The Grey Goose

[CJY91LUXXY]

Mark your mata buro looks good mate

Makes me think of Burritos

[MarkYounger]

Haha thanks y'all. Mata-burro is what we call a bulbar or the like here I think is the greatest name. It literally means donkey killer.

Are you one of those crazy bastards that uses metal angle grinder blade in a circular saw!

Yeah I started that way then borrowed an angle grinder. Now I fixed my grinder.

[MarkYounger]

That nudge bar looks different

Yeah I had it made cause after market here is not that strong. Also I don't want it to stand out that much from the crowd. Fancy things make you a target for robbery here.

[MarkYounger]

Ok here it is. Mounts and angles.
These are the lower mounts. Trimmed both plastic and metal bumpers to keep angles good.



Upper mounts had a bracket welded to the frame which is hard to see without removing the bumper.



Not the most accurate way of measuring, but as you can see did not change the stock approach angle at all.



If I ever find I need more approach angle for where I go that plastic bumper will come off in a heartbeat. I hate it!

[KTM525EXC]

Well done mate, your donkey killer has come up a treat

[MarkYounger]

Took some fotos on one roads we travel that requires 4x4.

Obviously this is not the hard part of the trek and the whole road is only 5.5km.

[MarkYounger]

Finished stage 2 in underbody armor. The front diff skid plate is in. Tomorrow I will paint both the high clearance front bash plate and diff guard. Now the only issue is weather to go all black or continue the orange of my high clearance bash plate.

[packeteer]

looking good.

[MarkYounger]

Thanks man.
We have this week off for Easter so I think I will start on some bar work. Changing this:
Into a headache rack/ sport bar.

[Swinny]

good luck mate put some pics up soon as its done

[MarkYounger]

Thanks Swinny will do.
Decided to go black. In a country where the gang members only barely outnumber the dirty cops I figure the less attention the better. Anyway I think it looks better than the red/orange.

Also cut up the rack from the old Ford.

Like the monkey who got his tail cut off said, "won't be long now"

[Swinny]

hahaha nice

[MarkYounger]

Finished my sport bar today. Here are some progress pics.

Helped fix a lower ball joint.

Now the finished product.

Cargo/reverse lights and all. I don't understand why Toyota didn't have a factory cargo light.

[MarkYounger]

Removed my sway bar this weekend as a test to see how she will handle. I could feel the difference right away at low speeds. I have not had the chance to test at high speed yet. I flexed her out and still the front springs are a little stiff, but I like the feel just not the lack of up travel. Anyway went from 6" of measured travel to 8" I don't think my ramp is high enough though to get a full flex.

[Hilux Max]

Removed my sway bar this weekend as a test to see how she will handle. I could feel the difference right away at low speeds. I have not had the chance to test at high speed yet. I flexed her out and still the front springs are a little stiff, but I like the feel just not the lack of up travel. Anyway went from 6" of measured travel to 8" I don't think my ramp is high enough though to get a full flex.

Mark, as reference have a read of my testing of the front swaybar removal and findings a couple years ago -

http://www.newhilux.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=4510

I found that I easily got about an extra 1.5" of uptravel and my toal travel was 9.25"

Driving on the road straight away I felt the extra boatiness of the front end.

But now with my rekon front suspension, with the swaybar disengaged you cannot even tell its disengaged when driving on the road, the vehicles still feels the same as if the swaybar is still fitted.

I guess it depends on the brand and valving of the coilovers your using to how it will feel on and off the road. Which is why the sliding swaybar links are a good comprise unless you8 want to remove the swaybar full time.

[MarkYounger]

Very good breakdown. I read it before once, but it was good to get a refresher. I like that you are so thorough. My springs are a little to stiff honestly so I'm not sure I can get them to fully compress. I can definately feel it is more supple off road. Still have yet to travel far enough to get above 20kpm and see how much it sways. The thing is I drive an hour off road everytime before I can get on road. Nothing challanging, but a rough ride so I am trying to smooth it out a bit. Also any extra travel I can get for when I am on tougher tracks will be an advantage. I have considered the swaybar links. However I think they may cost me as much in shipping as the links themselves. We will see how this goes, only time will tell.
Yes some higher quality coil overs would do me good.

[Hilux Max]

Even if with your stiffer coilovers, you can ebenfit from removing the swaybar offroad as it allows each side to work more independantly from one another, there are benefits to be had but also down sides which you have to weigh up.

[MarkYounger]

Guess what's in the box. Shipped from South Crydon Victoria, to somewhere Utah USA then to Gulf Port Mississippi. Two airplanes to San Pedro Sula (with one ornery customs lady) one bus and one bumpy ride up the mountain I have an already well traveled addition to the Goose.

Any guesses?

[Swinny]

SNORKEL a goood one

[amitch888]

How did you guess

Bar work you built for around the rear window looks good, well done