Outer Limits 4x4 Board

hey guys,

just wondering if anyones done the above swap with a gas tank under the rear??

looks like it would be a tight fit on mine...I realise that the shocks would need to be moved to the front.

I will also be doing a 2" body lift.

really chasing an answer from someone who is running this setup...not a guesstimate from someone who's not......

thanks....brendon

i know you didn't want to hear from those running a different setup, but i'm runnin 55 series springs (not much difference there).

i could only move my diff back 1.5 inches (instead of the 3.5 inches allowable by the springs) due to my gas tank (90 litre total, about 45-80 litre effectively). even then the diff and the gas tank met until i reset the springs to about 3 inches above standard 40 height.

So short answer is you won't be able to straight bolt in with a gas tank. i redrilled my spring perches and fish plates to reduce the amount it was moved back.

but i'm going to take the tank out and move it back as much as possible when i get some time. and mount the tank inside the cab.


and don't forget about longer brake lines and a longer driveshaft (the front shaft off a 55 series suited my application, but if you go back the full amount it would be too short)

and definately don't forget to get longer soft brake lines. mine's a 1976 and they are just long enough to deal with the 1.5 inches further back. i know of a 1975 40 that has moved his diff back just as far, and the soft line wasn't long enough

thanks for the info....didnt think it would go, but I wonder with the body lift and having the tank right back if it will go...

yeah I know about the other probs you mentioned....

I will be putting 75series front springs on the front( mines an 83) which gives about an inch I think.(also 60's pwr steer).

I know that guy ekky stolberg puts front 75's springs in the rear of 40's and you get your inch rearwards....so I may even do that as I really wanted to get a bigger tank(mines 55 useable). the 351 is a little thirsty and dont want to loose the already limited cargo space...

not really keen on redrilling the springs as the springs shops I spoke to said it wasn't a very good idea and they wouldn't do it.

cheers....brendon

just interested in why the spring shop advised against this? i searched for problems with this setup and couldn't find it (unless your stupid enough like i am and you drill them slightly offcenter......)

if you don't like the idea of redrilling the perches, what about a diff relocation plate? check em out on snake racing or big balls offroad to see what i mean, because i can't describe em too well. basically a flat plate with a hole for your spring pin to go through, then a pin an inch or so forward that goes into the hole in your spring perch... you still have to drill out the fishplates

you might get away with the bodylift, but i wouldn't bet on it, i'd give you 50 50 odds.

as for shocks, 2 inches moved back wasn't enough for me to be able to swap the shocks onto the front of the rear diff, and my gas tank eliminates the possibility of mounting the shocks on the back of the X member...

It was the fact that you have a weak point where the old holes were....they said there was a chance of the springs cracking there....I know lots of people do this mod but if a couple of spring shops tell me its suss thats good enough for me...

also have to be careful over in WA as the cops are tuff and they seem to be looking more closely at 4wd's....and I'm sure the engineer would'nt be too keen either.

yeah, the diff relocator plates could be an option....

thanks for your input..

brendon

no don't redril the springs, i know that weakens the springs, but the PERCH is different

the spring PERCH... where the spring bolt slots into(the bit the spring attaches to the axle, well the flat bit on the axle is the spring perch)

no snapping springs, no redrilling springs, just the perch...

oh if your worried about roadworthy, it's illegal to change your wheelbase (but you mention engineers so you probably gettin it engineered)

ohhhh...silly me

that makes more sense

cheers...

no drama's... you had me worried when i thought the spring guys suggested against drilling the perches

good luck

Hi Bumpy
I had mine measured up at opposite lock for the 60s springs and they were gonna move the axle backwards by too much (at least 50mm).
I can only afford about 30mm with the gas tank and pivoting of the axle.
The 75s springs you mention sound good tho, are you getting some more details for those?
cheers

Hey Vramm,

how are you mate? I had read a few story's in 4x4monthly awhile ago about 40's and it had ekky's number in it. I just rang him up and he told me about it.

gives 1" movement rear. I also got some parts off a guy last year and he had the 75's springs on the front and it gave an inch forward.

can't remember but you have small eyes on your springs dont you?

I have nt been out as my chassis has some major cancer and is about to snap at the rear spring fixed hanger!! just waiting to get the new one in the old boys workshop....

see you mate...brendon

if you've got the small spring hanger eyes, 55 series front springs will give you about an inch of movement backwards.

yeah ive got the small eye shackles, unfortunately the 55s are hard to find these days...
sounds like yours is coming along nicely bumpy, let me know when you get the rust sorted and we'll go for a drive somewhere.

funny you should say that, i got a set sitting at my ex's place (near melbourne though).

try toyhatsu wreckers, their pretty cheap with springs, usually have 55 series, and they freight almost anywhere

just rang round today and found some for $75 each. not really the cheapest.
So from what i can gather bad_religion_au, you have redrilled the spring perches, and relocated the fixed mount toward the front of the vehicle so that the axle only moved back 1inch. Is this right? what sort of difference have the 55s spring made to your ride height and flex??
I have heard that there are problems with springs that have a centred pin such as those on some hiluxes. Is this a problem with the 55s?
thanks
ps sorry for hijack brendon

vraamm wrote:just rang round today and found some for $75 each. not really the cheapest.
So from what i can gather bad_religion_au, you have redrilled the spring perches, and relocated the fixed mount toward the front of the vehicle so that the axle only moved back 1inch. Is this right? what sort of difference have the 55s spring made to your ride height and flex??
I have heard that there are problems with springs that have a centred pin such as those on some hiluxes. Is this a problem with the 55s?
thanks
ps sorry for hijack brendon

i'm no suspension expert but.

i did redrill the perch, but found that i was close enough to clearing the tank (and my brake soft lines weren't maxed out too much) so i didn't move the solid mount. i'd say it moved my axle back 1.5 inches, but didn't measure, i just wanted to get them in for a trip away

anyway when they were sagged out to buggery, the diff did contact the bash plate on the gas tank, also the rear was a little lower than a standard 40 front. but a hot reset took care of that.

but once i reset them 4 inches taller (to match the +2 inches in the front) i had no clearance issues.

my shocks run on a bit of an angle, which will be fixed once i can relocate the gas tank. a stock 55 series driveshaft was exactly the right length.

ride in them is pretty soft, you get some increased bodyroll, but not too much, but the ride is alot nicer. flex from the back i am extremely impressed with. my biggest (well 2 biggest) issues are: my front springs (stock springs) are too stiff for the rear, so the rear articulates nicely, but the front doesn't flex much at all... when i had matching spring rates front to rear, the front had alot more travel than it does now... once i sort some stuff out i'll soften off my front pack.

my biggest issue is i redrilled the fishplate hole on my drivers side offcenter (i rushed it which you should never do). it's managed to twist the main leaf, which is making that corner sag. once i relocate my gas tank i'm planning on moving the axle back the full 3- 3.5 inches so that i'm using the factory spring bolt hole. when i do this i'm getting a new main leaf made up so that it will sit level.

i don't know the problems with a centered spring bolt... i know offroad, the further away from the solid mount your axle mounts to the spring, the more flex you'll get. i've never read anything about issues, but i'm no expert.

75 bux is about average price i found... but i bought a 55 series for 100 bux to get the 4 speed out of it cause mine was busted, so thta took care of that problem