[roverso]

I have a 416 DoKA Unimog with standard axles---and I was just wondering from those out there that have had a chance to drive a Mog with fast or very fast axles---if it ads to the enjoyment of driving the Mog? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

 

[m37charlie]

There are many questions that need to be answered. What are your current diff & portal ratios? What is your tire size? Is your current top speed limited by rpms or by power? Where do you live, what kind of driving do you do?
Tearing 4 portals apart and changing gears is very expensive and a lot of work. Likewise 2 diffs. If, for example, you have 12.5-20s, changing to 365/80R20s or even bigger tires could by much easier, cheaper, and add to the offroad ability of your vehicle, and probably improve the ride. For example, changing from 12.5s to 395/85R20s is analagous to changing axle ratio from 7.5 to 6.6; 15% increase in road speed, 13% decrease in rear wheel torque.

Charlie

 

[wilson1010]

I have a 416 DoKA Unimog with standard axles---and I was just wondering from those out there that have had a chance to drive a Mog with fast or very fast axles---if it ads to the enjoyment of driving the Mog? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

This was the most expensive mistake I ever made involving a vehicle. Good advice here from some old timers was to increase tire size and engine rpm instead, but no, I had to have the fast axle ratios. I could have bought a pretty good 404 for what it cost. And, at the end of the day, it really doesn't matter because the 8-10 mph I got could have been had by other means.

 

[VON]

I am currently making up a set of what I call "ultrafast" axles for my 416 hotrod! These have a final ratio of 4.92 to 1. This is done by combining fast axle hub gears and superfast axle ring and pinions. With 14.5 x 20 tires and the turbo motor, top speed will be 80MPH! It is not that I want to go that fast, but it sure will be nice to cruse down the road at 65MPH and only be turning around 2500 RPM's! And to go slow this setup will be using the 16 speed SEE tranny with air shift, for a 17% reduction in any gear at the flip of a switch! In my stock axle doka that I am running now I can only top out at 58 MPH and the motor is turning almost 3100 RPM's. They will be worth the extra $$ to me, but then labor is free, and I have been picking up the parts as cheap as I can. So my cash outlay is not near as much as others have spent.

 

[bigmellon]

Sounds like a pretty sweet setup Von. You will have to share some pics when it is all together.

 

[techMOGogy]

416 hotrod!

416 and hotrod should never be used in the same post!

 

[jimo]

i did both fast axles and 365 XZL tires on my 81 U1300L; and after driving to the arctic ocean and then to florida and then back to alaska and then to Honduras i would highly recommend both, depending on your budget and interstate driving plans

 

[Chas Stricker]

It would seem to be the best route to gain "cruising" speed over road. I don't believe that an overdrive is availible for the 406/416. If you were to use an overdrive the top speed would be higher and the engine speed would be lower but the axles are still going like mad. Changing to higher gears or the tires would actually lower the axle speed. I'm just thinking of the durability of the axles.

 

[hammogger]

Hi Roverso,

Bet everyone on here is a fan of faster mogs considering a high percentage of driving is on the road. As Charlie so well pointed out, you have to make the decision if the cost is worth it to yourself. It's your billfold!

Of course Von just so nonchalantly gathers up parts and builds the perfect 416!!! Lots of skill and persistence there!

Bottom line might be that if you just have to have faster cruising speed then reconsidering a vehicle upgrade might be the cheapest way out. There are some good deals on U1300L's occasionally, and some have faster axles, and some have overdrives. With both, and 14.5 x 20's, cruising speed can be 70 at 2400 at 'pink' line (redline at 2800). A nice cruising speed is about 60 at 2000 rpm.

Bob

I have a 416 DoKA Unimog with standard axles---and I was just wondering from those out there that have had a chance to drive a Mog with fast or very fast axles---if it ads to the enjoyment of driving the Mog? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

 

[roverso]

There are many questions that need to be answered. What are your current diff & portal ratios? What is your tire size? Is your current top speed limited by rpms or by power? Where do you live, what kind of driving do you do?
Tearing 4 portals apart and changing gears is very expensive and a lot of work. Likewise 2 diffs. If, for example, you have 12.5-20s, changing to 365/80R20s or even bigger tires could by much easier, cheaper, and add to the offroad ability of your vehicle, and probably improve the ride. For example, changing from 12.5s to 395/85R20s is analagous to changing axle ratio from 7.5 to 6.6; 15% increase in road speed, 13% decrease in rear wheel torque.

Charlie

The truck is running 365/80R20 tires---anything larger and there will be clearance issues. I am a new Mog owner--and was told that it had standard axles---if there is more than one ratio for the standard version--no idea of what they would be. The fuel pump has been turned up---so I am not lacking on power---just too high of RPMs if I want to do anything over 50 to 55. I live in Central OR (3500 ft) and drive anywhere and on any type of terrain. I was just thinking that when I do travel on paved road it might be nice to get from point A to B a little quicker and with a little less noise. I know it is not the most cost effective thing to do especially if upgrading to very fast axles. The cost is about half to only go to fast axles. Would I see any improvement just upgrading one step on the axles? Or if I am going to do this would it be better to bight the bullet and upgrade all the way to Very fast Axles? Thanks.

 

[m37charlie]

I know it is not the most cost effective thing to do especially if upgrading to very fast axles. The cost is about half to only go to fast axles. Would I see any improvement just upgrading one step on the axles? Or if I am going to do this would it be better to bight the bullet and upgrade all the way to Very fast Axles? Thanks.

First of all I am clueless as to details of a 416; I don't know axle and portal ratios for this model. I hope you understand that gearing changes can be in either the diffs or the portal boxes or both. I have a personal peeve about the terms "fast" and "very fast"; I like numbers. Can you read a data plate on your differential center pumpkin that has the diff and portal ratios? On mine, for example (about 30 years newer) it says "24:11" and "38:14". Maybe the other readers can chime in with sources for "faster" gears and prices.
Using the RMM chart it looks like with the fastest ratios (5.31) you'll still turn 2560 at 60 mph with 365/80R20s.
Charlie

 

[tkv000]

Here's a great chart for figuring out which axles you have (or at least a start to figuring out)


Rocky Mountain Moggers - Gears in a Unimog

 

[Chas Stricker]

OT....great looking truck!

 

[krisinak]

my question would be how much fun would it be to scorch down the interstate at 70 mph in a 416? the sbu s seem so much more oriented to that sort of speed..it would be a drag to spend a bunch of money to find the pucker factor at 70 giving the thrill of 95!

 

[Monstermog1964]

MB is just like a tuner class....Std = Stage 1 $$$, Fast Axles = Stage 2 $$$$, Super Fast Axles = Stage 3 $$$$$. Tires on the other hand $$$...great if your needs meet this design setup. Anyways as you go up price goes up too....

Von....will probably sell you a kit for $$$$. Being that he is in the business of restoring Mogs and works on them everyday...I'd say coming across See Transmission parts, axles ect are easier than to most of us. He has the contacts and knows the ends and out of these birds well enough to know what to do and not to do...but he could have me fooled.

 

[Mogasaurus]

my question would be how much fun would it be to scorch down the interstate at 70 mph in a 416?

Since I own a 416 that CAN scorch down the interstate at 70 (barely), I would say it's GREAT fun. It allows you to hook onto the end of the mid-speed big-rig convoys and truck away ! I've run for 100's of miles this way - no worries. Of course, I worked up to it slowly, in the beginning stopping often for portal and trans temperature readings.

That said, it is MORE fun to load the 416 on the gooseneck and drag it behind the gran camión rojo Dodge/Cummins at 70++++, with the MP3 player running trough the stereo and the climate control on 72F heading for the trailhead...

 

[wilson1010]

That said, it is MORE fun to load the 416 on the gooseneck and drag it behind the gran camión rojo Dodge/Cummins at 70++++, with the MP3 player running trough the stereo and the climate control on 72F heading for the trailhead...

Now you're talking my language.

 

[krisinak]

very good point about getting to know hub/trans/ temps as they relate to high speed cruzin..i plan to make good use of my infrared temp gun as i get used to all day driving

 

[black_diesel]

Now you're talking my language.

Mine too!

 

[roverso]

Trailering

Here are my thoughts on trailering a truck that perfectly capable of making the trip on its own: