Axle swap

Post by **searsy989** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 12:00 am

I'm currently putting together different plans for my first 4WD and one of the ideas i though up was that i could buy a toyota hilux surf or 4runner, like a 1995 model or something WITH IFS. There should be lots of them that haven't gone offroad at all thus in good condition.

What i wanna do is get an axle swap for it if i get one. Is this idea a worthwhile option and if so where can i get one done (i know it can be done), how much will it cost and do i need to provide my own axle or do they find one for you?

Thanks for your help.

Post by **Nice_Surf** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 12:06 am

If your talking about a solid axle front and if your in Vic call the guys at Cheezy Racing as they are doing this conversion in HG's Surf and from what I'm leed to beleive they do a few.
I have a '92' 2.4t/d 5spd for sale if your interested as I'm in Vic
Where abouts are you

Travis

Post by **searsy989** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 11:23 am

Sorry, in Sydney

Post by **POS** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 1:19 pm

For the additional cost of swapping in a solid axle, you would be far better of spending the extra money and getting a Good 3rd gen Dual Cab hilux, no stuffing around, no getting it approved. Its basically what your going to end up with anyway!!

Post by **searsy989** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 2:37 pm

Would an old hilux make a better project vheicle to muck around with? I want my first 4WD to be mainly a toy that i can muck around with yet it has to be cheap and easy to modify.

Post by **Mczook** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 5:08 pm

Hiluxes are a great truck for modifing and learning from. There are heaps of mild and hardcore aftermarket products available. Then if you want something different there a several custom workshop in Sydney & Melbourne that do great work on Hiluxes.

But remember modifing a truck of anykind is not cheap, especially if it is done correctly.

Post by **chimpboy** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 5:25 pm

For your first 4WD you want something older, cheaper, less depressing to break and simpler to fix.

Older hilux is the option I suppose you will probably end up getting; personally I think it would be smarter to get a sierra or even an LJ zook to start with. Roll it and you can just stand it back up again!

Jason

Post by **Surfection** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 5:27 pm

I agree with POS, as nice as it is to have something different there are always hassles involved. For your first time round get something that you won't have to screw with too much to get you where you wanna go, as trust me you'll get the $hits with it sitting in the garage/workshop when you could be out driving it on the trails !! Hilux is the way to go, or if you want a runner get a pre 86 model as they came stock with a solid front axle. HTH

Jeremy

Post by **MARKx4** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 5:46 pm

In sydney try OFF ROAD INDUSTRIES in silverwater. They have done a few as well.

Post by **RUFF** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 7:56 pm

Surfection wrote:I agree with POS, as nice as it is to have something different there are always hassles involved. For your first time round get something that you won't have to screw with too much to get you where you wanna go, as trust me you'll get the $hits with it sitting in the garage/workshop when you could be out driving it on the trails !! Hilux is the way to go, or if you want a runner get a pre 86 model as they came stock with a solid front axle. HTH Jeremy

This is very good advise from someone who has been where you are heading if you buy an IFS Surf for your first vehicle.

Post by **searsy989** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 7:59 pm

Ok. Budget isn't really a problem and a serria just isn't practical for me. Hilux seems the way to go.

Post by **POS** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 8:01 pm

I would imagine it would cost somewhere between 5-8 k to get a liva axle swap done by a decent company!

This 5-8k would be better spent getting a slightly better Hilux and still have enough for some lockers or springs etc etc!

I think most of the people that are getting the front ends changed over already own a IFS, for them they either have to sell it or do the swap, i am sure that if they knew what they were getting in the first place they would have brought a Lux or nissan!!!

Post by **Nice_Surf** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 8:03 pm

If you go Hilux go a dual cab so you can take mates along if they want to go, As I have found it works as I normaly have more than one pasenger when I go away for a weekend. Mind you none of mates have a 4by.

Travis

Post by **ausyota** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 8:30 am

There is another side to the whole SAS or buy a solid to start with story.
If you are wanting to get the most out of a solid front you will doing a lot of the stuff you would do with a SAS anyway.
Crossover/Hi steer involves an IFS steering box and custom mounting.
If you want to get the front suspension working well you will need a dropped front crossmember and longer springs.
You will want a widetrack rear diff and IFS hub kit up front for stability.

Realy the only thing extra you are doing with a solid axle swap is cleaning all the sh!t off the frame!
Just my thoughts anyway. But maybe Im biased because I have IFS that I will be SASing one day soon.
Paul.

Post by **Macca177** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 9:35 am

Little sears..... go the lux dude...theres so many parts avalible all within easy reach of where u live.... ur dads a sweet as sparky so theres no worries there...... woteva u get u will brake at sum stage no matter wot rig u get. i do all ya bolt on acceorries thigns for 4bys at my work .... and thers a few option for major mods like ORI, SNAKE, OVERKILL, M&M all in sydney sum just closer to u.... and ya can teach yaself too!

Post by **searsy989** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 11:24 am

Hey, hows ur new job going?

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