'91 LWB Safari Lift Options

[Chaffnz]

Hi guys,

Ive had my '91 LWB for about a year and a half now and I am keen to take it down South to join my mate on the braided rivers mainly hunting and what not. Im gonna get a snorkel chucked on it and thought getting it lifted a little would help over the monsta boulders down there, noting my mates got a SWB.
What sort of lift options am I looking at? I cant do any of the work myself so will have to get the pros to hook me up.

I wasnt going to lift the body for bigger tyres or anything but opinions on that appreciated. Essentially cost is an issue

I spoke to one guy who said I was looking at 30mm or 50mm but 50mm would need more extra parts and work to make sure the steering wasnt overly afftected. How much is this stuff going to cost? Sorry if this belongs in the beginner section but hell the Nissan bit is always so quiet and I loves my truck

Cheers

Al

[DieselBoy]

With a Lwb Safari you can go to 4" (100mm) lift with out anything other than castor correction bushes at the front.

Bushes are about $150 for the set, plus a b it more to get them fitted. You will have to replace those bushes one day, so why not now??

Springs are around the $130 to $150 mark each, and decent shocks can be around the $150 mark each.

Ring around and find who does the EFS suspension lift kits where your based, they seem like value for money, and include everything you need!!!

Note, I haven't heard any reviews on the EFS stuff really, so some one else may be able to help.

I run Toughdog/fourway suspension and am highly impressed, nice progressive springs make it good on the road, and awsome off road.

Dave M runs costom made Dobinson Springs and tough dog shocks. The Tough dog coils were to hard for his personal preference.

So its each to their own, but you can go pretty high with out any fuss on a LWB.
Short wheel base is another story!!!

Body lift is a hell of a lot cheaper than a suspension lift to do, and you can run bigger tyres, which lifts the true ground clearence higher, so some will argue thats the best way to go first off.

Up to you.

You can run 35's with a 50mm suspension lift and a 50mm body lift.

[DaveM]

Pretty much what DB said.
I now run Pro Comp shocks, as the Dobinson coils are longer than most brands, so this allows me to run longer shocks, equivalent to normal 4" lifts, 720mm extended rear, 560mm extended front, where as the Tough Dogs were 660mm, and 520mm.

I was happy with the Tough Dog shocks, but to get these lengths meant I would need to upgrade to the next model, and I wasn't prepared to spend the extra dollars.

I paid $400 for the coils and $125aus each for the shocks.

Try here if you are interested in EFS suspension, I think these guys are the importers, but I havent heard much about them either.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 262474.htm


Dave

[Chaffnz]

Cheers guys,

Any more opinions more than welcome however that has given me more options I think. Its not something I know a huge amount about, but it seems sillyo to go 50mm if Im just going to end up going higher later. And then yeah body to follow. I got quite put off with the 2600$ tag for the 50mm sus lift and thought Id come on here for some thoughts. Always ring a few places first but do you reckon I source my own kit(s) and then just get someone to fit them?

Al

Oh just went to that trade me site and I see people are talking big numbers there. Maybe 50mm body and tyres is way to go. Seems daft pretty new tyres on at the moment and I spend so much time away i only get about 5000km out of the truck a year

[DaveM]

$2600
For that sort of dough, you could get a 4" with adjustable panhards, fitting, extended brake lines, and probably still have change!

Off the shelf kits are handy, as it takes the thinking out of it (which I like), but remember that you may be able to get a deal for supply/fit.
I hear that G Guy motors in Welly are good to deal with (Old Man Emu I think).

Mate is getting a 4" lift done in Christchurch in a couple of weeks, but instead of adjustable panhards ($450 odd each), he is having them cut and lengthened.

Best to talk to someone that knows what they are talking about, as there are proggressive, and linear coils, plus different rates, all depending on the driving, and loads you carry.
Do it right the first time (I didn't ), so it doesn't cost more in the long run.

Dave

[DaveM]

Also remember that some of the prices on Trade Me are quoted for leaf spring vehicles. The coil spring kits are around the $1100 mark for 4x coils. 4x shocks.
If it gets little use, I'd go 2-3". It will probably even handle on road better with new shocks (mine did), and most Safari's sit very low due to spring sag so the extra chassis clearance will be good for over the boulders.


Let the modding begin


Dave

[DieselBoy]

Hey dave, What can you tell me about the pro comp shocks??

Those TD ones are very limiting, especially in the front, sitting flat, the fronts are compressed a whole 20mm!!!

i would be keen to sell the TD ones and get the longer travel pro comps!!!

There's plenty in the springs before they will fall out!!!

[DaveM]

To be honest, the Pro Comps look cheap compared to the TD's, but so far they have gone really well, and a lot of guys on OuterLimits rate them highly.
I got mine from LudaCris when I was over there, but he will freight them if you wanted some.

Either that or you should be able to get EFS in any size you want, but they were selling for around $180ea, so I just wanted something a little different.



Dave

[DieselBoy]

Cheers Dave, thats some good info!!

Interesting,as i had origionally intended to go with EFS and had them all lined up to be shipped out to me.
They were way to short and the guy recond that was all they could supply.

Interesting.
Cheers!!!!

[SupraLux]

Whats the mounting for the front shocks, and what the compressed and extended lengths of them... let me see if I can dig ya up something to bolt in there

Steve

[tristanp]

the front shock mounts are pin / pin

[DaveM]

the front shock mounts are pin / pin

And the TD 2" lift shocks are 310mm closed, 520mm open......


Dave

[DieselBoy]

You guys are GOOD

[canucksafari]

the front shock mounts are pin / pin

And the TD 2" lift shocks are 310mm closed, 520mm open......


Dave

Sorry to dig up a very old post - and this on my first post in this section. I am planning on ordering a set of Pro Comp shocks for my 1991 LWB Safari to go with the OME 50 mm heavy duty suspension lift I am planning to do. Pro Comp's catalogue does not list the Patrol or Safari so I need to get a part number for the front and a part number for the rear. Any help will be greaterly appreciated. Cheers, John

[DaveM]

Hey John,
sorry, can't help with the part numbers, mine were purchased in oz, so if you are going for the Pro Comps, you may have to PM Shane at 4wdsuspension for the numbers (on the outerlimits site).
There won't be any safari/patrol specific shocks, it will just be a matter of getting the correct lengths.


Dave

[canucksafari]

Thanks Dave. I will do that. I tried taking the #s for long travel Bilstein and Koni shocks from the Aussie Catelogues and checked their North American Catelogues for a cross reference. Those numbers don't exist on either of the manufactures' North American Catelogues. If Shane can't give me the numbers then I am stuck with OME at considerable more money. Thanks again for the tip.

John

[DaveM]

No problem, good luck with tracking them down, I found the Procomps great, although they are quite soft valving.

If you cant cross reference the shock, it may be worth emailing the Koni/Bilstein directly with the required lengths and get them to give you the correct part numbers.
No doubt there should be something thats close.


Dave