Disco Plus 35s

[Reddo]

Here is the re-painted Disco Dave with Simex 35's. Colour is Caprice Teal and it was a btrd to spray.

Now on black Rockcrawler rims with 95mm backspace. New rear bar also under construction.

Drive train is modded with Ashcroft pegged 4.11s, Jac Mac lockers f&R, JM axles and drive flanges plus Nissan CVs in front. Rear 24 spline Rover. Somehting is going to break!

[Reddo]

[

some pics of the rear bar in progress. Now nearly finished

[dassaw]

Looks bloody good!

What suspension are you running, and how come you didnt decide to put flares on?

What is the offset on those rims?

Cheers

Darren

[Reddo]

Suspension is Dobinson coils and springs to suit bull bar plus winch on front, and giving approx 2inch lift over standard. Body is also lifted 2.75 inch , and new rims ( 6 Rockcrawler 15x10 inch) are 95mm+- back spacing, compared to 120mm for standard. This means they don't hit the radius arms, but come very close to the back of the wheel arch on full lock under heavy compression. Bump stops will also require extending by about 1 inch or so and we are moving the diff forward 5 mm or so by spacing the radius arm end back with a thick engineering washer to give a bit more clearance for the 3 lug Simex 35s to the rear of the front wheel arch. The problemis Simex measure their tyres to the bottom of the tread block, therefore they are actually 36 inch in total.

Original Rossignol flares don't fit anymore cause the wheel arches have been dressed back/up about 2.5 inches or more in places, and the edge re folded under.

Flexible 'rubber' flares are planned unless we can get some flexible moulded flares big enough - not fibre glass as these crack too easily. Been looking around but the best ones out of the UK are just too expensive, so rubber it will be, riveted to the guard under-fold.

[disco95]

I recognised the little R symbol on the back. My Rosignol's the same colour, but a '95, post update.
Looking good, you don't think the set up he's got will be able to handle the 35's?
I'm interested as I'm looking to bigger than the 31's I currently run in the future.

[Reddo]

The set up was intended for 35s from the start, and was based on lots of advice and research, including advice from the UK on trucks they run over there. It should be OK. I can't see the front axles breaking as they are good for much higer horsepower, and the Nissan CVs should be good too.

Diff lock centres are JM 4 pinion and very strong, but CWP could be a weakness. Pegging helps but have heard that CW or P will break even when pegged. Rear axles are possibly a weak point but 24 spline axles is substantially stronger than 10 spline - maybe 30% stronger. If they break, then Jac Mac will be the next choice. Rear diff, same issues as front.

We ran 33's BFGs for a over year and they never looked like causing any trouble. Simex 35s should give much better traction off road so hopefully we won't have to hammer the drive train as much as we did with the 33s.

Only issues since purchase (cost $3200) have been 1 UJ, 1 thro-out bearing and 2 sets of bearings/seals per wheel due to mud/water ingress. Oh and the petrol pump clogged and shit itself. It has done over 200K though and the previous owner NEVER touched it, nor serviced it regularily. The oil was like tar when we got it. He did get the transfer case/output gear lube up graded though.

Bearing water/mud ingress is being resolved with upgraded seals and a low pressure air line to the diffs, distributer and drive train. Brakes are also upgraded with Defender front rotors and calipers and upgarded pads all round.

Otherwise, no oil leaks, no electrical problems, no rust and no breakages. Surely it can't be a Rover!!

It love petrol though

[dassaw]

Reddo, what size are the white rims in the pic? and what width simex's are they.

Im trying to decide on standard disco rims or going 15"rims with a offset.

Any advantages running 15" rims over 16"?

[redrover3]

Hi, new member to outer limits although long time reader. I like the look of that snorkel going straight into the guard like that. Very neat. I'm assuming its a diy. Any chance I can get the details to make my own.
Regards,
Tony

[Reddo]

Hi

the white rims are 15 x 8 sunnies but are too small for the 35 x 12.5 inch Simex so they have been replaced with black 15x10 inch rockcrawlers. Tyres sit much better on the rims now and the RCs have a minus 25mm offset, so they don't belt the radius arms anymore.

Hvae attached some photos.

Snorkel is DIY using 75mm (?) aluminium irrigation pipe just fitted over some old rubber pipe bend at the guard end from a 60 series air filter or something like that we had laying around, leading into some corrugated air pipe behind the guards and run thru the existing hole in the inner guard and fitted over the cut off snorkle on the air filter unit. Filter had to be jacked up a bit to clear the second battery. I'll try to get some pics for you. Top is just a cheap unit bought from TJM

Took it for a drive on our 'test track' - and it is really good now. Just had to add 50mm bump stop blocks to prevent the tyres ripping off the back end - inner guards. We will drop the shock mounts by the same to regain overall travel/drop. Front is OK as is, just hits a bit on the back of the front guard due to the offset of the rims on full lock. We will push the whole front end forward 5mm or so to gain better clearance here.

Other wise this thing is a beast now. Also handles well on road, the 3 lug Simex are very quiet. Bit roly poly though. Gearing and brakes are fine.

[Reddo]

PS that bank is over 4 foot high, and it will climb it with no problems at all.

[ISUZUROVER]

Looks good. Whereabouts in Tassie is that?

[Reddo]

Oh and on the issue of 15 inch versus 16 inch - I think 16s are better cause they clear the calipers more, so avoiding some of the issues with mud packing in around the rim and brake units. But it is easier to get 15 inch tyres. The standard rim off set is about 120-125mm, the white sunnies in the pictures are 110 - 115mm and at this offset the tyres hit the radius arms - not too bad with BFGs but real bad with Simex because of the agressive lugs. The Rockcrawlers are 95+-2 mm offset and clear nicely. They also widen the track by another 50mm or so, and increase stability.

[Reddo]

down the Huon Valley, about 30mins from Hobart. Rains heaps down here, so mud is the main battleground, lots of it. Hence Simex tyres.

[Reddo]

Here are some phone photos (sorry) of the snorkel as requested and rear bar now fitted.

[Reddo]

here's one of the snorkel/guard bit....

[redrover3]

Thanks a lot for the photos of the snorkel reddo.
Tony