LN106 Project

[Danger]

Hey all, new here and to 4wds in general

Here's my latest toy.





Bit of a lemon, specs on arrival last week were:

2.8 slug
2" exhaust
Snorkle
Drowned interior
Dodgy central locking due to the above
Broken quarterlight
Terrible Basecoat only paintjob over unsanded primer and lots of bog.
2" body lift
Hilux rear leafs in the front (one broken)
Diff moved forward, torque rod and steering rod shortened very agriculturally
No diff or box/TC breathers
Agricultural lengthened shackles front and rear
Rear shock mounts changed
Flat bar welded halfway down front shock mount turrets so shorter shocks would fit, all be it bending the top bolt on an angle.
Bit of chassis damage in the rear and a lot of cracked welds.
15x10s with bald 35"s.









Had a LN61 on 33"s in the past but this is my first real 4wd project.

Was hoping I'd be able to daily drive it while I did a few other cars but this isn't gonna be the case so cracking into it.




Front diff is out, was just gonna fit new leaf at this stage as am pretty busy but noticed leaf mounts are cracked badly so out front diff came.

Was full of water, is now dismantled and cleaned up. Will be welding on some bracing and making some armour when I find time. Next will be making new adjustable torque/steering rods and rebuilding diff.

Any advice or opinions appreciated, I wanna get the mechanical side of this truck done ASAP so it can be used again. I have 3 other cars of my own I need to rebuild(belair, pontiac, rx4) and a mates escort currently in the shed I said I'd have done a few months ago.

[Del Fuego]

Well hi there Danger!!! Hooray for new nature runner overer... much cooler than pinkie :p

P_star from that other forum here btw

[Danger]

Hey there, thought I'd better join up here. Need all the advice and info I can get. 4wds are a different world to what I'm used to

[Del Fuego]

Yup, plenty of hopeful folk here

[Tarmac]

what part of the country?

[Danger]

Dunedin. Truck is ex-Chch.

Cant say I have too many nice words for whoever welded it in the past.

[The WEHI]

im surprised the previous owner was able to sell it watched this truck get almost rolled 2-3 times not from hard tracks or 4wding but from trying to do doughnuts and turning in to corners at 50kmh+ at a right angle was a very nerve racking trip. also know where your wet interior issue came from (waipara river) dont think he was to saftey conscious

[Dirtydog]

that would explain the crack welds to i suppose?

But lucky you found it in time, sounds like it would have been a waste of truck otherwise, cant wait to see the magic happen, looks cool enough as it is.

[Cameron]

hi dane.

[Danger]

Yeah I'd believe that...

Truck is salvageable. But will never be tidy. So may as well make it a mongrel beast...

Hey Cameron, whichever Cameron you are...

[SP450andLE]

Hi Dane.

[Jay]

Hi Dane.

[Cameron]

jeeze what'd I start.

[Danger]

Did this tonight.



Anyone know of a source for a leaf spring perch like these? SNR hasn't gotten back to me yet.

http://www.snr4x4.co.nz/spring-perches-hole-p-39.html

My left one was cracked pretty badly and I'd rather not reuse it. Right side looks like it may have already been replaced with a stronger one.

Also, do I need to be ticketed to shorten the rear of the chassis and brace with RHS? Will be certed eventually

[imsohi]

Also, do I need to be ticketed to shorten the rear of the chassis and brace with RHS? Will be certed eventually

so long as your welding is up to a high std cutting and bracing you chassie will be no drama i have done all my welding myself from chassie to suspension ect. good to see it geting a makeover

[Danger]

Thanks, good to know.

Made a front shackle crossmember this afternoon after seeing "Petemcc's" one in his build thread.




I really dont know much about 4x4s and the forces involved, is this shackle mount overkill? 10mm plate, rest is 3mm RHS apart from the end caps of 5mm. All welds "V'd" etc..






Figure I'll put one of these on it. Open to better ideas/critics
http://www.4wdbits.co.nz/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=1311

Haven't done the other side yet, not sure if I really need 2? I like symmetry though

[tomsoffroad]

Ummm hows that going to work? The x member on Petes hilux is one I made and the cut out is to clear the radiator, so that would put your tow hitch facing the rear!
Other than that is looks mint, nice tidy welds

[Danger]

You got me paranoid so I just went and double checked. Have around an inch of clearance from the bottom of the radiator to the bottom of the original front crossmember with the holes in it. Should be plenty? the radiator bung tap will stick out behind new crossmember too. I'm not sure if the radiator is in original position then? The truck has been messed with a lot, wouldn't suprise me if it's a different one or something...

Anyway thanks, First time using a decent welder. My Cigweld 130 runs 90A max and CO2, the 215A Cerbora I borrowed on argoshield is like a dream in comparisom.

That cross member should be strong enough to tow from? Was thinking I could add legs from the centre to further down the chassis like a "K" if I have any trouble with cert.

Also while I'm posting, are there any other good 4wd part stockists in NZ other than 4wdbits.co.nz and SNR4x4.co.nz?

[tomsoffroad]

Ok sweet If you gusset from the back side of the x member to the under side of the chassis rails it'll be heaps strong enough

[Danger]

Yeah I was thinking of running some 50x5 strap to the original chassis rail bolt holes with a triangle gusset to the crossmember

Enjoying the fabrication side of 4wd work, I'm only really used to working with panel steel and the occasional engine crossmember.

Next I'll finish the leaf perch on the diff. I had no idea that L and R front leaves were a different height. With the rear leaves in the front without a spacer I guess that's why the LH perch has failed.

Once I've rebuilt and strengthened the diffs I might make new front shock hoops, box the rear of the chassis between the rear shackle mounts with tow hooks and make a new gearbox crossmember.

I'm only studying at the moment so don't have a lot of cash. Do how ever have a good collection of tools and plenty of scrap steel left over.

[Danger]

Still haven't done the spring perch but made this today. 6mm plate

[suzolla]

Also while I'm posting, are there any other good 4wd part stockists in NZ other than 4wdbits.co.nz and SNR4x4.co.nz

Depends what you are looking for, I have a few bits, eg. http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/Forums/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=28018 also have a look at some of my other posts.
Cheers
Tim

[Danger]

Got some time tonight so finished front leaf crossmember and welded it in.

Ran out of argo and had to finish it with Co2 but should be tough enough. added some triangle gussets on the front and back.



Also got diff back together with new bearings and a few bits from suzolla. Diff head is still open so didn't bother rebuilding it till I have the spare cash for a locker.

The brass spindle bushing seems really tight on the axle, I might pull it out and linish it down a little.

Anyway, front end is now back together.



Need to buy some long shocks and an adjustable torque rod next. Also a high steer kit could be on the cards.

[suzolla]

Hi,

Need to buy some long shocks and an adjustable torque rod next. Also a high steer kit could be on the cards.

If you do the high steer don't need to spend money on the torque rod.

Regarding shocks, will be getting some Bilstiens at the end of the month, or have got some Rancho RS9000's if interested.

Cheers
Tim

[Danger]

Finally started working on this again.

Got some new 35x12.5x15 federal couragias and put the LSD in the front.

Whats the story with getting leaves reset? My RUF leaves seem to sit very flat.

Would it be a good idea to get them reset with more of a curve and decrease the shackle length to keep the height around the same?

[Im a Tumor]

Just found this build.
Looks like you have a massive project on your hands!
Bellamy and East up here in CHCH reset leafs. Think its around $160 to do.
Heres there number/site
http://www.springs.co.nz/

Do you have any other plans for the Ute other than fixing it up?

[keithal]

from memory your down here in dunedin
if so go see the guys at brown and cope they can reset your springs and werent too expensive

[Danger]

Yeah I've had springs reset by them before.

Not sure if I wanna go higher than it already is.

Also thanks for the link, they seem cheaper than brown and cope.

I'm just planning on getting the truck useable again, starting from the diffs up. I've got a ton of other car projects on the go at the moment so it'll be pretty gradual.