Metamorphosis

[Steve_D]

Well it’s started.
My old RR Classic is to become a Dakar.

It’s in the strip down stage at the moment.



There is a long way to go but there are a few questions emerging. First of which will be true of any LR.

If I do a 2” lift do I have to use castor compensation arms? Front and rear?
There seem to be plenty of ‘Lift Kits’ which don’t include them.

As the whole affair will be much lighter will I need to find lower rating (2” lift) springs?

Thanks in advance.

Steve

[Liszt]

People have been lifting them almost since they started production. Castor correction seems to be a new thing. I lifted mine by two inches and it was fine without. The steering was a bit lighter but no real bother. Go for +2" springs, +2" shocks and extended brake pipes. The last bit is very important.
Your probably ok with standard rates which will give you the effect of heavy duty with the light kit. Best speak to Dakar and see what their experience says.

[eliot]

Hi Steve,
So you have finally started it then!
Generally you keep the spring rate the same, because you are shedding so much weight. Barry at Dakar told me to use Heavy duty Range rover rears - all round. They are red and white. I think they were also either +1 or +2

http://www.4x4store-exeter.co.uk/catalog/The%204x4...

Best place to ask is on the Yahoo groups mailing list where many of the owners can be found (we dont seem to use a forum for some reason) - Its getting time for me to obtain new springs also, but a little more difficult because I have the chebby in the front.

Sign up here:
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/dakar4x4/

Oh, I forgot to mention - my Dakar will be in this months PPC magazine.

Edited by eliot on Sunday 19th August 10:26

[Ramthorne]

Eliot, I run red & whites on the front and rear of my Rangy with a Chevy in, it is lightened but probably not as much as yours. They are only £9 plus VAT from Paddock at the moment. They also compress to a shorter length/don't become spring bound better than most springs. I combined them with hydraulic bump stops and allowed the axle to travel nearer the chassis on bull bump.

Overall they seem a good spring both on and off road.

[Steve_D]

Ramthorne said:

Eliot, I run red & whites on the front and rear of my Rangy with a Chevy in, it is lightened but probably not as much as yours. They are only £9 plus VAT from Paddock at the moment. They also compress to a shorter length/don't become spring bound better than most springs. I combined them with hydraulic bump stops and allowed the axle to travel nearer the chassis on bull bump.

Overall they seem a good spring both on and off road.

So if those are the springs to go for (as you both agree) then which shocks and bumps should I add?
Is there anything special I should go for in the way of hoses or are they all pretty much the same?

Cheers so far.

Steve