The Surf Toyota Should Have Made

[bob_or_jim]

Hi Guys/Gals, as I am pretty new to this forum Ill start with a bit about me.
Im from Invercargill and have been doing a little bit of offroading for a few years now. I currently drive a 1uz powered surf with a Prado front end Etc Etc...... Long story short its time to replace the old girl with something a little nicer on the pocket. Anyway here is the outline. The intention is to build a strong all round performer as far as a 4x4 goes. Pretty typical really.

Starting with a KZN185 (Bought For this Project) first on the list is SAS. Having done 1 before and realising the benefits and learning the dos/don’ts it’s a must do on my list. There is already a 185 down here with one done so I know it can be done.

This is were you guys can help. I have a small shopping list of bits to get for the SAS.

1. Rear sump and pick up for a 1KZTE
2. 70 series Prado front diff (pref coils)
3. Auto Transfer Case and adaptor out of an LN130/KZN130
4. Steering box out of a 130 chassis truck

All the other little things I have laying round from memory.

The next on the list is a winch bar. Has anybody tried one of these on a surf?
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=479543115

Then it’s all the usual stuff like side bars, tires, snorkel Etc Etc.

Ill get a pick of the truck up soon as and write things up as I go.

In the mean time I have a fair bit of knowledge on the LN130 chassis/trucks if anyone is doing a SAS, lifts or even the 1uzfe swap. Please feel free to ask.

Cheers

Jeremy

[KIWI_TERRANO]

http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/Forums/ ... 18&t=27462

This might give you pointers for A kzn185

[NJV6]

Ha ha SAS already!!!!

[bob_or_jim]

Hey look!!!! Its me!!! Im afraid Glen, it has to be done. For a few reasons, get rid of the silly weak TCase and front diff (plust it gives me spares for the prado!) and they are sooo much better with the SAS.

Cheers for the link KIWI_TERRANO. Bit of reading for later tonight.

Jeremy

[bob_or_jim]

Update time. I have ordered an MCC Falcon Bar, snorkel, small lift and am sorting some tires (285.75R16 Maxxis Bighorns) and alloy wheels. If anybody has some like in the below pic and wants to sell them PM me.

With any luck ill be posting photos of each of the installments and some comments on the product quality etc.

The small lift is just spacers bought from summit racing to get me going while i get the prado gear all setup to do the swap.

Im still after a kzn130 auto gearbox and motor sump with pickup if anybody out there has what im after.

Anyway your thoughts are welcome.

Cheers

[MK1TNA]

I got a kzn130 auto im not doing anything with in a mates shed out of a wrecked surf with 140k on clock but i think the wires etc on it maybedamaged im in chch

[bob_or_jim]

How much you after mate?

[NJV6]

[bob_or_jim]

Haha cheers mate. Glen has helped me out a ton so far with this build. Sorted out the front end for me and picked it up, helped me get my tire sizes sorted plus a mountain of advice. Cheers Bro!!!!

So tonight Glen come out with my new front end. Had a quick look over it and it looks like an easy job to get the mounts off the chassis. Will have go in the weekend and get started.

Cheers.

[MK1TNA]

How much you after mate?

PM sent

[surf10]

flash as, i better get my act together or youll have another one built before me.

[bob_or_jim]

Yeah man, all I got left to do is everything!

[surf10]

yea i just gotta get a bloody motor in the hole

[bob_or_jim]

Well I got my snorkel today, not really happy with it but I guess the writing was on the wall. I got it off trade me for $190 + P&p. I didnt have an issue with buying one off trademe as the one I bought for the Prado (90 series) was a direct copy of the safari one. Anyway the one I got for my Surf was ment for a 97 Hilux, the dude said that it was the one for the 185 surf so I went and got it. Opened the box and first thing i notice is the outlet pipe that ends up in the guard is bloody small. It was moulded over and was not that cool. I cut the last 5mm off to help it out but its still not great. Anyway I thought just put it on. The template is miles away from the the snorkel so it didnt provide much help. After drilling holes bigger than need be and finally getting it close it becomes obvious that it is clearly not made to fit my truck. The angle is a mile out and there is a massive gap between the A pillar and the snorkel. Anyway thats my rant, Ill get some picks up ASAP.

Lesson here is buy the right product for the job! Sounds simple huh.

On a positive note Ill be getting stuck into the chassis with the grinder tomorrow.

Cheers

P.S. Picks added

[bob_or_jim]

Yesterday I pulled the grinder out of hibernation and got stuck into the chassis. Managed to get all of the mounts off and cleaned up with the sander so there all ready to be hot glued onto the surf.

Also found a gearbox locally so thankyou all you guys who got back to me but Im 99% sure ill run with this one.

That’s all for now.

Cheers

[Big]

tease...

[bob_or_jim]

Not much progress today, went to get the sump and there was a bit of confusion about the pickup. Ill put a photo up and see if anybody recognises it as a kzn130 style pickup.

Also got onto 4wdbits and got a mean deal on some 33x10.5R15 BFG's.

Anyway see what ya think about the sump and pickup. Sorry the quality was soo sh*t as it was dark and I used my phone.

Cheers

[bob_or_jim]

Time for a quick update, got most of the stuff I need for the wide axle conversion. Just need to whip up some spacers now. Tyres are here too. Once I get a sump Ill be ready to get into it I think.

Anybody got ideas on a lift spring for the rear of these things? I was just going to get some cobras but there are some factory 99 model springs on TM down here and if I remember correctly there a fair bit higher than 96 ones. Anyway your thoughts are welcome.

Cheers

[1justin]

hey mate you end up getting that front bar intrested to see what they look like,

[bob_or_jim]

Yeah it is in the post still. The one I ordered turned out to have the mounting kit missing so Im just waiting on that to turn up from the land of the rising sun then Ill throw it on. I had a play with one from a 97 hilux and they seem very well finished. It come with wiring loom and switch for the fog lights and everything. Is definatly made to be easy.

The front diff is 99% rebuilt (bearings, seals, draining the water/oil and a quick paint up). Just waiting on the disc spacers to complete the wide axle conversion then I can get into glueing it to the surf.

Will be going with the Cobra springs for the rear and rear Bighorns for the front. Picked up some OME shocks for the back of it and when $$$ allows it Ill put some up front too.

Project is at a bit of a stand still at the moment with the spacers holding me up. I see there is a set on here for sale but I can get a set made cheap at the cost of time (always the case).

Cheers

[bob_or_jim]

Here is a few picks of the surf hub on the Prado diff. You can see how much wider they really are. Not too sure why I picked green for the knuckles but its not hard to flick some black over it if it looks funny on the truck.

Should get the rear springs tonight and as soon as the bar turns up Ill rip into the front diff. I am able to borrow a mates wide axle spacers untill mine are made but will still need the bar to get the axle position right. I want to push it forward as much as possible.

Cheers

[SASurf]

I have a set of Rotor/hub spacers for sale. $350 cash with all the hardware to mount them. PM me if you are keen

[bob_or_jim]

Hey cheers mate, I have a set on there way with any luck so at this stage I'll have to pass. If things don't happen I'll be in touch.


Picked up the springs tonight, itching to get into it.

Cheers

[bob_or_jim]

Well its finally time to say "Its all on!". Took the motor out today and will be getting the grinder out tomorrow!

Here are some picks of the spot lights Ive set aside with the HID kit fitted and some of the motor out etc.

Cheers

[suv6rf]

I have a surf that looks just like that in my garage, let me know if i can sell you any parts. Very fast delivery time

[bob_or_jim]

Some might say instant delivery? Took me a while to figure out who it was, got the front diff and tires there today. How ya trip go?

[suv6rf]

All good ah, awesome views. Tyres look good on the back, good incentive to get the front diff in to see how it will look.

[bob_or_jim]

Yeah rear offset is pretty close. Lift springs tomorrow then grinder on tues maybe. Will try get some picks up soon.

[NJV6]

Good stuff lads.

[bob_or_jim]

Done a little bit of work last night, got the rear springs fitted (Thanks to Jared, he got a little bored and had the job half done by the time I got there) . They only lifted the rear 35 - 40mm. Would have liked 50ish but I can live with that.

Then I started to look at how the front end was attached, there were 3 main supports each side. Little hard to get to but once the struts were out of the way its all pretty good. Anyway the front end is out and just have to clean up the rails now.

Ill let the pics tell the rest.