Lifting a Tercel!?!

takza · Post by **takza** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 7:36 am

Because of problems with the front axle CVs being at too extreme of an angle...probably a little higher than aussie 4x4 managed. That, and like you say...there might be problems with steering angles if you jack it too high.

1st problem...longer front struts...modify OEM or find a substitute?

2nd problem...inexpensive .... higher springs ...likely from another car bought new?

Rear shock might be fairly easy to find a replacement for?

Coil springs:

<a href='http://www.rpmnet.com/techart/spring.shtml' target='_blank'>http://www.rpmnet.com/techart/spring.shtml</a>

JIMCAT · Post by **JIMCAT** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 11:49 am

Around here the local yokels do extremely high lifts on Ford pickups by fabricating drive shafts with an extra U-joint in the drive train. I do not see enough room under the Tercel front end to accomplish that.

:huh:

coltarms · Post by **coltarms** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 11:51 pm

I just e-mailed KingSprings in Australia. Here is their reply:

Thankyou for your inquiry

We have Part No's KTFS-38 (front) & KTRS-39 (rear) to maintain your
vehicle's factory std height. Unfortunately we do not manufacture a raised
coil.

Costs are as follows:

Front Coils AUD $ 175.00 per pair
Rear Coils AUD $ 175.00 per pair
FedEx Air (3-7 days) AUD $ 380.00 per (set of 4 coils)

Total del. you is AUD $ 730.00 (set of 4 coils)

Payment can be made via credit card or direct business account deposit.

<a href='http://www.x-rates.com/calculator.html' target='_blank'>http://www.x-rates.com/calculator.html</a>

Regards,

Kris Tarrant

Sales and Technical Services
KING SPRINGWORKS PTY LTD

Aussie4x4, does this sound right? They may say that it is not a lift spring, but it is.....?

Goatlad · Post by **Goatlad** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 5:50 pm

hey guys i just found this thread after posting the exact same thing in the "general" forum like an idiot.

I am currently coming up with some custom fabbed stuff for my 1983 sr5.

I am in the process of building the following:

-diamondplate skid plate for the engine/radiator area.

-skidplate for the rear diff housing

-rock slders for the rocker panels/lower unibody

-bull bar/brush guards for the front that will replace the bumper

-removing and rolling the rear valence to allow for better departure angles.

- removing the doors and building much lighter units out of tubular steel and grating. This will involve a full custom exo-cage outside to ensure protection against collision/rollover

-snorkel for intake

removing spare tire well.

removing rear glass and possibly hatch to compensate for the weight from the bigger tires, brush guards, skidplates, etc... I can forsee a high center of gravity becoming a very big issue with these cars due to all that glass and the unibody construction.

i have decided that since our poor transmissions cannot handle too much stress at all that would be brought by a bigger engine, the best way to get it faster is to remove unneccesary things like windows and doors. This could also possibly help get the car higher up while keeping it safer in the event of a rollover or hard hit to a deep hole.

I will also be going to the local wrecking yard (owned by my girlfreinds aunt

) and trying out a variety of spring/shock strut combos to see what will fit and what will not. Im not too keen on the whole spacer idea. so i will be going for roughly 3 inches of suspenison lift and 2 inches of body, including dropping the engine cradle down to help alleviate the stress on the anemic CV joints that cam in these cars. I will also be doing the same thing to the rear diff. Hence the need for skid plates fore and aft. I will keep a heavy update with lots of pics and info.

EDIT: And I dont know about the rest of you, but I WILL mounting my non functional .30 cal machine gun on the roof.

GTSSportCoupe · Post by **GTSSportCoupe** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 5:53 pm

Goatlad wrote: I will keep a heavy update with lots of pics and info.

Thats AWESOME!! You could probably sell some of this stuff to people later too if you wanted. Please do keep us informed.

takza · Post by **takza** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 6:23 am

The trans is most vunerable offroad....one good hit on solid rock and......

Goatlad · Post by **Goatlad** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 1:37 pm

takza wrote:The trans is most vunerable offroad....one good hit on solid rock and......

Duely noted. I will consider this during fabrication

Goatlad · Post by **Goatlad** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 11:13 am

Does anyone happen to have dimensions or measurements for the length of the shocks and struts on these cars? Im bored at work and trying to fiind some suitable replacements with more travel for longer springs.

Typrus · Post by **Typrus** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 11:55 pm

Have you looked at http://www.skiwagons.com yet?
Their 2 inch lift includes longer shocks and struts... Coils too. Bilstein none-the-less.

Goatlad · Post by **Goatlad** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 12:39 am

i checked them out and sent them an email and have yet to get a response after 3 weeks, I can only assume that they are too busy doing other things.

takza · Post by **takza** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 3:54 am

Goatlad wrote:Does anyone happen to have dimensions or measurements for the length of the shocks and struts on these cars? Im bored at work and trying to fiind some suitable replacements with more travel for longer springs.

Do know that the MA700 air shocks (Monroe) have a longer travel (extension)...and this helps offroad in that the rear wheels will stay on the ground in a low spot longer...and this extra length isn't enough to allow the spring to get loose...though it might stress the linkage some. Causes no problems onroad.

Monroe has a .pdf of their shock specs on their website.

Goatlad · Post by **Goatlad** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 11:29 am

takza wrote:
Goatlad wrote:Does anyone happen to have dimensions or measurements for the length of the shocks and struts on these cars? Im bored at work and trying to fiind some suitable replacements with more travel for longer springs.
Do know that the MA700 air shocks (Monroe) have a longer travel (extension)...and this helps offroad in that the rear wheels will stay on the ground in a low spot longer...and this extra length isn't enough to allow the spring to get loose...though it might stress the linkage some. Causes no problems onroad.

Monroe has a .pdf of their shock specs on their website.

I saw that skiwagons does not reccomend those shocks, but they dont give a reason why. Does anyone know this reason??

Goatlad · Post by **Goatlad** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 2:19 pm

ok... I think i found something...

In accordance to the monroe website PDFs, the tubes our front strut inserts are 14.25" long.

The whole strut insert is 15.25" compressed, 21.125" when fully extended, and has a total travel length of 5.8", and fits a type T2 housing.

I did some poking around for other T2 type housings, and came up with a part number 72837 (Toyota Starlet) front insert. The tube is it self the same dimensions, exept about .5" longer. fully extended, however it is 24" long, and has a travel length of 8.5". It dosent sound like much, but 3" of travel is 3" of travel! And the fact that they are the same housing type makes it sound like a slight strut housing stretching could make these fit easily. Just cut the strut housing in half and add in about 2" of round tubing with a welder.

If only we could do something with the springs..... All the weight is in the front and i want tougher springs....

I thik the springs are going to ultimately be the downfall here, but im going to go ahead and try stretching the strut housings and installing some KYB inserts for a starlet. ( i get them for $20 each at my work). Im researching the rears right now, but i have a feeling that we could make just about anything bolt ub back there do to it being a simple shock absorber and not a strut.

Typrus · Post by **Typrus** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 3:49 pm

They do Ski Wagons as a side-thing. They take a long time to respond usually, unfortunatly. Smart people though.

coltarms · Post by **coltarms** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 12:03 am

Toyota must use similar "bin parts" to save money. What other heavier Toyota vehicle has a similar front strut assy that could have a custom bracket made to mount to the hub?

Looks like it's time for Typrus to go IFS with a new Engine and Drivetrain. I'd look at things like sidekicks, trackers, X-90's and the like. Foreign trucks are also commonly IFS. Anyone know a way to mount a unibody onto a frame???