Hi all

 

As way of introduction my name is Liam i live in Adelaide and i have 2 Corollas; A 1990 Ae95 AWD and I recently purchased the KE36 panel van with the flared guards that was for sale on the forums here.

I will be taking the panel van on a trip to the Simpson Desert next year and would appreciate any opinions or advice anyone can offer on preparing the beast for the trip. A couple of things i thought of: ( I have searched the forum and web to try to find this stuff myself. No luck)

 

I need to increase the ground clearance and upgrade the suspension front and rear. Has any one done this or know how this can be done?

 

I don't know if the stock radiator will be up to the job. Any ideas on upgrades? The car is running a 5K and it has A/C that i might need.

 

I've got heaps of other questions but i don't want to be greedy!

 

Thanks

Liam

I'd say the best bet would be asking at 4wd shops or something similar. But for starters modding the rear would be fairly easy in the way of an axle under conversion, longer leaf springs, longer shackles and maybe lifting blocks (same as lowering blocks). But i'd take the lift blocks as a last option cause of the increased chance of axle wrap. The front would be harder to mod, but it still can be done. Like spacer blocks that mount between the top spring seat and the car body. Or longer shockies and springs. Harder but it can be done.

 

I'd be thinking about a bigger radiator, cause of the fact that at times you'll travelling slow but to keep the momentum you'll have to be revving the motor abit. An electric thermo fan would be a good idea, more so one that you can switch on/off yourself.

 

But most of all a good shovel, an air compressor for when you have to deflate the tires and a winch thats rated at least double the weight of the car (either car mounted or hand powered)