Modified MU's, how high?

[vinceandrobyn]

We are in the process of doing a SAS sprung over in the rear and sprung under hilux in the front. It's standing around 1120 at the peak of the rear wheel arch (no idea what standard is), I think the front is just slightly higher but it's jacked up at the moment so can't measure it. The bottom line for us is performance offroad, it doesn't need to look cool, thats just a bonus. I was just wondering how high some of the other modified MUs are out there and how tipsy they are offroad. We were sprung over all round and lifted in various ways with the IFS system we had previously but got tired of fixing CVs and axles. The height felt good on the old MU. We never measured it before but I think we are slightly higher now and wondering how it will go. I've put some muddy pics of our old MU on facebook (probably the most recent ones, red) can't wait to take it back out again.

[geeves]

1120 is good but what size tyres is that

[vinceandrobyn]

We have 33 simex, they are half worn now but I think we'll get the same again as many of the runs and competitions we want to go on have a tyre size limit. Wouldn't mind getting 35s plus for other trips but can only afford one set of offroad tyres for now.

[vinceandrobyn]

We were initially going to spring over at the front but realised that would be getting too high for our liking.

[geeves]

standard on 31s is about 850mm Youve added 25mm in the tyre so thats still 200mm above stock.
How did you do the front drivehaft?

[vinceandrobyn]

I'll give you a quick run through of what we have done, it is not finished yet:

Sprung over LS rear MU diff
Sprung under front Hilux beam axle
60s series landcruiser steering box
70 series landcruiser front leaf springs and steering arms
Hilux/MU front driveshaft (still to measure up and join)
Hilux front disc brakes
Aftermarket shocks
33 x 11.5 Simex jungle trekkers
2.5inch exhaust
20mm rear drive shaft spacer and wedges for angle
40mm body lift
ARB modified bullbar
Rear custom bar
Husky 10 superwinch front
9000lb Bullwinch rear (have new plans now for better mounting)
Bighorn intercooler with electric fan (have bonnet scoop, but not yet fitted)
Light bar with 4 x 100w spots
Snorkel
Dual alternators (MU & 120amp Mitzi)
Dual batteries and 2nd battery box (1000cca century batts)
Onboard compressor and air tank
Rocksliders/side bars

We have plans for the turbo, air lockers, beadlock rims, new tyres, boost guage and a 2nd amp meter and we may need to take a leaf out of the front springs to soften them up a bit. I think I've listed everything. This is our 2nd MU build, so we have been working up to this for about 10yrs. Hopefully we will come away with a capable and reliable truck, the IFS version we had was capable but too unreliable.

We are always learning so feel free to fire away with questions/advice. My husband has done most the building with help from a few good mates. I'm not so keen on getting my knuckles skinned and hands greasy, but we both enjoy 4WDing.

[vinceandrobyn]

Does anyone know how to marry up the front driveshafts? We have an engineer to do the welding so know worries there. Just not sure how to measure it up, where to cut.

[geeves]

www.4wdstuff.co.nz/himuzulux
This is a very similar setup to yours. Biggest hassle is needing a longer spline

[vinceandrobyn]

Thanks. I've been looking through old threads but many of the links and pictures are no longer available. It's on it's wheels now so I went out to measure the front and one side is 30mm higher then the other -haha. Do Hiluxes have left and right springs? We might need a spacer or take/add a leaf on one side.

[geeves]

Just about all spring sets have a left and right Also this is different if your in a LHD country. Its mainly because of where the driver sits but also very few cars are perfectly ballenced

[vinceandrobyn]

Comming along. We fitted the intercooler scoop and our bull bar over the weekend. Putting the bull bar on took alot of work, it was heavy and required a lot of lifting, checking and adjusting to get it fitting right. Everything will need a good tidy up and repaint. The clear coat is bubbling off the bonnet and roof. So once all the mods are done we will repaint he truck.

[Yarno]

Mine is 960mm on 33's...

[blowout]

Mine is 1000mm on 35's

[jer0]

Are you able to post a few more photos, it looks like a great build

[Yarno]

Yeah more photos would be good, nothing wrong with the pussy cat.... looks good.
Do you have more build photos??
Cheers
Yarno

[geeves]

Anouther censors word fixed. You can now call pet cats what they realy are.

[vinceandrobyn]

OK Here are some more photos Here it is on the hoist at a mates workshop

More work in progress, you can probably make out the Bighorn in the background, this truck has also had an sas and was our template. The Mechanic who owns it is really clued up about 4wd parts, he gave us a shopping list. It made the build alot easier then many others we have heard and read about, most of the parts bolt together with very little adjustment required.

Here's a pic under the bonnet. You can see the intercooler with the fan fitted. In front of that is the 2nd alternator mounted above the original. The other battery is on the opposite side.

Hope to have everything going well in time for the Reefton Challenge in October.

[vinceandrobyn]

The fan is just sitting there at the moment . We will make up a frame and bolt it in and wire everything up properly. We have done alot but still plenty more to be finished. We might swap the springs around and see if that evens the front up a bit.

[Demonic]

Looks f'n PRIMO to me.. great job. . how many hours did it take you to do the S.A.S roughly?

[MuZila]

Any chance of seeing the second battery???
I would like to see how and what got moved round as I am about to embark on that as my next move.