Next step for the Safari. Advice wanted.

[Ant]

Here’s the short story.
Loving the LWB Safari, running 60mm spring lift and 33's. Goes well on road and definitely in its element off the tar, Handles awesome with the HD springs and KYB shocks.
Last trip it took quite a knock to the front bumper as I dropped into a hole.....no worries thats why its called a bumper....got out the crow bar and straitened it out and looks pretty good, however it has got me motivated to get my bar work done asap. Being a LWB it does hang over a bit so does take a few hits front and back but these thing are tough as (I cant believe there was so little damage to the bumpers after last trip).

Here’s where i need your experience. I just know im gonna be wanting 35's in the future and dont want to do all the bar work (front, back and sides) and then have to change it later if i go for a body lift, so do i go for a small 25-30mm body lift now then just a little bit of guard cutting in the future for the 35's. Or do i forget the BL and go for spring spacers and other mods later down the track???

I know the Safaris dont like body lifts as it can cause stress on the body mounts, but hoping 30mm body lift block 75mm diameter won't cause any damage **or am I wrong**.

Its a big vehicle so im trying to keep the centre of gravity low and its a family holiday vehicle so want it to be safe.

Any thoughts welcome.

[curly12]

Well don't bother with BL, if it was me and i did it all over again I would stick with your current lift and attack the guards with a grinder. I had 4" spring lift and fitted 35 creepys with no issues. The lift in my old POS (forge1 has it now) is now about 50mm and I would be happy to run 35's with a guard trim. With 4" lift I could still run factory flares

[mudlva]

Yep im with curly on thus one as well.
Chop the gaurds.
BL will allow bigger tyres but affect s.o.g as well as misaligning every thing at the same time ie radiator, hi-low lever, brake lines etc
Chop the gaurds. Good set of front and side bars. Sorted.

Imho

[Ant]

ok so how do i do a guard chop (i have done some serching but cant find any instructions), how much will i need to cut. I only have 60mm lift so will I have much guard left? And don't say with a grinder....i know how to cut but dont know how to cut the guards and what about the plastic liner and the folded lip, does it provide mechanical strength. Sorry lots of Q's but guard chopping will be a new one for me.

If it helps I have 15x8 rims with about -19 offset

Anyone out there got pics of their cutting? before/after

Thanks for the info guys

[Nizzanman]

Hi Ant

I have a shorty with a guard chop, it has a 2 inch long wheel base lift in the back which pops it up to about a 3 cause the shorty has less weight over the rear than the LWB. I cut the guards with a very thin cutting wheel on an angle grinder then made cardboard templates for the holes. Use the templates to cut the steel panels to fit the holes, weld them up and drill a drain hole in each panel to allow water to escape. If you are really stuck pm me and I can send you some pictures.

[Ant]

Thanks Nizz,
How much did you have to cut off?
There is no rush on this yet but some pics would be a huge help when you next get a few mins to put them up.

[Nizzanman]

I cut mine to be level with the lower edge of the rear panel under the rear doors. If you want to PM me I can give you a call or send you some photos.

[Ant]

something like this??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsHivHMlwFM

[Camel]

I Cut many small slits , then bashed them in / fold them with a hammer .. If I was to do it again, less slits, and more hammer .
the more cuts , the easier it was to fold, and less paint damage
( Silly me back then) .
Used an Air saw, because it's what I had at the time .

LWB with 33's , factory height , and that tyre being close to the gaurd.
Factory bump stops rear sway bar dissconect (the factory option) on .
any more it would rub . I have thought about lowering the rear bump stops maybe 10mm , because I do get a tyre rub inside the rear gaurd once in a while, (too small to worry about ).

Front was much easier, Just cut the gaurd, single skin is nice and easy to do.

Ant Where abouts In East Auckland are ya ? Wave out if ya see my wagon around

[Ant]

Thanks Camel, im guessing the first pic is at full flex? Looks good.

I was having a look at the patrol forum (ausie) thats exactly how they are doing it and using vice grips with the big flat nose to bend the guard in, gives it a nice neat look and can still fit flares ( For WOF Purposes). Looks like you running 10" rims so I should be able to squeeze my 8" in there.

Just one more Q, how much did you "Fold" in. ie. How much guard did yo remove/hide? Im guessing for me im going to be looking at about 50mm in the worst places to clear 35's. Ill have to start by borrowing a set of 35's and find out where they will hit.

Im in Botany, will keep an eye out.....im guessing yours is black/grey, hard to tell in those photos

Time to start bar work then

[Ant]

Just thought of another Question.....What do I have to do to keep it "Legal", I know that it would need a cert as i will be modifying the height from the centre of the hub to the wheel arch, so what will the cert man be looking for? Is there anything I can't cut?

[Ralfie]

Im in Botany, will keep an eye out.....im guessing yours is black/grey, hard to tell in those photos )

Did the Safari ever come in any other colour .........??

[Camel]

hahaha Yea The Standard Grey over Black.

They are the 15x10 at -44 offset.. Love the offset, Hate the width due to tyres de beading to easy , Running tubes now and has been good . touch wood.

Wouldn't worry about the height from gaurd to center of hub much , espically with Body over Chassis setup . Would need Certing for change of tyres size etc and if you've made any other mods if you want to make it fully legit .

For my "flares" I went to bunnings and got garden edging ,and a bunch on 90digree / L style brackets.. Bolted to gaurd and to garden edging, they are a bit soft, so it will bend bracket before bending the gaurd too much when driving on banks /walls .. Not too worried about that my self .
Flares look crap on the road, but meh Covers the rubber and covers what I've cut out aswell so it's fine for what I want it for.






I'm in Botany also . Cool to Hear / see another Safari around the area.

Interested to see what style Bar work you do , I'm after a front and rear bar for mine, Rock sliders would do great also, Just too lazy to make it my self ... Grr ..

Send me a PM msg if you want to have a look in person
Or when you start your bar work and willing to make 2 of each

[Nizzanman]

I'm in Botany too. ha ha ha

[Ant]

sweet will have to take you up on that offer to come have a look some time

[Nizzanman]

Yep