In April 2017 i flew to Melbourne in hunt of a new patrol and first one i looked at i
ended up purchasing after driving around Melbourne for the day looking at others.
It was a pretty standard, extremely tidy 1992 TB42efi Manual, with 2inch lift,
33inch tyres, roof rack and bullbar.
May 2017 i had Hills Autobodies fit the emu wing windows, the Landcruiser bonnet scoop and the rubber bits on the bottom of the doors removed so it didn't rust them out.
Emu wings were from EMU WING and installed by Hill Autobodies
Crusier Scoop was from ebay and fitted by Hills Autobodies
Back home after the Emu Wings, crusier scoop fitted and lower rubber sections removed
Once i got it back looking like new from Hills Autobodies i then went about stripping it down to chassis and body, removing everything. I then sound deadened the interior, doors, with DYNAMAT from Ebay. I then welded in ROADSAFE rear inner coil tower braces and starter the wheels in motion on the heart of it a freshly built TD42.
_JPG.jpg)
The na TD42 i pulled out of a complete patrol i paid $500 for that i drove home, came out and was sent off to be rebuilt by United Fuel Injection in WA where they supplied and fitted a billet crank, new liners, ceramic coated pistons, head work, UFI T05 20g, ported GU manifold, UFI 12mm pump.
I replace everything including alternator, starter, hoses and all the other usual bits. (www.unitedfuel.com.au)
I then purchased an RE4 from Wholesale Automatics in Victoria that had been built to suit the TD with billet torque convertor, heavy duty valve body and also got them to supply a Compushift standalone ecu which replaces the whole loom, tps sensor, has a dash display, torque convertor lock up and can change all different settings on a app on your phone and diagnosed remotely by them in Victoria. (www.automatictransmission.com.au)
After installing the motor and trans back into the car I then fitted the diffs and suspension consisting of 5inch Tough Dog springs, Dobinson Remote res shocks, flexy drop arms, braided brake lines, rear superior lower arms, superior rear upper adjustable arms, rear coil tower brace and superior Superflex sway bars that i had in my previous GQ.
_JPG.jpg)
Rims and tyres i went with 15x8 Dynamic D shape rims, wrapped in 33x12.5inch Nitto Trailer Grapper MT fitted on KING black D shape steel wheels purchased from Bob Jane.
I also fitted back wheel nuts that i purchased off ebay.
Part of the GVM upgrade requires a 0 offset rim and bigger wheels to clear the breaks.
See further below.
Once is was rolling it was put out side with all the engine together apart from inlet manifold as i was waiting for it to be made. The inlet ports were covered with tape until the manifold was finished. When i received my manifold cooler set up i went about removing the bonnet to find that when its rained it has leaked threw the bonnet scoop and peeled the tape off and filled up 2 cylinder, so after speaking with United Fuel Injection with what they wanted me to do i pulled it back out and sent it back to them.
Sitting out side a waiting its manifold
The motor and trans package back out
Water sitting on top of the valve
How the motor was when the unfortunate happened
All wrapped back up ready to go
back to WA
While the motor was away getting repaired i started on fitting the rear section out as my dream tourer set up everything including the kitchen sink. I used 19mm form ply as the structure and secured it with all the exciting seat belt holes and joined together with 40x40mm angle and some custom brackets for added strength.
Fridge is a 60litre ARB
The appliances are Smev which i purchased from ebay and all the alloy work was done by Strath Fabrication
Hot water system is a Country Comfort and purchased from local gas store.
Once i had the basic set up i was after in the rear i left it as i had received the inlet manifold/ intercooler set up from my mate at Strath Fabrication. I went about flow testing it at a engine builders on a flow bench, with a variety of results and multiple testing came up with a solution of running a few different size restrictors in the silicon hose lengths to get the flow equal. Its mounted to a Cross Country intercooler bracket and has 2 thermo fans mounted underneath to draw air threw.
Once i received a call that the motor was going to be ok and just needed a strip, clean and reassemble it was sent back and then refitted. Then added second fuel filter on a custom bracket, catch can, Patrol Doctor airbox, custom intake pipe to turbo, Safari Airmax snorkle, PWR Radiator, RED Winch, winch isolator solenoid, mounted winch solenoid under bonnet with switch on dash, made custom aircon lines to suit new fuse box and washer bottle set up and dual battery for winching.
Roof top tent i went with AluCab one on the biggest reasons was the whole package was only used 5 times and paid $8400 delivered to my house for a14k package. It included Light force 42inch dual row light bar, 3x 10inch dual row, Rhino Racks on top, AluCab 270deg awning with the added extra poles, Black brand new Maxtrax, 3x slim line solar panels, upgraded struts in the roof top tent. I had the mounts of a Kings roof rack cut down and repowered coated trying to get it to sit as low as possible. I then purchased Alucab cross bars 25mm x 80 x 1250mm and cut to suit. I used 4 for the whole roof and packed out the ends with off cuts (pic bottom right) with bolts through the roof top tent and both cross bars.
In the back i carpeted it all with marine carpet and finished the edging of with black alloy angle all from Bunnings . On the left side i have a sand anchor (from Ebay), fill point for water tank fire extinguisher and storage for parts etc. Rear left section is slide out 60L ARB fridge with a table that slides out of that.
The Switch Pro and Hardkorr switch for the rear strip lights are on the left. Behind that is a 60L custom made water tank from Strath Fab. Above that is a chair, Travel Buddy oven and tackle box. The right side i have pull out SMEV cook top and sink from Ebay with table that pulls out from under that. On the right side have a slid-out pantry and Country Comfort hot water system with storage and acc sockets on right had side.
Brush bars and slider steps were custom made by Strath Fabrication, bull bar is ARB bar modified by Strath Fab to fit a RUNVA 11lbs winch and Kings spot lights, will upgrade spotlights to STEDI. Brackets from bull bar to brush bars are just off Ebay and 2 tabs for my CELFI antenna, GME UHF antenna.
Strath Fab will be bracing the rear chassis, strut towers, diff upgrade and brace with.
The back seat was not needed and was perfect spot for my 12volt set up, fridge and motorbike gear, recover gear and tools as well. Once again 19mm form ply was used being carpeted with marine carpet, cleaned all the timber with metho and and used the cheapest liquid nails i could get from Bunnings. I welded up some legs for the front and secured it with 50x50 angle to the 12volt box. Underneath I'm able to store Milwaukee cordless chain saw, oil for the car, oil for my bike, tackle box, jack, tools, first aid kit, jump pack. Have made a box that opens from the drivers side for all my motorbike gear and jerry can for fuel. The battery box houses, water pump, sub, amp, DCS 200ah Lithium battery, air compressor, Switch pro module, Celfi phone booster, Stedi rock light module, Redarc BCDC1250 charger for the solar on the roof and to charge the DCS battery, Redarc invertor and fuse box to fuse all the other sockets, fridges, oven and other aftermarket accessories. Fridge is a Glacio 90L fridge freezer, 12v/24v/240v from Rolasolar in QLD.
In the front i have Ford xr6 seats mounted on brackets from Ebay. Between the seats i have a Bushman 15L fridge mounted on custom folded bracket from Strath Fab. In the center i have switches for light bar on roof top tent, spotlights, front diff lock, rear diff lock, winch solenoid, winch in and out. Above i have made a custom mount for from an old center trim which has the display for my transmission and 1 of 2 of the Switch Pro control panels. Around the dash surround i have a Redarc Tow Pro Brake controller switch, fan switch for the thermos the intercooler. On the a pillar i have a triple gauge holder from Ebay which houses 3 Redarc Gauges monitoring boost, egt, Oil pressure, water temp, trans temp, and both battery voltages.
Wiring side of the build I went about stripping the whole car to just a bare chassis and body so not a wire was left and started the nightmare task or rewiring the whole car.
I've added every accessory I could think of and made it in one loom keeping only what I need and in one loom. I've fitted, GME UHF and antenna, a RED winch isolator from www.redwinchqld.com and winch solenoid with switches on dash, RUNVA 11xp winch, spotlights are just Kings items at the moment from www.4wdsupercentre.com as the where free but will be upgrading to Stedi spotlights at some stage with lights being replaced as well as genuine door switches and door strikers from www.patrolapart.com.
REDARC gauges were fitted to pillar pod from Ebay to monitor all temps, the thermos fans on the intercooler wire off ignition with a separate switch on dash so can be turned off, secondary fuel filter from MTQ with light on dash, Celfi phone booster, Switch Pro 8 gang switch panel which one is mounted on dash one in rear and also a app on your phone being able to turn whatever you want off from your roof top tent purchased from www.switchpros.com head over and look at this amazing product.
With the auto i went with Compushift standalone ecu, new loom, TPS, dash display and monitor from www.wholesaleautomatics.com.au .
In the rear I have Hardkorr strip lighting purchased online at www.hardkorr.com.au wired up to the switch pro system. Have a Travel Buddy 12volt wired up direct off DCS battery 200hr lithium, ARB 60L fridge in the live off DCS battery. Under the car i have Stedi rock lights that offer a bit of dull light around the whole car at camp bought online from www.stedi.com . Under the bonnet, have rewired a custom fuse box and rewired the whole engine bay and fitting a Couplertec rust protector.
.jpg)
Solar panels on the roof are slim line RAD Power slim line sicca
flexed down with wiring run on the underside of the roof go threw the pivot section threw cable glands along the base under the mattress and out threw the anderson plugs under the RTT threw a large cable gland in the centre of the roof to the Redarc bdcd. Black Maxtrax on custom mounts at the rear mounted on the Rhino Rack gutters.
On the rear underside of the RTT
i have 2 Hardkorr tri
colour lights mounted in a flush
mount switch from Hardkorr.
On the passenger side i have another Light Force light bar mounted on custom brackets. Also have camera on all 4 sides of the car to see all around handy for when at camp sites.
On the drivers side i have another Light Force light bar mounted on custom brackets and another camera.
Custom made brackets from Zenith
Custom Creations for light bars,
fridge and lader.
Light Force light bar mounted up on the front of the Alucab with the custom brackets.
Rear Light Force light bar on rear controller via the Switch Pro system.
Now for weight I knew it was going to be heavy but what I've had to do to make it legal is crazy. GVM on a GQ patrol is 2700kg and with it weighing in at 3250kg I've had to go a huge GVM upgrade to around 3500kg to 3800kg which requires a hell of a lot of money and time.
I'm using Sot from Modified Vehicle Engineering in Salisbury SA.
It went from being 98% together to a bare chassis in a couple days.
The chassis needed to be braced from front to rear so i purchased all the PSR brace kits from their website (www.performancesuspension.com.au ) as well as a custom rear coil tower brace all carried out by Strath Fab.
GU diffs where required for their extra weight carrying capacity with the rear needing a PSR brace kit and the front getting a completely new diff housing from J Race rated at 1900kg.
I DO NOT recommend this diff for many reasons I recommend the one from www.dwizdiffhousings.com.au
Front diff center I went with a TJM pro locker and a rebuilt genuine LSD in the rear with new genuine 4:3 gear ratio, done by Precision Diff and Gearbox in Adelaide.
A brake upgrade was also required with standard size DBA slotted rotors and pads for the rear and big aftermarket brake upgrade for the front consisting of 330mm slotted DBA 2 piece rotors and 4 piston calipers from a Gu front brake upgrade from Off Road Engineering on Facebook, as well as braided brake lines and a hydraulic brake booster from MARKS 4WD ADAPTORS.
In the back i have since added a small custom pantry, re arranged the fuse box and added a 3 litre air tank for the front locker and port for air line. I have all so added a couple of little fans to the fuse box area to try keep it a bit cooler with so many electrical goodies tucked away in there.
With the suspension needing to be upgraded for the GVM upgrade I went with a new set of Dobinson MRA adjustable shocks, 5inch custom made springs, steering stabilizer, hydraulic bump stops with front being weld in and rear being a bolt in kit. I DO NOT RECCOMEND BUYING THE REAR DOBINSON HYDRAULIC BUMP STOPS FOR A PATROL WITH LIFT OVER 3inch AS THEY DO NOT WORK!!!! THE SPRING FALLS OUT AND NOT LONG ENGOUGH BUMPSTOP TO WORK!!!!!! I RECCOMEND SUPERIOR ENGINNERINGS HYDRAULIC KIT! After having the whole rear end braced around the Dobinson bump stops and having the owner of the SA branch come to my house to confirm they don't work I had to purchase a set of Superior Engineering Hydraulic bump stops and have the two kits modified to work. Road Safe HD GU drag link and track rod, Superior Engineering rear upper and lower arms, Superflex sway bars and a new set of radius arms as I couldn't run the hyperflex arms I had purchased with the new diff.
Thanks for checking out my patrol build so far its still in the build and will keep this website up dated as I go with the build, if your not following already head over to my socials to keep up dated with everything and feel free to shoot me a msg. I will have a You Tube coming in the near future with video's of the products and how I've fitted some and once I'm on the road videos, tips and other general fun. Thanks for following
Chris
@Troln.Oz