Thread: Lifting a Puma 2"

what are your intended uses for your Tdci Defender?

What percentage of total useage does each represent?

If you're wondering where to do it then it sounds as if your mind is already made up!

I lifted my Puma about a year ago at The Ultimate Suspension in Ingleburn, NSW...they did a bespoke set-up for me based on how I use the vehicle....heavy springs up front, medium + airbags in the rear and their own brand of shock absorbers front and rear.

I'm sure you can find a company down your way that will offer the same service i.e. design the right solution for you.

The only thing to consider is that your front prop shaft will not like the extra aangle so you will need to get hold of a double-cardan prop shaft. I installed a Bailey-Morris, others have used different suppliers. If you don't install a DC shaft you MIGHT be ok but I didn't want to take the risk as i was doing a 6000km Simpson trip on my own.....and as it turned out, had no mechanical dramas at all!

There are dozens of threads and some really good discussions on this forum regarding both subjects - just have a go with the search tool and see what you can find specific to Pumas.

Bobby

X 2 for "The Ultimate Suspension".
Custom made springs and shocks to suit your vehicle and use

And yes will need a DC front prop shaft.

being controversial - leave the defender at stock height and put your money to a set of 33" rubber on zero offset rims. (33" will easy fit on stock height), save some more pennies for a rear locker and axles. That set up will take you everywhere a twin locked 80 series on 4" lift will go and be comparable on sill clearance.

Rubber gives you diff and chassis clearance. Lift is only chassis. Rubber gives you a larger footprint too.

also 2" lift on 235/85's IMHO looks funny with too much guard clearance. You might like that look. I had (on a TD5 110) 33" rubber on a 35mm lift and it looked "lifted" with ample rubber to guard clearance.

i concur that a DC shaft is a good investment. Tom Wood is about USD500 + freight and customs if greater than a ton. Morris Bailey are another option out of the UK. Or the cheapest is a 2nd hand D2 DC shaft with an adaptor flange for the LT230 TFC (about $250 for shaft + $70 for adaptor). Not sure if the shaft is the correct length. If not add $200 for a modified shaft. Having typed that out it might not be that much cheaper. The bullet proof option is the Tom Wood by a country mile. A local made custom DC will be somewhere between $800 and $1200. I went a double double cardan custom for $1200. Overkill and in hindsight would not do that again.

If your heart is set on a lift, do it properly and save heart-ache from the additional niggles.

MLD

Thanks fellas, Im looking at putting bigger tyres on it most likely 33" which is why im looking for a lift plus the fact too that I have an ARB bullbar and winch which is making her sag a bit in the front. Been to a place the other day which just deals with Landies and got a price of 3 and a half G's and 2 and a bit for the labour so dont think i'll go there, ARB are saying they can do it for just over 2G but not real confident on the driveshaft solutions they are giving me. Would the terrafirma goods be the way too go?

Give Ultimate a ring and have a chat with Brendan, you could look at having a kit freighted down and have somebody fit it local.

Originally Posted by Jesco

Thanks fellas, Im looking at putting bigger tyres on it most likely 33" which is why im looking for a lift plus the fact too that I have an ARB bullbar and winch which is making her sag a bit in the front. Been to a place the other day which just deals with Landies and got a price of 3 and a half G's and 2 and a bit for the labour so dont think i'll go there, ARB are saying they can do it for just over 2G but not real confident on the driveshaft solutions they are giving me. Would the terrafirma goods be the way too go?

Take a drive out to LRA in Thomastown. Talk to Andrew.(unless they were the ones you just mentioned ) They are a pretty smart crowd and do Fenders.
Or talk to Andrew Curry @ Hi-Line 4wd - he's who i trust to play with my landy. He will custom it for you. He just sold his 90 that he had built up.races Rangies (all be that its PINK!!!) and has a few disco's. Yes he's in Taralgon but the trip is worth it ....

Originally Posted by Jesco

Thanks fellas, Im looking at putting bigger tyres on it most likely 33" which is why im looking for a lift plus the fact too that I have an ARB bullbar and winch which is making her sag a bit in the front. Been to a place the other day which just deals with Landies and got a price of 3 and a half G's and 2 and a bit for the labour so dont think i'll go there, ARB are saying they can do it for just over 2G but not real confident on the driveshaft solutions they are giving me. Would the terrafirma goods be the way too go?

Don't forget 130 front coils if you want to restore height at the front.

your quote is excessive. Ultimate bolted in coils, shocks, rear trailing arms, front radius arms, some bushes and extended brake lines for less than half your quoted labour.

While i don't want to engage a brand v brand discussion, an affordable coil and shock option is Dobinsons. It will be superior to the TF kit by a country mile. I have a prejudice against ARB products. It's unfounded by experience and personally held. You know when you don't like a person and you can't articulate why, same same. Any competent mechanic can bolt in a shock and coil. The prop shaft is a backyard job to bolt in. The trick is to get the measurements right if you get a Tom Wood or custom.

I still advocate leaving the Puma defer stock height and investing in a locker. I say that having bolted on a Gwyn Lewis long travel suspension kit, cranked radius arms, long travel shocks, lift, custom prop shafts and 35" tyres. The likes of RVR110 is able to drive the same lines with the aid of good rubber and a locker at stock height. The 80/20 rule applies. You get 80% improvement for 20% of cost. 20% improvement for 80% cost.

I'll stop preaching now because i'm a hypocrite. Enjoy the experience of building a truck.

MLD