S.O.A conversion

[blow60]

Gday wondering where the best place or if anyone can can do the over sprung conversion on a 60 series dont care about the legalites atm just looking for the work also best place to get factory lsd for the standard centres thankx guys

[lump_a_charcoal]

I would go to Hitech 4x4.

[SWBMQCraig]

Hey mate,

For the SOA here is a really good how too..

http://www.ih8mud.com/tech/soa/index.html

Here is the kit you need..

http://locktup4x4.com.au/landcruiser-85 ... t-655.html

and for the LSD here is a brand new one that is supposedly better than OEM toyota..

(wouldnt be hard as stock ones are shit)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/81-87-To ... ccessories

Although id be tempted just to get a Lockright or something similar..

Oh and dont forget that you will need longer driveshafts or spacers..

Craig

[blow60]

thanks heap for the info specially the write up on the SOA looking for an engineer to do it that way if it stuffs up someone else has to fix i still want use it everyday thanks guy ps wheres hitech 4x4???????? nick

[joeblow]

have a real good think as to why you need a spring over in a 60. you might find it hard to locate an engineer who will sign off on one of these conversions these days.

[brendan rooke]

I got mine engineered in Ballina nsw.

Engineered for SOA and 37 inch tyres

The only thing i had to do was recalibrate my speedo, put reversing lights in the rear bar as the factory ones were to high, and make sure my wheel track was right.

I gotta go back again now coz ive got VT Calais seats in the front and ill get him to check out the 3 inch exhaust.

[Gwagensteve]

... but you are in NSW, so everything was different there.

I can't see any good reason to SPOA a 60 series, and I'd be surprised if any vic engineers would sign it off.

Steve.

[lump_a_charcoal]

... but you are in NSW, so everything was different there.

I can't see any good reason to SPOA a 60 series, and I'd be surprised if any vic engineers would sign it off.

Steve.

Cos it looks tuff as, der...

[mavzilla]

he said he doesnt want it engineered in the first post or worried about the legalities guys.it looks tough as and better aproach angles and departure angles.lift the motor higher for water crossings and better centre clearance on those pesky rocks we encounter.while maintaining the smooth gliding ride of standard springs

[joeblow]

he said he doesnt want it engineered in the first post or worried about the legalities guys.it looks tough as and better aproach angles and departure angles.lift the motor higher for water crossings and better centre clearance on those pesky rocks we encounter.while maintaining the smooth gliding ride of standard springs

haha....was waiting for someone to say that....


don't forget to make the perches out of 4 inch box and weld them to the diffs

[v840]

don't forget to make the perches out of 4 inch box and weld them to the diffs

How would you attach perches to the diff?

[oldmate]

How would you attach perches to the diff?

dodgy bob might just ubolt it all together

...I can't see any good reason to SPOA a 60 series, and I'd be surprised if any vic engineers would sign it off.

Steve.

legalities aside spoa on a 60 is the way to go. flat springs, flip the spring brackets c&t the knuckes, torque rod on the rear and it flexes great and rides great on the road. I drove one when I had a 60 as i was considering the conversion. definately a great truck when done right.

[v840]

definately a great truck when done right.

I think the important bit is "when done right". The first soa I did was dodgy as fark and I would never drive it on the road knowing what I know now. The most recent one was for a friend at uni on his sierra and he loves it cause it was done right, but there are a lot of people who are rocking around on some hacktacular piles of shit out there.

dodgy bob might just ubolt it all together

Actually Joe knows his shit, I was wondering if he had some fandangled technique that I didn't know about.

[brendan rooke]

... but you are in NSW, so everything was different there.

I can't see any good reason to SPOA a 60 series, and I'd be surprised if any vic engineers would sign it off.

Steve.

I can find heaps of reasons to SOA a 60.

The reasons i done the SOA-

1. No body lift needed ( meaning i dont have to modify front and rear bars or shifter positions and remounting the radiator or cut the shroud for the quick fix)

2. No extended shackles ( meaning i dont loose that little bit of flex and it doesnt wander all over the road from poor caster angle)

3. Heaps of clearance to run 37's

4. And last but not least it looks tough as...

[joeblow]

4. And last but not least it looks tough as...

yes, it would on its side!

[grimbo]

1. No body lift needed ( meaning i dont have to modify front and rear bars or shifter positions and remounting the radiator or cut the shroud for the quick fix)

Wouldn't that be just as much work as a SPOA and nowhere near as critical and doesn't require engineering

2. No extended shackles ( meaning i dont loose that little bit of flex and it doesnt wander all over the road from poor caster angle)

what does extended shackles have to do with it, you don't try and lift a vehilce via extended shackles anyway

3. Heaps of clearance to run 37's

Which you can do with a spring lift and body lift. Just curious what did you do for gearing?

4. And last but not least it looks tough as...

personal preference which if you like it that's cool then

Not picking a fight or anything but has it really improved the vehicle? Do you have lockers as well? I have never seen the point in SPOA for the type of wheeling I used to do in Victoria, there were no pluses to it that made it a worthwhile mod for me. Everything you say are reasons to do it can all be easily done another way to avoid doing the SPOA.

Obviously to many people out there it is a viable way of modding their vehicle but it depends on quality workmanship and getting it all done properly, Anyting half arsed about it really can turn into a major problem so make sure whoever is doing it does it properly. And if you are going to drive it on the roads then get it legal because you will get busted these days

[brendan rooke]

I used to have a 60 series with 2" springs.

I bought anti inverting extended shackles ( to lift my cruiser a little bit extra coz i thought thats what extended shackles were for)

I done a 3 inch body lift and had 35" bias ply claws, on 10" sunnies.

That set up was good with those treads and rims ( no scrubbing at all )

I then put a set of 37" wranglers on and they scrubbed on the back of the front guards.

I had another 60 with 2" springs and a 2 inch body lift with 33's and it was fine.

So this time i wanted something different so i went SOA on 2" springs.

The spring over conversion had just as much work involved as a bodylift and fitting springs and shackles to my sprung under 60.

My point to this is...no matter what you do it has to be engineered wheather it be a body lift or SOA.

I wanted extra clearance to run the tyre size i wanted.

Im not some young fella that wanted the biggest truck in town. After owning a few 60's in the past i just wanted something different.

About the gearing issue, my truck is auto (was auto, in the middle of doing a 5 speed job) with the auto and 37's it was lower geared than my other 60's with 35's and manual.

Its not a comp truck built for tuff truck or anything, so i dont nead ultra low gearing ( i am looking into putting the auto low gear in the 5 speed transfer just to make it that little bit better.

Lockers are on the cards soon, a rear first, front latter when funds are available.

Any way everyone has their own opinion on the subject

Makes me wonder if those that dislike SOA have accualy had anything to do with one.

And as for the safe side and the proper way of doing it. It was done in the backyard with a grinder and a welder using snake racing perches... so far its still under the truck showing no sign of cracking, drives straight handles good and the engineer spent 3 hours in and under my truck before knocking me on a couple minor things which were fixed that week and i drove home the following week with a report saying that the truck was safe to drive and he was happy with what he seen.

[brendan rooke]

4. And last but not least it looks tough as...

yes, it would on its side!

Put a corolla on its side once ( she werent no soa 60 )

[joeblow]

Makes me wonder if those that dislike SOA have accualy had anything to do with one.

who me?.......................never

[brendan rooke]

You win mate,

To good for me

Ill just hang my head in shame for owning a sprung over cruiser.

Maybe i should spring it back under with lowered springs and zook diffs and go to tuff truck and try and out do you.

[grimbo]

For certain terrains (which seems to be NSW not Vic) it works, for certain vehicles it works and for certain drivers it works.

The big problem is that it seems to be recommeneded to every leaf sprung owner as the only way to get a mad cool vehicle and that is BS. It is a mjor modification that if not done properly can really stuff the vehicle up, make it dangerous and in many cases illegal. Most times all those facts are never expressed and if anyone happens to say SPOAs aren't the be all and end all in mods, and SPUA aren't either, they get shot down.

Of course you will read that and just see someone is slagging off SPOA I'll just reply with a smart alec response.

SPOA can be a very good mod if done properly with a complete list of mods not just chucking the springs on top of the diff and some big tyres. They are part of a complete suspension, steering over haul that ALL needs to work together. It is a big mod

[Gwagensteve]

If your SPOA was as much work as a body lift you didn't do your SPOA properly.

Steve.

[HANCOCK]

If your SPOA was as much work as a body lift you didn't do your SPOA properly.

Steve.

X 2

There is a lot more to it...!

[Shadow]

Makes me wonder if those that dislike SOA have accualy had anything to do with one.

who me?.......................never

whats so wrong about SPOA? Its about a 4-5" lift, if its done right the only thing that really changes is the height, which would be the same as putting a 4" spring lift in it


Theres patrols and cruisers getting around with 8" lifts whith a whole heap more body roll than a SPOA 60 will have.