Outer Limits 4x4 Board

quick questions, did the older L300 4x4 have a solid front end or IFS?
Did any mitsubishi 4x4 at all have a live front end? preferably coil but leaf will suffice. I cant be too picky.

Interested in converting a triton to live front, i know the job will be a headf*ck so dont tell me about how hard its going to be.

If there is no such thing i could use a hilux front end.

why bother, all the tracks around sydney can be driven with IFS

Unfortunately no Mitsu 4x4 came with a live front axle, they are all IFS.
Only the Mitsu Jeep (a Jeep copy released in Japan only) has a leaf sprung front but has absolutely nothing in common with any other Mitsu 4x4.
I am about to do a SAS to my 93 lwb.
I looked at Dana 44's as they are available with the left hand drop diff but it will start to get tricky and parts aren't easy to come by.
We decided on a Bundera axle as it is the right width (to a few mm) but the diff is on the wrong side. It will be retubed to move the diff over to the left side.
It will be a coil spring 5 link front running Longfield CV's and 5.29 (available from the US) diff ratio (a Mitsu 5.29 is available for the rear) and ARB locker.
The Bundera diff is a high pinion (same as a Cruiser diff) but a Hilux is a low pinion, the high pinion propshaft will line up better as the Paj is a HP front diff (super select). But Bundera diffs are much harder to find than a Hilux, one solution is to use a Hilux axles but a HP Cruiser diff centre which bolts straight in. I'm trying to find out if 80 Series calipers will bolt onto the Bundy axles which will upgrade the braking. The only problem with the front I can see is the front slip yoke propshaft. Some guys in the US have done D-44 SAS and have had trouble with it slipping out under full flex. One guy solved it by a custom shaft that is springloaded to always keep tension on the slip yoke so it won't pull out under full flex. The steering will be a custom high steer arrangement.
At least using Tojo parts they are cheap and plentiful and keeping the stock size axles is a bonus if one breaks. We are trying to keep all the parts as stock as possible.
Hope this helps.

Bitsamissin wrote:
Hope this helps.

Frank, you are breeding malcontent among the jabber masses. Over half the boys in my club now have done SAS's (mostly Nissan club). I'm soon gonna be one of the only IFS rigs left in Alberta. Really looking forward to hearing how it goes...

What is a Bundera? Is there a North American equivalent?

Here ya go Phi baby :- http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/ecars/Toyo ... ndera.html

I guess the main reason I'm doing it is to be able to get the car higher in the belly and to run bigger tyres.
More unsprung weight at the front and wheel travel will certainly help traction and stability.
The other main reason was reliability the Mitsu IFS (as strong as it is) is at it's limit with 35"s if you only ever intend to run 33"s maximum the Mitsu IFS is fine (never had any problems with the 33"s). Idler arms and tie rods are the main problems the front diff and CV's seem to be very tough as Lloyd has also found out.
Also I'm looking to do some comp work in it like winch challenges etc.

Frank,

Any further progress on your sas conversion? Just keen to hear how its going..

Nothing as yet Grant should be starting in about 2 weeks.
I'm ready to drop the car off anytime it's just that Cheezy has been busy but I'm pencilled in as soon as he finishes off the two cars he has in the shop.

Bitsamissin wrote:Nothing as yet Grant should be starting in about 2 weeks.
I'm ready to drop the car off anytime it's just that Cheezy has been busy but I'm pencilled in as soon as he finishes off the two cars he has in the shop.

He has 3 in there at the moment. Kent's chassis Trent's shorty, and Pauly's Bundy.

Yeah he told me that Trent's should be finished very soon and Kent's is more of a longer termer
He pretty much said mines booked in after Trent's.
I'm just worried all the Outback Challenge dudes will flood in wanting all their shit fixed

Bitsamissin wrote:Yeah he told me that Trent's should be finished very soon and Kent's is more of a longer termer
He pretty much said mines booked in after Trent's.
I'm just worried all the Outback Challenge dudes will flood in wanting all their shit fixed

Yeah, Kent's has been there for about 9 Months now he's itching to get it back. I'm still saving the pennies so I can book mine in the get the suspension done.

Surely when you go to such effort to change the front suspension, it would be easier to assimilate and become part of the dark side - and just buy a Toyota! I hate to say it.....

The thing is I've put too much work and $$ into it to just trade for a live axle vehicle.
It would be cheaper to do what I'm doing to the Paj to get what I want.
The only live axle Tojo's are Lux's and Cruisers and I wouldn't by either, if I ever bought a live axle vehicle it would be a Patrol.
The Paj isn't my daily driver so that has been factored in.
I also want something a bit different/unique there's too many Toyo's/Nissans around as it is

GOOD POINT FRANK BUT ITS HARD TO GO PAST A NEW COIL CAB NISSAN! I KNOW THEY ARE COMMON, BUT THAT IS A GOOD THING SOMETIMES ESPECIALLY WITH AFTERMARKET PARTS.

Bitsamissin wrote:I also want something a bit different/unique there's too many Toyo's/Nissans around as it is

With you on that 100%. That's why I've got a Sigma wagon with twin DCOEs - anything else seems too common.

Bitsamissin wrote:I also want something a bit different/unique there's too many Toyo's/Nissans around as it is

Thats why i wanted a paj.. and ended up going jeep haha
seriously though - i can't go past the dash/interior of our NL for styling and functionality.