Newbie with LN61 to modify

[retoohs]

Hi I'm new to 4wd and could really do with some advice. Sorry if some of my questions are basic but it is all new to me. I have purchased a LN61 which has had little off road use but high k's. I want to build a reliable back country vehicle for use here in Southland but still road useable. I plan on immediately fitting a 2'' lift kit. I've been trying to source a quality kit here but are having trouble finding suppliers. I think I'll import one from Aussie that is Rockcrawler Leaf Springs, Rockcrawler Torsion bar, Rancho RS5000 shocks. Kit comes with U-bolts and bushes. Would rather buy locally, anyone know a stockist? Is there anything else I need for a 2" lift such as extented brake lines. I will increase tyre size to 33". Is my camber going to be affected and if so what is the best way to deal with it? I see greasable shakles advertised a lot- do I need these? I thought about fitting a solid front axle but do a fair bit of tarmac getting to places so decided to dtay with IFS. After this I plan on an engine swap, I will replace the 2l-t with a 5L. From the research I've done it will bolt straight in, just need to fit the oil pan from the 2L and replumb the oil intake. Will probably fit a turbo. I will fit a heavy duty clutch and larger radiator. Finally will look at diffs, here is where I could do with advice? Anything else I should do? I know people running the 5L with the old gearbox and they seem fine, anyone know any different? Appreciate any advice. Cheers

[rangimotors]

just buy some maxitrac 2 inch lift springs (for the rear) and wind up your current torsion bars, the aftermarket ones are hard and horrible. Your brake lines should be fine but you may need to bend/drop your proportion valve to suit. If your truck has the standard toyota shocks in it you will need new ones in the rear but if they have been replaced at some stage you will find all the after market ones are longer and will be fine for your lift.
You won't need to worry with new shackles but you wil probably want to replace your bushes when you put the springs in. You will need new longer ubolts that maxitrac also supply so repco will sell the whole lot. It's a very simple lift but will give you enough room for 33's with a bit of rub at the back of the front gaurds that can be sorted out with a bit of hammer/grinder time to flatten the seams down..

Should be able to do the lot for a few hundred dollars rather than the thousands that some of the "kits" will charge to acheive the same result. Don't get me wrong spending good money on good gear is a good idea but spending thousands on a truck that is held back from flexing due to its design is not a great idea.

Good luck.

[Damz]

Hi I'm new to 4wd and could really do with some advice.

just buy some maxitrac 2 inch lift springs (for the rear) and wind up your current torsion bars, the aftermarket ones are hard and horrible. Your brake lines should be fine but you may need to bend/drop your proportion valve to suit. If your truck has the standard toyota shocks in it you will need new ones in the rear but if they have been replaced at some stage you will find all the after market ones are longer and will be fine for your lift.
You won't need to worry with new shackles but you wil probably want to replace your bushes when you put the springs in. You will need new longer ubolts that maxitrac also supply so repco will sell the whole lot. It's a very simple lift but will give you enough room for 33's with a bit of rub at the back of the front gaurds that can be sorted out with a bit of hammer/grinder time to flatten the seams down..

Should be able to do the lot for a few hundred dollars rather than the thousands that some of the "kits" will charge to acheive the same result. Don't get me wrong spending good money on good gear is a good idea but spending thousands on a truck that is held back from flexing due to its design is not a great idea.

Good luck.

Anything else we can help with?

[retoohs]

you can help me with heaps but will start there. Thanks guys. Am I best fitting a steering damper? What about greasable shackles?

Cheers

[retoohs]

Also do have aftermarket Nitro shocks already fitted, are you sure these will be longer than standard? I will try and get a model number off them (if it stops raining).

Cheers

[rangimotors]

you can help me with heaps but will start there. Thanks guys. Am I best fitting a steering damper? What about greasable shackles?

Cheers

u can fit new shackles and a new steering dampner if you want to spend more money.

Your front shocks won't matter as your only going ot get 30-40mm of lift out of your torsions (any more and it will be horrible and unsafe to drive) the rear shocks will be longer than factory, as i said all the new "50mm lifted" ones i have seen have been the same length as the shocks I have just pulled out of the truck. If you want to check you can always pull out a shock and check its extended length against a "50mm lifted" one. In saying all that if your current shocks are stuffed you can change them if you want. Just don't blow thousands of dollars when you don't need to or you'll end up spending more than the truck is worth.