Notice: We request that you don't just set up a new account at this time if you are a previous user.
If you used to be one of our moderators, please feel free to reach out to Chris via the facebook Outerlimits4x4 group and he will get you set back up with access should he need you.
Recovery:If you cannot access your old email address and don't remember your password, please click here to log a change of email address so you can do a password reset.

Volvo portals on a Daihatsu Rocky, opinions needed.

General Tech Talk

Moderators: toaddog, TWISTY, V8Patrol, Moderators

Post Reply
Posts: 461
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2004 7:23 pm
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Volvo portals on a Daihatsu Rocky, opinions needed.

Post by BabyGodzillaGTi-R »

Hey guys,
just wanna ask any consideration and afterthoughts about my intention to go Volvo axles on a Rocky?
Idealy i would like to get a 'low ratio' axle and slap them under my Rocky retaining the current drivetrain and 4Y 2.2 litre engine, and current leafsprings.

According to those who have done the conversion from where i am (Malaysia) it seems the combination wont work claiming the car is way, way underpowered when running these axles.
But i dont understand why should that be the case especially when u have lower compound ratio though it's obvious highway crusing is sacrificed.
Other than that are there any hidden issues that are likely to crop up? Coz i'm clueless currently so i've have to start somewhere like posting my silly question.

So what say u guys? Just do it?
My RIG sucks big time.
Posts: 109
Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2004 9:45 pm
Location: SE Melbourne, Australia

Post by rlaxton »

I don't see why it won't work. It is not like the old land rovers that people are converting have huge amounts of power anyway. Worst case you can always add a transfer case doubler or swap in a more powerful engine.

If you want to be more scientific, look at the power and torque curves of your 4Y/gearbox/transfer combination and compare it with the more common Land Rover setup. Just multiply the engine torque by the total reduction ratio to et torque at the transfer case output shaft in high range and low range. You can probably get away with a little less torque since the vehicle will weigh less than a Landy.

E.g Engine torque 200Nm, gearbox ratio, 1st gear 4.5:1, transfer case 2.5:1, total ratio 11.25:1, output torque 2250Nm.

This is not taking into account any drag or friction but that applies to both LR and Rocky equally.

As a matter of interest, how easy is it to find Volvo portals over there, how much do they cost and where do they come from? Are they 303, 304 or later versions? What about entire vehicles?

Richard.
Posts: 10984
Joined: Thu May 29, 2003 3:47 pm
Location: Bum drilling with my buddy Ray!

Re: Volvo portals on a Daihatsu Rocky, opinions needed.

Post by GRIMACE »

BabyGodzillaGTi-R wrote:So what say u guys? Just do it?



:armsup: DO IT :cool:

mate if i had an option to start over again on my rangie it would have stayed stock everything, and just fit portal axles and cut the guards and fit 38-40" rubber.

The way i see it the protals eradicate having to do heaps of suspension work (but in turn you need to do custome linkages and shock mounts etc etc) and you get lift, lockers, gearing, strength, diff clearance all in one hit.

I would def do it that way if i had the option to start again... just means more $$$ spent up front in one hit but its less $$$ in the long run.

All IMHO ofcourse :D
Posts: 6029
Joined: Tue Dec 24, 2002 9:34 pm
Location: South Australia

Post by bad_religion_au »

i think the reason they might be sceptical of the rocky havin enough juice to spin them is because of the amount of weight in the axles... the resistance of spinning the huge diffs and reduction gears, all that drivetrain power loss
Spit my last breath
Posts: 5179
Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2003 8:15 pm
Location: Brisbane Australia

Post by Shadow »

your car will probly bounce on its light suspension when you load the axles up cause the body will try to turn before the tyres do :P
Posts: 11892
Joined: Tue Oct 22, 2002 9:53 am
Location: Melbourne

Post by N*A*M »

since you have access to the axles, just do it

there was a swb vitara on volvos in malaysia
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun May 22, 2005 9:24 am

Post by cebra4x4 »

we have a Defender with Volvo Portal axles. Look it!
http://www.4x4xalmeria.com/Web4x4/4x4al ... erpito.htm
www.4x4xalmeria.com
Spain
Posts: 118
Joined: Sat May 14, 2005 5:56 pm
Location: Sweden

Post by ingthorsson »

I´ve seen the Volvo military trucks with portal axles in action, running something like 40" tires. They obviously are far too heavy, very underpowered and decidedly uncomfortable, but, due to ground clerance and lockers, they get there. Usually.
Just for the fun of it, I checked the biggest "for sale" site here in Sweden. Not a single portal axle privately for sale!
Probably available from surplus sellers though.
if you don´t know its impossible, you just might do it!
Posts: 461
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2004 7:23 pm
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Post by BabyGodzillaGTi-R »

I guess why it's plentiful (for now) in Malaysia is that the Malaysian Arm forces and the police used to run them and many are now decomissioned.

As for availability as a complete car, not sure now. Still annoyed when i was young when i couldnt convince my dad to get hold of one when an immaculate C303 was for sale. Now they are selling like hot cakes(axles). I think they are going for 7k Ringgit Malaysia for the "lowratio spec" and 15k for the "highratio spec". US $1= RM3.81.
I believe it's pretty cheap compared to what u guys are paying for.

The Rocky's i've seen with portal axles to date are running 1JZ to 7MGTE and the smallest is the 22R.


So u dont think the leaf springs might take the weight of the axles even though they are aftermarket Ultimate Suspension leaf springs? Seems to carry load reasonably well.
So u guys suspect the drive train loss with them must be tremendous that makes running with a 4Y silly?
Coz my budget is limited up to the axles alone for now( i'm still studying).
I believe i might need to upgrade my M8000 winch too as i heard recovering portal axles trucks in mud pools can be a disaster in the making.
Oh well...
I need more support....
:armsup:
My RIG sucks big time.
Posts: 118
Joined: Sat May 14, 2005 5:56 pm
Location: Sweden

Post by ingthorsson »

By all means go for the portals if tou can get hold of them. Like the Rangie owner said: you get so many advantages, they outweigh any disadvantages you may encounter. And as for the springs not being able to support the axles.....? I actually thought they were supposed to support the vehicle, not supporting, but carried by the axles. Unless of course your vehicle is upside down most of the time. Unsprung weight will of course be increased with some loss in comfort and handling, but if you plan to do the kind of four wheeling where the portals do you any good, you won´t really notice that loss.
Drivetrain power loss might be noticeable if your increase in tyre size goes far to balance the lower gearing in the portals.
As usual it´s a question of how you plan to use the truck.
if you don´t know its impossible, you just might do it!
Posts: 109
Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2004 9:45 pm
Location: SE Melbourne, Australia

Post by rlaxton »

Hmmm,

7000 Ringit = ~A$2400
15000 Ringit = ~A$5,180

Not bad considering that you get tough as guts axles with lockers built in that are strong enough to run 40" tyres easily and yet weigh vastly less than the UniMog equivalent. They are also ready to run without pinion modifications having the same flange pattern as a Land Rover AFAIK.

Now if only I can get to a point where I can afford a pair before they run out!

Richard.
Posts: 11892
Joined: Tue Oct 22, 2002 9:53 am
Location: Melbourne

Post by N*A*M »

for reference i imported 3 pairs 6:1 ratio pairs a few years ago for about $14k landed
Posts: 461
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2004 7:23 pm
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Post by BabyGodzillaGTi-R »

Hmm i'm kinda of a car technical stuff retard, why do u guys keep mentioning about Landies and Volvos that they are perfect for each other?
Or maybe i should screw my Daihatsu Rocky and build up my Rangie Classic instead?
hehehe
;)

Wow NAM.... wow... that cost a bomb
And just imagine that a set of Volvo axles back in 2000 were like 3k RM
My RIG sucks big time.
Posts: 10984
Joined: Thu May 29, 2003 3:47 pm
Location: Bum drilling with my buddy Ray!

Post by GRIMACE »

wanna ship me a set for the right price ofcourse ;)
Posts: 1403
Joined: Fri Jul 11, 2003 7:59 pm
Location: Melbourne

Post by DaveS3 »

BabyGodzillaGTi-R wrote:Hmm i'm kinda of a car technical stuff retard, why do u guys keep mentioning about Landies and Volvos that they are perfect for each other?
Or maybe i should screw my Daihatsu Rocky and build up my Rangie Classic instead?
hehehe
;)

Wow NAM.... wow... that cost a bomb
And just imagine that a set of Volvo axles back in 2000 were like 3k RM


Half of the volvo stuff is interchangeable with landy stuff.

They *almost* bolt into a Series (leaf sprung) rover.

If you search the Rover forum about Volvos, Daddylonglegs (Bill) has converted a County and set up NAMs rangie diffs. This thread should give you some idea on how to go about it.

Dave.
Land Rover Discovery - GQ conversion underway
Posts: 48
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2004 12:55 am
Location: inside

Post by darkor »

portal axles are obviously hard to come by. don't hear much of them in oz. pricey or just hard to modify ??
84 d/cab hilux ...... a work in progress.
just not much progress at the moment !?!
Posts: 1284
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2005 12:31 pm
Location: forest lake BUILDING BOOTYFAB BARWORK

Post by frp88 »

how much are the unimog portals :?:
LETS GO BRONCOS
Posts: 118
Joined: Sat May 14, 2005 5:56 pm
Location: Sweden

Post by ingthorsson »

I just heard from sources in Iceland they the yanks have "discovered" the Unimog and are buying them at any price to build trucks that can crush the "Bummers"!
Incidentally: in about a week or two I´ll be able to let you guys know what the Volvo portals are going for here in Sweden. I´ll keep you posted.
if you don´t know its impossible, you just might do it!
Posts: 1559
Joined: Sun Nov 03, 2002 2:35 pm
Location: Captain Creek QLD

Post by Bush65 »

DaveS3 wrote: snip

Half of the volvo stuff is interchangeable with landy stuff.

snip
Dave.


As far as I can tell, only some brake parts are interchangeable with landy stuff.

The vacuum actuator from the LT95 can be made to operate the diff lock on the volvos.

Bill would know if there are any other parts, but I cant see anything remotely like half.
John
Posts: 1403
Joined: Fri Jul 11, 2003 7:59 pm
Location: Melbourne

Post by DaveS3 »

Bush65 wrote:
DaveS3 wrote: snip

Half of the volvo stuff is interchangeable with landy stuff.

snip
Dave.


As far as I can tell, only some brake parts are interchangeable with landy stuff.

The vacuum actuator from the LT95 can be made to operate the diff lock on the volvos.

Bill would know if there are any other parts, but I cant see anything remotely like half.


Sorry your right. These seem to be the parts that are needed on a more current basis though and in Aus the LR stuff is far easier to get.
Land Rover Discovery - GQ conversion underway
Posts: 1284
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2005 12:31 pm
Location: forest lake BUILDING BOOTYFAB BARWORK

Post by frp88 »

frp88 wrote:how much are the unimog portals :?:
does anybody know
LETS GO BRONCOS
Posts: 11892
Joined: Tue Oct 22, 2002 9:53 am
Location: Melbourne

Post by N*A*M »

$4k upwards
Posts: 1284
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2005 12:31 pm
Location: forest lake BUILDING BOOTYFAB BARWORK

Post by frp88 »

does glenn dobbins sell the portals he made or are they a one off :?:
LETS GO BRONCOS
Posts: 118
Joined: Sat May 14, 2005 5:56 pm
Location: Sweden

Post by ingthorsson »

Sorry it´s taken me so long to get this info:
A pair of Volvo portals sells for 20.000.- swedish kronas here, (you might be able to get the vat subtracted for export), that´s close to 3.400.- aussie dollars, or 2.720.- without the vat. Allow for freight cost for nearly half a ton on top of that.
They are a hefty weight for two men to carry.
The actual differentials/ring & pinion are reported to be basically the same as were used in most volvo series 200, 700 and 900 passenger cars so a variety of ratios are available for them.
For specifications go to:
www.xtremevehicles.com/html/vehicle_specs.html
A big surplus dealer that carries at least complete vehicles is:
www.renajs.se/
there´s a link for english on their front page.
Hope this does you guys any good.

Ingthorsson.
if you don´t know its impossible, you just might do it!
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 30 guests