MY chassis additions.

midnight · Post by **midnight** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 11:48 am

How hard would it be to add a chassis to the MY's?

So I can put my solid axles on it.
Please do not go on about it wont work because of the IFS or something........ Ive got everything worked out, just want to know about the chassis side of things.

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 2:55 pm

There was a solid axle vortex (XT) on the usmb at one stage. I have a picture on my computer but it doesnt have internet.

Do a search on there for SAS or solid axle subaru on the USMB.

Best of luck

stinky · Post by **stinky** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 3:57 pm

yeah it's definately doable... probably never be legal though. I think there's a few people in the qld suba club who've put the suba body onto a chassis from a real 4x4, but that was using engine etc all from the real 4x4 so not really a 'subaru' any more.

Personally if I was going to attempt something like this, I'd pull the running gear off a (sacrificial) suby and sit it on it's side so you've got a good view of the underside of it.

work out if you want to use the subaru engine etc, if so, then you'd probably need to build an underframe ( Make up some 2" lift blocks and weld steel between them ) do this all on the subaru ( might even want to put the subaru on it's roof ) and just work on it directly on the subaru.

Then take the subframe off and stick it on the chassis you want to attach it to and make up fittings to bolt it to that too. Hopefully this will give you a frame that will bolt one side to the chassis, and one to the subaru. Now put your sacrificial subaru on chassis using the frame and start working out steering, diffs, etc.

Once it's all worked out, swap the good suby for the sacrified one.

MUDRAT · Post by **MUDRAT** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 5:05 pm

I reckon if you look at the basic points you put the lift kit on (front crossmember, gearbox crossmember, rear crossmember) you could knock something up to fit up to those points. Most 4x4 chassis attach to the body at only 6 or 8 points, so this is not a bad place to start.

I reckon Stinky's got a pretty good solution, take a wrecked Suby, tip it on it's roof and jig it all together.

You will have to compromise ground clearance though, the chassis will hang way down low. Most 4x4 bodies are designed to hide the majority of the chassis, you won't have this luxury on a Subaru.

I guess it will depend a lot on what engine, gearbox and transfer case you want to use as well.

stinky · Post by **stinky** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 6:35 pm

Personally I think if you want a good strong truck with solid axles, buy a real 4x4*. If you want a cheap, reliable, easy to fix ( also easy to break ) bucket of fun, buy a subaru.

That being said, I'd love to see such a project happen.

* In no way do I mean to say a subaru isn't a real 4x4

MUDRAT · Post by **MUDRAT** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 10:10 pm

I completely agree with Stinky. The reason we drive Subarus is because they don't have unweildy ladder-frame chassis, dinosaur live axles and the traffic manners of Mel Gibson during Hanuka.

That said, this isn't what Midnight wants to know or what this thread's about; it's an interesting theoretical exercise and I'd spend 5 minutes looking at someone's pictures to see how they'd done whatever it is they did.

*It's ok Paul, we all know a Subaru isn't a real 4x4, but we have just as much fun anyway.

brumbyrunner · Post by **brumbyrunner** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 6:36 am

There is a Brumby on the USMB with a leaf sprung rear axle from a Nissan 720. The spring hangers are just welded to the subframe.

And just to clarify the real 4WD thing, Subarus are an unreal 4WD.

vincentvega · Post by **vincentvega** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 7:45 am

brumbyrunner wrote:And just to clarify the real 4WD thing, Subarus are an unreal 4WD.

well said

brumbyrunner · Post by **brumbyrunner** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 8:50 am

Hey midnight, what axles are you planning to use and what sort of suspension?
My plan would be to build a rotisserie and then reinforce the suspension pick up points.
Have a look at the current Petersons 4WD where one of the staffers is building a tube frame buggy. He is gusseting the centre with some punched sheetmetal which looks strong but light.

stamp_licker · Post by **stamp_licker** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 7:59 pm

go for it mate.get yourself up to a rockhopper event or similar where they run the registerd class.I saw some great enginnering on the weekend and plenty of it could be applied to a subaru.When i get less busy i'll give ya a hand.

Subaman · Post by **Subaman** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 9:00 pm

A Long wheel base Suzuki Sierra chassis is close to being the right wheel base, may be a good starting point

MUDRAT · Post by **MUDRAT** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 10:09 pm

Too narrow. Range Rover 100 inch is spot on.

midnight · Post by **midnight** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 3:43 pm

Ok so Ive been away for a few days and now I have lots of q's to answer.

Stinky. That is a really good idea, But I was thinking of making my own chassis for the suby.

I might be able to get a body off Jordan (BVCP) if he still has it when I go to build it.

Brumbyrunner: I am more then likely going to use hilux/suby stuff.

SubaMan: What do I have in my possession, but none other then a LWB sierra (No Im not hacking it up yet. I might if its got too much wrong with it to get it regod).

MUDRAT: I also have a Rangey in the yard, but I dont think dad would appreciate it too much if I borrowed stuff off it.

the_postie: Yes they do have some awsome stuff. Be good if ya could give me a hand when its ready to go ahead. All the more help, the better.

MUDRAT: Will most likely be like so: EJ20T > EJ20T auto box (Blocked off front shafts) > Jackshaft > suitable tcase (Lux?) > lux diffs. Thats the plan.

Nothing is going to be legal. It will be a custom buggy that will eventually compete. (Someones gotta uphold the subaru name).

Basically, I want a bodied 4wd, that isnt IF/RS, subaru, and totally custom.

Chassis height wont bother me, as the tyres will make up for the lack of g/c.

Does that tell everyone much?

MUDRAT · Post by **MUDRAT** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 4:34 pm

I've got an idea - rather than dodgee up an AWD box to be rear-wheel-drive, why not use a rear-wheel-drive box? Using an adptor plate you could make anything fit.

You could use a Hilux Surf auto box, then use twin Toyota transfter cases. That way your transfer case would be in the perfect spot.

midnight · Post by **midnight** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 8:15 pm

The reason for dodgying up a awd box is because its cheap.

The adaptor plate would have to be a 1 off custom (uber espensive just saying it).

But the twin lux cases isnt a bad idea. And what do you mean it would put the the perfect spot?

midnight · Post by **midnight** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 8:18 pm

I want to do this car on a budget, just cos i can. And the rest of my money will be going to a house deposit (at this age? yep, Im thinkin ahead).

MUDRAT · Post by **MUDRAT** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 9:40 pm

As far as the expense of using a adapter plate, my line of reasoning is that you'll be going to a lot of bother to get the drivetrain sorted in any way, fabricating an apapter plate isn't a big deal.

You want the transfer case as close to the midpoint of the vehicle as possible don't you?

brumbyrunner · Post by **brumbyrunner** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 6:26 am

Of course if you used the Surf motor it would negate the need for an adapter plate. Say an injected Toyota V6 3.8 or even a 4 or 4.7 V8. Impoters have all that stuff pretty cheap. Couple of grand will get you a V8/auto front cut.

If you're keen on 'yota diffs, take a look at the Bundera/80/100 series front diff. It has an 8" crown wheel and is already 3 link with a good selection of traction aids available.

MUDRAT · Post by **MUDRAT** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 7:49 am

brumbyrunner wrote:If you're keen on 'yota diffs, take a look at the Bundera/80/100 series front diff. It has an 8" crown wheel and is already 3 link with a good selection of traction aids available.

That's good advice.

midnight · Post by **midnight** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 11:28 am

brumbyrunner wrote:Of course if you used the Surf motor it would negate the need for an adapter plate. Say an injected Toyota V6 3.8 or even a 4 or 4.7 V8. Impoters have all that stuff pretty cheap. Couple of grand will get you a V8/auto front cut.

But then that would just make it pointless using the suby body. Id may as well just go get some junker from the side of the road.

brumbyrunner wrote:If you're keen on 'yota diffs, take a look at the Bundera/80/100 series front diff. It has an 8" crown wheel and is already 3 link with a good selection of traction aids available.

I was intending on doing that. It will be coiled anyways.