Air shock and link questions

[ausyota]

Im am soon to start on a new project.
I will be selling my mighty IFS Lux and going with a tow rig and truggy combo.
I am planning on making a Lux based truggy for weekend fun and comps.
Plan is an older extracab body with exo, air shocks on all corners, supercharged commo V6 and auto, duals with twin stick and rear disco, Lux diffs IFS width with air lockers and chomo longs, 39.5 Irocks, full hydro steer, front and rear winches and few other bits and pieces .
Now for the questions...

Will 2" air shocks handle the weight of a Hilux with a commo V6 or would I need to go with 2.5" (maybe 2.5" on front only)?
I will be setting the motor back into the firewall a bit for ballance so weight of the engine wont be totally over the front axle.
Now suspension design.
Should I go triangulated 4 link in the back or 3 link and panhard? What are the advantages of either way? I have seen rear steer problems with triang 4 link is that just from bad design or is it inherent in that link style?
I figure for the front 3 link and panhard is best simply for room?
How do I work out link lengths and separation etc?
What is the best material to use for the links? In particular the bottom ones that always cop a pounding.
I see that gonads uses chomo hex bar for his links that looks what size? and do I need to sell a kidney to pay for it?

Cheers
Paul.

PS I dont want to be told to ditch the truggy idea and go with a full tube buggy. It might evolve into that later down the track but the WA comps at the moment really dont warrent that yet, and anyway I want to wheel in winter without getting wet

[jeep97tj]

Asked the air shock/hilux Question to the shop i brought them off. I asked wether i would need to buy 2 more 2.5s off him or wether my 2.0 would do. He said u will just need to add more pressure to them and use a winch on the diff when climping big ledges to stop them from unloading.

I have a hilux here i started befor i went the buggy, I have the fire wall cut out so i could mount the engine back into the cab like u say, theres pics of it in the members section.

[ausyota]

Hey Shane do you still have that hydro steer setup that I can see in the pics in that members thread?

[jeep97tj]

Sure do, but its staying in the shed with the mogs

[ausyota]

Sure do, but its staying in the shed with the mogs

Roger.

[DIRTY ROCK STAR]

so is 2"enough in a full rig or need 2.5" we cant trust shane hes a hermit??

2ndly, shane when are you going to build something with those mogs? if you wanted to compete on the east coast i know a guy who might be able to store it for ya if you leave the key!!!!

I been wondering the exact same Q. is 2 inch enough or more?
and what sort of life would you expect to get out of a air shock??? if you were only driving it once a week or fortnight?

[v840]

Have you considered coilovers? from what I understand they are a shitload easier to set up than airshocks.

[DIRTY ROCK STAR]

coil overs are a shitload more expensive.

the prices im seeing more then double air shocks.

[ausyota]

coil overs are a shitload more expensive.

the prices im seeing more then double air shocks.

Esspecially if you can get some airshocks second hand .

[v840]

coil overs are a shitload more expensive.

the prices im seeing more then double air shocks.

Esspecially if you can get some airshocks second hand .

Fair enough.

[humphey]

man i put a set off 2'' . 18''travel fox shox in the front off a 40 series cruiser for a mate with a 302 clevland in it , it handles it nicely even with the winch hooked to the diff they stand up well.