Another IFS to SFA

NicoP · Post by **NicoP** » Sat Oct 09, 2010 6:37 pm

So this morning started out with a huge babelas thanks to sn old friend.
I whent o ultimste 4x4 to collect some lose spares that I orderd. So finaly I ease home at 9H30. Still busy comteplating if I should go ahead or not. At 10H00 I decided that it and its time to start.

Jack the lux up to wher i thing it will be standing if Im finished. And start stripp but then I realized what a bout a befor foto 10H40.

So got the diff out at 13H44 and time for a photo. Whent back to ultimate 4x4 to deliver the old one and pick up the new SFA.

Back home started with the grinding untill I could not take it any more. This is when I decided it time to put the SFA on wheel aswell as the leave springs. Done at 16H45.

Now I gcould not hold my self in any more and need to see the SFA under the Lux. Done at 17H00 Now that was one hell of a day.

Tomorrow all the grinding and prep for the welding will be done for the hangers. So iff all goes well the Lux will stand on its own wheel.

Then all that is left is the steering, brake pipes, front shocks and propshaft.

Post by **Mud Dog** » Sat Oct 09, 2010 6:51 pm

Keep us posted and DON'T FORGET THE PICS!

(Before, during and after!)

NicoP · Post by **NicoP** » Sat Oct 09, 2010 7:02 pm

I will do so struggeld to upload the photos. Wil try again later or tommorow

Post by **Mud Dog** » Sat Oct 09, 2010 8:46 pm

Great, thanks.

(Remember that when you resize the pics (600x800 max.) the file size must also be less that 200kb. That normally is the case but with some pics that have a lot of detail and different colours, the file size is larger.

)

NicoP · Post by **NicoP** » Mon Oct 11, 2010 9:25 am

Just an update

Sunday at 17H30 the lux was standing on its own wheel thanks to my dad that did the spot welding on the hangers. The final welding will be done on theusday.
Here are a few picks will update some more tommorow

Traveler · Post by **Traveler** » Mon Oct 11, 2010 9:40 am

Baie dankie Nico, dit is 'n baie interessante projek.

kan nie wag om te sien hoe jy vorder nie.

NicoP · Post by **NicoP** » Mon Oct 11, 2010 9:49 am

Dankie. As als reg loop ry hy donderdag. Dis net die steering wat bietjie pla want ek moet n high steer conversion doen

FUDGES · Post by **FUDGES** » Mon Oct 11, 2010 11:15 am

Kan ek myne vir jou bring so teen volgende week???

Muz · Post by **Muz** » Mon Oct 11, 2010 11:20 am

Hi Nico

Hows your clearance between the new axel and your sump? still ok?

swifty · Post by **swifty** » Mon Oct 11, 2010 11:47 am

Nico,

Ek haal my hoed af vir julle ouens wat die SAS as 'n DIY projek aanpak. Dit moet nogal guts vat om jou IFS suspension met 'n grinder uit te sny, veral as jy dit nog nooit voorheen gedoen het nie!

Ek het die maklike uitweg gekies en ouens wat dit al voorheen gedoen het betaal vir die job. Maar toe hulle met die grinder inspring het ek begin worry........

Hoop jou conversion is 'n groot sukses!

Martin

NicoP · Post by **NicoP** » Mon Oct 11, 2010 1:27 pm

AJ as die geld reg is kan jy hom maar bring LOL!!

Muz, There is pleanty space between the sump and the axel. Looks like the sump was made for the live axel. Will post some pics tonight

Swifty, Ja sondag oggend het ek nogal gewonder of dit dalk nie n fout was nie, maar sondag aand toe smile ek weer toe ek sien hoe mooi hy lyk

Thabogrobler · Post by **Thabogrobler** » Mon Oct 11, 2010 5:29 pm

Nico,

Daai brackets wat die ou diff vasgehou het???

ek soek hom ,daai ene!

Rian · Post by **Rian** » Mon Oct 11, 2010 9:02 pm

Daai Bakkie was by my shop!

Daardie conversion is nice gedoen Nico.

Wag weer vir jou kuier.

NicoP · Post by **NicoP** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 7:45 am

Thabogrobler
watter brackets wil jy he. Ek het nog net die een wat dwars onder gele het. as dit hy is wat jy soek kom haal hom.

NicoP · Post by **NicoP** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 8:25 am

Here are a few more pics on where i was sunday. here you can see it standing on its own 4 wheels. I measured last night some wheel travel. With the old IFS I Had 40mm down travel. Now with out any wheight on the suspension I already have 120mm travel. This will be more when the wheight of the wheels are added as whell as a forced twister.
Steering will be done wednesday. Shocks i will get today and final welding will also be done today.

This is my cost so far as i did alot of trading and swapping:
2x front shocks +-R3000
exchaust +- R500
New brake pipes +- R300

The cost if you cant trade or swap will be as follows
Front diff +- R9000
New suspension including shocks +- R15000
Steering depending whats needed +- R2500
Propshaft if its to short +- R2500
Regear rear diff +- R5000

PS: all the cost is based on a leaf spring conversion and not coils. Coils will be more expensiff.

swifty · Post by **swifty** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 9:06 am

Nico,

Looks like you used the cross member of a SFA and welded it underneath the IFS cross member? It is the first time that I see this, normally the spring hangers are welded onto the existing cross member. Very clever short cut!

You should also consider to keep the 2.7 calipers. You will have to fit ventilated discs (Landcruiser) and depending on the rim offset you may need spacers for the rims to clear the calipers. I am running with -19 offset rims and 6mm allu spacers.

Martin

NicoP · Post by **NicoP** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 9:29 am

Swifty
Why do I now need ventilated discs? The IFS had the same disk and calipers. Yes I did use an old SFA crossmember which gave me some extra hight and less worrys.

Maddoglips · Post by **Maddoglips** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 9:39 am

Nico

Looking Good, take my hat off to you for giving it a go

Just a quick observation though and please correct me if I'm wrong.

Loooking at the leafs in the front, they are quite old and sagged already, if you replace them now along with the additional height of the cross member, is the front end not gonna be raised too much making you have to then jack up the rear?

Cheers and keep the pics coming.

Zane

NicoP · Post by **NicoP** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 10:03 am

Maddoglips
Yes what you say is true. but I want the blades as flat as possible. this means more flex down wards. the rear will be fix at a later stage as soon as i decided what suspension i whant. Maybe i will let mikam make me a custom suspension.

FUDGES · Post by **FUDGES** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 12:11 pm

Nico ek wil baie graag ook so conversion doen maar ekt nie nastenby die kennis of know how nie maar sal wil graag deel wees van so ombouing.

Kan jy my dalk verwys na iemand wat my so kan help en nie te lank gaan vat nie?

NicoP · Post by **NicoP** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 12:27 pm

AJ
Kom praat saterdag met my dan kyk ons wat ek vir jou kan doen. Jy sal nie spyt wees nie.

FUDGES · Post by **FUDGES** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 12:40 pm

Ag dankie

rob08 · Post by **rob08** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 8:45 pm

die is dalk 'n baie dom vraag...maar wat is die voordele en nadele van so conversion?

Bushwacker · Post by **Bushwacker** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 9:27 pm

ARTIKULASIE

BOEKWAARDE

Post by **Mud Dog** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 9:51 pm

Nico, thanks for the pics and progress reports ... great stuff and you've done damn well.

Just been catching up on the thread now, and immediately picked up on the flat leaf packs ... same thing that Zane commented on. I know you say you're looking for more downward travel, but downward travel without downward pressure on the wheel from the pack won't help much ... the wheel will still slip too easily on an axle twister. The other side of the coin is that to have downward travel on one side, you should also have upward travel on the other. You may well find this to be a problem later and have to replace the front packs ... then as Zane also pointed out, the nose will stand too proud ... this happens without the extra height of the added cross member, so the height issue will be compounded. You will have to then compensate in the rear with new (higher) leaf packs and extended shackles, or something similar.

You're going to have a real 'High Rider' when you're done!

NicoP · Post by **NicoP** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 7:19 am

Mud dog
I am awear of the nose up. will sort it out as soon as i know how mutch the back must lift. If all goes well i will test it trough and trough on saterday. Make sur everything is still in place and not broken. I will replace the front leaves once i know what is needed for the suspension. Yes it is going to be a high rider. As is with the flat leaves i already gained another 3". So the total for now from standard to the conversion is 5".

Im starting tonight with the steering. so hold thums that is moving again tonight.

Traveler · Post by **Traveler** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 7:25 am

Lyk baie goed Nico.

Mens kan sekerlik die vere en skokbrekers baie goedkoper gedoen kry as jy dit by iemand soos General Springs laat maak?

NicoP · Post by **NicoP** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 7:40 am

Dis waar. die duurste is die shocks. ek het nou procom shocks vir voor gekry. Hoop julle siet want hier is die lengtes. Fully compresed 435mm, full extended 750mm. so ek sal met gemak my 250mm travel kry

Hi-Hilux · Post by **Hi-Hilux** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 7:55 am

dis hoe n lux gemodify moet word! Lyk baie goed, jy kan maar trots wees op jou self!

NicoP · Post by **NicoP** » Mon Oct 18, 2010 7:37 am

So on friday afternoon I picked up the shocks but still no steering components. Long storie short. The engineering guys did not cam to the party. So saterday morning at 11:00 i started to install the shock mounts, bleed the breakes and build the highsteer. At 17:00 the Lux was running!!

As a design fault from my side i now have toe get new rimms with a negative offset. So Im on my way now to get the rimms sorted out as well as the exhaust. So later this week I will do the rear axel swap so I can do some off road testing this weekend.

Will post some pics later off all the components.

NicoP · Post by **NicoP** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 7:43 am

So last night try to do the axel swap but no luck. Will see what I can do later. Changed the steering so that the standard rimms stiil fit and the exhaust has been moved.

Just a big thanks to Ultimate 4x4 for supplying all the spares great doing Business whith you guys,
Thanks to my dad for the help with the welding.

Post by **Mud Dog** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 6:03 pm

I really hope you've been taking pics along the way, and that we will see them soon!

NicoP · Post by **NicoP** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 7:38 am

yes i did. will sort them out over the weekend and post them

Post by **Mud Dog** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 8:54 am

Great! .... looking forward to that!

NicoP · Post by **NicoP** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 11:37 am

Here are a few pix as promised

Thabogrobler · Post by **Thabogrobler** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 12:59 pm

Dis decent clearance wat jy daar het!

neem 'n foto van die hele trokkie, om te sien hoe lyk hy noudat hy klaar is?

NicoP · Post by **NicoP** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 1:01 pm

laat ek kom net maandag uit level dan sal ek n foto neem

Rian · Post by **Rian** » Tue Oct 26, 2010 9:42 pm

Wonder of die conversion ook die ISF se prys die hoogtes sal laat inskiet soos die SFA sin huidiglik is ?

Wat dink julle ?

NicoP · Post by **NicoP** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 7:27 am

Ek dink dit sal tog n inpak he op die prys. Want nou het jy die beste van altwee. Die ry gemak van die IFS en die off road perfomance van die SFA.

NicoP · Post by **NicoP** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 4:32 pm

Hier is hy nou. Nog nie n foto waar hy flex nie. werk nog daar aan

krazy_kameleon · Post by **krazy_kameleon** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 5:00 pm

nice! very, very nice!

NicoP · Post by **NicoP** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 6:42 pm

Hier is so paar flex foto's. ou kan ek die fyner detail begin uitsorteer. Die ramps is 350mm hoog

Hi-Hilux · Post by **Hi-Hilux** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 8:14 pm

baie nice, jy kan trots wees op wat jy gedoen het, well done

Post by **cheetah** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 8:38 pm

Nou kan daai bakkie orals loop, mooi man!

FUDGES · Post by **FUDGES** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 9:39 pm

Diyt lyk nou regtig smart ek gaan nou dadelik begin spaar vir myne!!

NicoP · Post by **NicoP** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 7:10 am

Dankie menere

Maar sou nie als kon doen sonder die forum, pelle en n pa nie.

Aj jy moet maar daai bakkie bring dat ons kyk.

Maddoglips · Post by **Maddoglips** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 9:50 am

Looking really good.

What further works do you see still being required?

Zane

NicoP · Post by **NicoP** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 10:06 am

List for now:
The front shock mounts needs replacing, rear shocks needs replacing, new front and rear suspension. Then it will flex like mad!!
The correct diff must be installed with locker. All this should happen December-January.

Here is the list for the next year:
33" or 35" still deciding
5.29 gear ratio if i go 35"
rock sliders
Front bumper
front locker
Alu cab with drawer system

Maddoglips · Post by **Maddoglips** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 10:31 am

Sounding really good, when it's complete you more then welcome to give it to me for testing

Nico, when choosing/fitting the new suspension, just make sure to find out the maximum "negative" flex of the springs as I seem to think you may need to raise the "bump stop" a few inches or you'll end up causing damage to the new blades if they bend past their intended point.

Who ever you buy the kit from, should be able to advise on the proper measurements for travel.

How is the over all ride comfort affected now with the SFA?

Keep us posted.

Zane

NicoP · Post by **NicoP** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 10:46 am

Not bad at all. It is beter than it was with the torsion bars that was turnedup all the way. I will let you know tommorrow seeing that im going to do a few hundred km's for the day.

NicoP · Post by **NicoP** » Wed Nov 10, 2010 9:31 am

Done just over 1500km on the conversion suspension and all is well. Just got one problem and strugling to find the source. When driving 0ver 80km/h and hitting the breaks the whol lux shakes/whable. do any one know where i can start looking for the probleme? Othe wise there is no problems with the lux.

Then will the 2.7 with 4.88 diff ratio be enought for 35" tyers or do i need to change the diff ratio to 5.29?

Gunta · Post by **Gunta** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 8:19 am

Did you sort out the wobble? I notice that the springs look a bit tired. When you change to OME you will get even more lift and possibly sort out your vibration too.

NicoP · Post by **NicoP** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 8:28 am

Not yet. All the tierods needs to be replaced, this will be done next week as well as the propshaft angle. Does anyone know of a decent propshaft place that are good in what they do?

Traveler · Post by **Traveler** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 9:00 am

Nico, ongelukkig is die ouens wat ek altyd gebruik het tot nou toe in Nelspruit.

Gunta · Post by **Gunta** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 9:51 am

Sajco in Strjdom Park.

NicoP · Post by **NicoP** » Tue May 17, 2011 6:20 pm

Here is another flex pix.

Why is there always somthing that needs to be replaced or redisign. Now the rear brake pipe is to short as well as the handbrake cable. O and the front propshaft still needs to be done. In full articulation the propshaft bind. If i unbolt the propshaft the diff can still travel down wards for another 100mm.
It just never stops :evil:

Post by **Mud Dog** » Tue May 17, 2011 7:26 pm

Looking pretty good Nico!

Did you move the front shock mounts yet? New leaf packs? Bump-stop? .... What have you still got left to do to complete the SAS?

2.8 d/cab SFA · Post by **2.8 d/cab SFA** » Tue May 17, 2011 10:14 pm

nice all reading with great interest

NicoP · Post by **NicoP** » Wed May 18, 2011 8:42 am

@Maddog
Shock mounts have been moved. Still running on the old leave springs. And the bumpstops has not been attended to yet.
have replaced the rear springs with a set that was retencioned. Got another 50mm lift. Replaced steering damper and all the tie rods. For now this is how its gona run. And it does quite well.

Post by **Mud Dog** » Wed May 18, 2011 9:01 am

Yeah, all requires time and money, I suppose. I hope that the steering damper / tie-rod replacement has helped the "wobble" issue, although I suspect it may have more to do with a slightly warped disc. I'd love to see how it would perform and what that conversion would look like with an OME kit and 33' tyres (and maybe an integrated bull-bar / bumper)!

Enjoy!
"Maddog"