An expedition truck on portals...

mk216v

Der Chef der Fahrzeuge
Thanx Timo!

I have my fingers crossed just a bit tighter now as it´s picking up a little momentum again.

I have decided to go for a FORD 3.2l TDCi Duratorq engine, with a modified gearbox.
All my requirements and a few more are met by this engine and it has proven it´s durability over past three years in the Transit (non-US models).
It´s actually so successful, as I have just read, that it´s going to be introduced to the US market in the new 2014 model Transit, too.

For the wheels it´s still a bit difficult.
I won´t easily part with my Hutchinson Double Beadlocks, but as it seems sofar they don´t have the mil-spec rims in 17"x8.5".
Only my "WA-0492" in 16"x7.5". Sadly these prevent me from installing the ALCON brakes, but Ronald from TSSH has promised to look into that and have another word with Hutchinson, too.

I am almost done stripping the truck, too.
In January I will start with reinforcing the axles for the upcoming trip and commence with the new drawer system for the tray.

I will also move the intercooler to the back and may even move the radiator (something I started thinking about in West Sahara last year after the crash had almost broken my radiator, too)

The additional parts for the Safety Devices roll cage are drawn and should be ready late January, too.
I am going to add screw in brackets at the bottom (doors/diagonal) and across the back of the rear cabin (horizontal).

The suspension stays at is and while only receive a full service. The front left piston will be replaced then, too as I bend it when I crashed through that brick wall at 50mph in southern Morocco during the 2012 Sonangol Africa Eco Race.

The rear winch should be ready early into 2013, too and as soon as I have the final dimensions, I will start building the custom mount.

Most likely in February I will also take delivery of the new road-legal head lights. LED but a brand new development and not only bright but also good looking.

A lot of work but I need to seriously move on with ticking of things on my to-build-list :ylsmoke:

So long & have a wonderful christmas holiday, wherever you guys are!

Robert

I read Alcon's...drool. We have Alcon's on our street Audi's and VW racecars at work--LOVE them! Do you have a contact at Alcon? If not, I can help with that too.
 

mk216v

Der Chef der Fahrzeuge
Goodness that 130CC and ISAK10 look amazing with the flares...:victory:

Brettakantar is the place where the Icelandic G owners go for flares too.
 

mk216v

Der Chef der Fahrzeuge
Ok Robert, I'm putting TonyC from Motorsports in Portland, OR on the case. He's who has supplied many of us G-owners (Tony is a G owner, Haflinger owner, may other euros--very knowledgable in the Steyr/Daimler/Puch arena) with Hutchinson's. He is direct with Hutchinson.

PM'd you Tony's info as he said he can help.
 

Oilworker

Explorer
Happy New Year to all of you out there....

Bowler_EXR-S_Santa_Edition.jpg


Thanx Jeremy "mk216v" for putting me in touch with Tony at Motorsports Portland.
He suggests the wheel for the Toyota Tundra as it seemingly is the only currently available wheel in 17"x8.5" which comes close to my requirements.

This is the Hutchinson WA-0550 for the Toyota Tundra 17"x8.5" ...
Hutchinson_WA-0550_Toyota_Tundra.jpg


...opposed to the one I am currently running, which is the Hutchinson WA-0492 for the Mercedes G with 16"x7.5"
Hutchinson_WA-0492_Mercedes_G.jpg


I am not sure if I like the spokes-design on my Defender....any suggestions? Comments?

So long,

Robert


P.S.: I just received another inquiry regarding the suspension setup I am currently running. I introduced it earlier but will write a little more about the whole kit this weekend, okay?
 
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mogwildRW1

Adventurer
Ug.

The spokes kill it for me. The Current rims you are running are what I picture when I thing of "Hutchinson"
 

tacr2man

Adventurer
Same here the 0550 looks a bit fake and blingy JMHO

by the way does the 3.2tdci run a DMF :oops:
 
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Haf-E

Expedition Leader
Same here the 0550 looks a bit fake and blingy JMHO

by the way does the 3.2tdci run a DMF :oops:

I actually like the way the bolts are more recessed on the toyota rims - the G-wagen rims bolts always seemed vulnerable to rock damage...

If the toyota rims were powder coated black and had silver nuts I doubt you would even notice the spokes. Wonder about the backspacing though.

Excited to hear about the diesel ford engine choice - looking forward to that engine coming to NA - even though we will only get it with a 6 speed auto.
 

mk216v

Der Chef der Fahrzeuge
You're very welcome Robert, I love helping!!!

I really prefer the Toyota 0550 vs the Mercedes 0492(the 0550 is actually my 2nd favorite style of all they offer). I've always accepted the 0492 as "THE" military Hutch for Mercedes since it's all that's ever come on the military G's until recently, but never really liked the flat face of it and lack of any depth. This is exactly why I went with the new 1207, plus it's about 12lbs lighter too; hutchi1.jpg
OEM Mercedes style, but a bit of depth to the wheel to make it interesting.
I've been really happy with how they turned out and have performed;
DSCN0893.JPG
DSCN0975.JPG

I actually wanted even more depth(neg offset) like the Hutch's on this Arctic Truck's G, but Hutchinson USA said they're military(forged) only and NLA;
GJ8B9483_resize.JPG

PS--PM'd you the Alcon info Robert. :smiley_drive:
 

mk216v

Der Chef der Fahrzeuge
Maybe not the best representation of the 0550 on your DoKa, but a 110 I've always really liked, which happens to be wearing a multi-spoke wheel;
arg2LlXA7pg80bhwEt4O1y0Ro1_500.jpg
 

Oilworker

Explorer
Jeremy,

do you have a product code for the wheels they used on the Arctic Truck G?

Where can I find more information on your wheels?
They aren´t in the european catalogue!
 

Oilworker

Explorer
So, now more about my suspension.

The process of finding a nice set of shocks actually started in late 2006/early 2007 when I was preparing my 110SW for the Transyberia Rallye 2007 in which I was to support the press.

My intention was to fit twin shocks but then, just as we had found a nice and affordable brand my friend Marc Burauen came up with the new Proflex shocks. They were a about the same price as the twin setup I had chosen but they promised to be much better. We fitted these with a set of HD springs and of I went.
Being fully adjustable they performed amazingly well and I did two Superkarpata Trophys, the Transsyberia Rallye (20.000km) and a few other trips with them, only returning them to the manufacturer for service every now and then.

These shocks became the margin and after dismantling the 110SW "Rhino Lady" in 2009 I fitted them to the 130CC-R.

Being happy with the performance of the Proflex I still continued looking for something new (as I always do) and in at Billing 2010 I saw the display car (life) of Simon Buck with custom designed mounts and King 2.5" shocks, hydraulic bump stops, etc. :Wow1:
That was love at first sight! :drool:

I closely followed the progress Simon made and the testing he did with his trophy car at Devon 4x4 but it wasn´t until after the Billing Show in 2011 that I was ready to try and fit the kit to my 130, becoming the first to fit the D44 mounts to a 130.

Offroad_Extrem_Devon4x4_King_front_02_web1000t.jpg


Offroad_Extrem_Devon4x4_King_rear_01_web1000t.jpg


It coincided with the fact that the german imported for FOX also started work with KING.
Ralf Berlit (www.offroad-extrem.de) volunteered to help me at his workshop and together we fitted the kit just in time for the Africa Eco Race 2012, which I did as press/support for Eric Brandenburg who raced his Porsche 911 Safari (#911), while I signed up in the Raid-Class (#806).

20111223_Farewell_web800.jpg


This s the kit that Simon Buck developed for the Defender....
OFFROAD_Extrem_KING_Kit_800px_OE.jpg


Jim Marsden (Gigglepin) fitted this kit on his 2011 trophy truck, too. He won the Croatia Trophy and made 5th in the 18th Rallye Breslau.

We both made it to the finish at Lac Rose and the suspension was just amazing! :wings:
Ralf and I had just guessed the settings from the weight we expected as I didn´t exactly know how many spares for the Porsche I was going to take. I adjusted the show once in Africa, when I asked Hubert Auriol, who was also running King Shox on one of his Buggys, for some advice on the proper filling pressure.

All together, from Hamburg - Dakar and back, I drove 19.000km in 6 weeks and think its the best suspension kit I have ever driven.
In combination with the dual rate progressive springs which I had custom made, it´s an amazingly smooth and comfortable ride and I will surely never drive without hydraulic bump stops ever again!

The kit is easy to install but requires a little cutting in the tray bed on the 130 to fit the rear bump stops.

I will put together a few more images of the fitting process if you like.

Simon made this video of the testing they did with the newly developed kit on his Land Rover Td5 Trayback in early 2010


So long,

Robert
 

Timo K

Observer
Awesome setup. Does it work well in technical terrain also, and not just fast piste driving? Everything fits without a lift? Shocks look a lot longer than stock.

BTW, are you horribly busy next June/July...?
 

Oilworker

Explorer
Hi Timo,

what do you mean by "horribly busy"? You got my curiosity on high alert ;-)

The turrets are 75mm longer (higher) than standard and hence allow for longer shocks to be fitted.
What I really like is the attention to detail Simon Buck has put into this product.
The shock mount on the bottom (front axle) now is not a pin anymore put a uni-ball (or whatever you call these things). It always drove me made to get the bolt of the lower pin off.

The articulation in slow terrain is really good, too. Actually my articulation was so big that Ralf and I decided to fit retention straps on both axles.

What makes it so versatile is the progressive setup that I choose. This allows for a smooth and nice ride when going slow or unladen but still works pretty well when going fast on- or off-road.

I´ll shoot the details tomorrow morning.

So long,

Robert
 

Timo K

Observer
Oh I'm sure it's nothing as exciting as you think..! Just planning next summer, nothing big...

I'm extremely intrigued by the spring setup also. I have a serious need for a "dual-purpose" suspension system and by the looks of it, you've already done all the hard legwork on this...
 

Oilworker

Explorer
What´s nice about the suspension "package" is that it is very versatile.
Sure you´ll need to do a little experimenting with the pressure in the reservoirs and it´s also important that you get the initial shimming right for your purposes.

There are many people out there who say they can set up your suspension and claim to have a lot of "experience".
People who can really do it and who have the necessary experience to get it right the first time are pretty scarce though.
You won´t regret going to Devon 4x4 and speaking with Jake, Matt or Simon and I would always recommend Ralf Berlit as he´s taking his time if you have a genuine interest.

If you use this suspension on a 130 you´ll need to pay some extra attention to the cross articulation as it can be too much.
This will most likely result in a broken (sheered off) steering box pin (which I already managed).

That´s one of the reasons I like to have the straps now.
The speeds at which I traveled in Africa during the Africa Eco Race 2012 were much higher than what I had previously done in my Defenders.
It felt great, the car behaved fantastic and after a moment of panic when becoming fully airborne after going over a bump that was much bigger than it had seemed at 70mph, I gained a lot of confidence in the KINGs and especially the hydraulic bump-stops.

I broke a lot on that adventure but not my suspension ;-)
 

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