SAS conversion, how much$$?

[jorgo]

Just wondering rougly how much it would cost convert from independent front end. Seen it done heaps on 4 Runners etc, thinking of maybe doing it to the old pathfinder. Basically its my first car and i was looking at upgrading to something a bit more capable but im getting a little nervous about going into a loan as a first yr apprentice.

Figured why not do something different and keep the pathy.
Any info or advice even would be appreciated

Cheers

[thehanko]

It will cost a fair whack mate, first you need to buy the diff and all associated suspension, and steering etc, plus if this changes track width compared to the rear, you might have to alter the backend.

then you have to get someone to do it and its a fair amount of work.

then you need to pay and engineer to check it all, which will include brakes etc as they will all have changed too.

depending on the age of your pathy it could be more than its worth. and money you will never get back.

My personal opinion is that you should sell the pathy and buy a solid axel car. patrols, cruisers, hiluxs etc from the early 90's are all good trucks can be had cheap and can be modded as far as you want to go.

[CWBYUP]

Why not keep the pathy IFS and teach your self to drive really well so that when you eventually get a Solid axle car twin locked you will be able to read the tracks and drive really well.

My zook taught me so much it's not funny, now I have a twin locked patrol and my driving is so much better.

Nick

[thehanko]

Why not keep the pathy IFS and teach your self to drive really well so that when you eventually get a Solid axle car twin locked you will be able to read the tracks and drive really well.

My zook taught me so much it's not funny, now I have a twin locked patrol and my driving is so much better.

Nick

a zook being another good option, far more capable/modifiable than a pathy.

i agree that learning to drive is important, but its an assumption that he hasnt already.

if he is pushing the pathy already then he might just be gonna destroy the thing if its going where its not designed for.

[jorgo]

Thanks for the advice boys, by the time you pay for labour, parts and engineering the front end would be worth more than car. Just trying to research all my options so figure why not ask. Ive had the pathy for long enough to learn that its completly hopeless for the driving id like to keep doing, and yes ive done enough destruction already im just getting on top of fixing that now. Zook is a bit out of the question, im 6"3 and still growing haha

Thanks for the help, il keep looking for a new truck

[micks troll]

Mate you can pick up a GQ patrol cheap as now so keep an eye out! as long as you dont mind payin for fuel they're as good as you can get!
Good luck!

[joeblow]

Mate you can pick up a GQ patrol cheap as now so keep an eye out! as long as you dont mind payin for fuel (and being heavy as f#@k!) they're as good as you can get!
Good luck!

fixed.........

[11_evl]

Thanks for the advice boys, by the time you pay for labour, parts and engineering the front end would be worth more than car. Just trying to research all my options so figure why not ask. Ive had the pathy for long enough to learn that its completly hopeless for the driving id like to keep doing, and yes ive done enough destruction already im just getting on top of fixing that now. Zook is a bit out of the question, im 6"3 and still growing haha

Thanks for the help, il keep looking for a new truck

its a soft top. dont let your hight restrict you from getting a zook

[80's_delirious]

Thanks for the advice boys, by the time you pay for labour, parts and engineering the front end would be worth more than car. Just trying to research all my options so figure why not ask. Ive had the pathy for long enough to learn that its completly hopeless for the driving id like to keep doing, and yes ive done enough destruction already im just getting on top of fixing that now. Zook is a bit out of the question, im 6"3 and still growing haha

Thanks for the help, il keep looking for a new truck

its a soft top. dont let your hight restrict you from getting a zook

soft top you say? at 6'3" he would need a licqorice steering wheel and folding shins to be able to operate the pedals and steer.

I am 6'6" and once squeezed in to a zook for a drive on a farm, I climbed in then had to open the door to be able to turn the ignition key and wind down the window. It was just about impossible to drive it, my head was on the roof, I couldnt lift my feet high enought to operate the pedals, my knees were against steering wheel and gear stick.

You short arses can keep your zooks

[Gwagensteve]

The SAS swap is unlikely to make the car significantly more capable. what you gain in ground clearance you'll likely loose in balance and stability.

I don't think there's much wrong with the pathfander suspension design at all.

4Runners aren't a good example of why it's a good idea to SAS - A) The chassis was designed for a solid axle, and B) the toyota IFS design is hideous.

Odds are, when the job was finished, the conversion would owe you more than you could buy a more capable car for.

PS there's no problem with 6'3" in a sierra. for a while there, it seemed everyone (except me) in the vic suzuki club was well over 6' There's far more room in the driving position (fore-aft and headroom) in a sierra than in most midsized utes.- the body is taller and the seat is further off the floor.- I would have thought especially compared to an old pathy, where the seats are really close to the floor forcing a tall driver to run the seat a long way back to get comfortable.

Steve.

[jorgo]

Haha some good calls there and thanks for the info on SAS but ive put an offer on a gq this morning and at this point it looks like i could be the proud new owner.