What i've done and where i'm going with my SFA

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 8:24 am

What i've done:
Snorkel
warn winch
rear diff lock
Long range tank
Gomad Canopy

Whats still to come:
In the long run would like to fit 1uz-fe lexus
35 tyres

what i'm busy with:
i went swiming on the weekend with my lux and water came in through the door and all my carpets got wet

so i've taken all the carpets out and hung hem up to dry, thinking about ruberising inside because this is bound to happen again

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i also drilled holes in channel just below the door there was about a litre of water stuck in there

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i would also like to do a suspension lift and body lift, was thinking
100 mm rectangular channel on top of diff and have longer u-bolts, brake pipes and shock mounts.
50mm extended grease able shackles.
50mm body lift, which will also help when i fit the lexus

i also want to change the diff ratios so that i will be able to run 35's with the lexus.
but carry on with the 2.8D and the 31's for now. won't matter if i have a lot of power and not much speed for now. what would be the right diff ratio's? also would like to keep local diff in the rear.

an issue with the suspenton lift what plan can one make with this steering arm arm? as it will be too low now?

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all comments and advice is welcome

Post by **CasKru** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 8:43 am

You would probably need all these:
Dropped Drag Link

Adjustable torque Rod

Steering Extention

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 9:18 am

where does the last one come?
wont that arm thats one the diff be in the way of the shock if i put it next to the spring?

Post by **CasKru** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 9:22 am

The last one is a steering extension. When lifting the body you have to extend the steering at some stage

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 9:23 am

oh from the steering wheel to the box

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 11:49 am

is snake racing the best place to buy those parts and a body lift? or does someone make them locally?

Wurmscooby · Post by **Wurmscooby** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 2:25 pm

send us a picture of the swimming.lol

richardo1 · Post by **richardo1** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 2:31 pm

hi

it depends on how high you want to lift the body if the steering extension is going to be needed

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 2:55 pm

richardo1 wrote: hi

it depends on how high you want to lift the body if the steering extension is going to be needed

hi
i would like to raise it 50mm.
who's the best to get a kits from?

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 2:57 pm

Wurmscooby wrote:send us a picture of the swimming.lol

didn't have a camera with and we were rushing to tow it out, due to all the water coming in.
luck there was a tractor handy

Post by **CasKru** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 3:00 pm

Tarquin wrote:is snake racing the best place to buy those parts and a body lift? or does someone make them locally?

you should be able to source it locally. I just love to browse SnakeRacings sight and it's the quickest place I could get pics of the items

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 3:46 pm

i browsed there a bit as well

thanks for the pics, does any one know who does these parts locally
50mm body lift kit
dropped drag link
and adjustable torque rod

if anyone has done a 100 mm suspension lift, it would be great to see what you did at the drag link, it looks like myne will touch the spring if i put blocks in to lift it

offroad nut · Post by **offroad nut** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 4:59 pm

If you want 100mm lift use procomp 4 in

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 5:04 pm

offroad nut wrote:If you want 100mm lift use procomp 4 in

who sells that?

offroad nut · Post by **offroad nut** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 5:56 pm

Pro Comp in Randburg

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 8:54 am

have been searching the forum but have come up with anything, what diff ratios are standard in a 2.8D local diff rear.
what should the be changed too to be able to use 35's with a 1uz-fe engine

Sifu-Lux · Post by **Sifu-Lux** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 12:05 pm

Hi Tarquin, have a look here for the Z drag link I made. Just bent a new one to suit. viewtopic.php?f=92&t=9011&start=60" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here is a link to the adjustable torque rod I made as well viewtopic.php?f=92&t=9011" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 12:39 pm

ok i've changed my mind, alan (hoppy), had a good point that 35's are over kill for a normal trail driver,
so i've opted for 33's with no suspension lift but still a 50mm body lift and an axel shift.
need to get front springs retensioned and change the diff ratio's for 33's with 1uz motor

any advise

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Tue Sep 24, 2013 9:41 pm

so i finally got some time to work on the lux

got the axle out

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gave it a good pressure clean and put it on the operating table

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removed and cleaned the first free wheel hub and it still looks in good condition,
but it seems the pin that holds the hub in lock and free is missing :evil:
previous mechanic must have lost it.
will be interesting to see if i can get it on its own or if i must buy the hold hub.

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when the hub sits perfectly strait and i move it slightly left to right it bumps in the middle,
but when i loosen the steering arm the hub freed up and moved smoothly, it seems to me that the bearing were too tight. can one buy an very thin space like the metal plate that's there?

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as far as i got today, will strip and clean the rest tomorrow

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Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Tue Sep 24, 2013 9:58 pm

Front Leaf Springs

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so far i have 3 options,

Option 1: the guy in george charges R 600 to re-tention both front packs,
but he give's no guarantee.

Option 2: he says one can get OME copies from johburg which he says are excellent and sells them for R 1600 per pack.

Option 3: genuine OME, dono what they cost tho.

who sells the copy OME's in johburg?
what do you guys think?

Post by **Baasvark** » Tue Sep 24, 2013 10:19 pm

I wouldn't retension, not money well spent! :evil: Did that on my SC and they sagged again not long after!

I dunno about OME copies - if they were that good the guys on this forum would have raved about them a long time ago.

The real deal will set you back around R18 - R20k.

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Tue Sep 24, 2013 10:28 pm

Baasvark wrote:I wouldn't retension, not money well spent! :evil: Did that on my SC and they sagged again not long after!

I dunno about OME copies - if they were that good the guys on this forum would have raved about them a long time ago.

The real deal will set you back around R18 - R20k.

just for the front springs?

The Legend · Post by **The Legend** » Wed Sep 25, 2013 5:13 am

I replace my suspension with Mikem suspension and very happy with it.

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Wed Sep 25, 2013 6:57 am

who does mikem?
what would one be looking at for front springs?

richardo1 · Post by **richardo1** » Wed Sep 25, 2013 7:07 am

hi tarquin

the thin plates on the knucles you are talking about are called shims, they determine the bearing preload on the swivel bearings on the knuckles

mikem susension you can google and get their contact number I guess you can try ironman as well but the guys on the forum are more than happy with mikem

the suspension front and back could easily set you back R15 000

MOFASA · Post by **MOFASA** » Wed Sep 25, 2013 7:22 am

Tarquin wrote:who does mikem?
what would one be looking at for front springs?

I would do both front and back......

You will find Mikem here on the forum.... memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=229" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Speak to Cassie he had front and back done and it looks awsum....

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Wed Sep 25, 2013 7:38 am

thanks johno
i sent Darrell a pm

Sifu-Lux · Post by **Sifu-Lux** » Wed Sep 25, 2013 12:19 pm

Ah lekker job that :) Do yourself a favour an reinforce your spring perches and make sure they are 100% flat before you fit new front springs. These tend to bend over the years, then when you fit new springs they bend along the contour of the spring perch and distort.

Good luck

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Wed Sep 25, 2013 2:47 pm

Sifu-Lux wrote:Ah lekker job that :) Do yourself a favour an reinforce your spring perches and make sure they are 100% flat before you fit new front springs. These tend to bend over the years, then when you fit new springs they bend along the contour of the spring perch and distort.

Good luck

thanks enjoying it so far

will see how it goes with re-mantling

haha thanks for the advise i saw what you did with your spring perches, looked like a good plan

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Fri Sep 27, 2013 7:20 am

i've finished stripping the front diff, clean, reinforced the perches and given it a light sand so i can re-spray it.

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i've also fitted Alan's beautiful upgrade disks

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when i dive in 4x4 on the tar road it feels like the handbrake is on, so now i sat down and checked my diff ratio's: my front diff i marked the pinion at one place and the crown wheel with some tip ex. the pinion almost turns 5 times to 1 crown revolution which means it a 4.88:1.
I have a M80 local diff rear and i never thaught to look but there's a plate and its a 4.55:1

is a m80 the standard SFA rear diff? maybe the prvious owned had a problem with it and the mechanic didn't check the ratio's and just put in another diff

this means the rear diff is coming out to correct this.

on the terms of leaf spings i'm going to spend a little more and go with OME, going to change front and rear packs, but keep my TJM shock as they are still good.
spoke to megaworld PE and they don't have the rear packs, they'll only be getting next week Wednesday or thursday. then i'll do some shopping in PE

GeorgeJvR · Post by **GeorgeJvR** » Fri Sep 27, 2013 7:48 am

Aint the front diff ratio also 4.55? some diesels were 4.55 where the petrol were 4.875.....

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Fri Sep 27, 2013 10:01 am

GeorgeJvR wrote:Aint the front diff ratio also 4.55? some diesels were 4.55 where the petrol were 4.875.....

is it written somewhere on the front diff?
i worked it out and the pinion almost turned 5 times to 1 crown wheel rotation

how many teeth does the crown wheels have for a 4.55 and a 4.875?

Sifu-Lux · Post by **Sifu-Lux** » Fri Sep 27, 2013 1:33 pm

See here for diff info. viewtopic.php?f=67&t=5017" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Fri Sep 27, 2013 2:19 pm

thanks Andrew

very interesting read

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Tue Oct 01, 2013 6:55 pm

got all the ceals and gaskets from toyota today, will make some time to work on it!
what do you guys say is it better to paint or leave it as metal?

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worried it'll rust now that there is no greasy oil dripping out

Sifu-Lux · Post by **Sifu-Lux** » Tue Oct 01, 2013 8:03 pm

Give it a light polish with 600 grit water paper then a light wipe with some oil until you assemble it. Don't paint it, the felt outer seal should run on the bare metal. Don't worry, it won't rust

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Wed Oct 02, 2013 6:56 am

thanks

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Thu Oct 03, 2013 5:33 pm

so i've done it and baught OME front springs: R 1885 ea
compared to my old ones:

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can't say there's a massive differnce, will see if they sag or not

only thing i saw now when i got home and checked properly the spring with the + on it (driver side as i understand it) is quiet a bit more bent than the other one

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is this normal?

they wouldn't sell me the springs with out the ani-inversion kit, even though i told them i had already re-inforced the saddles. so i have a OME kit for sale R 100 ex shipping

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Also baught 2 rear audi calipers for a disk conversion from team merbeda in PE. R350 ea

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Post by **Mud Dog** » Thu Oct 03, 2013 6:01 pm

The driver's side is flatter than the passenger side ..... reason is that the driver's side pedestal on the axle sits higher because it's so close to the diff housing.

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Thu Oct 03, 2013 6:43 pm

ahh thanks andy, was getting worried! everything is on track then

Sifu-Lux · Post by **Sifu-Lux** » Fri Oct 04, 2013 1:39 pm

I take it they did supply you the spring pack for the diesel Hilux? Petrol and Diesel packs are different. Diesel has more leaves to account for the extra weight of the engine over the petrol model.

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Fri Oct 04, 2013 9:52 pm

yea they gave me the diesel one's, it has 6 blades

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Tue Oct 08, 2013 7:15 pm

manne ek is klar met die diff

got 3/4 of a day today to work on the lux and i put the front diff together.

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didn't do a full thread on re-doing a front diff cause Andrew already did an excellent one and i don't want to duplicate his work.

will try tackle the body lift tomorrow, but lets see how the day goes if i'll have time :roll:

Thunder02 · Post by **Thunder02** » Tue Oct 08, 2013 7:56 pm

Looking great,while out change the bolts to stainless steel on the hubs

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Wed Oct 09, 2013 8:02 am

good idea

i'll do that

Blitzkrieg · Post by **Blitzkrieg** » Wed Oct 09, 2013 8:16 am

That's a very nice job you've done there!
Please let me know when you have time so I can send mine for a overhaul to.

Sifu-Lux · Post by **Sifu-Lux** » Wed Oct 09, 2013 9:12 am

Nice job, looking good! I'm keen to see your step by step detailed tutorial on the body lift

with lots of pics

. I never got around to doing that on mine.

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Wed Oct 09, 2013 1:41 pm

thanks guys. you can bring it any time just a bit far away

already started the body lift and haven't taken any pic's will back tract and do a proper thread

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 8:05 pm

Got my rear side shafts and disks back from the engineers

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also turned my torque rod into an adjustable one and shortened it by 40mm

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since i'm putting ome spring in the front with new shackle rubbers i thaught id make my shackles greasable

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fitted my front diff 35mm further forward

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my front shock's are a bit short now

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Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 8:07 pm

apologies for the grainy pics

Thunder02 · Post by **Thunder02** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 8:15 pm

Looking good,what's the plan with the shocks?
Fitting spacers,or longer shocks,apparently the cruisers are longer by 40mm.

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 8:51 pm

Thunder02 wrote:Looking good,what's the plan with the shocks?
Fitting spacers,or longer shocks,apparently the cruisers are longer by 40mm.

going to try it out like it is, was hoping not to buy new shocks, as the old ones are still fine.
will look at the cruiser's ones if it comes to that

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 8:53 pm

a pic of your gear cover

i'm very happy with it and am looking forward to seeing it in action

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Froll · Post by **Froll** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 9:01 pm

Looking good so far. Planning on starting mine in January, complete overhaul and heart transplant.

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Wed Oct 23, 2013 7:10 am

Froll wrote:Looking good so far. Planning on starting mine in January, complete overhaul and heart transplant.

whats going into your lux?

Thunder02 · Post by **Thunder02** » Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:02 am

Glad the hole for the gear lock is correct,not always easy to work of a pic

Froll · Post by **Froll** » Wed Oct 23, 2013 3:53 pm

Tarquin wrote:
Froll wrote:Looking good so far. Planning on starting mine in January, complete overhaul and heart transplant.
whats going into your lux?

Have not realy decided yet. Will start a thread when I start.

Post by **Haboob** » Wed Oct 23, 2013 7:19 pm

Looking vry nice so far

The Legend · Post by **The Legend** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 5:52 pm

Targuin

The anti rattle springs on the standard brake pads also work om the upgrade brake kit.So if you still have got yours put it back.

Tarquin · Post by **Tarquin** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 7:23 pm

i haven't got them anymore, they must have gotten lost with previous owner :evil: