Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hey all.
I just purchased an 84 MK patrol SD33T 5spd.

This is my first 4x4.
I really want to get some good lift and some 33"'s on her.
i was thinking 2" suspension, 2" body lift. would this be enough?
also will my speedo be effected by having the larger tyres?
the MK has done just over 300,000km

Any help would be appreciated

thanks
juan.

i can fit my 33's with just a 2" body lift... it has slight scrubbage at full flex/lock and on the rear at full flex..

not sure if my spedo has been affected by the 33's, but i havnt got a speeding fine yet...

it would be nice to have the extra lift as i want to do alot of offroad work, patricularly beach.
I only bought it yesterday... seems like a really good solid truck.

i dont want to be one of those nay-sayers who argue your reasons for modding your 4WD, but a simple spring and body lift on a leaf sprung truck does not make for a good beach rig. you still have things like the spring perches that will dig into the sand -- although a body lift will allow you to raise things like fuel tank and underslung spare wheel if you have it, you'll still have to modify these things too.

for beach work you need to stick your head under, figure out what's going to drag in the sand, and work out how to move it.

ps nice choice, with the turbo and the 5spd you've got the pick of the bunch when it comes to MQ/MKs. !

Im running 2" BL and 2" shackle lift (superior drop shackles which give 2" of actual lift) and have 32x10.5x15 (33" OD) simex ET's under her and she looks a bit stupid, really needs 35's.

I would go with some 2" springs and if it isnt high enough then get some 2" extended shackles (will give about 1" lift) if you want 33's under there.

im just not sure what the best option would be. this is my first 4x4. i want a tuff truck look with good offroad abilities. mainly be useing on beach. but this is my daily driver also...

Body lift is junk, and only has any value at all if you need it to fit your chosen tyres.

I would say pick your tyres/wheels - 33 x 12.5 with a wide offset rim is good for the "tuff truck" look. Maybe 35s, but only if you can afford them and aren't worried about the cops.

Then do some suspension lift to suit the tyres, with the 33s 2" suspension lift should be enough. Or add some shackle length as well as NZ4x4 suggests if you need to.

Only then, if you still couldn't fit the tyres, would it be worth bothering with body lift.

You will find a surprising number of people who have done body lift in the past and no longer think it's a good idea. I know it sounds like a cheap way to get some lift, but it's too bodgy. Hmm, maybe it should be called bodgy lift, not body lift!

Jason

chimpboy wrote:Body lift is junk, and only has any value at all if you need it to fit your chosen tyres.

I would say pick your tyres/wheels - 33 x 12.5 with a wide offset rim is good for the "tuff truck" look. Maybe 35s, but only if you can afford them and aren't worried about the cops.

Then do some suspension lift to suit the tyres, with the 33s 2" suspension lift should be enough. Or add some shackle length as well as NZ4x4 suggests if you need to.

Only then, if you still couldn't fit the tyres, would it be worth bothering with body lift.

You will find a surprising number of people who have done body lift in the past and no longer think it's a good idea. I know it sounds like a cheap way to get some lift, but it's too bodgy. Hmm, maybe it should be called bodgy lift, not body lift!

Jason

Thats a great point. it did look appealing as it is pretty cheap. but 33" tyres is what im after. so i should aim for a suitable suspension lift and shackle lift if needed. if running 33" tyres will i need any diff mods or any other mods to the truck (apart from lift etc)

zero runs 35's with a 3 inch body lift n sagged springs

gaurd chops r easy on mq's tho so id chop the gaurds as well to gaurentee it wont scrub

ps get some longer shackles n throw the load leaves away
unless u like bucking like a bull

I like my 2 inch bodgey lift. I modded my long range tank to suit and i can squeeze a 3 inch pipe in the gap as to stop scraping it. Also give a bit more body height in the engine bay if you need it to fit in a aircon compressor, intercooler,etc.

Remeber to service the oil and filter every 5000kms and use good quality oil and it should last forever.


Cheers

33 inch tyres with a 2 inch body lift and 2 inch spring will be fine.

you will also find that your speedo will be unaffected..... the standard tyre size for MQ/MK speedo callibration is nearly that of a 33. most MQs on 31s there speedo is reading under the limit by 10 percent.

screwy

2" body lift and clearing 33 mongrels with no rubbing

I got the tuff truck look and i love it

Front locker is always a give away when i do climbs at 1200rpm [/img][/list]

Thanks for the help guys!
I will try get some pics posted by the end of the week (if i can figure out how) she's pretty stocko at the moment tho.
im looking very forward to getting offroad

juan.

I would prefer body lift to shackle lift any day of the week, once Iwas told about the pro's and cond I thought about it and it was true, during suspension articulation extended shackles move sure but they also twist, they flatten leaf packs quicker than normal and put massive ammounts of stress on spring perches, spring eyes and what have you..... Body lift so long as it is kept sensible is ok - I wouldn't go over 2 inches, I have seen 6 inch but I am 99.99% sure he wouldn't get it engineered ever.... 2 inch is about the max you want to go safely and for a budget 4x4 is a viable option, it only takes a couple of hours to install and is cheap (complete kit from ebay for $115) and can be done with basic hand tools too.

Each unto their own choices but a 2 inch spring and a 2 inch body is ok, even just a 2 inch spring is fine, beach work doesn't usually require massive ammounts of lift, an extra inch of clearance from 2 inch extended shackles won't make huge difference with 2 inch spring, truck should be able to pull its self thru inch deep sand really and your diff centre is going to be the same height is it not unless you run bigger tires... this would make more of a difference than shackles or body lift.

My 2 cents.

What the general going price for either MQ/MK 33sdt swb patrols
p.s i have been told red book is not anygood and is out of date e.g: they state the SWB patrol to weigh 2,750kg's i have since been told be a couyple of peopl on this site they only weigh slightly if at all over 2,000kg

I bought my MK SWB on the weekend. 5spd Turbo diesel 3.3lt aircon, 5 seats next to no rust and 90% tread on bridgestones... got it for 5 grand with 6 months rego. very solid reliable truck. not sure what others are going for.

juan.

juan wrote:I bought my MK SWB on the weekend. 5spd Turbo diesel 3.3lt aircon, 5 seats next to no rust and 90% tread on bridgestones... got it for 5 grand with 6 months rego. very solid reliable truck. not sure what others are going for.

juan.

If it's in good nick, which it sounds like it is, that's a great buy. The 3.3 turbo diesel is has a fantastic reputation. SWB too ... means it looks better, especially with the canopy off.

How much ? How long is a piece of string... you can find perla's out there for lots of money or stuff all, you can also find crappy trucks that people want loads for, my last few have all been SWB and under the 3 k mark with no rust in some and lots in others, all have had low kms and all been turbo diesel 5 speeds! There is a guy in the Gong I know who has looked after his patrol in a manner you can not comprehend.... so much time and effort making it look shmick (and it realy does hey - one of the cleanest examples I have seen ever, there are only 4 trucks I would put in this catagory but I haven't seen allllll of em though)


If you keep unting you are sure to find yourself a bargain somewhere - I have to admit thought eh WA boys will find it harder as geographical isolation and population mean fewer found their way out there.

Keep your eyes peeled and you should find one for a good price.

Just buy one and stick with it.... I think I am on my 37th MK/MQ patrol in the last 4 years.... They get reallly addictive though.

yeah i had some bloke wanting to sell his MQ swb 33sdt to me for $7,000 he reconds its in fairly good nick but i told him straight out no. thought he was trying his luck

I have another question. What would everyone reccomend as an oil to use. 3.3lt turbo diesel?
i dont mind forking out a bit of extra $ to ensure quality...
But seeing as iv just bought it, im going to service it asap

thanks.
juan.

juan wrote:I have another question. What would everyone reccomend as an oil to use. 3.3lt turbo diesel?
i dont mind forking out a bit of extra $ to ensure quality...
But seeing as iv just bought it, im going to service it asap

thanks.
juan.

Castrol RX super. Have heard first hand of truck motors lasting well over a million kays. But if your motors been running cheap oil and is tired it may clean ALL the crap out of it and means all the tolerances are made bigger. ( did i explain it enough )

Cheers

Not sure if they make it for diesel but our race cars used to run Royal Purple synthetic..... top stuff but well expensive.... some good synthetic diesel oils from USa are good for diesel too - they have majorly hot diesel drag cars over there and trucks too so oil plays a bit in the performance...

Mk