Topic: Any other Australians here?

[Siringo]

I'm from s/w Victoria, right down on the coast, follow the SA/Vic border down to the coast and you'll end up pretty close to where we are.

'84 dual cab hilux diesel, 2" OME lift (springs and shocks) 31's. Currently on blocks and undergoing a suspension upgrade.

[Lady Di]

   Welcome to Marlin land!! We're getting quite international! 

   

[Rocksurfer]

to Marlin, there are a few guys from Australia that hang out here.

[Siringo [OP]]

Thanks for the welcome. I'll get around to psting some pics soon, maybe later today.

[Siringo [OP]]

Here's what I started out with ...



Oh my, doesn't that look nice ..



Then I got to this ...



Now I'm up to this ...


Ooops, sorry, wrong pic.

Here we are ...



This was taken just after I had put the old rer springs  into the front end. Now the front end is all in bits again as I complete the upgrade. I'm already planing an upgrade on the upgrade even before I have the first upgrade completed.

[Siringo [OP]]

The rear tray is coming off. I want to get something knocked up like this ..



That is so close to what I'm looking for it's uncanny, the tray that is.

At the moment I'm fabbing up some banana shackles for the front springs. I've got some brake lines ordered and am looking at some Rancho 9000's for the front end. Then it's on to the rear end. 

[Siringo [OP]]

Here's a pic of my first 4x4 from 1990. It didn't have much in the way of wheel travel, but we did have double bed in it. 

[BUDDERS]

I love those old duel cabs.  Too bad we didn't have them here in the U.S.  I'd have one right now if it didn't cost so much to import them.

Was a rear tray standard on those from the dealership?  I've seen very few of them with a box (bed type) rear end.

[DTB]

AWESOME! I love 4wd vans! especially toyotas! That is a Toyota, right?

[Siringo [OP]]

I think the utes (utility vehicles) came out with the beds from the dealer and if you wanted a different tray on the back you organised that yourself. Mine has removable sides and can carry quite a bit of stuff.

The 4wd van is a Mitsubishi. Best 4wd van around I reckon. That thing was incredible. One trip we went up along the border line through some desert country, over dunes etc. It was stock as a rock mechanically. I was with other guys who had Nissans, Cruisers etc and the van just blitzed most of them coz it's so light. I was shooting up sand dunes and waiting for others, most of them with lockers, some in front and rear, were having trouble getting up.

Snow was the same, the thing just went over everything. But in heavy off road stuff it struggled because it had an IFS. But the rear flexxed like crazy.

I'll tell you what though, it was a bit hairy at times sitting on top of the front wheels going up and down stuff. There's nothing in front of you, you hit first.