Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Making A Lincoln Locker

I don't always get my point across clearly in video.  My van doesn't usually get stuck on its own, its usually towing something, or in really deep snow.  But no more...

I have only driven this thing around the block with the new Lincoln Locker, and it has a WAY different feel to it.  I am going to say, the rear end probably breaks free easier now, though I'm saying that because drifters weld the rear ends.  My whole block is ice and snow, so breaking the rear end free is a regular occurrance, with out trying to. But it seemed, for the 2 corners I did to get it parked back out front, that the recovory and handling from spinning the tires and going side ways, was way more predictable and smother.  I'd say it handled a whole lot better.  That is the best news ever because these things I do to solve a problem, or improve my situation, often turn out to have negative effects, and I was worried about poor handling.  I am not worried about squealing the tires around every corner, even at 5 km an hour.  Nor am I worried about having to replace my tires maybe every year.  I have a tire machine, and 15" tires are $15 at the wrecker.  So I just added proximatly a $3 monthly bill to my company, to keep the van in back tires.

Now I know I am going to get some flack for this, from normal every day people that don't like to bend the rules, but...
Let me just say, a locker rear end is well over $1000, I paid $1000 for my whole van, where is the value in a rear end worth as much as the whole van?
I have seen a whole lot of failed locker rear end videos on youtube.  I have seen a few welded lincoln locker rear end videos too.  The rear end is under tremendous stress turning tight corners on dry pavement with a locked rear end.  Even more so with my heavy electrical van, and big truck tires going on next.
The set up of a rear end looks like a huge pain in the ass, and several hours work in its self.  But with out set up, I am probably saving more than 6 hours work, just pulling the axles and replacing the diff with a posi rear end.  I would probably never do it that way, but add another 4 hours on that, I'd buy the complete used S10 locker rear end, with disks and calipers, update the whole thing, and I still might do that.  I'm "looking" for one. But I will not be changing that in the middle of winter, in 6" of snow when its -20c outside.  This worked, we'll see what the internals look like in a month.  In the mean time I do have that spare truck rear end in case this rear end goes bad.

Click on the link to see the video if it didn't show up for you.

No comments: