I'm modding my BJ40 to improve on-road handling - looking to add coiled suspension, disk-brakes and power steering.
I'm not an off-roader so she'll be used for on-road with occasional forresty tracks to go mountain-biking, beaches for kayaking / dropping the boat into the water / wakeboarding / taking the pooch for a run, mountain for ski.
I'm guessing that my dream 40 would be with 4.2 litre turbo'd (and intercooled) HD-T, 5-speed manual gearbox (or automatic if I can get dash-mounted or column-mounted), coiled suspension, disk brakes and power-steering. Slight suspension lift and a set of 37's purely for the look
I only want to have to do this once and then just drive the damned thing for the next 40 years - by which time I'll be about ready to be buried in the thing!
In New Zealand spare parts aren't as easy to come by as for you guys in the US.
So doing the mods individually starts to cost too much.
After reading about some of the FZJ40 builds, I started thinking about getting a wrecked 80 series rolling chassis and simply chopping the chassis and plonking on the 40 body. That way everything (kinda) just works (and I get to have an HD-T engine too ).
Then a dismantler suggested that the Prado / 70 series would be farrrrrrr cheaper and a better idea as it gives a manual 5-speed gearbox with lockers (front and rear). Plus the 80 axles are a bit wide on the 40 body. I thought that 70's didn't come with solid-axle and had leaf-springs but am told otherwise ...
I've spent a fair bit of time today trying to find out as much as I can about these things (wiki, google and mud are my friends!) but think I've just about managed to confuse myself completely!
So, the questions are:
Cheers.
I'm not an off-roader so she'll be used for on-road with occasional forresty tracks to go mountain-biking, beaches for kayaking / dropping the boat into the water / wakeboarding / taking the pooch for a run, mountain for ski.
I'm guessing that my dream 40 would be with 4.2 litre turbo'd (and intercooled) HD-T, 5-speed manual gearbox (or automatic if I can get dash-mounted or column-mounted), coiled suspension, disk brakes and power-steering. Slight suspension lift and a set of 37's purely for the look
I only want to have to do this once and then just drive the damned thing for the next 40 years - by which time I'll be about ready to be buried in the thing!
In New Zealand spare parts aren't as easy to come by as for you guys in the US.
So doing the mods individually starts to cost too much.
After reading about some of the FZJ40 builds, I started thinking about getting a wrecked 80 series rolling chassis and simply chopping the chassis and plonking on the 40 body. That way everything (kinda) just works (and I get to have an HD-T engine too ).
Then a dismantler suggested that the Prado / 70 series would be farrrrrrr cheaper and a better idea as it gives a manual 5-speed gearbox with lockers (front and rear). Plus the 80 axles are a bit wide on the 40 body. I thought that 70's didn't come with solid-axle and had leaf-springs but am told otherwise ...
I've spent a fair bit of time today trying to find out as much as I can about these things (wiki, google and mud are my friends!) but think I've just about managed to confuse myself completely!
So, the questions are:
- what the heck are lockers and why would I need them?
- I understand that some of the lockers can be engaged from inside the cab. Laziness makes this appealing. Are there any reason to avoid this and go for the manual option instead?
- which models / years did the 70's come with lockers (and internal controls)?
- I think I need a xZJ78 for the right wheelbase (still to decided but looking for 98-104 inches for improved road-ride). Is that right?
- I'll probably keep the 3B motor that's in the 40: is there a model of the 70 series that came with a 3B-compatible turbo and intercooler or an alternative diesel engine that gets better performance while maintaining economy?
- coils vs leaf-sprung: what should I be looking for and which models / years?
Cheers.