Offroad-Express

The 7-seater I bought with a blown V6 is just too nice to pull apart so I think I'll do the obvious and just make it insanely big and powerful ;D

I started pulling the head apart on the V6, and snapped a head bolt and then started thinking... which is what bought me to this point... so...



The plan:
Motor: either Lexus 4.0 V8 or Holden 304 V8
Trans: Toyota 5-speed
Transfer: Advance Adaptors dual w. W56 transfer cases
Rear axle: standard back end
Rear suspension: MaxiTrac 2" lifted coils and longer shocks, spring spacers if req'd depending on front lift
Front axle: Hilux w. matching diff (4.5?)
Front suspension: Range Rover front radius arms and coils, suitable shocks (probably Rancho 9000s)
Steering: DeRanged hi-steer arms and custom tierod
Driveshafts: rear, stock. front, custom d-cardan Hilux
Wheels/Tyres: Steel 15x8 and Simex 36" extremes

Have I forgotten anything? I'll be using IFS stubs the same as I had on my Hilux to give the same width in the front as the Isuzu rear axle, and as I am going for a few more ponies in this one I expect I won't need to go the low diffs as I did in the MU - so I can stick to the factory 4.5, which means I can keep the rear axle which means much less work... and the factory coil rear axle looks like it will articulate very impressively with little or no work - its a simple and nice design.

Its going to be a 2-week project, just like the MU so I should be driving it by mid next year ;D Although I think most of the problems I had with the SAS in a bighorn are probably sorted, and with no motor/trans while I do the SAS it should be pretty easy to get all the grinding done.

Any thoughts or comments? I'm interested in getting a range of ideas re: the repower - other motors I have considered: Commodore V6, Rover V8 (3.5 or 3.9), P76 V8, 350 Chev, 3Y 2-litre 4 cylinder Toyota (just cos there is one lying on the floor beside the truck at the moment :p)... all options considered - and if you have something that would work and is for sale then all the better

Steve

mmmmmmmmmmmm no comment

Well, thanks for your thoughts Mike, that was useful..

Actually was also thinking 1JZ or 2JZ, but can't seem to find one for less than $3k with all the bits I need. Also not sure the engine bay is long enough for a 6 - need to measure that.

Steve

Sounds like it will be a one of a kind!

Ive been told that the standard rear suspension setup does work really well and with an sas front you will have a nice and flexy "BigDick".

I like the sounds of the lexus or the holden 304, how much room is in the engine bay as they are both really wide motors my VT motor is 740mm wide from alt to ps pump its tight in the nissan might be to tight for a bighorn?

doddzee wrote: might be to tight for a bighorn?

:monkey:

Not sure, looked at a 302 Ford motor today... but that might really be pushing the bounds of good taste, Ford motor in a GM truck

Its got a V6 in it at the moment, so the V thing is not a prob... the engine bay looks wider than it is long... and things like power steer pumps and alternators can be moved. I've yet to research what the boys do in the US with theirs, but I'm sure there are some 350 Chev ones over there... certainly are a couple of older shape 350'd ones...

I just want this one to sound cool and make me feel like I broke that CV for a good reason

Steve

Don't bother with the Lexus you'll have wirering issues and need an aftermarket computer, go holden or have you considered the Nissan V8 its what all the speedway boys are lookin at now, lexus costs to much to modifiy for half the coin you get more hp with the nissan

Its going to be a 2-week project.....

Hmmmm know that feeling my 3 month project is well into the second year and I've only just got the motor and box mounted wish you all the luck with the 2 weeks

Sounds cool :thumleft:

Cheers Reece

Man! You really must have got a big Isuzu injection to want to tackle that , and I'd say you'll need six monthly boosters too
Are you sure it will end up with enough "character", the Mu has character.

Have you considered that you have become addicted to solid axle swaps?
I don't know any good shrinks tho

My imediate thoughts would be get a 2nd hand motor or jap inport motor, slap it in, polish it give it to the wife to drive or sell it for "Profit!" and spend profit on some nasty stuff for the Mu. My thoughts only, please note that this opinion does not reflect the opinion of anyone else! oops

i agree forget it and do some thing cool.

Hi Soup
sorry mate but I'm with the previous 2 posts, it is fun to build them but it can get you down having nothing but work in the forseeable future.
Finish the B/H and flick it, focus on the other 1,000,000,000 projects still awaiting attention
J Top

nissan or toyota quad cam v8! maybe a blower for the bigdick? itl be wicked! one of a kind... very cool!

thanks for all the support

Nah, still gonna do it. I know the MU has character, but I want to do another MU sometime with coilovers... And this one is not really a good family vehicle - and my wife does enjoy family outings in the 4WD - which is one of the things that actually makes it worth doing since I (SHOCK GASP! sensitive male feelings ahead, please stop reading now if you have a weak stomach or are just a typical Kiwi male ) actually enjoy having the family along on 4WD trips.

This will still be kickass... I don't do 1" lift and 31" mud-terrains... well, not on MY trucks anyway

And it won't look that bad with an EXO (assuming I can get cert on one considering another post on here at the mo) and 40" Krawler KAs and the throaty roar of a 350 Chev through a 3" pipe

Oh, and yes, I am addicted to SAS... Why fight it? I have Toy axles to burn... gotta put 'em somewhere Its better than smoking and more fun than pissing my money up against a wall...

Steve

PS: The MU will be for sale to fund it... then no doubt this will be up for sale to fund something else... I guess with me its the getting, not the having... I love building stuff.

Good on ya steve do it!

You may aswell chop the back off, your going to have to chop alot of panel away to fit those 40's anyway.

Hey, just got this PM from a new member, and theres some useful stuff in it so I hope he doesn't mind, but I'll add it to this post for historical reference... thanks TeLexs,

Oh, and the 2 weeks thing was a bit of a joke... based on my MU buildup (http://www.4wdstuff.co.nz/mu)... Its a 12 month project I would think... its gotta be done around all my other work...

Sounds like a cool project . Two weeks is keen but hay why not.
This is my first time in this site so here goes
Lexus is smaller in size and will pull like a school boy with small mods
It will fit with out cutting the fire wall and you can keep the air con as well my mate has one in his Isusu and it just fits so you migt have trouble fitting the nissan . The nissan is bigger in size and HP and more expensive than the lexus because you need to run the link plus or if you like you could just be like the stock car boys and run a carb and keep the cost down but more $ will be needed for fuel.
I have put the lexus in my dc 4x4 hilux with a bit of prep it tock under 19 hours fitted and driving around , right through to exhausts .and cost about $4.500 for all the parts and cert .Some one mentioned that nissan was cheap compared to toyota, please let me know where they are . Nissan is stronger and keep cooler and i think that is why the stock car boys use them . Lexus can be run with std computer but you cant tune them up much ,You can now buy all the bits from wire loom to bell housings and fly wheels so things have got easer for the lexus injections . Good Luck
TeLexs

:happyjump:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 529323.htm

I want one... where is my magic money fairy?

If you want to go chev then go with an LT1. They pull all through the range. The old man has one in his patrol (standard) but it really pulls. Worthog on here also runs an LT1 (I think) but his is manual.

Yep, just helped fit LT1-62's LT1 to his 60-series... one of the reasons I quite liked the idea... very very nice sound... On the first test drive I could feel/hear him about 4 or 5 blocks away every time he opened the throttle... that was with the exhaust on... and that was just with 7 cylinders running...

I like the sound - didn't think much of the price tho... 4500 for the motor, and god knows how much for the rest... $1200-odd for the Marks kit...

Might look at a 308 or 350 carby donk and LPG it... then look onwards and upwards from there.

Steve
Steve

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 193372.htm

1250 no reserve not a bad price, needs a few bits but wouldnt be to hard to find.

When you go looking for conversion kits take a look at the dellows kit, they are cheaper and i have heard they are better quality. I know of 3 people that have had trouble with the marks kits as well, ill probly use a dellows. Have a look at there website http://www.dellowauto.com.au, i emailed them and they posted me all info on the kits and prices.

you wanna buy an lt1 engine steve?

I saw that Holden donk... have it on my watchlist... looks good and I guess since it was a manual I can just use the Holden computer with it too, which saves me building up a megasquirt for it.

One thing worries me right now... I just put $40 in my Hyundai runabout bomb... and it barely half filled it... $40 used to run the thing for two weeks!

What MPG am I going to get from a 304?

You got an LT1 for sale Krawlr? I'd be interested in a price... and what have you got with it?

while were playing the 'you should build this truck game', this is my 2c. Fix the bighorn sell it, and buy an 80 series with a farked engine. Solid front axle, coils, brakes, lockers and comfort can be had from the factory. Then add crazy big tyres and a 450hp supercharged microteched 1UZ that will be just as reliable as any $8000 LS1. If you do blow it up > $1000 for a new engine. You stay toyota and the whine of the s/charger and 48 valve alloy V8 spinning at 9000rpm would be possibly the single sickest sound knwon to man

I 2nd that LT1-62
J Top

One thing I truley hate about this BB system and laptop touchpads is how easy it it to accidentally "go back" and then you loose 20 minutes worth of well thought out and typed response...

Anyway, what I just wrote, in short, was its my project... I'm doing it for me, and as a learning thing. I enjoy doing this shit, which is why I do it. I don't want a V8 cruiser, every man and his dog has one of those. I would like to learn a bit about Chev V8's, and so I'll probably use a 304/308 or a 350 with LPG in it.

I won't waste any more time justifying it to anyone any further either... leave me alone to play with my toys *insert blowing raspberrys at everyone smiley here*

Steve

Yea!!
You go for it its much more fun to think outside the sqaure

A mate has just bought a sub Leone... he wants to do it up to run 33"s with an exo I liked the idea so much I said I'd help him

Go for it Steve

Cheers Reece

you have to do it steve.. be great to hear the rumble and see an 'outside the square' vehicle like that out and about...

is this actually happening or is the moo getting a bent eight?

At this stage the plan is to fit the Big 8 to the Big Dick But the MU needs to make some financial input into the project as well so everything is in limbo at the mo... If the MU doesn't sell then it will get the 8 and possibly the 3.1 will go into the Bighorn...

...which is all very good, but I have Inskys truck to finish, Pajfans truck to start AND finish, Bills to look at - and all before I have to mooove out of the shed around xmas time... *sigh*

Steve

Time to kick this back into gear... I've borrowed some space (Thanks Rik) now the Shed is history and I've got a few days to get the engine and SAS done (LMAO )

Oh, and the rush is because my little blue bomb (The Hyundai) just became the little blew up bomb... and I need to get to work in about a week Anyone who followed the year-long saga of the MU build will possibly remember that was a 1 week build as well - lol...

Anyway, here it is... was supposed to be INSIDE the shed, but apparently 237 bales of hay going POOF in a cloud of grinding sparks might not impress Mrs. Rik at all so I'm going to use the eaves of the end of the shed to prep everything and mount the new axle in the front, then move it inside for the finshing touches...



I've stripped the front stuff down and got as much disconnected as I can in the engine bay ready to start chopping tomorrow... I really need some of the IFS crap out of the way to make space to get to the engine... its like sardines against the chassis rails and firewall... damn clever little jappy fellows...





And heres the exhaust system I was gifted (Zip, Zero, Nada ) to try and make fit... its an HSV 3" stainless mandrel bent Monaro coupe system that was surplus to requirements... I'm pretty sure I can modify everything in the truck to make damn sure I can use that



Well, bugger all done really, but tomorrow the motor gets dragged over to riks, along with all my axle stands and jacks... then its all on

Steve

Oh, and did I mention the motor choice? Goes with the exhaust really...



Holden 304 Injected V8 (5 litre) Not much more HP than a 2JZ but s&%tloads more torque

Steve

Welcome back Steve....

Coming back with a vengence good to see this thing on the go

Come on give us a few more details.... you going to go coils and linkage or leaf again.... what sorta ride hieght
What about trans what you doing there to bolt it all up I know you don't build a bellhousing over night!!

Come on

Cheers Reece