inch as well.

 

[legoms013]

600 miles of wear, and fluid change:

I guess the pattern looks ok? No shavings or flakes at the bottom...Still whines though pretty good @ 55mph, maybe the pinion bearing?

While my sliders are off I'm gonna change them up. Going to cut the old square HREW off and weld on some of these, and maybe even a few extra supports (as long as they don't prohibit me from moving the hangers forward for a chevy 63" swap:

http://4xinnovations.com/p-RS04.html

And I found out my mileage per tank has increased from about 290 miles to about 340 miles. 16.1 mpg to 18.3 miles per gallon. Pretty happy about that!

 

[escort_gts]

Wear looks good.

I wish I was getting that good of mileage. I went from 17 down to 12mpg

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[legoms013]

Is that in your 93? Whatgearing is in that bad boy?

 

[escort_gts]

4.56 with 35's. It needs a time-up. That might have something to do with it.

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[legoms013]

12 is pretty bad. A tune up will help but something else is up. Is your speedometer calibrated right?

 

[escort_gts]

12 is pretty bad. A tune up will help but something else is up. Is your speedometer calibrated right?

Yep. Speedo is dead on. Had my cop neighbor check it for me. And my gps says its about the same. But it went from 17 to 12 in one tank full.

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[legoms013]

4.56 with 35's. It needs a time-up. That might have something to do with it.

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Yeah that's a major drop in fuel mileage. Not sure what else it could be though?

Do you like the power you have from the 4.56's and 35's?

I wanna go 35's someday, I'm hoping with the 4.88's it will work good offroad. I thinking I will get "attached" to the extra torquey-ness of the 4.88's and 33's....I guess if its not low enough I could always do an Atlas

 

[escort_gts]

I like the 35's and 4.56. It works good for me except highway use is a little to high receive for me.

You should be ok with 35's. You have an auto so it will be better than what I have offroad.

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[legoms013]

I like the 35's and 4.56. It works good for me except highway use is a little to high receive for me.

You should be ok with 35's. You have an auto so it will be better than what I have offroad.

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Not sure what you were saying in the red part? Too high of revs? Or not enough?

The autos have a steeper OD than the manuals, so sounds like I am set up pretty good for 35's with my 4.88's when I get to that point (eventually, rolls eyes).

I sold my old 8.8 and locker and some other misc RBV crap I had laying around this weekend...Time to regear the D35! Think I will tear it down this next weekend and take it in to get some some cogs, then I can go wheeling!

 

[escort_gts]

Oh, sorry bout that. Phone has predictive text. Ment to say the engine revs to high for me at highway speeds. At 70mph its around 2800 rpm.

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[legoms013]

Crap, I think my alternator just crapped. I hope it is the alternator and not my expensive Blue Top Optima...

Maybe it is time for a Explorer 130 amp alternator upgrade?

Needless to say, I will still be going ahead with the regear.....just will be exercising my credit card a little more than I originally anticipated