SCUBA MOD - Relocating Front & Rear Diff, Tranny, Transfer Case and E-Locker Breather

Here is the factory diff breather taken apart:

 

Yup, it's a one way check valve that lets vapor out of the differential, but nothing back in.

So, (apparently) our differentials get contaminated from air/ water/ mud slipping in from the axle seals when they go underwater and there is negative pressure inside the differential. Nature abhors a vacuum, afterall.

Relocating the breather (with a 2 way one) high up allows the expanded gas to escape and also air back in when the gears cool... breaking the vacuum.

 

yeah i took that same pic and was going to post it when i update my build thread.

you can just pull the silver cap off and remove the spring and valve cover and re install the silver cap

when i finally get my pics up on my build thread i'll show how i routed all of them into the cab. let me tell you the tranny was a PITA! it took some work but worth it in the end.

 

Or you could get one of these...

 

yeah i seen those and liked em but i think they were 20 bucks right?? cant remember. I think a guy could fab something like that right?

edit: dont they have those things for toy cars. the kids hit them and they make the car shoot down the track? i thought ive seen something like that before...

 

Good memory - trail gear $19

 

Do those things work just as well? Any field testers?

Are there any issues with them? It just seems so much more convenient than routing tubes all over place.

 

cant see why they wouldnt work well... would just be more expensive seeings you have 5 breathers to deal with. the 2 in the engine bay could be combined though so you would need 3-4 depending on if you combined the tranny with the transfer case. thats 60 bucks! i would rather route mine with some inexpensive tubing and plastic unions and hose clamps.

 

I'm just not sure they will have enough space for expending gases. I have to see one in person I suppose.

Update: wouldn't it be like holding a small balloon underwater? I'm guessing it will probably get ripped off the metal piece under water unless you put the clamp on pretty freking tight.

 

Ok so with the help of Shadow Warrior and other threads here I was able to get this done What a pain the discoery process was but all in all I could have done this in under 2 hours.

My In Cab Breather Mod

 

yo im tryin to do this today on my auto gen 1 and i was hopin maybe someone could help me out

i just took out the center console and gear shifter and i believe i found one vent i think the tranny

im tryin to get some pics up

any info would be greatly appreciated

 

let the pics rip! Are you trying to put them in the cab?

 

Awesome writeup. Anybody done this to a first gen? Any differences I should watch out for?

 

so is this mod for the 2.7 4cyl as well? i have done the rear diff just wondering about the others that need to be extended and if so are they located in the same spot as on the v6

 

Nice

 

I will probably be extending all the breathers in the near future. I did not think I would be going through deep water ever, but after my second trip through the woods I found out that I would be going through some deep stuff more often than I thought.

I did hear a funny noise, but it went away and I havent heard anything since so I think I'm good.

Besides intake, breathers, cab plugs and possibly door seals, what else should be made water tight in order to do some deep water crossings? Is there any vulerable components in the engine compartment that might get water in them if the water comes in through the grille?

 

the only thing i can thinkof would maybe be sealing off your fuze bx under the hood by the battery.

 

Apply di-electric grease on all electrical connections you can get too. For really deep stuff (which you probably shouldn't using a gas engine anyway), seal or re-locate your ECU (I have sealed mine as the stock location is pretty high up to begin with).

Also, look into an electric fan conversion, or carry a belt short enough to allow you to disconect your fan from the belt drive. (Electrical fan is MUCH easier.)

 

Well considering wheel bearings have very little (to none) grease in them I would say this is another item to be worry about.

 

What is the main advantage/purpose of converting to electric fan? So the fan will work when the belt slips?