Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hey guys, what kind of swb should I get if i were to build up a nice offroad beast, I will still want it road registered so its gota be something realistic, I would also be interested in the engine and driveline options availble for the vehicles yas suggest, I would prolly use old wrecks etc as donors, I think I would prefer a diesel simply for its water and mud going abilities, in terms of keeping it dry, but I would also love the all out power of a V8. Im fairly new to this so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Photos, links to build ups etc would be kool.

Cheers

Azz

My Paj goes all the places I've wanted to, but it will never be the ultimate offroad beast. From what you've described, I'd start with a GQ/Mav shorty, or maybe a Range Rover?

Scott

Or even a Rocky ... Slap some Pootrol axles under it and bobs ur uncle Diesel engines are nice in them too.. esp the turbo's. Lots of go for a small rig.

Hard to go past a Mav tho.... So much stuff around for them

It depends a lot on the budget. What are you willing to spend?

How many creature comforts are you looking for, mabye early patrol or cruiser?

I definatly dont want to spend a fortune, I will have to be saving my pennies as I go and I will be doing a lot of shopping around for bargins, was thinking something from around the mid 80's to mid 90's for the rolling chassis. Im open to suggestions really.

Creature comforts, bah, they are not needed. Patrol or cruiser was what I had in mind, but as I said, im willing to look at any suggestions.

Cheers

Azz

If you are after pure offroad, heaps of aftermarket support, wanna spend only average amount of money, and still have bulk capability look at a sierra LWB/UTE, similar to TIm (redzook). He hasnt spent a bomb on his rig, and its is awesome offroad. It isnt practicle or anything for a DD, but for pure offroad work its unbeatable compared to money spent.

Layto....

Nothing against zuks, but just the way you ask the question makes me think that's not quite what you're after.

It would be hard to go past a patrol, MQ for the most budget-friendly option, GQ if you have a little bit more to spend.

If you keep an eye on ebay you'll see MQs with 350 chevs in them reasonably often, can sometimes pick one up under $2k... add new tyres and a cig diff lock, and you have about as cheap an off-road weapon as you could get.

does the MQ have just as good flex as the GQ? What are the advantages and disadvantages to both?

MQ is leaf and GQ is coil. You will be in front if you went straight to the GQ. They flex a lot better standard, and you can get it to flex better a lot cheaper and easier than a leaf sprung MQ.
I am a cruiser man, but what you have described I think you would be better off going the GQ, although I reckon I could get my twin locked midi cruiser anywhere you could get a GQ. It just doesnt do it in as good a style.

midi73 wrote:MQ is leaf and GQ is coil. You will be in front if you went straight to the GQ. They flex a lot better standard, and you can get it to flex better a lot cheaper and easier than a leaf sprung MQ.

I do agree with this mostly, but just for another angle, if you get an early MQ then (a) it's cheaper, and (b) you have the option of legally fitting an older V8 into it, since substitute engines basically need to be newer than the vehicle they are going into. Not necessarily a huge issue but significant for $$$ purposes.

Do GQs flex better than MQs at the front?

By the sounds of it, an MQ/MK is what your looking 4

I think it would be best if you went with the GQ over the MQ, the little extra you pay for the cost of the car you will save in the suspension mods. The MQ would be a great option if you didnt want to have a great deal of flex, to get good flex out of a MQ you need to do a spring over conversion which doesnt make it a great daily driver. So i would be going a GQ.

what about engine options? should I go V8 or stick with a diesel? I prolly will want to run 35's or 37's on it.

Cheers

Azz

again, is it gunna be just weekend warrior or you gunna be doing long trips as well?

diesel swb patrols will take ya a bit longer to find. look in my sig line for a petrol/gas one that'll be perfect for ya

range rovers have a comfier ride, more in cab gimmicks and a factory V8, very similar wheelbase to the patrol, the startout price is much cheaper. but will cost similar to a patrol by the time you strengthen the driveline to take 35/37's both cars will fit 35's with a 2" susp ad 2" body, look at a few and decide what you enjoy driving more/like parked in your drivway when u bust stuff.

Simon

QIKAZZ wrote:what about engine options? should I go V8 or stick with a diesel? I prolly will want to run 35's or 37's on it.

Cheers

Azz

Both would be good, but a V8 diesel can be a bit expensive to obtain.

V8 = more fun.

its only going to be a weekender, what range rover model are you refering to? I will check out them as well. What about driveline, is the rangie just as stong?

Cheers

Azz

QIKAZZ wrote:its only going to be a weekender, what range rover model are you refering to? I will check out them as well. What about driveline, is the rangie just as stong?

Cheers

Azz

Range Rover strong driveline... You will break things on 32" tyres let alone anything bigger. THe cost of fixing IMHO far outways the benefit...

Just get a SWB GQ and be done with it- petrol/diesel you decide both are coming down in price. 50mm suspension + 50mm body will see 35's fitted and give good onroad/offroad manners, without too many driveline vibration dramas. Get some strengthened/longer lower rear trailing arms + front locker and you are away...

A SWB gq is always a good base to start with for something more serious.

what year did the GQ SWB start and finish, I will start keeping my eye out for a bargin.

QIKAZZ wrote:what year did the GQ SWB start and finish, I will start keeping my eye out for a bargin.

88 they started, but were pretty much unchanged all through..

bogged wrote:

QIKAZZ wrote:what year did the GQ SWB start and finish, I will start keeping my eye out for a bargin.

88 they started, but were pretty much unchanged all through..

While searching, note that a Ford Maverick is an identical vehicle.

it may be identical, but it still has the blue oval on it, arhhhhhhhh.

haha, not sure if I could do that to myself.

you say go anywhere? what do meann by that? Do you want a vehicle that will capable as a tourer ie long distance touring all round the country, or a mildly modifed vehicle suitable for touring and some mild to medium 4wheeling or a dedicated 4wd suitable for doing very hard offroad stuff.

After looking at that you may want to look at yourself and your abilities. There is nothing more dangerous than a someone with an incredibly capapble vehicle and no idea how to drive it. you can end up biting off more than you can chew and either end up severly damaging your vehicle or yourself. In most cases it is better to start with a mildy modded vehicle and start larning its and your capabilities and build from there. Modifiy what you need to not what you may think you need too.

Get out there and have fun and buildup to the extreme stuff i reckon.

having said all of that I reckon the GQ is a great option but don't limit yourself to the SWB as they are older, only offered for awhile early in the GQ life and will be harder to find. A LWB offers alot of advantages over the SWb with comfort and wheelbase as the most obvious

I just seem to like the abilities of the SWB for some reason, I like the smaller size, less chance of bottoming out in the center trying to clear short steep dips and mounds, easier to manouver, easier to winch, etc etc

Im happy to hear reasons the LWB is better for offroad. By the way, I want it for dedicated hard offroad stuff, just maybe the occasioanal onroad to get to my local wheeling places. No more then 45min onroad to most places I go.

Perhaps I might later get into some comp work, not sure yet.

Im open to suggestions as I have mentioned, I already have a 60 series cruiser with front and rear lockers & 33's for me to mess around in, and this build up process it not going to happen overnight, I do expect a 12 to 18 month build up time.

Cheers

Azz

Do you need the capacity to carry more than 1 passenger.
Utes are a common choice for most of the harder stuff - less panels to damage.

I'm a rover man and you can get a disco or rangie for a decent price.
RR - look to spend 3000 - 5000 for a 3.5 ltr v8. The early 2 door models are easier/cheaper to get 35's under but are a bit old now so will probably require some maintenance.
Disco series 1 from 94 - 96 with 3.9 v8 - 5000 - 9000 also a diesel option available.
You will need to spend another couple of grand on axles etc for 35's.

GQ shorty ( I'm guessing around 5 - 8K) and will be strong enough to run the 35's on standard running gear. Petrol 6 or diesel option available.

Petrol engines in both will require a second mortgage to fuel.

Suzuki's are a good truck that will get more places than ppl think.

Depending on how tall you are i think a suzuki is the best bush rig! Got mine with f&r lockers, Bullbar, Winch, 30" tyres, Small lift, Better seats for $3500! Gave it a bit more lift, Made storage drawes for the back, Snorkel, Motor , Ute style soft top and soon rocksliders and it owes me about $4500! Keeps up with cars with 33's havn't tryed 35's yet! Shop around and youl find a good one

spend the dough and get the gq
but on the other hand mq doesnt cost alot to make it flex just need a lil bit of bootie fab and enginuity anyone who tell u different doesnt kno what they r talking about

the lil 4bys like zooks n rockys are cool but u need bigger diffs and a bigger motor or atleast crawler gears if you wanna keep up with the big boys off road

as for roadworthyness all of them probably will not pass once modded but the gq is probably the easiest to make pass rwc

midi73 wrote:MQ is leaf and GQ is coil. You will be in front if you went straight to the GQ. They flex a lot better standard, and you can get it to flex better a lot cheaper and easier than a leaf sprung MQ.

Neutral:
As a GQ SWB owner I have to say this is only half right. The rear on a GQ will way outflex the MQ, but at the front end the MQ should outflex the GQ. The GQ front is very restrictive unless a lot of work is done on it.

Pro GQ stuff:
From a ride perspective the GQ wins, but a shorty GQ is still not a nice soft ride. No SWB ever is. If comfort and long drives are your thing you want a LWB GQ.
Much newer than an MQ - less likely for stuff to be r00ted or break.
More aftermarket stuff available these days.
5 speed standard
Aircon and PS standard


Pro MQ Bits:
MQ's with v8 conversions are pretty easy to find, and relatively cheap. A V8 GQ will cost you 5x as much. I'll still swap my GQ SWB for one
MQ's diffs are offset at both ends allowing a little extra clearance.
GQ and MQ are on a par for pretty much most things - they're pretty much same vehicle dimensions despite the full redesign.
MQ's look cool with the back off.

Ive owned a rangie (86) with rear diff lock and a LWB Patrol (92) with 35s and a sprung over 40 series cruiser with plenty of off roading done in all cars.

I loved em all for all different reasons.

For rugged, beat it back into shape with a hammer, wheeling the 40 was unbeatable but its lack of comfort on longer trips meant I (read: the girlfriend) had to let it go. They are cheap to buy, easy to modify, and there is a wealth of information on them. When I can afford a car for weekends only I will probably be getting another 40.

The rangie was exceptionally well behaved on road (full time 4wd), especially in the wet, and the rear airlocker made up for its lack of ground clearance off road. I was amazed the amount of places I could take it and the economy from the dual fuel V8 wasnt actually too bad. Again alot of info on the net on modding them but if you want to run 35s+ you either need to swap in axles from a cruiser/patrol or upgrade to maxi drive axles which arent too cheap either but this is somewnat offset by the cheap pruchase price.

The Patrol has been excellent in all terrains and hasnt let me down at all. Unfortunately with full time work and no need for all the space I decided to let it go as I only ever have my GF and dog on board and simply dont need the room. I also noticed that as my appetite for harder stuff to drive has grown the size of the car is becoming more and more of a negative for me. I could see lots of panel damage in my future and after coming very, very close to rolling it in a tight spot I thought I should sell it and by something smaller and cheaper which I wont care too much if I do roll it or ding a panel........



.........Thats why Im now in the market for a Zook

My boss is selling one of the work utes. Reckons we only need 2 x 4wd's in the fleet

It's MWB leaf sprung MQ trayback 3.0lt Diesel and pretty tidy