Author Topic: Slunnie's Landy IIa build up. (Read 7836 times)

Slunnie · « **on:** July 15, 2004, 05:01:24 PM »

I was browsing another forum when a 4wding mate posted that he had this old Landy IIa for sale $500 and running but no rego. What, you've gotta be kidding eh! Anyway the deal was done and I was towing the old girl home for some love and attention. I didn't know what to do with it though, I'd just sold a Zook because it was sitting there. Anyway the old girl's got a Nissan SD30 3.0l diesel engine and a 5 speed mated to a factory transfer case.

After many thoughts of restoring it to a registerable state, turning it into a tube buggy etc and total indecision the renovations began.

The rear axle I've just started with. This has been removed and will be replaced with a stronger Hilux unit with 1" further offset Landcruiser 15x8 sunraysia rims. The Rover axle had 4.7 gears, the Hilux has 4.88 gears. In the process of this conversion the end result will be a lift of about 6", though with an axle set that is a lot stronger and wider, being all up about 8" wider from outer to outer. The perchs on the Hilux axles are too wide for the Landy and need to be replaced with ones in a narrower position. The spring pack is 8 leafs and 1200mm long which is the same measurement that allows me to run cut down Hilux springs one day, probably giving more travel and will give a greater wheelbase than the current 88". The lowest 4 load leafs have been removed and the rear packs reinstalled. This hopefully will improve articulation significantly which is what the aim is - offroading ability, and also reduce the ride height. The aim is to keep the suspension soft and even front to rear to maintain a low CofG when articulating. The new axles go under the springs instead of on top which makes installation easy.

Slunnie · « **Reply #1 on:** July 15, 2004, 09:49:29 PM »

Here is the Salisbury that came out. Not a bad sized diff really.

What amazes me is that LR use this diff which could no doubt be used in a supercharged chev V8 truck on 44" bog tyres reliably all day by using a 9.5" Crown wheel (with a 1.5" 35 spline 1/2 shaft conversion), and then they stick axle 1/2 shafts into it made from mild steel fencing wire - literally. Wow, the strength of a weak diff and the clearance of a big diff. :roll:

AstalaVista baby! :twisted: You're outa here

Slunnie · « **Reply #2 on:** July 19, 2004, 06:12:19 PM »

The original 8 leaf pack has a rate of about 160lb/in

though the name of the game here is articulation. 160lb/in is already soft, though I've taken the 4 lowest load leafs and removed them.

Hopefully this will allow a significant generation of up travel, especially with sprung over axles which offer a lot more space for this. My other hope is for the springs to sit flatter than usual to reduce ride height when its all together again.

Sniegy · « **Reply #3 on:** July 21, 2004, 06:58:57 PM »

Hi Simon,
are u going to do up the factory 2.25 litre normally asp engine or replace with say a 2.8 TGV...mmmmm!
Or are u going to go banana's and swap as much as possible

I had thought of doing this for a while but ran out of funds..2nd bubs due.
I am one jealous man, please let me know what u do as i am very interested..

Slunnie · « **Reply #4 on:** July 21, 2004, 07:42:24 PM »

Gday Pete,

Budget's is the word for this build up - cheap fun. The axles are Hilux units that I picked up for $350, the Landy was $500, the tyres and rims were $100. Not bad hey. The motor in it has already been replaced with a Nissan SD30 which is a 3 litre diesel which is a stinky smoke machine with sooo much bottom end it isn't funny. The gearbox has also been replaced with a 5 speed matching box which gives a stunning low 1st that would walk up a wall. The transfer is the factory series unit though, and I'm hoping it will be strong enough with that engine. I'll keep you up to speed with the progress though.

I'm currently sorting some rear axle fitment issues. I'll fab some spring perches, and it looks like I'll setup the spring mount with some inverted Suzuki sierra U bolts and a fabbed up spring plate. This should keep it nice and clean under the axle minimising things to get hung up on. Not sure about the shock location or sizes yet. Hopefully some old Patrol or Disco shocks will work as I've got them laying about the place.

Slunnie · « **Reply #5 on:** July 23, 2004, 07:42:43 PM »

Fabricated the rear spring perches this afternoon. Used 65x65 RHS and 150 long for each perch. Holesaw at 65mm for the axle tubes and a 16mm hole for the perch location on the spring.

Slunnie · « **Reply #6 on:** July 24, 2004, 03:06:09 PM »

This afternoon it was time to prep the axle!

All of the unneeded bits like brakelines and brackets were removed and ground flat. The surfaces that required welding for the spring perches was also cleaned of paint.

It's surprising how narrow the chassis is in relation to that of the Hilux when comparing the perch positions. The narrower perch seperation of the Landy means in theory it can run a stiffer spring for load carrying in comparison to the Hilux, yet have improved articulation and increased body roll. This is assuming all other things being equal.

Definately narrower spring perches!

Slunnie · « **Reply #7 on:** July 24, 2004, 03:18:39 PM »

I thought oh well, I should try the axle on for size and after a brief dilemma trying to pick the thing up I ended up dragging it out of the shed under the Landy. With a fiddle here and there the perches went on (loose fit) and the whole lot went together.

I was a little surprised at the lift, with it being as low as it is. When I sprung my trailer over it gave a lift of about 6 or 8 inches if I recall correctly, though the Landy measured up at a solid 2" maybe a touch more with the axle conversion. I did pull 4/8 leafs out of the spring pack so it looks like it may have done the trick. The other benefit is that it looks like the pinion angles will be sweet! The resultant track is also about 8" wider overall. Not bad, 2" up, 8" out!

Hmmm, sideangles! :twisted:

The leaf packs are looking nice and flat compared to the usual Landy camber.

It looks like pinion angles and tailshaft lengths will be fine also. I'll jack the axle angle around before welding the perches into position. That pinion flange will have to come off and get machined to fit the factory Landy tailshaft.

Slunnie · « **Reply #8 on:** July 30, 2004, 09:05:10 PM »

Cold bent and 1/2" drilled shock mounts made from 50x6 MS. These are for axle mount and will take eye style shocks. Old factory D2 or old 10" GU Patrol rear Rancho's hopefully will get bolted to these.

Mook · « **Reply #9 on:** July 31, 2004, 01:36:44 PM »

Hey Slunnie,

If your after some factory D2 springs and or shocks let me know, I think I still have the originals from my Disco laying around somewhere.

Cheers,

Michael...

Slunnie · « **Reply #10 on:** July 31, 2004, 04:20:09 PM »

Hey thanks for the kind offer Mook. I've been under there again today looking at where to put the shock. I'm still not sure yet as I'll have to fab a crossmember to put them where I want, then I've got to do the calculations etc.

Today I pulled the axle out again and welded the spring perches before relocating the axle.

Slunnie · « **Reply #11 on:** August 08, 2004, 03:52:51 PM »

I ended up plating around the axle with some 3mm bar under the U-bolts to make them fit snugly. The U bolts were flexed slightly to line up with the spring plate and assembled. I swapped the factory LR spring plates to the other side which puts the shock mounts to the rear. This has allowed me to use the std shocks and hopefully gain some travel by having them sit at a 45 degree angle. The shock action will of course be reduced by this as a trade off.

Now onto the front end and removal of the axle.
This is it before I took to it with the rattle gun. :twisted:

This is the lump of an axle that came out. With all of the steering knuckles etc, I could hardly pick this thing up. Skull drag the bugger out of the way. :lol:

...and this is how the Landy was left looking. Some of those bolts were really hard to undo, 1 of the U-bolts even tricked the rattle gun! Angle grinder to the rescue. The angle grinder can pursuade anything that it touches. :lol: The springs are very short in comparison to the rear, and as a result I seriously doubt that I will be able to gain the same level of travel without replacing them with a longer set. This is a budget buildup so I'll work with what I've got. There are 9 leaves in the pack, and I will later remove some leaves like what was done in the rear. I'll end up leaving 4 or 5 leaves in the end and see how it goes. The back is so flexy at the moment it doesn't allow the front to work at all, so I will have to find some type of balance. Being short leaves I'll probably reduce them to 4 leaves full length leaves intially and see how it goes. That should leave a spring rate of around 110lb/in from the factory 220lb/in. It also looks like the front prop shaft may not have enough travel in it as it is for the travel setup which is being produced. I'll have to have a think about that later and do some research.

The Hilux axle needs a fair bit of prep before going in. Unlike the rear, the perches are in the correct positions, though possibly not the correct angles. The steering needs to be changed to crossover with some fabrication, and the J-arm needs some TLC with the angle grinder/cutter also.

Mook · « **Reply #12 on:** August 08, 2004, 03:57:54 PM »

Hey Slunnie,

Sorry i'm going to have to retract the offer of the old shocks and springs, the brother in law cleaned up the mother in law's garage where they have been stored and threw them out......

8O

Michael...

Slunnie · « **Reply #13 on:** August 08, 2004, 04:10:56 PM »

No worries at all Mook. Thanks for thinking of me though, that was kind of you to do so. On the rear in this setup the D2 shock was too long, adn surprisingly the standard IIa ones did the trick. I'll see how it goes, and if need be I'll fab a crossmember and run some longer ones that join in the centre over the axle as originally planed. Sort of a /\ setup over the diff.

Mook · « **Reply #14 on:** August 08, 2004, 05:47:05 PM »

No worries Slunnie, that sure is an interesting / fun looking project you have going there...

Michael...

News:

Author Topic: Slunnie's Landy IIa build up. (Read 7836 times)