modifying a lwb safari

[benm887]

Hi everybody

Im new to the whole 4wd scene.
Ive got a 91 lwb GQ safari i was wondering the best/cheapest mods to make it better offroad. Im planning on getting 33" wheels for it and doing a suspension and body raise, I was wondering what would be the best one for me as maby want to go to 35"s in the future. I was thinking maby a 4" suspension lift and a 2" body lift?

sorry for the novel but after some frendly advice cheers Ben

[phraza]

Hi everybody

Im new to the whole 4wd scene.
Ive got a 91 lwb GQ safari i was wondering the best/cheapest mods to make it better offroad. Im planning on getting 33" wheels for it and doing a suspension and body raise, I was wondering what would be the best one for me as maby want to go to 35"s in the future. I was thinking maby a 4" suspension lift and a 2" body lift?

sorry for the novel but after some frendly advice cheers Ben

Hey Ben, where bouts you from?

Depends how hardcore you're going to be off roading. My old GQ had a 2" suspension lift and 33s and was awesome.

It also had bullbars. Now they were awesome, i didnt have to worry about smashing into trees or a bank. Good modification maybe?

Snorkels are always a good investment (you can see below i love the mud)

Cheers

[DaveM]

Personally, I'd start with the basics: recovery gear/points (as well as being taught how to safely recover yourself/others), diff breathers, snorkel perhaps and go on club trips to learn what mods will benefit you.

[benm887]

Hey Ben, where bouts you from?

Depends how hardcore you're going to be off roading. My old GQ had a 2" suspension lift and 33s and was awesome.

It also had bullbars. Now they were awesome, i didnt have to worry about smashing into trees or a bank. Good modification maybe?

Snorkels are always a good investment (you can see below i love the mud)

Cheers[/quote]

Hae Phraza

Im from christchurch. Im prity keen to get into some resembly hardout 4wding and think your idea about the bullbars and the snorkel is a really good one. Im a driver in the army so have had a decent amout of offroad/recovery experience but am overseas till the end of the year so mums got the wagon in chch. While im gone i want her to get the suspension lift done and want to go with eather the 6" of the 4" as maby 35s on the cards later was wondering which one? Mean photos by the may man can't wait to hit the mud.

Hae Dave

Will definitely try joining a club when i get back to chch and while I am away going to get my mum to get some work done to the truck ie, recovery points, snorkel, suspension lift and 33s hopefully

[phraza]

4" should be plenty for 35s, but don't quote me on that, i haven't done it

[DaveM]

Look at $2k plus for a 4" lift, if you go for good quality gear, and run drop boxes etc. I'd stay away from a BL, but thats just me, I'm not a fan of running them on the Safari's.

[crazyclark31]

if your gunna do hard stuff then def stay away from b/l as it will cause the mounts to crack and then you'll start getting all sorts of clunking noises.

Me personally would go 3in lift max and then cut/trimm guards to suit. can be done prperly to. helps keep the cog lower and is easier on the drive line/susp bushes


thats my lwb with standard height springs and 33s.so it doesn't take to much to fit 35s.
If you are away then i'd be getting truck sent to someone that knows what they are doing to fit it up. Saves all the hassle when you get home.

[benm887]

Hae mean thanks guys, yea will probly go for the 4" lift now and forget about the body lift after your coments, should be high enough for 35s later with a bit of guard alteration. Cost for the lift wil be 2k plus for a desent lift kit and other parts needed and installed?
thanks guys

[benm887]

nice truck Crazy cant wait to get the lift and wheels and hit the trails!!
Does anybody no the approx cost of bullbars all the way round and a snorkel installed?

[DaveM]

If you have a look at the 4wdbits site, you will get an idea on price. When I have done a 4" on my Safari's, I've used the following (rough price):
Coils $150ea
Shocks $150-350ea
Drop Boxes $300-600pr
Longer/Stronger trailing arms $200-350pr
Adjustable upper trailing arms $350pr
Brake lines $150pr
Steering Damper $150
Adjustable Drag Link $200
Panhards $100-350ea
Extended swaybar pins/brackets $200
Snorkel $260-600


This doesn't include fitting. Panhards can be extended to save money, can use castor bushes (crap) or castor plates instead of drop boxes. I used longer trailing arms to get rid of the "banana" in the coils caused by going this high. Could get away without adjustable uppers and drag link.

At the end of the day, lifts can be done on a budget, as money allows, but it will need a cert anyway, so I normally do it once to save paying again later.

This is just from my past Safari's, so others may differ in opinion, but a 3" lift is ample to start with (I currently run 33's, 80mm lift on my LWB).

Depending on what you do, it might be worth paying a visit to Tomsoffroad

[ClassicCruiserSpares]

I was talking to your mum the other day she was inquiring about lifts for your truck
The prices above are a good indication of the cost of a 4" lift but things can very depending on brand and quality.
I would also stay away from body lift and just do the 4" spring lift.

[4WDbits]

I'd go with a 2 inch suspension lift which will be enough for 33s, its a relatively cheap option and easy to do. If you're into a bit of guard triming you can also fit 35s.

[benm887]

Thanks Dave for all those prices didnt really think it was going to be that much but am keen to get the good quality stuff so it wont break on me I think i will go with the 4" lift.

I sent an email to Tom does he do the suspension side of the house as well as fabricating and wielding.

[DaveM]

I sent an email to Tom does he do the suspension side of the house as well as fabricating and wielding.

Not too sure to be honest, but worth seeing him for the bar work, and possibly drop boxes etc (not sure if he has done any before, but worth a try).

The majority of the gear I use on my Safari's have always been from oz, as I'd load up the bags on trips, but having fabricators in ChCh, I'd be tempted to shop locally now.

I've tried most brands of coils, and found EFS, and Dobinson the best. Currently running Cobra, which are fine, but not sure if they go to 4". Also remember, a 4" coil in one brand, might be a 2" compared to another. Match the shocks to suit the lift to avoid coils falling out, or shocks bottoming out (you will more than likely need to extend your bumpstops). It's best to take your time, and get the right gear from the start.

[tomsoffroad]

I sent an email to Tom does he do the suspension side of the house as well as fabricating and wielding

Yip he does.

[DaveM]

Yip he does.

Sounds like a one stop shop for all the mods then!

[benm887]

haha i wish might cost a little bit to much to get all done at once but want to get suspension done sometime soon

[tomsoffroad]

Sounds like a one stop shop for all the mods then!

Your only limited by your imagination
Havn't found anything yet which can't be done and can supply parts at good prices.

[CLUMZ1]

Soooooo whats new with the Safari Ben?

[benm887]

Hey Clumz

I'm still not to sure about how to load photos on??
But since my last comment I did end up getting Tom to do most of the work.
The saf now has a 4" suspension lift, bars all the way around, a snorkel and riding on 33" mudzillas. Have a few more plans for it in the not to far future if the wallet allows .
I have a set of 35s in the mail from 4wdbits and next big mod is a turbo and 3" exhaust

[CLUMZ1]

Sounds like its coming along nicely. If you take photos, put them all in a directory ready to be uploaded.

Make sure the photos are no wider than 800 pixels, shrink/resize with a photo editor if needed, alternately there are handy programs dedicated to resizing photos. A google search should bring some up for you to use.

Go in your web browser to www.imgur.com

Click "computer" on the right hand side at the top

Browse to the folder of photos, select them all and click Open

Click "start upload"

Once uploaded the images will be displayed, you can copy the BBCode (message boards & forums) and paste it into your message on ORE. Alternately, if the images are TOO LARGE! then copy the Linked BBCode (message boards) and paste into ORE.

[benm887]

Ok thanks Clumz I think i've got it, cheers man

New 100ml lift


New feet, and can now play under water


After some more time at Tom's Offroad and some amazing work yet again. Thanks Tom


A wee flex


And some "self recovery"