Project SURF-O-DORE

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suzolla
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Project SURF-O-DORE

Post by suzolla »

Hi,
Here is another project that has started, which I will try document the mods that I do them.
As per the title the plan is to do some major mods to my LN61 3Y Surf which includes a motor and trans transplant from a VN 3.8l V6 commodore. Intention is for it ot be road leagal so will require certification.
Basic plans are as follows.
Body lift 50mm
New long rear leaf springs and anti wrap bar.
Rear discs.
SAS the front axle.
Move fuel tank to back.
Remote mount the transfer box and rotate a little to lift front drive output and remove bottom mount to increase ground clearance.
Body and suspension lift to easily run 35" tyres.
VN 3.8 mtr and trans.
Auto locker in the back.
Auto locker in the front until I can afford to splash out on a air locker.

Here is a picture of the surf before work started.
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Here is a picture of the donor vehicle
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Will also try and ramp each stage of the suspension mods on a 20 deg ramp.
Here are a couple of pictures of it in standard form but with front anti-roll bar disconected. In both directions the wheel up the ramp was about 430mm abouve the ground. As can be seen in the photos the artic is not that flash, will be much better once I have finished.

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Tim
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Mattman
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Post by Mattman »

Nice, will be a solid truck when you have finished.

Matt.
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mroffroader
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Post by mroffroader »

sounds like it will be quite a machine
80 series tow bus towing a redneck ass vitara :D
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spanky
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Post by spanky »

hey where are you located?, i am putting v6 and trans onto toyota transfer case to make a trials / bush truck. you can buy a adapter to join together froms marks in aus but i dont have a spare grand so will be doing similar to what you doing with small shaft between the two, keep us posted . cheers vaughan
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dctecho
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Post by dctecho »

I've just finished the wiring on the same conversion, 3.8 VP motor into LN65 for a mates truck ,I was impressed with finished product. He used the marks adapter kit to join holden trans to toyota transfer,it's not cheap but very well made.If you need any help with the electrics let me know.
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suzolla
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Post by suzolla »

Hi, made a bit of progress since the last post.
Old rear springs are out, made some front spring mounts, had 2 new top leafs made a bit longer than falcon ones but still used falcon rubber bush for front for flex, got some long rear shackles, will use the surf shackle bushes, fitted top shackle mount into chassis rail. Tacked the front mounts on to check the flex, now gets about 530mm up forwards and 620mm in reverse, a bit better that the 430 before, still need to do some fine tuning of the springs to improve the artic.

Also started cutting out the IFS at the front,

Image

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gomulletgo
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Post by gomulletgo »

Nice calculator that kid has got in the first pic. for working out crawl ratios?

MULLET :)
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wopass
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;-p

Post by wopass »

looking good tim :D
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suzolla
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Post by suzolla »

Time to resurect this thread as I have started to do a bit again.
Started doing doing the IFS hub swap to the beam axle I am going to use in the front, pretty much as per De-Ranged's thread.
Been ordering some stuff to, an ARB locker for the front, already got a lockright for the back, also ordered some 30 spline longfields for the front.
Tim
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rokhound
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Post by rokhound »

suzolla wrote:Time to resurect this thread as I have started to do a bit again.
Started doing doing the IFS hub swap to the beam axle I am going to use in the front, pretty much as per De-Ranged's thread.
Been ordering some stuff to, an ARB locker for the front, already got a lockright for the back, also ordered some 30 spline longfields for the front.
Tim


Sounds like a damn fine shopping list so far :D
Ugly is a state of mind..... and the state of my truck!
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suzolla
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Post by suzolla »

Bit more progress,
Finished machining swivel housings for disc calipers as part of IFS hub swap.
Finished removing all of the brackets and spring mounts on the front axle ready for rotating knuckles, widening the short side by 55mm so that it will take 60 series axle, then strengthen it and fit brackets for 4 link (2 bottom, 1 top and panard) and coils, not sure yet what coils to use.
Tim
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De-Ranged
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Post by De-Ranged »

sounds interesting.... don't forget the camera :wink:

widening the short side by 55mm so that it will take 60 series axle, then strengthen it

Haven't heard of anyone using the 60 series axle before, thanks for the heads up 8) might look at using that trick on my next axle :D
A wee bit of advice when you reinforce the axle throw a short brace around the front of the diff head as I've found quite a few axles that have bent back, where the expanded tube is on either side of the diff head

Looking forward to the next post

Cheers Reece
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swampa
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Post by swampa »

rangie coils
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suzolla
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Post by suzolla »

Hi Reece
widening the short side by 55mm so that it will take 60 series axle,


Yes Wopass and I stumbled accross this :oops: much to Wopass's dispair :( when I ordered some 30 spline hilux longfields only to find the short side was too short for his 60 series axle. So have had to order some more 60 series sets for us and someone else.

So it now turns out I have some spare sets of 30 spline hilux longfields if any body needs some, PM me

Tim
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