KZN130 chassis swap??

[BoostingLux]

hi all, ive got a kzn130 surf. i love the power of the modifed 1kz and with lockers boths ends, lift and 33s and winch it goes almost anywhere.

the problem im having is almost everytime i take it out im blowing CVs or 4wd actuators or diffs,and ive had enough of having to repair my poor girl everytime i use her, (and so has my wallet) i plan on keeping the truck for quite a while so i figured it about time i spent a bit of money and did it right.

i wanna rip out the IFS and solid axel convert it, i know many people have done this and id love to hear from somone who has, advice or problems u encountered would be greatly appreciated.

the way i look at it is i have 2 options. standard hilux leaf sprung SAS out of a pickup or early 4runner, OR i think it would be interesting to try swap the surf body onto a 78 series LC prado chassis. ive not heard of this done before. but somones gotta be first! the lc wheelbase is only 90mm longer so it should be ok, id obviously need to change the body mounts and a few other minor things but i think it would be a epic swap? coils both ends and the big LC diffs. has anyone tried this or forsee any issues that i could run into if i was to take this route, im a fabricator so welding etc arnt much of and issue, its just weather it CAN be done without it being a total abortion. hope to hear back with people views

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Solid axle swap would be a LOT simpler than trying to graft the body onto a completely different chassis.

The solid axle swap is a relatively common modification here in the US, so there is TONS of info on that project.

Dan

 

[jynx]

The SAS is relatively straight forward. Do you guys have access to Trail Gear or All Pro Offroad or similar vendors over there? If so you can get a "kit" that would have everything you need to do the swap except an axle, which you should be able to find with no problem.

If not you can do one yourself just takes a little more time.

The main thing you will need is a good donor axle. The push pull steering will go in favor of some type of hysteer conversion. Other than the axle, the main thing is a leaf spring hanger and shackles. If you can find a kit for at least this it will make it much easier to "place" the springs. Once the springs are hung, you can bolt the axle up and work out a driveshaft.

I am thinking of piecing together a SAS myself and here is my list:

Front Range Offroad Spring hanger kit http://frontrangeoffroadfab.com/nfoscomm/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=38
OME or Ironman 79-85 Front springs for ~2" of lift http://www.4by4connection.com/4runpicallle.html
High Steer (Marlin, Trail Gear or Front Range)
Axle rebuild kit (pick you poison)

I have a full list somewhere for all the misc bits but those are the main components that you will need.

As Dan S said they are so common here in the states that with all the parts handy, they have been done over a weekend. The axle rebuild is pretty straight forward, the only major surgery is cutting out the IFS stuff and placing the hanger brackets and shackles.

Here is a link to one of my favorite SAS conversion threads. This is what I am going to be copying hopefully.
http://www.yotatech.com/f152/great-white-shark-attack-sas-164531/

Good luck

 

[BoostingLux]

cheers for the feedback. im going to try and get a 85 dcab pickup that the cabs been burn out off of a mate, should get it cheap, and then cut all the factory SAS stuff of that then graft it into my surf, plus itll have a rear diff of the same ratio so ill just have to swap the crown n pinion on the rear diff to match my new SAS diff. should be easy enough a swap?

 

[DanS HJ-45]

The '85 frame is different from your IFS frame. It's not as simple as just moving over the bits and brackets I don't think.

That's why there's "kits" with the hangars and brackets ready to weld on.

Either way, IMHO WAY easier than a chassis swap.

Dan

 

[BoostingLux]

oh ok... what am i over looking in terms of the chassis swap?

 

[DanS HJ-45]

oh ok... what am i over looking in terms of the chassis swap?

It's all the stuff you haven't looked at yet (and neither have I). But doing chassis swaps there are all kinds of things that somehow are in barely the wrong place that you end up having to move, or otherwise deal with.

It *might* be an really, really easy thing to swap your Surf body onto the 70 series chassis, or it could be an absolute nightmare. It's the unknown that is a big risk in doing something like that, whereas a solid axle swap is a well known, predictable job with few surprises able to pop up.

Dan