GU portals in a 4 link tube buggy

[tim]

Hope you don't mind, put this in Nissan board but thought it might get missed by buggy folk.

Sorry about the newbie question.

I am mid way through building a tube buggy here in the UK but have had a very recent change of plan. Instead of JacMac uprated LR axles on triangulated 4 links front and rear it will be getting a set of Marks 4wd GU portals.

Anybody got any experience of these, in particular running them with 4 links?

Also wondering about the steering and if these axles can be converted to high steer, does anyone make steering arms for this?

Any pics of linked GU axles and any with hydraulic steer would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Tim

[Daisy]

what about unimog diffs asthey should be easier to get hold of over there?

[tim]

I am already getting the Marks 4wd axles.

I hope they will be lighter than Mogs.

Tim

[bogged]

I am already getting the Marks 4wd axles.

I hope they will be lighter than Mogs.

Tim

my god, you must have a lot of money.. VAT on $16,000

[Micka]

I am already getting the Marks 4wd axles.

I hope they will be lighter than Mogs.

Tim

They should be stronger than Mogs too.

What is the reduction in the hubs?

[RUFF]

They should be stronger than Mogs too.

Why?

[Reddo]

Hi

they are not stronger than Mogs becuase they are an adaptation to existing housings etc, which in themselves are not as strong, so the net effect is that they are weaker, and waaaaaaaaaaay more expensive.

Having said that, they sell many to customers in the EU, and they are a good product.

[ISUZUROVER]

Hi

they are not stronger than Mogs becuase they are an adaptation to existing housings etc, which in themselves are not as strong, so the net effect is that they are weaker, and waaaaaaaaaaay more expensive.

Having said that, they sell many to customers in the EU, and they are a good product.

Are you talking about MD portals or Marks Portals? Land Rovers are pretty common in the EU but GUs less so.

Micka - I was wondering why also?

[Reddo]

sorry, was taliing about both, as I understand it, they are both based on using the existing componants (eg., diff housings) plus lockers etc.

Sales to EU - ooops, was referring to MD units.......should have said....MD sell heaps to EU, not sure about Marks...

[jeep97tj]

Sounds like a good project tim, got any pics?? make sure u keep us informed.

[badger]

do these portals not also run standard cv's etc

[ISUZUROVER]

do these portals not also run standard cv's etc

Yes, but the CV is inboard of the reduction/drop box, so only sees a fraction of the torque load that the wheel sees. e.g. if the portal reduction is 2:1, the CV is only under 1/2 the load that the wheel is. This is the main reason portals are stronger than normal axles.

Tim - sounds like an interesting project - I think buds/bubs has done a couple of 4-links on nissan axles?

[Wendle]

Mark's website says the portal reduction is only 1.4:1. I think at that ratio the GU CV would still pop under less load than the Unimog stuff.

[tim]

MD do sell into Europe.

I think these may be the first set of Marks coming to Europe (or the second).

Bear in mind these will be under a buggy weighing about 1500kg and in the UK we don't really do big horsepower

I am sure they will be plenty strong and lighter than Mogs. I am just waiting for some weights at the moment.

When I work out how to do a pic I will post one of the buggy to date

Tim

[ljxtreem]

Sounds like a cool build , some tall claims about the Marks portals being weak, I dont think there is anyone running them under a buggy here yet.
Im sure there not as strong as Mogs but for a buggy application you dont have to worry about the Mog long long pinions and drum breaks.
The GU's have to be lighter?
Gu axles are readly avalible


Mock

[tim]

Here's a pic of the work so far. Sitting on the older straight axles, above ride height by quite a few inches and with the wrong transmission. Apart from that it's right!



For reference the tyres are 35". Will be going a bit bigger when it's built.

Tim

[tim]

Any ideas / experience of these axles being converted to high steer?

Tim

[pegasus]

Hey Tim,

Where abouts in the UK are you? What engine are you running?

Stew

[tim]

Stew

Just outside London, Hertfordshire, not far from Watford.

Drop me a line if you want to see the buggy and grab a beer.

Tim

[planb]

nice looking buggy

i was in watford today, small world :-)

[jeep97tj]

U have some nice lines on that buggy, I like the flat belly and the curved rockers too How wide is the frame??

U need to do a build up in the members section, please

[bubs]

U have some nice lines on that buggy, I like the flat belly and the curved rockers too How wide is the frame??

U need to do a build up in the members section, please

He has one on pirate do a search you'll find it

[tim]

Build up has been pretty quiet fro a while, haven't put anything on PBB for a few months.

Tim

[andrew e]

Any ideas / experience of these axles being converted to high steer?

Tim

Not a high steer, but a higher steer. If you swap the swivel hubs from left to right, and run both steering arms infront of the diff. You need a front steering arm from an MQ (1980-1987) patrol, as this has a tapered hole in the rod end part. This will also allow you to run straight arms on your 4 link. I havent seen this done too much but i know it works well.

or you could just go for full hydro steer.



Andy

[tim]

Andy

Can't go full hydro as it needs to be road legal.

Thanks for the info.

Tim

[A1]

Road legal Tube buggy .......

[tim]

Road legal Tube buggy .......

Thats right!

It will eventually have just enough bodywork to be road legal, but done with style. Have got some really good looking initial design sketches.

One of the only good things about living in Blairs Britain is the fact that, as long as it's built well and meets regulations about sharp edges and stuff, you can road register a tube buggy with 4 link front and rear, portals and 16" coilovers.

It is actually better here than in the rest of Europe.

It needs to be road legal for most of the events that we do.

Tim