The truck as it stands:
Toyota Hilux 4x4, 7" spring lift (make unknown), 38.5" TSL Superswampers on 10x15 steel rims, Range Rover 3.5 V8 mated to standard 5 speed, custom props, traction bars on the rear, PAS, 'Dixie' air horns.... Other bits and peices.
The truck turns heads as you'd expect but it's a crap ride on the road, as the spring rates on the rear are so high that it's the tyres that do all suspension work ie. bounce, bounce. It isn't worth a look in at offroad either as the traction bars/springrates means it'd rather tip over than flex on the rear and the front springs have de-cambered to the point that driving up onto anything higher than 6" causes the front tyres to resume their concerted efforts at tearing off my front wings. Still, all said and done, I like the old girl so have decided to breathe new life into her by junking all the compromises and turning it into something to be respected, both on and offroad.
On with the plan:
Shorten wheelbase to approx' 100"
Change axles for FZJ80 landcruiser units with electric lockers front and rear
Custom fabricated coil suspension allround
Custom props
Trim chassis rails off to give best exit angle
External rollcage
Front and rear winches
PAS crossover steering
Set of road biased 35" tyres to complement 'swampers
Provision for disconnectable sway bars, should I need them
Everything else will be implemented/designed/rethought as I get to them
Oh, didn't I mention? I'm in the UK, so will be undertaking this project, for the best part, completely free of the great American aftermarket; a blessing and a curse in one stroke, so to speak!
Your contribution, if you wish to, is to question my desicions, provide alternative viewpoints, and generally ensure that this project will be the demon it seems on paper!
