Toyota RAV4 FULL makeover

[FoxyRav]

Heya!....javascript:emoticon(':P') Just wondering if anybody out there knows if a vitara Chassis can go under a RAV?
I like my rav to much to get rid of it. but i want a small 4wd, So i was thinking of putting the little ravster on top of a Vitara Chassis an take the vitara gearbox aswell but put a WRX motor in it. Just for that little extra power.. And ofcourse i like the sound.......

[DUDELUX]

To be honest mate, when I read what you are planning, I almost fell off my chair, which is hard to do as my chair has arm things on the sides.
Why would you want to run a rav4 on a vitara chassis??
What are you hoping to acheive??
Both have IFS, not alot of ground clearance, or travel.
If you really wanted to keep your rav4, you would be better off either doing a SAS(solid axle swap), but honestly, I dont think it would be worth while. Even if you did manage to make it work, I doubt if it would be able to be engineered and registered.
Maybe you could look at swapping the body onto something like a suzuki sierra or something similar, but again, engineering would be a problem.
If all you want is a small 4wd that will get you alot of places, then just go out and buy a suzuki sierra, they have solid axles/leaf springs so you will find it easy to do lifts and get clearance for bigger rubber, plus there are some that run GTI engines and vitara engines.
As for the WRX engine, Im not sure that the vitara gearbox would be strong enough to handle the engine, like I said above, a GTI engine with the right mods in a zook would give enough power to get you places.
Just my opinion.
Otherwise, go out and buy a WRX.

[brentz]

Anythings possible mate depends on wether ure willing to do the hard yards or not
Dudelux I've seen a rav4 with ls1, gq diff and 36inch simexs so its definelty possible
Just do a lot of research

[DUDELUX]

Anythings possible mate depends on wether ure willing to do the hard yards or not
Dudelux I've seen a rav4 with ls1, gq diff and 36inch simexs so its definelty possible
Just do a lot of research

I agree, anythings possible, if you have enough cash to make it work, but if its going to be driven on the road, then it probably wont be legal.
If its a comp truck build, then yeah go for it, but for on road duties, probably a waste of time as I doubt it will get engineered.
And a rav4 with a chev, coils all round and 36s would look prety tough i reckon, do you have any pics??

[flyinwall]

the green rav4 with the ls1 gq's etc was in 4wd monthly last year i think

[azriel]

DO IT !!!!!!
and make sure you keep us updated with lots of pics.
If you got the know how and the ability (and a big fat wallet) it definately is possible

[Grublux]

[DUDELUX]

Thats what I was getting at.
But that rav in the pic looks different, with coils allround it would be a good handling rig, but probably a hell of alot of work to get it there.

[Evski]

That Rav is Cool as hell. I never thought I would ever say that!

[flyinwall]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the rav 4 doesn't have a chassis does it?
There is a buildup of one on pirate4x4 (woodtick) (sp?) where the guy had to build a complete ladder chassis under it just to make it strong enough to link.

A+ for the effort if you do it, but man..... It's a heck of alot of work "just because" you like the look and feel of th body.

thats correct they have no separate chassis

[RAY185]

Yes, they have a monocawk chassis.

[FoxyRav]

The pic of the rav here in the post is the one i seen about 12 months ago
when i thought of the idea of doing it.
Then i seen this pic and thought well there you go. it looks like that person
has done it so why cant i.
The reason i really want to do it ,, is cause im sick of everyone saying
its not a real 4wd an u cant go here or there,, that really shits me!
I go to Landcruiser park with my brother (his got a lux) my partner he has a
Cut down into a ute Landcruiser and my other friends 60 series.. So they all
can go places except me... I do try but.
But i have huge plans to do, Im just looking for a cheap car to get around
in now so i can put the rav in the garage and start!.
So any idea's or places an people to see would be very much appreciated.

[DUDELUX]

Well you really are keen arent you.
Im not going to say its not possible, because anything is, but Ill guess it wont be easy
Pm Bubs and Brooksy off here and ask them whats needed to be done to make it work.
Also, talk to an engineer about what you have planned, and get his/her opinion on the right way to do it, and to also see if there is any way it can be engineered once done. Although, the rav in the pic has got number plates on it.
Have a chat to the people Ive mentioned to see what you will be getting yourself in to, and do alot of research and planning before you start.
Good luck with it and dont forget, if you build it, do a build up thread with heaps of pics in it.

[FoxyRav]

I dont see why it cant be done! What i was originally gunna do was put the Vitara Chassis under the RAV with the Vitara gearbox,,Or a hilux Chassis then cut it an then do a coil Conversion. But now as someone in one of the recent post suggested was the GQ Chassis. which makes more sense
cause the Nissan already has the coils done.. So less hassle in the long run. Just have to cut the GQ Chassis down to size.
The other Idea was a WRX motor ! TURBO ofcourse! but just today i was thinking maybe if fee-sable the Nissan RB30 motor TURBO.
Now if its not already Obvious I am female not a bloke who knows what there talking about.. Im just going off what I've seen an been around.
My brother an Partner Just Coiled conversioned my Brothers Lux. So that was alot of chopping an Grinding. So i reckon if he can do major things to his lux y cant i do stuff to the RAV. I know i know its not a real 4wd.
Thats exactly y im doing it but.
And my partner cut his 60 series down to a ute an he can still drive it so whats the big deal in putting an actual chassis under my RAV. I will find someone to help! I HOPE!...
As i said before if u have any suggestions or if u think or know my idea
will defently not work PLS say so. Thanks

[YNOT]

Just a thought on the idea of the WRX motor. Being a flat 4 boxer motor they are very wide, so packaging it in the engine bay could be a major issue. I'm not saying it can't be done, but there are probably easier options that will still get the power you want. Nissan SR20DET comes to mind.

Tony

[DUDELUX]

I dont see why it cant be done! What i was originally gunna do was put the Vitara Chassis under the RAV with the Vitara gearbox,,Or a hilux Chassis then cut it an then do a coil Conversion. But now as someone in one of the recent post suggested was the GQ Chassis. which makes more sense
cause the Nissan already has the coils done.. So less hassle in the long run. Just have to cut the GQ Chassis down to size.
The other Idea was a WRX motor ! TURBO ofcourse! but just today i was thinking maybe if fee-sable the Nissan RB30 motor TURBO.
Now if its not already Obvious I am female not a bloke who knows what there talking about.. Im just going off what I've seen an been around.
My brother an Partner Just Coiled conversioned my Brothers Lux. So that was alot of chopping an Grinding. So i reckon if he can do major things to his lux y cant i do stuff to the RAV. I know i know its not a real 4wd.
Thats exactly y im doing it but.
And my partner cut his 60 series down to a ute an he can still drive it so whats the big deal in putting an actual chassis under my RAV. I will find someone to help! I HOPE!...
As i said before if u have any suggestions or if u think or know my idea
will defently not work PLS say so. Thanks

If youre after a capable conversion so you can keep your rav body, why not use a SWB patrol chassis, already has coils allround, strong engine, gearbox, easy to find/buy parts for it, and if you really want to use a wrx engine, the engine bay is huge too.
Just a suggestion.

[FoxyRav]

Thanks YNOT (Tony) for your suggestion on the SR20DET motor, I did some research on the engine and it sounds alright to me.
My partner has also suggested a Sierra Chassis i think he said Hilux diff converstion.
Also the full Nissan chassis conversion. there's a few good ones going,
Cant quiet remember all of them there's just so many different ideas being thrown
now im not sure what to do.
I dont plan on doing extreme tracks myself but i do want it to be tuff!
Ill just have to throw the idea's at an engineer
and see what they have to say about it all.

Also to the person who said to look up bubs and brooks, How do i
find them? I found someone by the name of bubs but im not sure
if thatsI
Id like to hear what they have to say about it all!

[beinthemud]

The pic of the rav here in the post is the one i seen about 12 months ago
when i thought of the idea of doing it.
Then i seen this pic and thought well there you go. it looks like that person
has done it so why cant i.
The reason i really want to do it ,, is cause im sick of everyone saying
its not a real 4wd an u cant go here or there,, that really shits me!
I go to Landcruiser park with my brother (his got a lux) my partner he has a
Cut down into a ute Landcruiser and my other friends 60 series.. So they all
can go places except me... I do try but.
But i have huge plans to do, Im just looking for a cheap car to get around
in now so i can put the rav in the garage and start!.
So any idea's or places an people to see would be very much appreciated.

I think thats the one i saw a couple years ago at a 4x4 show ,They were just starting to build it ,It was badass then and is badass now

[FoxyRav]

reply to !beinthemud!

Have you seen that RAV since then?
I would love to see other pics of it! And to see
what it is that they did to it..
I love it! I reckon its awesome. i would luv for mine to look
like that!...
I plan on doing all inside it to.. YNOT i say! Do the outside i may aswell
do the inside to.
I was thinking front bucket seats, Double din TV/DVD/CD player, Reverse cam.. The reverse cam is really for me,,hahaha im not a real good reverser.
im currently in the proceeds of making a Draw system for in the back.
im not sure on whether to put a slide out Camp sink or not. Making a spot
for the little Waeco too!
I plan on having 2 draws.. It will be different anyway! I try my hardest to be different.
Also while i was sitting in the garage thinking looking at it. I was thinking
about taking the plastic cover off the back door and turning the inside of the door guts into shelves for some necessity tools. I was gunna make some little hanging clips. Obviously i was gunna line the inside of the
door with carpet or something similar and then have some sort of twist clip lock thing for the plastic part i have removed an line the inside of that
with a lining so the tools dont bang and clash. JUST A THOUGHT.

[beinthemud]

When i saw it the backend was being done ,I didnt have a good look but it seemed like it was being sort of tubed and the strut towers were being made higher and wider.
Havent seen it since mate.But i will say this if that is the one i saw that pic dosen't nearly do it justice its way meaner in person

[FoxyRav]

Thanks again!

im getting more excited about it now!

[beinthemud]

It looks small but i thinks those were 35s on it

[MissDrew]

Darren's Rav is about 4 years and I think 1 marriage worth of work and lets not even guess on the $$$ he spent on it.

If I'm not mistaken every single part of the body has been modified in some why to make everything fit n work.

[DUDELUX]

Hey, I was the one that said to send BUBS and BROOKSY a PM, both are on this forum, BUBS username is BUBS, BROOKSY username is BROOKSY, with Tuff Truck right around the corner, Id assume both would be fairly busy right now, but shoot them a PM anyway.
They are both very good at what they do, with attention to detail as well, tell them what you have planned, ask them for a name or names of engineers that can help, and ask for any advice to keep it legal and engineerable, they are nice guys, and would probably send you in the right direction.
Good luck.

[FoxyRav]

Yes i understand its going to be a huge job!
But i really like the shape of my RAV and i like how because its more
narrow then the bigger 4wd's its goes mores places!
So that's why i really want to turn it into a real little 4wd!
I personally don't like the sierra's i don't like there shape or look!
I just need to figure out whats going to be the easiest way
to start the project!
ie: Sierra chassis + Springs
Nissan Chassis + Coils
Hilux diff
WRX Motor
SR20DET motor
Manual- Auto
So ye im sure its going to cost alot of money but its just going to
be my little project.
Its not going to be finshed until it has everything
a real ones got plus more extra's.

[FoxyRav]

Hey, I was the one that said to send BUBS and BROOKSY a PM, both are on this forum, BUBS username is BUBS, BROOKSY username is BROOKSY, with Tuff Truck right around the corner, Id assume both would be fairly busy right now, but shoot them a PM anyway.
They are both very good at what they do, with attention to detail as well, tell them what you have planned, ask them for a name or names of engineers that can help, and ask for any advice to keep it legal and engineerable, they are nice guys, and would probably send you in the right direction.
Good luck.

Thankyou very much for your help DUDELUX!
Very much appreciated!
I will send them a line an see what they have to say!

[FoxyRav]

Darren's Rav is about 4 years and I think 1 marriage worth of work and lets not even guess on the $$$ he spent on it.

If I'm not mistaken every single part of the body has been modified in some why to make everything fit n work.

So do you know the RAV in the picture?
Do you know what his done to it to get it to look like that?

[DUDELUX]

Yes i understand its going to be a huge job!
But i really like the shape of my RAV and i like how because its more
narrow then the bigger 4wd's its goes mores places!
So that's why i really want to turn it into a real little 4wd!
I personally don't like the sierra's i don't like there shape or look!
I just need to figure out whats going to be the easiest way
to start the project!
ie: Sierra chassis + Springs
Nissan Chassis + Coils
Hilux diff
WRX Motor
SR20DET motor
Manual- Auto
So ye im sure its going to cost alot of money but its just going to
be my little project.
Its not going to be finshed until it has everything
a real ones got plus more extra's.

Personally, Id use the rav body on a coil SWB patrol chassis, coils all round will be more comfy and flex better than leaf. The trol chassis would be wider than a sierra chassis, therefore being more stable in off road situations, also, may have more room in engine area for your wrx engine idea.
Im sure with a bit of gentle massaging of the guards and flares, you could fit 36s or maybe 37s with 4inch coils.
Dont do body lift, unless you have to, no body lift=lower centre of gravity, which means more stable.

Good luck

[Matt_85Lux]

I can't see why it couldn't be done and be legal, I've seen a few commodores and older tonner utes on patrol/landcruiser chassis over the years and all have been registered and road legal. A mate of my Dad had his tonner bolted on to a cruiser chassis a few years ago and had it all registered and road legal in Qld.

[v840]

I remember reading that build. Was sick farken.


Bit of a let down in the end though.