Offroad-Express

Righto,
Have a 94 Surf. 3.0l Diesel Turbo. Have 5g.
What would be the best way to spend this moolah?

Appreciate any advice.

well when ive got 5k to spend on my surf i'll be puting a soild axle in the front with coils and lifting it lots with 35" tyres and lockers. then with whats spare prs radio and gadgets + bull bars all over

depends how hard core 4wding u want to do.. a Snorkle is a must if you havnt already got one and then some nice good tyres and a lift mayb either body or suspension or both lol

ad

How hard do you want to go?

@ 5K depends whether you're intent on
playing or staying :

Playing
- snorkel (mandatory offroad insurance)
- rated recovery hooks/recovery ropes/shackles
- ARB difflock to strengthen front diff
- tightened LSD for rear
- body lift
- good set of offroad tyres on steel rims

Staying
- snorkel (mandatory offroad insurance)
- rated recovery hooks/recovery ropes/shackles
- body lift
- good set of offroad tyres on steel rims
- Solid axle swap
- diff lock(s) as budget permits
- improved springs/longer travel shocks as budget permits


Plan your upgrades in stages, and budget for additional maintenance & repairs.

4WDing is a sneaky wee bug.

1st you buy the truck then you buy the snorkel then the big tyres then the springs then the............ and poof goodbye 10k.
I reckon its better than "P"!!!!

H2OLOVA wrote:I reckon its better than "P"!!!!

More addictive too .

Hmmm.

I was thinking:

Snorkel
Suspension lift / Replace shocks with OME or what have you
Body lift
Rear locker
Diff breathers
and maybe a bullbar/winch? Just have a nudge bar at the mo.

How big a deal is the solid front axle?

At this stage I just want a more capable truck. Not looking for Hard Yakka as yet, but would like to get it to "Club" level.

I'll get tyres on top of the 5g. I can explain this to the missus as a necessity

best to search thru forum here and see what others have done and what you want the vehicle to do...

theres a link at top of page sometimes (an ad)... 4wd stuff.. have a looky and natter to him..

beware though, i started by only wanting a reg and wof landcruiser 40 and now i'm lookin at a naked chassis gettin sanded back and a complete resto and upgrade of the whole vehicle .. easy trap.. and a fun one too ]:-)

either way, if ya got the bug, you'll love it!

my 2c.....

good luck

Kazmeistyr wrote:Hmmm.

At this stage I just want a more capable truck. Not looking for Hard Yakka as yet, but would like to get it to "Club" level.

I'll get tyres on top of the 5g. I can explain this to the missus as a necessity

See, lieing to the Mrs already! And so it starts, next you will be sneaking away from her to spend more time with your 4WD then cutting back on living expenses without her knowledge just so you can afford a new winch rope or the like. Not going out so you can buy new tyres.........................

Needs to be a Betty Ford clinic, and a Betty Toyota etc etc

In my humble and 4WD addicted opinion, essential mods are (in order of importance)-

Tyres
Snorkel
Extended Diff Breathers
Rear Locker
Suspension
bars front and rear

If you get this lot it will give you a capable truck. Then you buy the "luxury" items like a winch etc

Bubba wrote:

Kazmeistyr wrote:Hmmm.

At this stage I just want a more capable truck. Not looking for Hard Yakka as yet, but would like to get it to "Club" level.

I'll get tyres on top of the 5g. I can explain this to the missus as a necessity

See, lieing to the Mrs already! And so it starts, next you will be sneaking away from her to spend more time with your 4WD then cutting back on living expenses without her knowledge just so you can afford a new winch rope or the like. Not going out so you can buy new tyres.........................

Needs to be a Betty Ford clinic, and a Betty Toyota etc etc

It's not really lieing. It's just bending the truth a bit

Who in Wellington am I best to have a chat to? If there is any of you guys that would be willing to spend a few minutes to have a pow-wow with, I would be appreciative.

Another question, is Odlins rd. ok to do in a bog standard surf with "All" terrain tyres?

You should come out when I go out next in my semi-standard surf in wellington and see what mods you need.

The only thing I have done to mine is spend $750 on twin lockers and it has transformed it into a very capable vehicle. Oh plus SAT tires, the worlds best 31 inch

now if i had anonther 4k to spend hmmmmm But i would reccomend a locker for your front to stop it blowing it apart on you. They are weak and cause grief for those that drive them a bit harder. Since putting my auto locker in its been sweet and it climbs almost as good as old Ed hillary

Mike

As a novice who has been bitten, I would suggest coming out on one of our Aetoa (sp?) Block weekend trips. See what other people have got, learn what parts do what (dif locks etc). Ask lots of questions all in a safe enviroment.

Oh and ditto what Mike said, man that thing can climb

What skills and gear do you have ?? can you weld... can you wrench do you have the gear to do either

to put this in perspective if you can weld a solid axle swop to replace the front end would cost around $1250 and give you a stronger diff and axles and a better suspension... Do a supra swop for more power and rev's $1000, build some slidders and over kill bumpers $500, a couple of Lokkas $1000 and drop the rest on certification.... hey presto you have "Conans" or "Pinky's" trucks
If you have to pay someone you could be looking at $4000 for just the SAS

If your happer on a spanner then Mikes sugestion is spot on a locka for the front end to strengthen up the front diff.... and improve traction then a snorkel so you don't kill the motor playing in the puddles, then look at a suspension lift, longer coils for the rear and possibly replace your torque rods in the front if the drivers one is worn out and been tightened right up(talk to Steve"Supralux" he's real sharp on price for these) Ball joint spacers for the front swing arms to give you a suspension lift while your at it put some diff spacers in to move the front diff down (I could do these for ya )... this gives you a lift and takes some of the angle out of your axle universal joints making them last longer.... then put the rest into new tires SAT's are very good and new bumpers and a skid plate, (I could do these as well but you'd have to bring your truck up to Napier for a measure up & design "session" ...) The next thing on the list is a lokka for the rear... you could do a body lift as well this would let you run bigger wheels 33" but with the stock axle you'll start to break CV's when you thrash it....
With all that you'll end up with a good Club truck.... you'll still be limited by your front axle and suspension but with the lokka's you'll go alot further than the majority


Cheers Reece

Admittedly I am not the most gifted wielding tools, I don't have a shed either So any work that gets done will have to be done by a pro. Have a mate that is pretty handy, he could help me out with minor ( i.e. installing bits) jobs. He loves British cars, so he has plenty of experience with a wrench etc.

If anyone is keen to have a yarn, or has been suggested catching up on a trip or "mission", flick me a PM if you can. Would be bonza to see a modded Surf in the flesh and talk bollocks about them

And thats what forums like this are all about. Great to see you North Island lads keen to help a "newbie" :thumleft: Good luck setting up your truck!!

You'll Love it :kiss:

Just don't "love" it..........

This site is awesome for asking questions. You never have to be afraid to ask a dumb ass question. Somebody will be wondering the same thing and those that have the knowledge, skills, and expirence also have unlimited patience, well apart from Steve who gets grumpy at times, but he's always good for a windup. :frighten:

thats the good thing about this site. anonymous users with made up names. You can ask all the stupid questions you want and no one knows who you are..

well apart from Steve who gets grumpy at times, but he's always good for a windup.

Noticed that, think he's been spending tomuch time on the Pirate site they nail any newbe who sticks there neck out and they are so freindly they spend all there time giving each other the finger

Just thinking about it heres a thread Steve did a while back that would be worth reading Kaz alot of it applys to the lux but theres also alot on the surf and it'll give you an idea or two

http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1453

De-Ranged wrote:

well apart from Steve who gets grumpy at times, but he's always good for a windup.

Noticed that, think he's been spending tomuch time on the Pirate site they nail any newbe who sticks there neck out and they are so freindly they spend all there time giving each other the finger

Just thinking about it heres a thread Steve did a while back that would be worth reading Kaz alot of it applys to the lux but theres also alot on the surf and it'll give you an idea or two

http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1453

That's my problem, so many ideas!

Now, for a locker, I understand the lokka's ( the auto ones)are a good choice. Would I be correct? I thought the rear is the better end to do if only doing one end? I have heard that putting auto-lockers in the front can cause nasty handling. Thought the only thing to biff in the front would be an ARB air locker or similar?

Not really keen on going ballistic on engine conversions ( I'll wait until the current one dies ), the current donk is pretty good I feel. When that dies I'll chuck a lexus V8 in or somethin'.

Of course I neglected to mention that I will replace the auto-hubs with manuals.

I understand the lokka's ( the auto ones)are a good choice

Yes on price.... the reason we suggested the front is its alot weaker than the rear! yes you will get more traction from the rear but its strong enough to handle it and you might even be lucky enough to have a LSD in there.... $500-600 for a Lockrite or Lokka and you can install it its not to hard to do $1200 for the ARB and you've got to pay for installation if the bearings are sus well you could top $3000 for your ARB now you see why we say auto

heard that putting auto-lockers in the front can cause nasty handling

Yes it dose cut down on your turn radius you might have to take two swings at what we'd do in one.... if your worried about road handling take it outa 4WD

When that dies I'll chuck a lexus V8 in or somethin'

Lexus you'd better start saving budget on $5000 and you are gona want to do the SAS when you do that as the front axle wont take a V8 pushing it

will replace the auto-hubs with manuals.

Goes with out saying

That's my problem, so many ideas!

welcome to the club, I dont' know how many times I've changed things around on my trucks

Cheers Reece

Not fazed by turning radius, just makes things more interesting

The arse end doesn't have a LSD, at least that I know of - if it does, it's shite!

The Lexus thing is a just dreamin' at this point

The arse end doesn't have a LSD, at least that I know of - if it does, it's shite

that dosn't mean much if its been used offroad or on mud a bit theres a good chance, that if its there that its worn out

Have a look in Steves Toyota facts think he's got the diff listing for LSD if you do all you need to do is follow the link for tightening them and bobs your uncle you've got traction

Only discovered I had one when I pulled the axle to clearance it

Cheers Reece

Kazmeistyr; Come out to aotea block on friday at around 7pm with ya surf,
il be out there and mines basically stock standard, has 2"suspension lift and some very bald 31" tyres.

have a bumper to go on as well, just gotta sort out mounts for it.

I be a bit oblivious to Aotea block. I sort of know where it is, but don't know the entrance. 'bout the closest I've got to it is peering at it from the motorway!

Dumb, I know

Cheers

It's pitch black at 7pm

You've got headlights.......haven't ya?

De-Ranged wrote:

well apart from Steve who gets grumpy at times, but he's always good for a windup.

Noticed that, think he's been spending tomuch time on the Pirate site they nail any newbe who sticks there neck out and they are so freindly they spend all there time giving each other the finger

Just thinking about it heres a thread Steve did a while back that would be worth reading Kaz alot of it applys to the lux but theres also alot on the surf and it'll give you an idea or two

http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1453

WTF! Who bloody well says I get grumpy?!?! Bugger off!



I don't haze newbies... I haze idiots... new and old alike. If you come here (this is my second home... well, I rent space anyway ) and act dumb, I'm gonna tell you... thats not grumpy... thats just life... if you don't like getting told you're an idiot, don't be an idiot

Oh, and my take on your money... $5k, SAS for $3500 - front Lokka for $600, Longfields for $1200... then go buy some 36x12.5 Simexes on the wifes credit card

Steve