petefj40's build/mods

[petefj40]

if it wasn't for me knocking the 4wd lever into 2x4 all the time I might not have got stuck.
Cheers Tim!

[safaripete]

if it wasn't for me knocking the 4wd lever into 2x4 all the time I might not have got stuck.
Cheers Tim!

why not make up a removable lever

mine has a ratchet with the end cut off lol

[niblik]

if it wasn't for me knocking the 4wd lever into 2x4 all the time I might not have got stuck.
Cheers Tim!

i used to do that all the time in ole rusty fella.. its a real pita.. was thinkin a way around it was to get a small bar/handle type thingy bent and bolt it to the trans tunnel, that way ya leg could even rest on it and it'd still be easily accessible.. real easy mod too..

[Andrew1706]

I was going to say... LS1 with 300kws, number plate proclaiming '300KWS', lockers, 36" simexs and you STILL get stuck and pulled by a Safari!?!?!!??!!?

Truck looks awesome, good to see you doing some real driving too

[petefj40]

I was going to say... LS1 with 300kws, number plate proclaiming '300KWS', lockers, 36" simexs and you STILL get stuck and pulled by a Safari!?!?!!??!!?

Truck looks awesome, good to see you doing some real driving too

Yeah getting pulled by a Nissan wasn't a good look. But I was thankful for the tow all the same.
Sam in his Safari went places nobody else wanted to go last weekend. Much respect there Sammy!

Yep, I got an easy 300KWS at the crank Andrew. Doesn't mean i'm a pro at using it . Far from it. I was going to stick some, "L" plates on for the last trip. Nah it wasn't my first trip but I'm learning lots and having just as much fun doing it!!!

[petefj40]

Guards are off getting powder coated. They'll be done and installed by tomorrow afternoon.
The alloy tread plate is getting anodized black next week.

[skid]

Guards are off getting powder coated. They'll be done and installed by tomorrow afternoon.
The alloy tread plate is getting anodized black next week.

now that looks cool, just runs some bars from front up along front inner guards and it will be a sweet tuff truck

[mazdamike]

im with skid that looks sick keep it like that

[petefj40]

it looks pretty redneck dont it. All it needs it a confederate flag flying from it.
It gets a few looks. I just don't want the looks coming from the law.

Well. I can't think of any more mods or improvements to go on the girl.

[rokhound]

Well. I can't think of any more mods or improvements to go on the girl.

We'll see
Especially if you start getting into the whole "driving off the tarmac" thing

[petefj40]

Well. I can't think of any more mods or improvements to go on the girl.

We'll see
Especially if you start getting into the whole "driving off the tarmac" thing

nudging banks and not worrying about denting or bending pannels is awesome.
I can't get enough of it.

[petefj40]

After going through a far bit of bog the thrust bearing dried out and now needs replacing. Damn it hasn't even been in for a year yet.
The box is out today.

[mike]

After going through a far bit of bog the thrust bearing dried out and now needs replacing. Damn it hasn't even been in for a year yet.
The box is out today.

That really wet sheffield did exactly the same to my brand new thrust bearing in the LR. aim is not to be sitting in water so long till the bell housing fills up I guess! Don't have that problem with the auto now

[petefj40]

Yep, an auto would stop that problem Mike. But I won't go there. I'll see how well it can be sealed up to prevent this happening again.
It started making noises soon after going through the bog last Saturday. So I still had to drive it home. It was pretty hard not to damage it to the point that I did. Because not only am I up for a new thrust bearing, but but a new clutch as well. There's no meat left on the Exeddy clutch plate. And the pressure plates fingers are routed.
Not impressed with Exeddy clutches aye.
I'm lucky coz i kept the last clutch that came off it (after Sheffield 08). And that's going to go back on. Pretty disappointing.

Ah well, at least it's keeping Rick and Nathan busy at 4X4 ACC.

[petefj40]

At Rick's shop today i saw this guy walk in and I thought straight away, I've seen you before. As soon as he started talking I thought, yep, it's that bloke that hosts that Aussys "4X4 Tuff Truck" comp!!

It was great to see a bloke as high profile as him in Ricks wee 4X4 shop. I must say. I think a lot more of a person like him going around door knocking spreading the 4X4 word. And he's a good listener to. Mind you. We were both talking about our FJ40's. AND mine was on the hoist to.

This guy Simon recons I should do a spring over. He was telling me the way his is setup. he gets amazing numbers on the ramp. i won't quote him tho. but he's in touch with the best off road builders in the world. So HUGE respect!!

I might go down his track and do spring over and forget coils all together. Some people with think I'm mad. But, I've seen the light.

[turoa]

I might go down his track and do spring over and forget coils all together. Some people with think I'm mad. But, I've seen the light.

If you do that I and im sure other people on this site will lose all respect for you. Your cruiser doesnt need any lift, it looks good as is and its not a crawler so doesnt need tons of flex. The only reason you need to change the suspension is if you want more comfort (coils). Spring overs are good for BUDGET fourwheel drives, and yours is not.

[NJV6]

.....and your regular trips to Nelson won't be as ggod as they are at the moment!

[rokhound]

SOA is a bit of a redneck option, mainly because of the stupid height a lot of guys gain by doing it.
On the other hand, the single biggest design fault with a leaf sprung cruiser is the springs under the axles, they are forever getting hung up on all the shit that is hanging below the axle housing. And any idiot who tells you that the ground clearance numbers are only about where the diff head sits in relation to the ground, is just that, an idiot!
As there is very little chance that you would attempt to do a SOA or coil conversion yourself Pete, I would say that the guys who you entrust the work to (if you go ahead) will know all about using custom spring rates and packs that will achieve the sort of numbers you are after.
Good ramp numbers are nice, but they are not the be all and end all, (Bulletproofs rig is a classic example of this), you need a whole lot of things to come together to make it work.

[PR]

Pete coil it with 80 series axles that way you will have a nice ride and you will get better artic and you wont keep breaking those studs an bolts in the rear

[petefj40]

I might go down his track and do spring over and forget coils all together. Some people with think I'm mad. But, I've seen the light.

If you do that I and im sure other people on this site will lose all respect for you. Your cruiser doesnt need any lift, it looks good as is and its not a crawler so doesnt need tons of flex. The only reason you need to change the suspension is if you want more comfort (coils). Spring overs are good for BUDGET fourwheel drives, and yours is not.

Well. More research into it and I'd have to change axles. That's not the only thing I'd have to change either. The list goes on.
I want the same ride height. The reason behind going for a spring over isn't that I want more height, I want more flex and less crap hanging under my axles. And it can be done with a spring over.

[wopass]

yea, coils and 80's axles is over rated... well mine is...

be better with someone who knew how to drive

[petefj40]

SOA is a bit of a redneck option, mainly because of the stupid height a lot of guys gain by doing it.
On the other hand, the single biggest design fault with a leaf sprung cruiser is the springs under the axles, they are forever getting hung up on all the shit that is hanging below the axle housing. And any idiot who tells you that the ground clearance numbers are only about where the diff head sits in relation to the ground, is just that, an idiot!
As there is very little chance that you would attempt to do a SOA or coil conversion yourself Pete, I would say that the guys who you entrust the work to (if you go ahead) will know all about using custom spring rates and packs that will achieve the sort of numbers you are after.
Good ramp numbers are nice, but they are not the be all and end all, (Bulletproofs rig is a classic example of this), you need a whole lot of things to come together to make it work.

I'm slowly understanding.
The guy that hosts that "tuff truck" series Simon, was telling me today what would be a good idea on my 40 as he's already done it to his. So I thought i'd throw it up here.

[mercutio]

yea, coils and 80's axles is over rated... well mine is...

be better with someone who knew how to drive

i take it it doesn't quite handle like it did on the leafs then

[petefj40]

.....and your regular trips to Nelson won't be as ggod as they are at the moment!

yeah that's why I don't want to go any higher in ride height.

[rangimotors]

pete if i can offer any advice I would say do as much research as possible before making up your mind. Road ride is not just about ride height, to get the sort of flex you are talking about you will find it drives like a boat, do your self a favour and find a few people with different setups and drive them for yourself. Each will have its own pros and cons. No one can tell you what you want from your truck you have to decide that your self and be happy with the cons that come with it.
Yes you can get great flex from a well setup cart spring rig but there are cons to it, just look at the guys down here that for many years have got great flex out of leaves for rock crawling, most are trailer rigs and road manners are not an issue. Talk to guys who have been there and done that, and i say GUYS not just one.

good luck

[Bulletproof]

.....and your regular trips to Nelson won't be as ggod as they are at the moment!

I have a little bit better than average flex but i can still easily do a 70kph corner at over 100 and that is important to me.

And with average flex can still keep up with most.

If you do springs over ,you will tip over from what I have seen.

cheers richard

[petefj40]

pete if i can offer any advice I would say do as much research as possible before making up your mind. Road ride is not just about ride height, to get the sort of flex you are talking about you will find it drives like a boat, do your self a favour and find a few people with different setups and drive them for yourself. Each will have its own pros and cons. No one can tell you what you want from your truck you have to decide that your self and be happy with the cons that come with it.
Yes you can get great flex from a well setup cart spring rig but there are cons to it, just look at the guys down here that for many years have got great flex out of leaves for rock crawling, most are trailer rigs and road manners are not an issue. Talk to guys who have been there and done that, and i say GUYS not just one.

good luck

Cheers Rangi.

Thanks for your thoughts. i appreciate them from everyone.

i understand where you are coming from.

Because I'm after a off road truck that can behave like a car I'm always going to have trade offs.
The guy I was talking to today thinks he's found the best of both worlds. So I'm going to research it as much as I can before making any choices.

[petefj40]

.....and your regular trips to Nelson won't be as ggod as they are at the moment!

I have a little bit better than average flex but i can still easily do a 70kph corner at over 100 and that is important to me.

And with average flex can still keep up with most.

If you do springs over ,you will tip over from what I have seen.

cheers richard

Not from what this guy who hosts the Tuff Truck series tells me Richard. And this guy is well connected.

At the moment I'm doing well over the suggested speed for corners SAFELY in my cruiser NOW.

[PR]

Pete see if you can take Tims old truck (leaf sprung) for a drive when it is fixed then take a lifted 80 series (coil) for a drive and see what you think

[Bulletproof]

Not from what this guy who hosts the Tuff Truck series tells me Richard. And this guy is well connected.

At the moment I'm doing well over the suggested speed for corners SAFELY in my cruiser NOW.

The Key words here are " AT THE MOMENT" .

It won't be like that with springs over as the centre of gravity rises

The VX diffs with coils would be your best option in my opinion for what is worth and as Rokhound says you will have more clearance without leaf springs hanging down which make most cruisers useless

Cheers Richard