Extending a SWB or Shortening a LWB

[Wildy84]

hey, still chasing a new truck after rolling it at the CQ offroad challange. Was wondering if anyone has extended the wheel base (chassis) of a SWB patrol to the magic 100" or so or shortened (cut) a LWB chassis. or is it possible (difficult) just to move all the suspension mounts and spring seats futher back on a shorty. would like to keep these major mods engineered for on road use

Any help with this or finding a cheap replacement truck in the Mackay (Central QLD) area would be appreciated.

[weeman]

if your wanting GQ cab chassis.

I it would be easier to use a LWB chassis and cut that down and shorten that.

Lengthening a shorty is alot of work and I believe you can cut down the chassis and mov everything along and still retain the orginal spring hats.

[Bartso]

i would have to disagree lengthening a swb would be easier its just a matter of cutting off old spring hats and moving them down further i have done this and wasn't too bad

[Rhysta]

From what i understand the majority of MWB are brought to life from a SWB chassis. I think there is to much work usuing the LWB something to do with driveshafts etc.

But yeah go a swb.

[ZOOK60]

i would have to disagree lengthening a swb would be easier its just a matter of cutting off old spring hats and moving them down further i have done this and wasn't too bad

X2 im in the middle of this at the moment its a pretty simple process really

[adamj1300]

how about the cost process, from what ive seen the swb hold there value a tad better than a lwb which a usualy cheaper?

[Wildy84]

thanks for your replys, Bartso and Zook60 are you jus moving the spring seats and using longer control arms, if so what are you doing with the panhard mount or have you gone to a 4 link rear.

Thanks

[ZOOK60]

I have just made some new coil mounts and welded them straight behind the origonals. The panhard a cut off and moved back. I am just going to lengthen the standard arms as i need the car back on the road.Later on i may 4 link it just have to see what it is like with the standard setup. I think the hardest part is rewelding the gaurds back up its not my favorite job

[GQ TROL]

I think the hardest part is rewelding the gaurds back up its not my favorite job

On this topic, what do people usually do to the panelwork when extending SWB's?? I thought of using a door skin to fill the hole infront of the new wheel arches? Same with tubbing the wheel arch (including inner wheel arch), do you just cut and shut a new one in the new place?

Interested to know the way you've approached it.

[badger]

have a look at zero's build up. its an mq but same principal. altho i think mq's woud be easier as they dont have the flared rear gaurd

[ZOOK60]

this is how i have cut the gaurds i dont think it wil look that much out of place.The tyre is sitting in position at the moment. The rear diff will be8" backwards making a wheelbase of 102.Also the suspension is prob sitting about 6" higher than usual on the stands.

[lolergram]

hey, I would just like to say you are doing a great job!

[ZOOK60]

hey, I would just like to say you are doing a great job!

Thanks it not the neatest work but hey with a few thousand kays on it now one will know :lol:My welder is being temprimental again too

[Vanne]

wow guys, thats looking great! awesome, and looks to be a solid (in not super neat) job

just wondering, why extend the lwb? does it give better tracktion for offroad? or so you can fit bigger tires?

sorry if thats been asked before.

regards

[lolergram]

hey, I would just like to say you are doing a great job!

Thanks it not the neatest work but hey with a few thousand kays on it now one will know :lol:My welder is being temprimental again too

What kinda welding is this? Mig? Flame? What type of welder u using for this job?

[henry]

Welding upwards is tough. You gotta turn down the amps a bit i think.
What are you gonna do bout the fuel tank?

[ZOOK60]

Welding upwards is tough. You gotta turn down the amps a bit i think.
What are you gonna do bout the fuel tank?

Yes I know but the feed is playing up and that is the only happy medium I could get. The weld is wide because I had to cover the hole where the hole from the cross member was. I think I might be able to use a 4 runner tank only problem will be what to do with the filler because it comes from the top of the tank. I might have to use a tank from pick n payless. Or if no other choice I have a 100ltr lpg tank that could go behind the back seat.

[ozy1]

i have also lengthened a SWB, but i took it out to 110" and am alot happier, extending the SWB makes the thing drive and climb a hell of alot better, and also helps to keep the front wheels on the ground when offroad,

shortening a LWB is not that easy, Mick Christie did it and said hed never do it again, you cant just move the spring mountds and control arm mounts as the section of chassis infron of the diff drops alot of height, so the only way to do it is cut a sectiion of the chassis out under the cab floor and weld it back up, mind you, you need to have a professional chassis welded do the chop and mods along with bracing,

the SWB option, i took, i welded in new coil mounts, extended the lower arms which are now just over a metre long, i then put an A Frame in, that way i didnt need the panhard bar, and my engineer was happy,

[Ossie]

I think the hardest part is rewelding the gaurds back up its not my favorite job

On this topic, what do people usually do to the panelwork when extending SWB's?? I thought of using a door skin to fill the hole infront of the new wheel arches? Same with tubbing the wheel arch (including inner wheel arch), do you just cut and shut a new one in the new place?

Interested to know the way you've approached it.

The section you cut out of the rear of the drivers side, use to fill the gap on the passenger side an vise versa.

Depending on what comps , if any , you intend to do under the CCDA ruls chassis modification between the diffs is not allows, therefore shortening a LWB wich a mid chassis chop is out. As for alterring the spring hat location and control arm length is easir on a SWB than a LWB.

If you were in Vic Cheezy does a good job of exteding a SWB and throughs in an Aframe at the same time...

Joson

[nzdarin]

Lengthening a SWB is pretty easy. I shifted the spring hats, pandard rod mount etc back to make 104. It worked pretty well as we cut the spring hats off then used them on the other side due to the position going from the front of the arche in the chassis to the back. Rpositioned the panhard to suit and lowered it at the same time to retain factory angle and so use factory pandhard. 4 link is in the plan but that will happen when the coilovers go in.

Mitch, harden up and cut the whole back off. Mike Graham will do arms for you the same as mine and no doubt the same cost, and they make it half way between SWB and LWB.

[lolergram]

Whats the progress?
Any new piccies?

[ZOOK60]

Whats the progress?
Any new piccies?

http://carl.outerlimits4x4.com/viewtopi ... 8&start=30

[Yarno]

What"s the standard wheel base of the SWB GQ?

thinking about a body swap...

[ozy1]

shorts masures in at about 96-98 inches, if i remember correctly,

[Yarno]

mmm that's sounding about perfect for the MU to sit on which is about 98 inches at the moment.

[bj on roids]

I put an inch in the front diff pretty easily, and used spacers to accomplish.

Lowering the vehicle will get you a little more length in wheelbase than a lifted one too.

I am custom doing a 3 link rear after registration and moving the diff back a further 2" and moving the front out another inch or two when i re-do the front suspension after rego.

I have also removed nearly 2 feet from the rear of the chassis...

On a SWB

http://carl.outerlimits4x4.com/viewtopic.php?t=101422

I will be 100" long
80" wide and
lower than a stock GQ

[bj on roids]

mmm that's sounding about perfect for the MU to sit on which is about 98 inches at the moment.

come and measure mine