The Surf Toyota Should Have Made

[DEATH_INC]

They only lifted the rear 35 - 40mm. Would have liked 50ish but I can live with that.

Did you run with the cobras? Give them a call ( Mark Abbott is the guy to talk to ) and see what they can do. Otherwise Autolign have 14mm spring spacers (that look like big isolators) that go under or on the springs. I've used them in mine for years...

[bob_or_jim]

Oh yeah thats a good idea, Ill get some more weight into it ie: motor gearbox and see how it sits.

Spacers may be the go

Cheers

[surf10]

looks good there fulla

[bob_or_jim]

So time for a quick update. Got the cross-member all finished tonight.

Will be making templates tomorrow to mount the radius arms.

Have found that I can use the factory sump with only some small mods required to make it clear the front diff. Ill post some picks when I can get some clear shots.

Here is the cross-member for now. Sorry about them being upside down. Stupid phone sometimes does that.

Cheers

[bob_or_jim]

Been a busy day, got the radius arms mounted up and the truck sitting on its own weight. Got it sitting pretty good I think but will have to get it outside and see what it looks like. There are alot of loose ends to tidy up yet so I guess im about half way. The surf chassis is about 100mm wider than the prado so ill need a new panard and steering rod made to suit.

Cheers

[1justin]

dos it matter if you get the front end off a short wheel base or long wheel base prado for doing this?

looks to be coming together well

[bob_or_jim]

Hi mate, Im not sure actually. Ive only ever used long wheel base ones in the 2 ive done. do the shorties come with coils or are they leaf only? I cant see it being an issue using a shorty if thats what you had. Even a Hilux diff would be ok but the prado ones have stronger CVs and come with raidus arms etc.

Cheers

[bob_or_jim]

Update time, got my bar last week. Looks the bizzo, seems my truck has had a hit in the front right corner before. Will take a little tweaking to get it to fit.

Also got my sump sorted, a fella I work with gave me a 1kz short block out of a 130 surf. Had the pickup and all the stuff I needed. A small amount of panel beating and shes a good fit.

With not running and body lift and keeping the trucks height quite low I have found a few areas that needed addressing, 1 being the sump and the other is the front drive shaft wanted to hit the bell housing (on bump stops). To fix that I am running a normal hilux diff head (low pinion) in the front and am making all of the steering run off the front of the knuckles similar to a FJ40. Should be a pretty good setup I think.

Then its out with the motor and box and get alot of welding, wiring and cleaning up done. All seems to be on track at this stage.

Ill try get some pics tonight with the bar on.

Cheers

[bob_or_jim]

Sorry no picks of the bar yet, still trying to make it fit just right and its been off for the past few weeks.

Almost everything is welded up and ready to go. Just need to purchace a tie rod end then I can finish the steering. Should be able to drive it either tonight or tomorrow.

Then Ill have to make the side bars and rear bar to have it in for Cert before the xmass holidays.

I have a stack of picks to post up here once I get my ass into gear.

Thats all for now.

Cheers.

[vvilly]

come on chop chop
Jase

[bob_or_jim]

Ok so things a going well, have been for a drive. Have a few tiny issues, won't change gear......I think it's the trans speed sensor? Other thing is no speedo, I need a 31tooth gear for the speedo sensor.

Once those issues are sorted then ill give the towers a full weld up and it will be cert time I think.

Still been slack with the pictures.

Cheers

[surf10]

good effort fulla, you can come round and start workin on mine after it finished

[bob_or_jim]

You provide the beer and ill be there. Not promising ill do anything though

[bob_or_jim]

Few pics of it on its feet.

[vvilly]

have you sorted the trans yet?

[bob_or_jim]

Yeah got it changing gears, but still getting the fault light coming up. I have a sensor I need to hook up and I think it will fix it.

The handling was quite scary on its first drive, corrected the toe in and took it for a spin. Still not great, found there was alot of play in the steering box so I tried to adjust it but it turns out its got no more room to be adjusted. Stripped the steering box and found there was a small bit of casting fouling on the pinion gear limiting the amount of adjustment I had. Took that off and its alot better. Once I get the steering damper on Im sure it will be quite good to drive.

Pretty happy with how it sits and handles, my last truck had pretty bad bump steer and this is nothing like it!!! Seems I may have learnt something after all

Gotta wire up the 4x4 yet to work off the button but V6PAJ (Glen) has his name all over that. Cheers mate.

Not sure if Ill get cert before Xmass but ill try!

Thats all for now.

Cheers

[vvilly]

we found it easier to get rid of the auto ecu and run relays

[bob_or_jim]

So you have to shift the stick for every gear change?

[vvilly]

no it still full auto and it still uses the electric engage button on the side of the stick

[bob_or_jim]

Are you willing to lend me a diagram on how to do this?

[vvilly]

http://home.4x4wire.com/erik/diffs/elec_locker_wiring.gif

i think the one we used was slightly different to this one courtesy of jammy sammy

[bob_or_jim]

Much appreciated mate!!!

[bob_or_jim]

Got the old girl in for a Cert last week so with any kind of luck I may get the plate late this week. Ended up having to pull the air bags out due to a cross member I had welded in. It was in front of the crumple zone dimples.

Easy fix though and it means I can have the kids in the front when were off the beaten track. Also means I can add some guts to the winch bar that was setup for air bags.

Tried out 4x4 too and its pretty good off road so shes smiles all round. Just gotta convince the Mrs to let me Beam the Prado now!!!

[NJV6]

Nice one. Leave the Poodle alone!!!!

[bob_or_jim]

Thought that may get a bite! I think if I was to do it again Ide start with a 95 surf. Alot cheaper and easier/quicker to do.

[bob_or_jim]

Plates all fitted and gotta WOF. Need to use it now. Next on the list is a tow bar and some rock sliders. Think ill go down the U bolt route for those.

What have people done for there exhausts. I would like it to flow better but dont want to be loud in the cabin. Ill be leaving the factory pipe there i just want to change the muffler but am not 100% sure on what im after. I think a coby would be too loud? Thoughts?

Has anybody here run those poly airbags inside there coil springs before?
If so have they lasted alright?

Cheers

[skidmark]

i have a 185 surf, that we cut the standard muffler(boat anchor??) and fitted a coby style hot dog muffler in its place, you can here it just, but its not annoying. only time its loud is with rear window down and towing horsefloat style trailer it bouncs back the noise..although some people have commented it sounds like a tractor..wof hasnt been any issues or anything.

[bob_or_jim]

Oh yeah so there not too bad? Ill keep that in mind, a very easy swap too with that much room under there.

[skidmark]

na its barely noticeable inside really..I dont even notice it. yea easy as to swap really, had a straight pipe in there for a week,that was too loud.(more outside than inside the car though.) seem to be quite well sound deadend

[bigstu]

finally spyed this today by wilsons vegies, looks awesome