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GU leaf to coil conversion

Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 3:15 pm
by gut42
Im looking at buying a GU ute, would really prefer to buy a coil cab, but have noticed that leaf rear ended utes are cheaper, so can anybody tell me who does leaf to coil conversions in Brisbane so I can get some quotes? It may just open up the market for me if this works out cheaper.

Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 5:00 pm
by DensGU
My Gu is leafed rear, for what its worth to coil your better off finding a Gu thats coiled. If not try ontrack 4x4 on Moss st.

Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 6:51 pm
by AFeral
I did some approx pricing on this recently.
The cheapest I could get a rear chassis half cut was $1500, then theres labour another big lump then all the little things like brake line bushies etc. After all that theres an engineers report, which looked like a lot of stress.
Would be cheaper and easyer to swap the hole chassis I got a quote for $2000 for all the bits, lot less enginering stress too.
Personallly I would just pay the extra and buy a coil cab. To pay someone else to convert leaf to coil I would say you are looking at $4000 maybe more.

Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 7:30 pm
by gut42
Parts are not the problem, I probly have most of them allready, more looking for someone to do the work and certify it.

Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 7:39 pm
by TheBigBoy
Its a mission of a job to do and never as good. I was in the same boat when I was looking for a GU ute. As hard as it might be to find a st gu patrol. Its worth just buying what you want. Leafs are good for towing heavy load's but coils are absolutely beautiful. I know where a bomb of a st ute is for sale with a gen 3 in it.

Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 3:26 pm
by mud4b
AFeral wrote:I did some approx pricing on this recently.
The cheapest I could get a rear chassis half cut was $1500, then theres labour another big lump then all the little things like brake line bushies etc. After all that theres an engineers report, which looked like a lot of stress.
Would be cheaper and easyer to swap the hole chassis I got a quote for $2000 for all the bits, lot less enginering stress too.
Personallly I would just pay the extra and buy a coil cab. To pay someone else to convert leaf to coil I would say you are looking at $4000 maybe more.
Your looking in the wrong place, i have rear cuts and front cuts (chassis) for $150 a piece..., i can do the work but i cant engineer it.. all up depending if you buy a gu coil rear diff around the $1500 drive in drive out.. or use the old diff and make brackets $1000.. anyway it can be done for cheap but great.

As for the bottom post i don't see why it is never the same as a purchased one? if you take the time to measure it properly it works out the same in the end.

cheers mark.

Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 4:05 pm
by AFeral
Oops i meant chassis chop as in
chassis section, axle, linkage, shocks, springs and all the little bits like brake bias control etc.

Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 4:50 pm
by GeeUte
Dont forget that leafs have drum brakes and coils have disk's too. Mud4b have you done a coil conversion thats been engineered and a daily driver or mostly comp style stuff ?

I have looked into it too, but the thing that stopped me was the paperwork. If your staying in the one state it's fine. However if you move around it needs to be re-engineered everytime you change your rego over !

If you do it, put in a superior long arm kit :cool: your going to weld in arm mounts so why not make them to suit !

Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 5:10 pm
by TheBigBoy
Mud4b - The guy at a comp who had it done to his truck. Said it had vibrations at speed (I dont think it was done propperly) and he said it just didnt react or feel as good as his mates St GU Ute.

I didnt how ever get a ride in it so cant say personally. Didnt sound very good though. Why cant you get it engineered?

Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 7:55 pm
by Unidriveshafts
Try Damien at Yuri Toowoomba-4637 8543. He can do the job and engineer it to.

Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 9:41 pm
by gut42
Very helpfull guys! Keep em comin!

Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 9:12 am
by mud4b
GeeUte wrote:Dont forget that leafs have drum brakes and coils have disk's too. Mud4b have you done a coil conversion thats been engineered and a daily driver or mostly comp style stuff ?

I have looked into it too, but the thing that stopped me was the paperwork. If your staying in the one state it's fine. However if you move around it needs to be re-engineered everytime you change your rego over !

If you do it, put in a superior long arm kit :cool: your going to weld in arm mounts so why not make them to suit !

I have done many coil conversions but as said (not engineered) and most are daily driven. going from drum to disc is a easy fix, you get the master resleeved and bored to suit (around $80 with a stainless sleeve). but yeah i agree on the engineering thing, it is a pain in the ass (should be easy as though) to get someone to look at it let alone engineer it for this state let alone the hassle of having to redo it if moving.. but as much as this is not right, if its neat and factory appearance your pretty much right anyway, but still taking the risk.. for some reason all the engineers in qld that the fab boys or comp boys go through are kept secret, they never tell you who they are, these are the ones engineering this kind of stuff..

cheers mark

Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 9:19 am
by mud4b
TheBigBoy wrote:Mud4b - The guy at a comp who had it done to his truck. Said it had vibrations at speed (I dont think it was done propperly) and he said it just didnt react or feel as good as his mates St GU Ute.

I didnt how ever get a ride in it so cant say personally. Didnt sound very good though. Why cant you get it engineered?
This (without putting whoever done the conversion down too much) is a simple mistake of not measuring and re measuring over and over again before welding, it is not aligned to the front diff or square to the chassis, or it could be as simple as he did not get the pinion pointed in the right direction.

i cant get it engineered as i cant find a engineer to get off his ass to even reply or talk to me.. they are that slack here on the sunshine coast and this is the qld transport approved engineers.. brisbane is too far for me to do it when we have them here on the sunshine coast that should be doing it or at least have the decency to reply back. i know my work is more than good enough to pass let alone i have enough brains to follow their guidelines for approval before i even start the job...

cheers mark.

Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 9:19 pm
by GeeUte
So how did you go with your search ?

Find anyone to do it and get a rough price ?

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 6:12 pm
by gut42
[quote="GeeUte"]So how did you go with your search ?

Find anyone to do it and get a rough price ?[/quote]

Not as yet, still lookin around though.