Lookin good dude,gonna watch this with interest,just coiling the front?
The Desert Cruiser
- Thread starter whothehellisdan
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Wow this thing is mental. Are you going coilovers front and rear and do you have any idea (or intention lol) of how to get it engineered in NSW? I just got a hj61 and the only thing I think that lets it down from the factory is the leafs!
The 4runner you had was awesome too, I notice you had one of the bonnet exit snorkels on it in one of the photos. I want to do that sort of setup on my 61, are you planning on one for your cruiser?
The 4runner you had was awesome too, I notice you had one of the bonnet exit snorkels on it in one of the photos. I want to do that sort of setup on my 61, are you planning on one for your cruiser?
- Thread starter
- #24
The 3F is just a factory carb setup Micruz60. I can get you some photos if you want?
I'm working with an engineer to make sure it's all on the up and up, it's basically all 80 gear going into it but with better Springs and shocks so he's pretty happy. Just doing the front end for now, not 100% what direction I want to head with the rear.
It'll be getting an engine swap in the next 12 months or so and then I'll look at a snorkel, I loved the work Extremezilla Off-road did on my Surf so I'll probably take the 60 back to them next time.
More updates after the weekend!
I'm working with an engineer to make sure it's all on the up and up, it's basically all 80 gear going into it but with better Springs and shocks so he's pretty happy. Just doing the front end for now, not 100% what direction I want to head with the rear.
It'll be getting an engine swap in the next 12 months or so and then I'll look at a snorkel, I loved the work Extremezilla Off-road did on my Surf so I'll probably take the 60 back to them next time.
More updates after the weekend!
Coilovers all round would be god like 
Will be following this thread!
Will be following this thread!
- Thread starter
- #26
Alright so finally got an update worth posting. The radius arms are in, gearbox crossmember done, shock hoops all wrapped up and the bumpstops going in as we speak. All that's left to do is the Panhard rod (it'll need to be a fully custom one) some extended braided brake lines and make the hoop brace removable.
How she sits at the moment.
The Radius arm mounts and new gearbox crossmember, didn't bother doing anything too fancy as it'll need to come out when I do a motor swap anyway, as it sits will be more than strong enough anyway. You can't tell in the photos but the radius arm mounts are braced susbtantially on the inside of the chassis rails.
The engine bay before the Coilovers went in. Still need to cut the brace and weld in the plates so it's removable
Bumpstops tacked into place, i'm spacing the bumps back down to a 4" travel, it'll give me about 3.5" of up travel before it hits the bump and then another 2" of bumpstop to soak it up, should result in a pretty smooth ride hopefully.
Need to figure out what i'm going to do with the rear soon, it's got a pretty crazy gangsta lean at the moment. If all things go well it should be up and running again in a week, once the dual batteries, winch and HIDs are wired up it'll be time for a shake down run.
How she sits at the moment.
The Radius arm mounts and new gearbox crossmember, didn't bother doing anything too fancy as it'll need to come out when I do a motor swap anyway, as it sits will be more than strong enough anyway. You can't tell in the photos but the radius arm mounts are braced susbtantially on the inside of the chassis rails.
The engine bay before the Coilovers went in. Still need to cut the brace and weld in the plates so it's removable
Bumpstops tacked into place, i'm spacing the bumps back down to a 4" travel, it'll give me about 3.5" of up travel before it hits the bump and then another 2" of bumpstop to soak it up, should result in a pretty smooth ride hopefully.
Need to figure out what i'm going to do with the rear soon, it's got a pretty crazy gangsta lean at the moment. If all things go well it should be up and running again in a week, once the dual batteries, winch and HIDs are wired up it'll be time for a shake down run.
Rear coilovers!!! Love the work with the front, would love to see the effort extended all round. 5 link rear wouldnt be too hard I imagine if u flogged the bits off a GQ or 80
Burly burly set up!
Hey mate build is coming along sick! Can I ask which king coilovers you chose as far as travel? Did you go the 14's 16's etc? Keen to keep seeing updates and the custom panhard!
- Thread starter
- #32
Hey guys, she's got 12in Performance Series Coilovers up front, i'm really not chasing flex or i would of gone 14s and a three link up front.
Still using the standard 60 Series Diff, i couldn't bring myself to swap it out for a smaller diff just for a little extra width, although it has made the Panhard rod interesting. Hopefully will have test drive photos up in the next few days!
Still using the standard 60 Series Diff, i couldn't bring myself to swap it out for a smaller diff just for a little extra width, although it has made the Panhard rod interesting. Hopefully will have test drive photos up in the next few days!
Great-looking rig man. I live in Texas, some call it the Australia of North America, hahaha. We do have some similarities, tons of remote, rural roads is one. I have been looking for a way to get a smoother ride on the rough back roads I often travel. You are giving me some good ideas. I have seen people swap in 80 series suspensions before, but never a custom coilover setup.
I'm looking forward to seeing the end result.
I'm looking forward to seeing the end result.
- Thread starter
- #34
Cheers mate, I spent a bit of time in TX a few years back and would have to agree with that.
80's are about as common as arseholes over here, they work great but they're the best they can be sorta thing. I'm hoping this setup should get the good bits of the 80 and improve on other areas. Only thing that has a question mark against it at the moment is the flex. But it's not a big job from here to swap out the radius arms and go a three link or even Y-arm like a Jeep.
80's are about as common as arseholes over here, they work great but they're the best they can be sorta thing. I'm hoping this setup should get the good bits of the 80 and improve on other areas. Only thing that has a question mark against it at the moment is the flex. But it's not a big job from here to swap out the radius arms and go a three link or even Y-arm like a Jeep.
I'm sure you will get it sorted out. As you said, flex isn't a primary concern. Just be sure to keep the thread updated man!
One day I will make it to Australia, hopefully I can spend some time enjoying the back country when I do.
One day I will make it to Australia, hopefully I can spend some time enjoying the back country when I do.
- Thread starter
- #38
Alright i'm just a little excited today - the 60 is back up and running after spending the last month under the knife. There's still a few issues to sort out (Bump stops need to be shortened and it gets death wobbles around 80km/h if you hit a series of bumps) getting a wheel alingment and tyres balanced this afternoon so hopefully that can alleviate the issue. Next step after that is a new steering damper and rebuild the steering box. i'll end up going that path anyway eventually when i do Hydro Assist but for now the less i spend on it the better.
Over the moon with the flex, it's not an animal but it gets it done. Handles like a Cadillac as well, driving down rutted tracks at about 70km/h and it just effortlessly floats over everything. It basically handles and rides like an IFS 100 series, but it's a whole heap cooler. And i haven't done the rear suspension or tuned anything yet! If you want your vintage Cruiser to drive like a new one this is what needs to be done!
Enjoy (I know i am)
Over the moon with the flex, it's not an animal but it gets it done. Handles like a Cadillac as well, driving down rutted tracks at about 70km/h and it just effortlessly floats over everything. It basically handles and rides like an IFS 100 series, but it's a whole heap cooler. And i haven't done the rear suspension or tuned anything yet! If you want your vintage Cruiser to drive like a new one this is what needs to be done!
Enjoy (I know i am)
Good on ye, dan...I'm glad it's working out for you and grateful that you posted up this mod...I'd really like to get there someday with my 60 but that's probably some way off...
Keep posting up progress, I'd be interested to learn what you figure out next!
Post some pics of how you sorted out your panhard rod drama?
This is so cool and you make it look easier then it is!
This is so cool and you make it look easier then it is!