Nissan Safari Mods

Jacko · Post by **Jacko** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 7:15 pm

Hi...

Am new to 4wding, and have a couple of quesitons.

I have a 1992 Safari SWB.

Would like to improve ground clearence/ departure angle.

What size tyres can be fitted without any suspension or body lift?

If i was to go for a suspension lift, what would be recommended. - Nothing too serious, or expensive...???

Any suggestions appreciated.

Also, where in NZ can i buy a Safari Snorkel??

Thanks..

DaveM · Post by **DaveM** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 8:17 pm

Welcome aboard, and great choice of vehicle.

I ran my Safari on 32" tyres with no lift, and it was ok.

If you want to go for a lift, 3" is the max you would want without having to get adjustable panhards etc

SWB's have problems with driveline vibrations, so the higher the lift, the more problems you will have, and the more you will need to spend to solve them. I run a 3" lift, and use 12mm gearbox spacers (you will need these with a 2" lift too), and I still get a little vibration, but can put up with it.
You can run 33" tyres with a 2" lift.

Prices for the kits vary greatly, but my coils were $200pr (Dobinson coils) and shocks were $130ea (Pro Comps, bought in Oz).

Where are you, will help with finding you a local retailer for the snorkel.

Dave

Jacko · Post by **Jacko** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 8:26 pm

Thanks for the reply,

Sounds like any kind of lift is not exactly a straight forward thing... May be best to start with bigger tyres......

I'm in Queenstown. Not aware of anyone supplying 4wd parts in this area..

Cheers.

DaveM · Post by **DaveM** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 8:34 pm

I probably made it sound worse than it is :roll:

The gearbox spacers are a 5min job to fit, and if you start to do a few trips/tracks, you will eventually get sick of getting hung up on those big diffs, so you will want bigger tyres.

If you are in no hurry to do the mods, see if you can find someone with a lifted safari and take it for a drive. I will possibly be in the Dunedin area over easter, so may have time to catch up if you are about.

wjw · Post by **wjw** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 8:36 pm

You could try Charlie at Central 4wd in Industrial Place (go all the way round the U and turn left at the turning circle, he's down the end) He specialises in Landy stuff but I would of thought he could get just about anything.

If he can't find one, ask Robert at Small and Light Engineering in Wanaka. I was working for him a while back and ordered mine through him. Can't remember where from though.

Last option would be to get one shipped from Christchurch. Plenty of people up here sell them. Depends whether you wanted it fitting or not??

Jacko · Post by **Jacko** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 8:46 pm

Thanks guys,

Will drop into Central 4wd tomorrow...didn't realise there was such a place here..

Any recommendations as far as snorkels go? - think i read that the Safari Snorkel is about the best??

DaveM - keep in touch if your likely to be in this area over easter weekend - would be keen to check out your truck. I'll be ether qtown or Wanaka (warbirds) I think.

WACKO · Post by **WACKO** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 8:49 pm

snorkel- no repcos down there? or TWL?

DaveM · Post by **DaveM** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 8:54 pm

I run a Airflow snorkel, and wouldn't buy another one again. I would rather buy a Safari snorkel, even at the extra expense.

There is a Fully Equipped in Kaikaorai Valley, Dunedin, 0800 111 000.
Might be worth a phone call to get a rough idea on prices....

WACKO · Post by **WACKO** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 8:58 pm

what brand does repco sell? airflow? why would you not buy another one?

DaveM · Post by **DaveM** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 9:05 pm

I have had 2, and this one, on the Safari is crap.
The design is poorly thought out (for a TD42 Safari), with more joins and bends than there should be. The design makes it VERY hard to seal properly, the supplied hose clamps didn't even fit, and compared to the Safari brand snorkel for these trucks, the Airflow design looks a lot more restrictive.

I would expect a $300 snorkel to come complete, and not need modifying to have it properly seal. This is the worst $300 spent on my truck.

WACKO · Post by **WACKO** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 9:27 pm

hmmm. good to know..

Conan · Post by **Conan** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 9:40 pm

hey jacko

welcom aboard, probably seen ya round queenstown.
if you need a hand installing your snorkel etc gimme a yell (you thought about making one??)

neway i was gonna say that one of the QT4wd club founders is running a well modified safari either 89 or closer to yours.. cant remember year but if you want to get a hold of him and see the possibilities shouldnt be a prob...

cheer
conan

doddzee · Post by **doddzee** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 8:05 am

As DaveM said you will beable to run 32's withoout suspension lift you can run 33's if you dont mind a bit of guard rub. As for improving your departure angle pull the stupid chrome bumpers and step off and have the chassis there as a rear bar, the chrome bumpers will push up and take out your tail lights anyway.

There are usually 1 or 2 sets of lift springs on trademe so keep an eye out.

Id would go for an airtec snorkel they are good quality and i think look nicer than the safari snorkels. They hug the body really well to. Here is a photo of one

krawlr · Post by **krawlr** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 8:14 am

im with you on the airtec but other people on here disagree.....

who cares how well it works?as long as it looks good :lol:

DaveM · Post by **DaveM** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 8:23 am

who cares how well it works?as long as it looks good

krawlr, I think you missed the part where he said he was from Queenstown. Thats the South Island. We don't just drive around the supermaket carparks with our wagons :lol:

turoa · Post by **turoa** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 9:18 am

my old man has a safari snorkel (which I think looks best) and has had it over the windows, a long time ago now though. It was when he was running 33's (before the chev) and the old petrol just kept running until the dizzy got water in it. Wasted the battery running the winch to pull himself out, but took the spare battery out of one of the other trucks and it fired up strait away. I have a video of it if anyone wants to watch it. Will have to get it off the camera though.

JTop · Post by **JTop** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 11:23 am

I have fitted all 3 common breeds and Safari is the best quality and sealing. They use rubber hose onto plastic, at least 1 of the others expect hard plastic to clamp onto plastic permanantly with just a hose clip
J Top

3rnzir · Post by **3rnzir** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 3:16 pm

Dodzee:What brand/size of rubber are you running in that photo of your truck.Looks very horny baby.yeahhh.

doddzee · Post by **doddzee** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 4:56 pm

The tyres are Mickey Thompson Baja Claws 35x13.5x15, They are an awsome tyre

Jacko · Post by **Jacko** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 8:43 pm

Thanks for all the replys guys....

Nice pic doddzee...

Think the safari snorkel sounds like the go...will try and track one down this week.

As far as tyres go, if I was to go for 32", can anyone recommend a good on road/off road tyre. Thinking along the lines of a coopers sure trac ST or similar?? At this stage I really don't won't the hassle of having two sets of tyres (off road and on road).

Cheers....

mudchuka · Post by **mudchuka** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 8:57 pm

hi there, i have a set of 50mm lift springs for sale $350 for all 4 near new phone 027 292 1248 or send a text, if you want a snorkel phone bruce hughes in winton, hughes auto centre, he is the man and can fit it for you too.

JTop · Post by **JTop** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 11:07 pm

LegsX1 may have a 2nd hand safari snorkle for sale soon
J Top

doddzee · Post by **doddzee** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 8:14 am

LegsX1 may have a 2nd hand safari snorkle for sale soon

His username is Worthog not Legsx1 on this forum JTop

Jacko · Post by **Jacko** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 9:15 am

Hi guys,

Am thinking about the 50mm lift for the Safari using old man emu springs and shocks.

Anyone had any expereince with OME? any better options?

Cheers

krawlr · Post by **krawlr** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 9:20 am

ive only used ome in hiluxs/surfs tec and found that the spring rates are fkn way to firm

talk with davem or doddzee they know how to get the gqs sorted.......

best of luck

doddzee · Post by **doddzee** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 10:12 am

I have had 2" OME springsand they were good they eventually sagged so changed them for kings and found them better they have retained their height and give it a good ride. The OME shocks are really good though. Id Look into the kings spring range and go for an OME or Koni shock, I have seen this set up on a few safaris and havent heard any complants.

Jacko · Post by **Jacko** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 6:37 pm

am now thinking a set of king springs (50mm lift), and koni shocks (82 series) might be the way to go. let me know your thoughts on this......

Cheers

mudchuka · Post by **mudchuka** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 10:35 pm

what about the efs spring shock combo they claim to have a 3 inch lift package dont seem to expensive? any one tried them?

GQTROL · Post by **GQTROL** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 7:48 am

what about the efs spring shock combo they claim to have a 3 inch lift package dont seem to expensive? any one tried them?

Can't comment specifically on the lift you're looking at, but have found their sales backup via Traxion Distribution (and Carrolls Springs themselves) to be very good, and probably better than most others.

If there was a problem, I'm sure you wouldn't have any dramas getting it sorted.

worthog · Post by **worthog** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 7:30 pm

Jacko, I have just removed my Safari Snorkle from my GQ and if you make me a good offer at larryhaines@xtra.co.nz it may become yours. Only problem is that I will be tied up all weekend in the Recovery Challenge at Shannon with Doddzee.

Email me and lets see what we can do, I may also have some other items for you

Nissan Safari Mods

Nissan Safari Mods

Old Man Emu

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