Project LC80

[felix2566]

I'm also fitting an airbag assist system for the rear suspension. When loaded up with the tent and camping gear I could feel the back end was squatting down a bit.

The kit came with a small reservoir tank too, will be able to air up and down the tires easily now.

It's easier to build up the rear quarter panel off the car and then plumb it all in once it's done. I have pre wired up the remaining relays with long pigtails, will be easy to connect up any other systems that might need a relay at a later date.

The power distribution board has 2 sections to it, half is only powered up while the ignition is on the other half is live all the time. So some items that I dont want to run while the engine is off will be powered off the ignition triggered side, less risk of accidentally draining the battery.

The charge relay is a nice system too, it has a switch in the cab whereby you can manually go from auto connected once the start battery is above nominal voltage, to manually connecting the 2 batteries, and also disconnecting the 2 permanently. There is also a high capacity resetable circuit breaker on the feed from the house battery to the inside of the car.

 

[felix2566]

I did also buy from DVS a panhard height correction bracket, as its lifted. Helps reset it to the correct OEM height again.

Can see the airbags fitted inside the springs. I had to remove the original bump stops, and drill out a clearance hole for the airline to go through.
I dont like doing irreversible mods like this, but didnt have much choice. It wouldnt be that hard to weld it up again with a nut in there if I went back to standard again.

 

[felix2566]

Finished off the last bits of wiring and plumbing over the last few days.

Had a test of it all yesterday with the engine running as parts of the system are ignition triggered on.

Fridge powers up, air compressor kicks in and I can raise and lower the back of the truck. I decided to keep the air cylinder inside as I couldn't find a decent place underneath where it either wasnt going to get hit or rattle itself loose. Plus less pipe work now too. I will eventually run an airline to the front for a union there to make filling the front tires easier.

I also had rewired the rear fog light, using (I presume a UK spec) OEM fog light switch. And an additional small led light bar for reversing. Both were working previously, but it was a right cobbled mess of wiring.

My brother got me onto Deutch connectors. Have been using them where I can. So easy to put together, weather tight and can de-pin them really easily. Highly recommend you trying them if your doing any car wiring.