Sas with ahc (1 Viewer)

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Joined
Jan 16, 2022
Threads
11
Messages
45
Location
Australia
So I'm looking into swapping a 105 chassis under my LX470, and I'm wondering if its worth keeping the AHC.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: GTV
That's interesting. Would be the first LC with rigid front axle and air suspension (well, the AHC version of it at least).
Which springs would you use up front? With front coils and AHC, you would have the same situation as on the rear, with finding the right coils to give the AHC the right pressure to work with. (Instead of an adjustable TB which gives you perfect AHC pressure).

Depends on the use as well. If I was building a truck to use on forrest roads, I wouldn't want the somewhat delicate height sensor links getting in the way of jumping branches and such. Might be a me-thing, as I had that happen on a 100 feet shortcut between some pine trees: a dead branch on the ground jumped up and bent my rear sensor arm. (Had to drive all the way of two miles home on the bump stops :) ).
 
The 100 series ladder frame is different from a 105 series frame. It’s a doable swap just prepare to fabricate new mounts.

With the 105 frame to your LX470 body, does it come with the drivetrain (axles, coils, suspension parts like radius arms and trail arms? Interesting project for sure.
 
While anything is possible with enough time and money, the answer is no it's not worth it, IMO. You'd be looking at a ton of custom work just to swap the chassis and make the 2UZ fit the 105 frame. Trying to retro fit AHC would be a while separate nightmare.

I think a far better approach since your in Australia is to sell the LX and buy a 105
 
The 100 series frame and 105 series frame is a straight swap body mount wise. I actually had pics of an lx470 for big dollars that had a 105 series chassis with a 1hdfte conversion also. There's also a 98 lx470 on fb marketplace wrecking right now with a 105 chassis. The chassis I'm looking at is a full rolling chassis minus engine and tyranny, It's mainly rust free and I can pick it up for 600 in usd. I do like the ahc in my lexus and wondered if I should keep it when I do the swap or not, I did some research, and it appears the rear shocks could be made to work on the front with the solid axle. I just wondered if now is a good time to go to non ahc, or if it's worth maintaining.
 
The 100 series frame and 105 series frame is a straight swap body mount wise. I actually had pics of an lx470 for big dollars that had a 105 series chassis with a 1hdfte conversion also. There's also a 98 lx470 on fb marketplace wrecking right now with a 105 chassis. The chassis I'm looking at is a full rolling chassis minus engine and tyranny, It's mainly rust free and I can pick it up for 600 in usd. I do like the ahc in my lexus and wondered if I should keep it when I do the swap or not, I did some research, and it appears the rear shocks could be made to work on the front with the solid axle. I just wondered if now is a good time to go to non ahc, or if it's worth maintaining.
This could be a first, a F&R solid axle with a working pneumatic suspension. 👏🏽 Keep us posted!
 
Land_Cruiser_100vs105_Frame-1024x607.png
 
I don't want to swap to a straight 105 mainly because finding one not beaten to death body wise is hard, and they are lower build quality. The lx470s are a high build finish and comfortable, plus I own it. I'd like to end up with a vehicle similar to the one for sale in the link.
 
I can't imagine there would be any insurmountable issues. Definitely would be rad.

Depends on the use as well. If I was building a truck to use on forrest roads, I wouldn't want the somewhat delicate height sensor links getting in the way of jumping branches and such. Might be a me-thing, as I had that happen on a 100 feet shortcut between some pine trees: a dead branch on the ground jumped up and bent my rear sensor arm. (Had to drive all the way of two miles home on the bump stops :) ).


In this kind of build one could just reposition the sensors, maybe even put them above the axles, out of the way. You'd only need one up front.
Finding the correct front springs would likely be the biggest hassle.
 
No it's not that car being parted out, that's an lx470 already converted to 105 chassis and 1hdfte. I Spoke to the guy, he confirmed the chassis is a bolt up fit. I've found a rolling chassis, no body, engine or transmission. It is the chassis on diffs rolling with fuel tanks for what amounts to 600usd. My plan is to blast paint and recondition it, then swap it with mine. Preferably with a 1hdfte in it.
You said this is the vehicle that is currently being parted out and you can buy the rolling 105 frame with F/R axles for 600 bucks? If so, wow this is hell of a deal mate, it’s already custom-made for an LX470.
 
So I'm looking into swapping a 105 chassis under my LX470, and I'm wondering if it’s worth keeping the AHC.
that’s a lot of work to make a solid axle 100 with 8 inches of suspension travel.
 
....In this kind of build one could just reposition the sensors, maybe even put them above the axles, out of the way. You'd only need one up front....
Hmm, single sensor up front -- Maybe if you wired both front sensor inputs to the same single sensor -- Don't know, but it could be possible. What would you gain? You would loose the automatic extra high position, which adds an inch in the case of uneven terrain. That function is triggered by continuously varying difference between the two front sensors.

Btw, the rear sensor is already above the axle, but still pretty exposed. The front ones are more protected, as long as you don't get anything jammed up in the wheel well.

If I were doing this build, I would probably keep the AHC. It would be easy to swap to stronger coil springs and normal shocks at a later stage if problems arise.
One issue is suspension travel: Without AHC, you could have longer travel, especially up front. Btw, are the rear ahc 'shocks' longer than the fronts? In that case, you could find space for using four rear ahc shocks, giving longer front travel. The height sensor links/arms lengths would have to be changed/adopted to this build in any case.

This is a build I'm looking forward to following. :popcorn: - and it's being done in the great Land Cruiser continent down under - home of the most interesting LC builds.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GTV
that’s a lot of work to make a solid axle 100 with 8 inches of suspension travel.
Well, I'd imagine you would want to use the Rear AHC "shocks" up front as well as the larger rear accumulators. Maybe even the rear damping force actuators as the internal discs that control damping rate are probably different between IFS and SA. All the hydraulic lines between the components would been to be re-plumbed as the frames have different dimensions.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom