Chassis Swap

[13rendan_88]

hey guys,
ive been looking all around for this on the websites, and all i can find is the gen 2 4runners conversions, im wondering what toyota chassis i would be looking for for a live axel conversion, i currently have a 1987 IFS 4Runner Gen 1. i know u could use a 4runner 84 or 85 chassis which came out live axel but does either the live axel dual cab hilux chassis or single cab hilux chassis LN series match up to the 4runner body? ive got access to a workshop and hoists to make this a bit easier. and is there anyone who has done this conversion have any tips? any help will be appreciated.
cheers
Brendan

[Elmo]

dont change your chassis mate, just put a solid axle under your current chassis

VERY common... Many a hilux and 4runner owner on this site alone, myself included, has this done on there vehicles.

There's multiple kits on the market with everything you need or you can just mix and match parts and brands and accumulate your own parts...

Sky manufacturing is an awesome site, and really cheap

http://www.sky-manufacturing.com/new/index.php

this is a link to just one of there SAS kits

http://www.sky-manufacturing.com/new/de ... php?id=251


as well as our very own Buds customs off this forum

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/profile.p ... rofile&u=7

or his website

http://www.budscustoms.com.au/


Those two would absolutley be my first picks of people to talk to, and having bought multiple parts off Buddy personally i can highly recommend him, from both pleasantness of the dealings with him as well as the quality and speed of his work

Best of luck man

[13rendan_88]

it wouldnt be just cheaper to do the live axel conversion? those kits are 1900 american dollars. i saw on ebay not too long ago a 4runner live axel chassis with diffs and rolling but no motor and gearbox for 400 bucks, but was in vic and im on the gold coast.

[Elmo]

Oh i admit that is an expensive kit, it was just the first one i saw when i opened up the website to find the link for you.

The reason i suggest it, and one of the main reasons most people do this convesrion is that even if you did use a std live axle chassis you will still need to do most of this anyway to make it work well off road as a std solid axle set-up is pretty... well to be honest... shit... especially the steering.

But it depends what your after, if your prepared to go to alot of work in changing a chassis over and not real fussed about serious off road capabilty then by all means go for it. It would certainly impress an Engineer and get through a Rego inspection alot easier.

Its just that personally, i just dont see any point whatsoever in going to all the work of changing a chassis over and STILL having an inferior set-up at the end. And i could guarantee you im not alone.

The only real up-side to the std Solid axle chassis that im aware of is that it has a bigger arch in the front section of chassis above the diff, which allows more up travel, however if running bigger tyres, you will most likely be running decent bump stops to limit the upwards flex anyway so it becomes of less concern. And yet, swinging the other way, the IFS chassis already has the IFS steering box factory fitted which saves work trying to fit that to a Solid axle chassis. Pros n Cons either way. It really just comes down to what end result you want.

If however you do go down the chassis swap route, you will need to find another 4Runner chassis as they are signifigantly shorter than the other Hilux variants that are available. Single cab, X-tra cab, Dual cab etc are all a longer wheelbase. You could in theory cut'n'shut one of those chassis' but its not reccomended.

[13rendan_88]

yeah im half tempted just to save for the kit and do that way lol. this guy in brisbane does he import the kits from america? or should i just get the kit sent from america myself?

[Elmo]

Bubs i presume you mean...

He makes it all himself, No such kits for him as such, but he can certainly put some together... ie: http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/ftopic211475.php

[13rendan_88]

sweet as,

cheers mate

[hiluxmad]

I beleive he is in the process of putting some kits together ATM for coil SAS on a hilux.

[zookisteve]

im going to throw locktup 4x4 into the picture as they import from trailgear and are well proven in many many comps here and overseas.
they have free postage anywhere in aus and if you give them a call im sure you'll get things cheaper.
they have a full ifs eliminator kit which includes everything you need but the diff to do the conversion and also gives you awesome flex and the ability to run a 36'' tyre without a body lift
they're website is
www.locktup4x4.com.au

[hiluxmad]

I deal with locktup a bit and always easy to deal with.