Coils are so much nicer going down washboards, they don't tend to skip about even in a solid axle vehicle. The ride in a 80 is night and day over a 60. Why put in an engine to make the vehicle go faster, if the suspension can't keep up? It is like me taking a modern 4T dirt bike engine, and tossing it in a 70's chassis...go from 12" of travel to 4"...makes little sense.
Drive them back to back, the 80 is like a trail couch, 60 is like a buck board. Zimm knows this...
You can make leafs perform nearly as well as coils,
but you have to throw a bunch of money at it. At that point, might as well just change out the whole chassis...the 80 has been well sorted over the years, can buy everything off the shelf suspension-wise.
LS engine swap, 80 chassis, 60 body...the
whole package. Power, handling, and the "look". Why half-******** it?
You do!!?? Hell, the way you talk about how great PA is, it sounds like you never leave. I grew up there, couldn't wait to move the hell out of there.
Hey I do the same! Travel about, fly in and rent (last rental was a mini van, ha!)...but ride the dirt bike around in circles like a 12 year old when I am waiting for the next trip....just got back from the border of Canada riding the trails up there. You should come on out, I'll show you around...acting like a kid playing in the mud isn't a bad thing.
I don't see the point of tossing in a LS engine in a leaf sprung vehicle, why put in an engine that can overwhelm the suspension real quick? Makes sense in an 80...in a 60, dunno...seems like a waste of time money and effort. My buddy has a built 60, yes I have driven it, even if it is OME suspension it is horrible running down washboards, will rattle yer fillings out. Guess why I don't see why swapping in a hotrod engine is beneficial. The 3F is the perfect engine for that platform, it is slow and bumbling just like the chassis. It is part of its' charm.
If you're going through all the trouble why not go all the way and sling an 80 chassis under the 60 body?
That is my point with the wash boards, why put more powerful engine in a chassis if you have to slow down? Whole point is to be comfortable and take off road situations with ease, and well go a little faster. Even if you don't want to drive fast, you want to be comfortable right? Why you swap in the engine in the first place to be more comfortable in traffic, yeah?
I can see having the extra power for the interstate, but still fully leaf sprung vehicle isn't the greatest for running slab. Want a freeway cruiser buy a Tahoe or Silverado. Extra Cab Silverado would probably be better for zimmer. All he would have to do is the suspension from Mazzulla and some glass to fit 37's. 6.5' bed for sleeping...everything he needs. Don't like IFS...get a Ram or Ford 3/4 ton, honestly zimmer would be better served with a 3/4 ton truck for how much weight he is lugging around on that poor 60. Would barely have to touch a 3/4 ton mod wise, leveling kit you could easily sling 37's under there. Throw a topper on there and call it good.
Probably the odd man out here, I just don't see the point of putting in modern drivetrain in a platform if you're not going to modernized the suspension while you're at it too.
good on you for moving, im sorry your childhood was so traumatic. unless youre a trust fund baby, have you ever noticed, wherever you live, you still have to go to work, and how small the world has gotten when theres an airport nearby?
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you still didnt answer how the hell the suspension is overwhelmed by the engine. one of my 40's i sold had 350hp/sm465 combo on stock springs/SU and i still didnt even have axle wrap issues. (a little help for you
http://www.4x4wire.com/jeep/tech/susp/axlewrap/ ).
the later LX470 use... ahhhhhh... torsion bars! nothing but a straightened out coil spring, but vastly inferior due to its length, wouldnt you say? holy ****, how toyota regressed.
oh, wait... doesnt your beloved hilux have leaves? what an antiquated POS it is, compared to a modern defender hi-cap with rear coils.
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Odd, just 2 days ago i had a passenger wheeling with me and he commented on how smooth my truck operates, and its on HD OME springs. hows the **** is that? maybe the appropriate spring with appropriate shock. i settled for bilstiens which are a bit soft, because i couldnt locate a supplier for koni HT raids with the appropriate mounts. oh well, i guess i'll settle for the pillow ride of a leaf sprung 60's continental.
no, its not the best on washboard, at 45psi, but if im on washboard, im on dirt and then im at 20psi. itll ride like a 40' gozzard on the dead sea like that. funny how the low psi barely affects tire wear on an E rated 35.
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you have no idea what youre talking about. you think is easy to put an 80 chassis under a 60 then swap in an LS? its cool, for some dude that likes projects maybe, but this is a driver.
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why on earth would you complain about a suspension not being modern, then recommend a SFA truck if i dont like IFS (and who said i had anything against ifs?)? you think the biggest problem with the ride would be having leaves, and not the unsprung weight and motion transfer of a SFA, when compared to IFS??? seriously? ford would have stuck with the 1978 design if that was the case. you contradict yourself.
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if i wanted a 150 inch wheelbase and truck that wouldnt fit where i like to drive it, why would i limit myself to a capper or 6.5 inch bed? i'm 6'4". i still couldnt sleep straight. for that penalty, i'll take a slide in or a unimog with a box. i HAVE that, and that isnt what i wanted for this truck. i wanted the smallest, lightest box, i could easily set up to sleep in, and this is it. pop the rear panels and there are mounting holes galore to put sturdy wood sides. my platform slides in to permit full and when the front seats are forward, it slides out to 6'8" and the front seats act a headboard. storage under the deck is clear and unobstructed.
the track is 4" narrower than new wrangler, so with 315's and stock BS i get 1.5 inches of rubber standoff to match the sliders, and i fit into the standard ruts on the typical trail. the 110" wheel base seems to be the best functional compromise for an all purpose truck.
lastly, i had a 60 previously. i like the box shape and i like the wheelbase. i like the outward visibility and knowing where the corners are. its an eeeeaaaaasy truck to wheel.
i guess you would disapprove my old school modified mgbgt too. too bad, it's awfully fun.
