beam conversion in kzn130 surf..

rangimotors · Post by **rangimotors** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 6:01 pm

well i think im biting the bullet and starting to plan out the big conversion to my surf, any info from guys who have done it before would be great, and anyone with some of the many many parts i need, let me no because im trying to build them up before i get started..
i think i have got my hands on a set of rear surf leafs to go in the front and push the diff forward,
I think at the same time ill be looking for different ratio diffs

rokhound · Post by **rokhound** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 6:11 pm

Are you planning on doing all the work yourself Dave?
I was talking to someone today who has completed a number of these conversions, and if you were after a ball park figure ( and I do mean approximate) by the time all reqired parts have been sourced, Various machining done, labour to pay someone else to do the whole job, and cert, you will be up for $5 500.00. Makes a huge difference though, and is another step in the progression of your 4wd involvement.

rangimotors · Post by **rangimotors** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 6:19 pm

im looking at doing some of it, but rick from 4wdacc is keenish on putting in some of the parts he's devoloping as a kit, it would all bit a bit of a play it by air thing and im not really sure on any ball figure yet. I need to write a list of everything i need and start buying it all. Need to talk to rick in more detail about it all but he's a pretty busy guy and i didn't wana take up his whole day :lol:

rokhound · Post by **rokhound** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 6:34 pm

Sounds cool. Rick seems to know his stuff alright, and that is a major thing when parting with you hardearned

rangimotors · Post by **rangimotors** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 6:41 pm

yes indeed, fingers crossed it all comes together certainly wont be over night but hopefully it will happen

Mattman · Post by **Mattman** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 6:43 pm

Why don't you look at going coil front end using a setup out of a Prado?

You already have a coil rear, it would be a shame to put a cart spring front on it!

I have spoken to a couple of people as well about the conversion and a 5-6k figure excluding parts sounds about right.

Look forward to hearing your progress.

Matt.

rangimotors · Post by **rangimotors** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 6:45 pm

hmmm guess its an option, but its also an option i no even less about, certainly would make it pretty cool

gtblair · Post by **gtblair** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 7:07 pm

My mate got a prado front end for his surf for $1200 i think, and hes gonna chop the intended for shopping set up out himself then get rick to finish it off. Alot cheaper than $5-6k! And its coil too, noah had leafs on his arc. :roll:

4wdnuts · Post by **4wdnuts** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 7:09 pm

if i was you dave id be looking at doing a coil set up in the front. not that i know alot about it but i would say if i were going to spend that sort of coin on sas the truck id want to get the best i can.

if you have rik helping you im sure he will steer you in the right direction!

rangimotors · Post by **rangimotors** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 7:16 pm

im pretty sure we can work it out for a fair bit less, but hard to say and yea it would have to much cheaper than a coil setup or by the sounds of it i'd be a fool but as i say early days and lots more thinking and talking before much happens certainly wont be drvie in drive out

Petemcc · Post by **Petemcc** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 9:06 pm

yea id go coils to. rik just did one with a prado front end in it on a truck from a guy on here. aparntly the prado end is a relatively easy swap. keep us all posted with all the details. im sure im one of many who are very interested.

Cheers Pete

suzolla · Post by **suzolla** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 10:46 pm

Hi Dave,
If you went Prado front with coils, would you go with a high pinion diff and trailing tie rod or std diff head and high steer. What ratio have you got and what are you thinking of going to.
I have got a front end, including arms and panard from an LJ78 but want the high pinion out of it and possibly the brake calipers, may also have a diff head depending on ratio.
Tim
021 2738909

wjw · Post by **wjw** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 8:50 am

I have a set of 4.3 C&p's from a prado...

shortylux · Post by **shortylux** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 5:51 pm

if you can get a prado front end for the right price, then definately go that way. I am half way through the conversion myself (and if it costs anywhere near $6k i think i will die). The fun parts are 1) are you goin to use the high pinion diff and rear mounted tie rod? if not then how are you going to steer the beast? for me i havent room for the high pinion so am using hilux arms on the knucles and a selection of different landcruiser tierod ends with a prado steering box. 2) the next fun part is if your not going to put the tie rod behind the diff then where the hell does the panhard rod fit? other than that it doesnt seem to hard so far, but then I am only half done. good luck with what ever you do. Arron.

rangimotors · Post by **rangimotors** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 5:53 pm

cheers mate, im keen to see how you go and am still trying to answer/ work out all that stuff myself, let us no how you go

shortylux · Post by **shortylux** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 9:50 pm

yeah ive been going for a little whie now so dont hold your breath. currently in the south island for a board/ski/bike holiday so you wont get any progress what so ever for atleast 3 weeks. sorry. off to qtown tomorrow, yay.

MATT4U · Post by **MATT4U** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 11:34 pm

Petemcc wrote:yea id go coils to. rik just did one with a prado front end in it on a truck from a guy on here. aparntly the prado end is a relatively easy swap. keep us all posted with all the details. im sure im one of many who are very interested.

Cheers Pete

That one was not a prado front end, it was a hilux axel, mitsi arms upside down, coil overs, all custom work. Big job.

When you pay someone to do it like rick its the labour that brings the cost up. Cutting off the ifs takes a while, lining it all up. the thing is if it goes wrong he is accountable to. That is where you money goes, really you can do a SAS for bugger all if ya can do it ya self.

Also a leaf set up is easy to do and set up to flex and rears in the front rides well to, so anyone that trys to tell ya coils flex better in the front, they must have a deep pocket cause a stock prado in the front of a surf wont flex anything amazing.

Sorry for the ramble. just my 10 cents

rangimotors · Post by **rangimotors** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 10:38 am

cheers matt, after talking to steve and me rambling on and asking questions for hours, he reckons the same, lets face it i dont want to spend massive money, im keen to do a fair bit of work myself, and im not building a competition truck, im building myself a capable truck and i think the leaf set up is the cheapest setup with the best flex and useability, its great to get different options from different people but i guess it comes down to how much i want to spend, how far i want to go with it, and what im planning on using it for, thanks again for the input

swampa · Post by **swampa** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 12:20 pm

find someone that has put coils in the front, go for a ride in it, then find someone that has gone leafs, the difference will speak for itself and worth every penny extra it costs, mine is just like travelling in a nice rangie, even better in my opinion

rangimotors · Post by **rangimotors** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 1:38 pm

swampa wrote:find someone that has put coils in the front, go for a ride in it, then find someone that has gone leafs, the difference will speak for itself and worth every penny extra it costs, mine is just like travelling in a nice rangie, even better in my opinion

can i ask how much it cost you, and did you do the work or someone else

Steve_t647 · Post by **Steve_t647** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 2:14 pm

If I was doing anything like this I would go cart (leaf) springs and then possibly at a later date loose all except the bottom two leaves and put in air bags(with some form of control) or a coil spring helper on each side also there is several ways of doing coils and links and they work on some 4x4's not on others (lots and lots and lots to read), and I have seen some (on other sites) atttempt coils and go to leaf when they didn't work off road or did off and not on road.

Leaf springs do flex and save a huge amount of engineering work you can go for a hybrid leaf and bag or coil later if the leaf alone does not ride soft enough and they are fast and easy top do, probibly a day or day and a half for a couple of people who know what they are doing to throw one under it.

I am not saying Rick, Steve, Jaffa (the ones I have seen their work) or anyone else can't do them right (I would not trust Rok's welding :twisted:

sorry had to be said :lol:

). You can do it and get it right but it is not simple engineering and being able to know how it works and fix it on the track if something goes wrong leaf springs everyone will understand.

Oh and I drive a Hilux ute leaf all round

been in some of these coil sprung wonders but I think good comfy seats or suspension seats are just as good an answer.

swampa · Post by **swampa** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 3:23 pm

i did a ifs to leaf conversion myself on a surf i had, didnt cost a great deal and went well, i paid a shop to do the coil conversion and in my opinion that was only the startng point, fox coil overs, hydraulic bumpstops, the list will go on and on and on, and we are not talking thousands, lost count of that ages ago, dont count anymore, what ever you do , do it once and be happy with it other wise you never will

4wdnuts · Post by **4wdnuts** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 9:51 pm

this could be usefull for you if go with coils?

rangimotors · Post by **rangimotors** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 11:45 am

4wdnuts wrote:this could be usefull for you if go with coils?

?????

rokhound · Post by **rokhound** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 12:24 pm

Steve_t647 wrote:(I would not trust Rok's welding sorry had to be said ).

That's a bit harsh Steve. I have never had a weld fail on my truck. Have had a tack let go though :oops:

(but that's another story). I have seen underengineering of suspension on other peoples truck's fail though, and on more than 1 truck I might add.

Other than that, Steve has it pretty well covered.

4wdnuts · Post by **4wdnuts** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 4:47 pm

rangimotors wrote:
4wdnuts wrote:this could be usefull for you if go with coils?

?????

thats me being a cabbage again! forgot to add the link :roll:

http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/modules.php?name=NukeC30&op=ViewDetail&id_ads=529