Project WTF!?!

[hosehustler]

As for crossmembers, I will be doing a run of about 5 of them... 25mm lifted ones so only any good if you have a body lift... They provide 25mm more clearance than a factory crossmember at standard height, so with the 50mm lift they are a 3" (75mm) lift in the middle of the truck - great for increased breakover angle.
Steve

I'll have one please, are they suitable for use with the twin transfercase setup

[monaro427]

would be keen depending on the price as well ,you can pm me with price if you don't want to put it up

[rokhound]

I'll have one please, are they suitable for use with the twin transfercase setup

Why wouldn't you do one with more protection Tim?
If you are planning on doing some serious stuff one day, and you must be if you have the duals on, I suggest you do something that protects both transfer cases.

[SupraLux]

As for crossmembers, I will be doing a run of about 5 of them... 25mm lifted ones so only any good if you have a body lift... They provide 25mm more clearance than a factory crossmember at standard height, so with the 50mm lift they are a 3" (75mm) lift in the middle of the truck - great for increased breakover angle.
Steve

I'll have one please, are they suitable for use with the twin transfer case setup

Depends on if you are happy to run one gearbox mount on your forward T/C - at this stage I have not developed a dual one - although as I have a dual-case setup in the garage (in the Hilux) maybe I'll look into that one. I can't see a major problem running a single crossmember as its all tied together pretty solidly...

Cost wise, expect them to be around $250... A dual will be more as it needs to be made from different material sizes...

I'll also be looking at the add-on bashplate

Steve

[U-BOAT]

25mm lifted ones so only any good if you have a body lift...

just wondering does the motor also need a 25mm lift to put things back into line? or is nothing affected but just lifting the box?

[SupraLux]

There is very little misalignment on the engine mounts from lifting the box 25mm. Its not a perfect setup, just a way to clear more room under the middle of the truck. IF you were worried about it you could lift the engine as well - but seriously I'd just leave it unless it was definitely causing a problem.

You could possibly mill a wedge to realign the engine mounts, but I doubt it would be worth the hassle or expense.

X-member update: I have my crash-test dummy coming over tomorrow (weather permitting) to do the trial fit of the standard height crossmember on a standard hilux (getting hard to find someone with a standard one now...)

Truck update: no news... been babysitting while the wife was away working. Going to get stuck in tomorrow and get some work done on it which will be good...


Steve

[U-BOAT]

There is very little misalignment on the engine mounts from lifting the box 25mm. Its not a perfect setup, just a way to clear more room under the middle of the truck. IF you were worried about it you could lift the engine as well - but seriously I'd just leave it unless it was definitely causing a problem

thanks for that steve. you wouldn't want your original shortened off road deck back? A guy down here brought INSKY's truck with what looked like your deck. I dont think hes doing anything with it. Its just sitting on his lawn.

[SupraLux]

Hey, yes that was my original one... and that would be perfect - would love the deck back - I'm pretty sure that would be an ideal addition to the truck Whats his number?

Steve

[U-BOAT]

hey try him on 0272532860 and ask for jesse. she might a look like this again soon

[Insky]

haha yes thats the one!! i thought the deck looked great on it but jesse must of liked the wellside better hows the build going steve?

[SupraLux]

Hey Brett! Good to see you still about... yeah its going ok... What are you driving these days? Still got the old cruiser?

I think all my old junk has a magnetic attraction to me since it keeps coming back

Steve

[rangimotors]

looking good mate, any progress?

[allmud]

supra lux do u still have the mu? that is one way cool truck

[SupraLux]

supra lux do u still have the mu? that is one way cool truck

Yep, still got it... repowering with a 3.8V6 Holden and coils under it - right after this build is done...

looking good mate, any progress?

Funny you should ask... yes finally made a little progress. I've finally got a working vehicle again... bloody diesels!... and I've just got back from Westport where I picked up the old deck again, didn't take a photo cos it hasn't changed from the photo just above other than it has been spray painted black...

I've also machined up some ends for some heavy duty arms:




picking up some rods tomorrow and I'll arc 'em together this week. For now I'm going to stick with the Isuzu arms tho as they are 865mm long, which is huge, and until I've field tested these myself I'm not happy to put them in this one. I will build the mounts to take the custom ones later if required.

Also found, much to my disgust, that the tank has a small pinhole which appeared when I dragged it across the floor - which is probably a good thing - it must have been getting mighty thin... so out with the old, and in with the new... freebie. Zip, zero, nada... A Cressida one with in-tank pump... two problems solved in one... Cheers Rok.

Old tank, complete with weeping pinhole


New tank


Where it will probably sit


Also pulled the axles from both trucks and swapped em over ready to coil both. The Hilux axle from the MU is going back under a Hilux, and the Isuzu axle that was going in the Hilux is going back where it belongs, under an Isuzu

Pulling the Hilux axle... a day going in, 10 minutes coming out


Swapping


And sitting roughly in place... coils will actually be inboard of the chassis rails, just wanted to throw them in there


Tomorrow... fab the mounts on the chassis and axle to tie it together...

Steve

[Steve_t647]

Not questioning you, well I am a little In the photo with the tank it does not look like you have a lot of room for the shock mounts (uppers) Spring perches and the diff, How close will the diff get to the tank I realise it is raised but on that angle everything looks quite tight and the tank quite big.

What are you planning for carrying a spare? will the tray fit above the petrol tank? or tank through tray? How high are you planning for it to be to the frame? on all 4 wheels? Should I wait and see?

Sorry to drag you out of the shed it looks good. Sorry summer so plan's are getting dusted off again (for 6 months then put away again)

[SupraLux]

Not questioning you, well I am a little In the photo with the tank it does not look like you have a lot of room for the shock mounts (uppers) Spring perches and the diff, How close will the diff get to the tank I realise it is raised but on that angle everything looks quite tight and the tank quite big.

What are you planning for carrying a spare? will the tray fit above the petrol tank? or tank through tray? How high are you planning for it to be to the frame? on all 4 wheels? Should I wait and see?

Sorry to drag you out of the shed it looks good. Sorry summer so plan's are getting dusted off again (for 6 months then put away again)

Steve - its all the angle and the piece of steel propping the tank up for the photo Everything fits as well as it can in a cut-down truck... don't panic And the spare will probably go on the barwork that is not yet on the back...

...actually, yes - you should wait and see

Steve

[SupraLux]

Well, vehicles are a pain in the ass... I think I'll take up walking. The MU (my street one) has just been one thing after another so I've bought a Toyota... I'm over Isuzu... bloody hell - Starter, glowplugs, fuel pump, brakes, alternator, electrical failures, auto problems... what a nightmare!

Heres my new wheels: (future 4WD conversion project )


And now back to our regular scheduled programme...

So I got stuck into the rear axle - the plan is to get the axle mounted, and then sit the front axle in position so I can get the back ride-height right. Although the back end will be height adjustable to allow for different weights etc - this will also allow for tweaking of left and right ride heights.

So, started cutting off the leaf mounts to prep for coils:


Soon it was looking really pretty... might get it chromed for extra bling


Sitting roughly in position, with a link:


One of the link-brackets for the axle with the shock tabs tacked in place:


And in position on the axle:


And all sitting in position under the truck. Everything is pretty much supported on axle stands at this point - will be welded up today and moveable so I can roll the front into place...


Steve

[SupraLux]

Also note in the last pic that the chassis link mounts have two holes. The Isuzu arms I am using here are 865mm long, but the beefy custom ones I am making are 900 (as a couple of other people I know are also making 900 long links, makes for easy trail repairs if everyone has the same thing) so the forward holes allow the 900 long links to go in without pushing the axle back. I've also braced over the axle with 40mm med-wall tube and mounted the upper link. The other job for today is to make a crossmember for that top link - something that will force my hand re: the tank location since the crossmember and bracing will be right where the factory tank would sit.

Steve

[Steve_t647]

Nice work and love the extra bling thoughts on the axle, that shock angle doesn't do a lot for me tho

With the tank position and links where are you planning on mounting the top of the shocks? are you thinking shock hoops for the rear or inboarding them? Between the tank chassis and links there will not be a lot of room in the short bed.

OK I will hide in my hole again, it is getting warmer so i think I may have to do something on mine this year unless it gets too hot for me

[SupraLux]

Nice work and love the extra bling thoughts on the axle, that shock angle doesn't do a lot for me tho

Look here:


I drove this all over the country, on and off the road - it was fine. The shock angle may do nothing for you but its a compromise based on long travel and no room. It will work. The shocks will provide less 'stiffness', but it will still drive ok, and handle ok. Remember there is still a sway bar to go in there yet...

[gomulletgo]

How did you cut out the pretty shapes of the link bracket etc? A profile cutter or something? Just looks more accurate than what I could do with the angle grinder.

[SupraLux]

The profile for the axle was done with a 3" holesaw (painful process, 5mm plate with a holesaw that only has half its teeth thanks to the triple-skin guard on the MU and an urgent snorkle-fit job ), then the rest was done with a 9" grinder and finished with a 4.5" flap-disc... pretty much all done by hand, but I've drawn it up and will laser cut the next ones

The shock tabs were done by hand the same way.

Steve

[gomulletgo]

The profile for the axle was done with a 3" holesaw

Yeh I thought that might have been the case, that was the piece that I know I could'nt get that accurate with an angle grinder.

Thanks for that, awesome work. Keep it up

[rangimotors]

any updates

[SupraLux]

Sorry, nearly forgot about this thread Actually lots of updates - back end is practically finished (suspension that is) - just need to strip it down for finishing welds on a couple of things then paint it and re-assemble. Pics to follow, lots of little complicated bits done and dusted...

I'll roll it outside tomorrow and take some pics.

Steve

[86-surf]

lots and lots and lots and lots of pickies plz:D

[SupraLux]

Ok, couldn't help myself... went and finished a couple of bits and test-assembled it...

so, last bit to fab, the panhard chassis mount:


Test fit:


And in place:


I holesawed the chassis so the support rod from the panhard mount to the chassis on the opposite side runs right through and is double welded and capped (to stop it filling with shit). It looks pretty, but hard to tell in the shitty photo...

So, here tis:


The top mount crossmember isn't welded in yet as I want to make some scab plates for it first - although its drilled through the chassis both sides too.

Also the shock top mounts need to be welded in place - no biggie.

So, its rolling... on its own feet... which is nice.

Oh, the top spring mounts are just held in place by some box I welded between the chassis rails - I'll get the front sitting then work out what height I want those mounts at.

[86-surf]

its looking prity good man...

Does that suspension set up have alot of flex?

THinking of doing one like that to the rover its going to be completly hom made tho.

[SupraLux]

Does that suspension set up have alot of flex?

I don't know yet - it should have but until I get it out and ramped I just won't know. I'll be very dissapointed it it doesn't tho - as there is nothing to stop it flexing right up.

I did run out of jack trying to flex it up in the shed, but until its ready to ramp theres no easy way to see how good it is going to be.

Steve

[SupraLux]

Ok, here we are so far...

Out with the old shitter 'roll it around the shed' axle...




In with the recently armoured and rebuilt MU one and near new 50mm lifted Hilux rears (time saver, and I'll probably coil the MU in the front as well anyway)


Some lovely 4WD Stuff greasable pins and Nolathane bushes:


And the assembly line for the new 4WD Stuff greasable shackles - it needs extended shackles as the rear Hilux springs are slightly longer than the fronts, and since the front mounts for the springs are dropped 50mm it will keep the castor angle roughly factory by using 50mm longer shackles as well.


And sitting, all by itself


Steve