Screwy_ScrewBall wrote: I have made the mistake throughout my build of modding it and modding it and modding it, and then changing my mind as to wat i want and not being happy with mods i have done and re doing things and changing things.
At a guess I'd recon 99% of your problems are right there.
The "learning curve" of getting better stuff, more flex, more power, bigger tyres, etc etc is a long and extensive one in which few if any ppl get right first up.
What works for one person will not work the way another person requires it to work at all.
Every-one has his/her opinion and some ( all be it few ) actually have the hands on experiance and knowledge to do such mods having done them on heaps of other occasions.
As for an SOA on a LWB ......... why not
Just because others have failed or wont or cant recemend it doesnt meant it cant be done or cant be done in a differant manner to what others have tried, the key is to experiment and have a final goal in mind and stick to it. Constant "plan changes" will result in an unthoughtout project that will become an endless trail of errors and remodifications.... Jeffs experiance is typical under this type of situation.
I asked OL members in the Toyota section about an SOA for a troopy a year or so ago, I got told by heaps that it was a huge mistake to attempt it because of [ enter a fawkin great long list ] reasons..... turns out it wasnt such a great drama as I expected although the fine tuning was a bit more involved to offset some of the reasons on the great big long list.
Turns out that none of the guys had actually attempted it and were going soley on gossip/ old wives tales...... I now
know better having done it.
1/
PLANNING
Know EXACTLY what it is you are trying to achive..... more chassis clearance, bigger tyres, better flex ...... which one is it YOU want ?
If all you want is a bit more lift then a SOA ISNT for you.
2/
RESEARCH
Search is your only true friend.
Sure others will mouth off at what they "did" and "tell" you what to do, better to be sure of what they did ACTUALLY do them selves and compare it to what others actually did do. Hands on experiance is far more valuable then some-one who "watched" one being done although the line between the two is often blurred.
3/
BUDGET
ASK others what it cost them to get a feel for the expences you are about to encounter, no point planing for a SOA for around a grand when no-one can do it for that for you.
Are you doing the work yourself ?, if not them its time to fatten up your wallet.
Be prepared for unforseen expences.......... how much is a 4 litre of diff oil again ?
4/
DESIGN
The basic principles are much the same between most SOA's and the differances are minimal in most cases.... BUT there are differances.
Have a look around and see what others have done in their designs and watch for the minor changes that have been made due to an unplanned error/ miscalulation.
5/
PARTS
Obtain the nessecary parts BEFORE YOU START, nothing worse than waiting for a couple of weeks for a brakeline extension to finish off the job.
While some things cant be done untill the basic SOA has been done ( IE: Tailshafts ) many others can be done and be sitting ready to fit.
6/
FIRST DRIVE
Be prepared to brakedown, take a mobile phone and a good toolbox. There will be something you forgot to tighten. Once you've driven a few miles then park it back in the w/shop n DOUBLE CHECK EVERYTHING.
Ask Jeff how many times his front Ubolts came loose !
7/
FINE TUNING
This is where the heartace is.... Only trial n error seems to work in each individual case..... what worked for one person may not work for you but people can guide you by saying what "I" tried before settling on the final design that works for ME and my rig.
Kingy
