Hilux Newbie - Looking for confirmation on suspension Q's

Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: Mount Gravatt, QLD

Hi guys and girls I just aquired a 1983 dual cab hilux, 2.2 diesel model. Now I am a total newb when it comes to all things 4wd. I am only familiar with lowering and handling. Tuning out flex/bodyroll and dropping ride height. Most of my time has been spent playing with street/race car setups. I am mechanically minded, (just about finished building my Datsun rally car) and have access to a welder and welding skills to booty fab stuff up. Recently a friend has taken me out in his work 4wd for a play in the mud and I realise there is more fun to be had on 4 wheels. Smile

Consequently picked up the hilux cheap and it also doubles as tow car. I am looking at making it more capable off road. All the std '83 suspension has sagged. Confused

This is what I have gleaned about making a cheaper basic setup from 20 pages of the search function.

1. Don't worry about raising it up too high...bodylift not high on the priority list.
2. Flex and spring travel is more important.
3. 33's are a good size in compromise for daily driving and off road stuff. They fit with a bit of cuttting?

So it comes down...FRONT: Extended shackles, castor wedges, longer shocks and the rear springs on the front. Not sure if this is necessary but if I fab up drop hangars then I also need to look at brake lines, cross over steer (still not sure on what that is) and drive shaft lengthening. Drop hangars are only for extra height right?

REAR: 2000 model IFS springs, extended shocks and lift blocks. I read the lift blocks need to be angled. Correct? If so how much of an angle? I am only familiar with lowering blocks and they are all flat. Also using lift blocks does this mean that hilux rears are SPOA? (I haven't picked the car up so consequently haven't looked.)

Any corrections/suggestions?

Thanks,

Craig

Joined: 20 Oct 2002 Location: Melbourne

To give you an idea.

I have an 1984 hilux on 33's.

I have probably lowered the springs as I have softend them up and removed leaves and simply added a 2 inch body lift for around $100.

No extended shackles, etc......

A pic:

Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 3:59 pm

Firstly its hard to have a tow rig to work as a kick arse offroad rig aswell.
My mate has the same problem he tows and also uses it offroad and hes jigged the rear leafs and then adds coils for when towing and uses adjustable shocks.
Got to think about what your more likely to use it for.

Joined: 28 Oct 2002 Location: Jimboomba, QLD

This should tell u a bit more about cross over steering. This was done by myself and my brother and 83lux onto my 82 lux. Runs beautifully!!!!!

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modules/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5728&highlight=cross+steering

I think it is worth it. Smile

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 8:34 am

I would not worry about the extensive mods you have mentioned. The most important thing would be to get the rig and learn how to drive it and just have some fun. Doing all those mods will not make the rig better offroad for you in the short term, and having the rig off the road while you do the mods will not help. You'd be surprised how far you can go in a relatively stock rig if you know how to drive it...don't be one of those guys with all the gear and no idea...

A body lift, maybe some lifted springs and matched shocks, and 33's. Look at this as stage 1, then as your experience and knowledge grows, you can plan for stage 2,3.....62 etc.

Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: Mount Gravatt, QLD

Excellent. Thanks for the info guys. Exactly what I wanted to hear.

Area54: I hear ya man. Plenty of ricers out there on the tarmac who have all the gear and can't drive. I wasn't looking to be one of those guys in a 4wd. Just interested to know whether it's worth putting it in. There'll be plenty of stocko wheeling for the time being. Smile

Craig

Joined: 22 Oct 2002

Hi and welcome!

The mods you have listed will certainly help you out!

Like Area54 said it just as much fun to wheel it stock for a while and then add mods!

Off topic slightly, keep you eye out on here for any local trips been organised as they are usually great fun and a great place to learn!

Joined: 02 Jan 2003 Location: Brisbane

Don't the old hiluxes like your 83 have pretty big wheel arches compared to newer ones, so 33's shouldn't be a big task Question

Or did I just make that up?

Anyway for now go a 2" body lift, 33's and a rear locker and have some fun in it before you do serious mods Wink

Joined: 26 May 2003 Location: brisbane

mj wrote:

Don't the old hiluxes like your 83 have pretty big wheel arches compared to newer ones, so 33's shouldn't be a big task Question

Or did I just make that up?

Anyway for now go a 2" body lift, 33's and a rear locker and have some fun in it before you do serious mods Wink

thats correct mate, the arches arent as deep as the new ones and 33's should fit no worries as long as he aint got sidesteps.

Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Location: ACT

Tonka is that a "SHIFT" sticker on ur window?

Craig

Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: Mount Gravatt, QLD

Yeah it has huge wheel arches and plenty of clearance. It also has side steps but they don't intrude right into the wheel arch. I may steer clear of the CIG locker for the moment as the datto has one and that is enough lockers in one family. Smile

Tonka: Why did you remove leaves from your setup? Is this purely to make the right softer or were you chasing more flex?

Craig

Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Ringwood, Melbourne

He was chasing more flex with the added benefit of it being softer...and yes that is a SHIFT sticker on his screen.

Joined: 20 Oct 2002 Location: Melbourne

Maddog wrote:

He was chasing more flex with the added benefit of it being softer...and yes that is a SHIFT sticker on his screen.

I was chasing more flex - hence making it softer to gain this.

And it WAS a shift sticker, dont have it anymore.

Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: Mount Gravatt, QLD

Wouldn't this also lower it too? Was it the overload spring you took out?

Craig

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2004 4:15 pm

DatRacer wrote:

Wouldn't this also lower it too? Was it the overload spring you took out?

Craig

yeah it will lower your hight ,aswell as making it sag more and the more you use it for towing the more it will sag.

Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: Mount Gravatt, QLD

Ah cheers. Not doing heaps of towing. Only every now and again.

Craig