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New Guy - New Adventure - Thiokol Spryte Project & Plans (Utah)
- Thread starter cruiseroutfit
- Start date
Sno-Drifter,
Besides cruiseroutfit (Curt), another big name in the LandCruiser community is Jeremiah Proffitt. About 15 years ago he owned Proffitt's Cruisers in Delta, Colorado and they did all kinds of work to various LandCruiser models; complete restorations, various modifications, engine swaps, etc. They performed several Diesel engine conversions to (as I recall-disclaimer) mostly 80 series LandCruisers and some 62 series vehicles, though there are probably others, too.
They used the Cummins 4BT for the conversion and it pretty much filled the engine compartment. The conversion was expensive; about $20K and the bulk of that was for the parts involved. While he was willing to do the work if people wanted him to, my impression was he thought it wasn't money well spent, because the 4BT had about the same amount of power as the stock Toyota inline 6.
Proffitt's Cruisers was subsequently purchased by the Larry Miller Automotive Group, but I guess things didn't work out. Jeremiah now has Resurrection Land Cruisers in Orchard City, Colorado... not too far from the original shop. He is a very nice, and talented, guy.
I think to put a 6BT in a LandCruiser would require an approach similar to the late casino magnate William F Harrah's "Jerrari": A Ferrari powered Jeep Wagoneer. He had two of these; the second was a 1977 Wagoneer and had the front end sheetmetal lengthened to accommodate the longer Ferrari engine.
Incidentally some knucklehead, who shall remain nameless, has an FJ40 LandCruiser powered by...an LS1.
So a 6 cyl Cummins won't fit in a FJ 80? AC and mechanical fan. I even herd of a knucklehead that put a 3208 in a 1/2 ton GMC.
Attachments
That's interesting and beyond Uber-cool. My wife drives a 2002 LX470, the slightly more refined sibling of the LandCruiser in the next generation (100 series) It's a great vehicle, but woefully gutless. If you added 150 HP...it wouldn't be too much.
In theory the 4.7L V-8 in her car has slightly more power than the 4.5L I-6 in the 80 series. But having a 6 cylinder Cummins would be fantastic. The torque would be incredible, the fuel economy much better, and the coolness factor would be approaching that of the 3208 powered Carryall.
I would say your so-called "knucklehead" is really a mechanical engineering genius!
I only concentrate on if I could, whether I should is another story......
I will drop the following video here. I have no affiliation with it. I do know that I found that video while working on a snow cat and the motor seems heavy in a 11,400 lb snow cat......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1wRK4TEmQE
Speaking of knuckle heads.
I where the badge proudly
I will drop the following video here. I have no affiliation with it. I do know that I found that video while working on a snow cat and the motor seems heavy in a 11,400 lb snow cat......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1wRK4TEmQE
Speaking of knuckle heads.
I where the badge proudly
but is it twin turbo charged,
there a many levels of Knucklehead
and then there are knuckleheads and then there are KNUCKLEHEADS
think I will sit on the Porch and watch....
it is cool
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Finally had enough snow to give it a spin around the neighborhood 
I did sort some more of the details.
Ford 250ci I-6 mated to a C4 auto.
It’s honestly quite a bit slower than I anticipated, 8-10mph sound right? That’s the OC4 diff in 4th, auto trans locked into what we think is 3rd gear. I’d love some input or suggestions on what I should expect for speed or a reality check about thinking it should do 15-20mph.
Ford 250ci I-6 mated to a C4 auto.
It’s honestly quite a bit slower than I anticipated, 8-10mph sound right? That’s the OC4 diff in 4th, auto trans locked into what we think is 3rd gear. I’d love some input or suggestions on what I should expect for speed or a reality check about thinking it should do 15-20mph.
you really don't have the horse power to go much faster plus the track grousers will suck up a lot of hp in softer surfaces my 2100 has a 200 hp diesel and oc 12 it will load down in deep snow with high speed r&p and low drop box gears. im in the process of adding a taller final drive set as I rarely use the lower gears and I find my self making long trips with no load to get home.
I am unaware of a 250 CI engine.
it could be a 170 or 200 those are in the older sprytes intake is cast as part of the head.
240 or 300 the big block version b and c model sprytes intake bolts on.
I am no expert, I just know the A models had the smaller engines and they sing a nice tune.( like a sewing machine) I think my experience with straight sixes and oc4 rear diffs puts me in the 19 mph and under category. that little motor is stitching pretty fast at the top of 4th to break 15mph
it could be a 170 or 200 those are in the older sprytes intake is cast as part of the head.
240 or 300 the big block version b and c model sprytes intake bolts on.
I am no expert, I just know the A models had the smaller engines and they sing a nice tune.( like a sewing machine) I think my experience with straight sixes and oc4 rear diffs puts me in the 19 mph and under category. that little motor is stitching pretty fast at the top of 4th to break 15mph
I came up with the 250 spec based on running some casting numbers on the engine. The local cat guru remembered this having a larger than stock power plant too.
I’ll do some double checking on the engine specs but it doesn’t feel starved for power at all. Thanks for choking in!
Snowy Rivers
Well-known member
I have never seen the 250 Cube 6 in the Ford....but they did make it for sure.
I probably missed it about the time they switched to labeling them in Liters....
Your Cat reminds me of the "Chariot" from LOST IN SPACE Sweet looking rig.
Being a Noooob is no biggy...
I can remember my first time in a Snow Cat.
About 1968
Local power company was constructing a heavy power transmission line that ran From SHERWOOD TO CARLTON, Oregon
The line went through a section of the property here at the ranch.
One of the contractors had a Spryte for hauling tools and other things over the rough ground of the right of way and it was left sitting with the keys in it one afternoon.
I had operated our crawlers here since I was old enough to reach the clutch pedal...so the Cat was a familiar platform.
I hops in this cool little machine and decided to give it a whirl.
Fired it up and took it for a spin around the acreage....
As I pulled back up to park it there were two very big dudes standing there watching...
I figured I was i serious trouble...
I shut the machine off and opened the door......the one fella came over (I am mortified) then he broke into a big smile..."Having fun" he asked
I was somewhat relieved that he was not pissed.
He just said..."Don't run it out of gas" and they left..
I left the cat alone..
Years later I got acquainted with another Spryte that the Snowmobile club I belonged to owned to groom trails.
Ran that one quite a bit.
Then late one afternoon while grooming I ran across a couple on cross country skis wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy back in the sticks...Weather is getting nasty.
I stopped and asked if they would like a warm ride out to the Hwy.. (20 miles) I did not have to ask twice....
We get back to the parking lot and the fella hands me a business card...
He was the manager at a local ski resort...he asked me if I would like to come work for them running groomers.
I jumped at the chance and went to see them the next afternoon.
I ended up working for them for the season....
I had a full time job already....so working from 7-3:30 in town and then driving to the Mt and grooming half the night made for a lot of hours each week..
I got to run several machines including the Packmaster (Late 70's)
Once you have spent enough time in the cab of a Cat to get sore arms and a tired butt from sitting for hours....Y'all is an old pro
Enjoyed seeing your sweet machine..
Thanks for sharing
Just a whatever.....What Sqrl says...the little 6 cyl in the Sprytes is really humming to get any real speed out of the machine.
That 20 mile trip back to the lot with my guests was a long one....
I probably missed it about the time they switched to labeling them in Liters....
Your Cat reminds me of the "Chariot" from LOST IN SPACE Sweet looking rig.
Being a Noooob is no biggy...
I can remember my first time in a Snow Cat.
About 1968
Local power company was constructing a heavy power transmission line that ran From SHERWOOD TO CARLTON, Oregon
The line went through a section of the property here at the ranch.
One of the contractors had a Spryte for hauling tools and other things over the rough ground of the right of way and it was left sitting with the keys in it one afternoon.
I had operated our crawlers here since I was old enough to reach the clutch pedal...so the Cat was a familiar platform.
I hops in this cool little machine and decided to give it a whirl.
Fired it up and took it for a spin around the acreage....
As I pulled back up to park it there were two very big dudes standing there watching...
I figured I was i serious trouble...
I shut the machine off and opened the door......the one fella came over (I am mortified) then he broke into a big smile..."Having fun" he asked
I was somewhat relieved that he was not pissed.
He just said..."Don't run it out of gas" and they left..
I left the cat alone..
Years later I got acquainted with another Spryte that the Snowmobile club I belonged to owned to groom trails.
Ran that one quite a bit.
Then late one afternoon while grooming I ran across a couple on cross country skis wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy back in the sticks...Weather is getting nasty.
I stopped and asked if they would like a warm ride out to the Hwy.. (20 miles) I did not have to ask twice....
We get back to the parking lot and the fella hands me a business card...
He was the manager at a local ski resort...he asked me if I would like to come work for them running groomers.
I jumped at the chance and went to see them the next afternoon.
I ended up working for them for the season....
I had a full time job already....so working from 7-3:30 in town and then driving to the Mt and grooming half the night made for a lot of hours each week..
I got to run several machines including the Packmaster (Late 70's)
Once you have spent enough time in the cab of a Cat to get sore arms and a tired butt from sitting for hours....Y'all is an old pro
Enjoyed seeing your sweet machine..
Thanks for sharing
Just a whatever.....What Sqrl says...the little 6 cyl in the Sprytes is really humming to get any real speed out of the machine.
That 20 mile trip back to the lot with my guests was a long one....
And Sun Wise direct air solar panels in the dormer. It's been many years since I've seen any of those.
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It also has an air-cooled intercooler. Plenty driveable, but 4:10 gears make 55mph @2000rpm ~17mpg. It's getting a 10% better transfer case gear set and 2wheel drive conversion kit (hubs, remove fluid coupler from xfercase) this week. I had heard that 3.55 gear sets were available...unobtainium.
Nice, get the underdrive gears and part time kit installed? Where did you source them?
Terrain Tamer Overdrive Gear Set 80/100 series
80 Series Part-Time T-Case Conversion w/ existing CDL switch
I bought them through: Wanderlust Overland
(503) 732-0747
info@wanderlustoverland.com
www.wanderlustoverland.com
18590 Hwy 99E
Oregon City, OR 97045
I chickened out on the install and let them do it. Sortof glad I did. It was expensive, but they did a great job. The CDL (center dif lock) had not been used for, well probably ever. They took it apart, cleaned and lubed it. (after all it was allwheel drive, so what do you need CDL for?) The CDL shift fork was worn about half-way through, probably caused by a kinked detent spring. They replaced all that stuff and it works great. The only remaining problem is that it only engages in 4x4 in low range. It is electrical and I found the switch in the transfer case, so I just need to do it.
Hubs came with the conversion kit, so I'm now fully old school (except for the electric solenoids running some stuff) Didn't know I would miss the priviledge of getting out to turn-in-the-hubs. Now I can do that again. I can't tell you how much better MPGs I'm getting because the trip/odometer don't turn, and I haven't taken a dedicated road trip to compair with the previous one yet. First time out after the new gear set, I found myself driving 65 when it just sounded like 55, had to smile at that.
While I was at it I also bought a "LRA - 80 series FZJ80 37 gal replacement tank" from Wanderlust. (LRA stands for something, if you are interested I can go look at the paper that came with it and let you know.) Figuring that it should not be a big deal to install. Pulled the back seats, carpet, fuel in/out module from the tank, straps, skid plate, old tank. Lengthened the fuel pick up and gage sender float lever. Started jacking the tank into position. I got about 3" from where it belongs, and things got tight. It looked like it was in the way of the driveline, and the spedo sender. Two things going through my mind, 1) maybe they shoild have installed it after all, 2) Putting a dent in the tank for the driveline is going to take a lot of pressure. I had used the rubber straps from the old tank to put between the tank and body. No room, pull them back out. I kept jacking and prying to get those precious last 3". I'm impressed it did fit. plenty of clearance everywhere it was needed. I put 4 gallons of diesel in and pumped the air out of the system, drove to the fuel tank (~100") and put another 40 Gallons in. I'm thinking "pretty good for a 37 gal tank".
Overall great experience. Nothing like you guys' teriffic sno-cat rebuilds. But I'm happy.
80 Series Part-Time T-Case Conversion w/ existing CDL switch
I bought them through: Wanderlust Overland
(503) 732-0747
info@wanderlustoverland.com
www.wanderlustoverland.com
18590 Hwy 99E
Oregon City, OR 97045
I chickened out on the install and let them do it. Sortof glad I did. It was expensive, but they did a great job. The CDL (center dif lock) had not been used for, well probably ever. They took it apart, cleaned and lubed it. (after all it was allwheel drive, so what do you need CDL for?) The CDL shift fork was worn about half-way through, probably caused by a kinked detent spring. They replaced all that stuff and it works great. The only remaining problem is that it only engages in 4x4 in low range. It is electrical and I found the switch in the transfer case, so I just need to do it.
Hubs came with the conversion kit, so I'm now fully old school (except for the electric solenoids running some stuff) Didn't know I would miss the priviledge of getting out to turn-in-the-hubs. Now I can do that again. I can't tell you how much better MPGs I'm getting because the trip/odometer don't turn, and I haven't taken a dedicated road trip to compair with the previous one yet. First time out after the new gear set, I found myself driving 65 when it just sounded like 55, had to smile at that.
While I was at it I also bought a "LRA - 80 series FZJ80 37 gal replacement tank" from Wanderlust. (LRA stands for something, if you are interested I can go look at the paper that came with it and let you know.) Figuring that it should not be a big deal to install. Pulled the back seats, carpet, fuel in/out module from the tank, straps, skid plate, old tank. Lengthened the fuel pick up and gage sender float lever. Started jacking the tank into position. I got about 3" from where it belongs, and things got tight. It looked like it was in the way of the driveline, and the spedo sender. Two things going through my mind, 1) maybe they shoild have installed it after all, 2) Putting a dent in the tank for the driveline is going to take a lot of pressure. I had used the rubber straps from the old tank to put between the tank and body. No room, pull them back out. I kept jacking and prying to get those precious last 3". I'm impressed it did fit. plenty of clearance everywhere it was needed. I put 4 gallons of diesel in and pumped the air out of the system, drove to the fuel tank (~100") and put another 40 Gallons in. I'm thinking "pretty good for a 37 gal tank".
Overall great experience. Nothing like you guys' teriffic sno-cat rebuilds. But I'm happy.
Snowy Rivers
Well-known member
I like it.. "Privilege of turning in the hubs"
In my opinion....any rig that you will need to depend on to get you through the tough stuff needs to be as FREE of electronic gizmo's to operate mission critical items as possible....
Electrically operated hubs, front diffy's or shifting the T Case all need to be manually controlled.
Back a few years we had a pretty good snow and here at the ranch we had about 3 to 4 feet on the ground.
The roads were nasty....
At that time we had a Chevy Suburban (1994) with the "Thermal actuator" that puts the front end in gear.....
Yup....it died....no 4x4
Extremely poor design.....
Caught a ride to town from a neighbor and bought a fresh actuator.
Then laying in the snow to replace it...
Having hubs to twist is a blessing....
They work......
Carry on......
In my opinion....any rig that you will need to depend on to get you through the tough stuff needs to be as FREE of electronic gizmo's to operate mission critical items as possible....
Electrically operated hubs, front diffy's or shifting the T Case all need to be manually controlled.
Back a few years we had a pretty good snow and here at the ranch we had about 3 to 4 feet on the ground.
The roads were nasty....
At that time we had a Chevy Suburban (1994) with the "Thermal actuator" that puts the front end in gear.....
Yup....it died....no 4x4
Extremely poor design.....
Caught a ride to town from a neighbor and bought a fresh actuator.
Then laying in the snow to replace it...
Having hubs to twist is a blessing....
They work......
Carry on......
One of these days I'm going to turn my attention back on the Spryte and the trailer. I'd like to have it turnkey ready for winter and those days are getting closer here in Utah. Land Cruisers and off-road adventures have occupied my summer, can't complain but the cat needs love!
SnowcatOperator
New member
You are local right here in Utah! I would love to help if you need a hand!
western auto
Active member
what part of utah? my st4 will be headed to my place duck creek when i finish the resto
Hi, I'm working on a 79 thiokol. Steering quit on the left side, no fluid?. Can you help me out on how to bleed this system please? 318-422-0153
PJL
Well-known member
First thing, figure out why it leaked out. It's a simple system. Master cylinder, slave and some hose and pipe.
To bleed it fill the master cylinder with brake fluid. Have a helper work the stick while you open the bleed valve on the slave cylinder. Have the helper pump the stick back and forth then hold it back. Open the bleeder valve then close it. Pump the stick again. Hold it back and open then close the valve. Repeat until no more air come out. Make sure you check the master cylinder level often.
To bleed it fill the master cylinder with brake fluid. Have a helper work the stick while you open the bleed valve on the slave cylinder. Have the helper pump the stick back and forth then hold it back. Open the bleeder valve then close it. Pump the stick again. Hold it back and open then close the valve. Repeat until no more air come out. Make sure you check the master cylinder level often.