Thread: Portals & D3's

Originally Posted by ~Rich~

Grover read through the whole thread first,
It seems that Gordon is on the same wavelength that I am.
No one through out this thread has said it could not be done, Gordon & I included.
The majority of your list are vehicles are designed and manufactured with portal hubs.
Who want's to take the project on?

She'll be right Rich, I don't think anyone anytime soon will be trying to build a D3 with portals however for me anyway this has been a very interesting discussion, as I hoped it would be, and some great points have been made on both sides of the debate.

cheers,
Terry

Feel kinda scared to jump in here, but I also looked at portals for the D3, I can add a few points but guess many already know this.

They cost a heap, check out killer axels out of Germany also Expidition Portal has several posts and examples of variations.

What I do like beyond the lift is bigger tires, but also that the force and wear on Axels is reduced by 30-50%, Ive snapped one and it sucks out in the bush. Bad part is that the killer Axels, perhaps more so than the Aussie version of Portals will slow down the rig significantlt because of the extra gearing. there can also be some heat build up, so I am told.

BTW the spacer above the air bag, see Toddco suspensions, does lift but strains the axels even more. I am considering them however but would also look to get some kind of limiter strap or better yet a steel guard to protect the base of the air bags in the front as the extra extension has ruined several of the airbags by having the upper control arm contact and puncture the aluminum skin. Check out (LandRover repair Forum (Lrrf.com) forum.

Anyway love to see Portals on a rig, don't think Ill run into the same legal issues in the States, but cost is the killer.

Cheers

Hi jz,

it would be great if you would keep us up to date on what you decide to do and what you find out works best for you with your LR3. E

specially if when you do it if you could post some pictures of the mods on here. I'm sure there would be plenty of people who would like to see them and find out what you have done.

By the way no need to worry about someone having a go at you for offering your thoughts and experiences, especially as a new member.

We were just having a bit of healthy robust debate amongst locals.


cheers,
Terry

Thanks Terry

I'm not yet moving on the portals, it would be awhile, perhaps a year or more before I get there. would love to see it done though. I still have more mods to do.

Been living out of Australia for about 5 years or so, back in the states they don't take the **** like they do in Australia. Anyway its been a good thread.

I'll have to dig for current mod photos I've done. Still have to mount the rear bumper, its sitting in my garage. Left to do is a few minor mods, like the trunk latch then the ToddCo spacers and custom guards, custom Tank Skid and Custom Engine Skid to protect the radiator sides a bit, Baja Roof Rack then Safari Snorkel. At least I found a good local fabricator, which helps now. May play around with the exhaust if needed and also an aux tranny cooler or remote fan, she's gotten hot a few times.

Anyway its all good fun

Cheers

If anyone wants to put portals on a D3 or D4 good on them. It'd be an interesting vehicle. It would be ruined onroad due to much greater unsprung weight and a higher CoG, and I'm not sure it'd work all that well offroad as presumably much larger tyres would go with it and thus the traction control settings would be out. And the reinforcing needed in various areas with the much heavier axles wouldn't help the overall weight. There would also be an efficiency loss with the extra gears.

So it'd be an impressive engineering job, but I think rather pointless if you look at it from a pure usefulness perspective. But since when did that stop anyone modifying a vehicle and never should it, do it because you want to!

Info from Tibus:
Tibus offroad are currently designing the portals for IFS LC's, and if they get enough interest world wide they would be happy to design them for the D3/4
Biggest expense would be making the forging dies to make new steering knuckles for the independent axles, and they would need to put a fair bit of research into the electronics.

But agree with others in here, I'd actually love to see one done! And I am sure as the D3's get older and cheaper some serious modders will start playing with them a fair bit.

Anyone see the monster D3/LR3, of course it has gone to live axles and a huge custom frame, but what a build! [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pw4_SdREvwo]Landrover discovery 3 monster truck - YouTube[/ame]

I must admit vehicles that are that modified do nothing for me.

Personally I like to see how far one can go on vehicles that can still be used on road on a regular basis.

Originally Posted by TerryO

I must admit vehicles that are that modified do nothing for me.

Personally I like to see how far one can go on vehicles that can still be used on road on a regular basis.

Totally on the same page.

And even better, keeping up with the super modded vehicles in a pretty much standard setup!

I do like the look and thought of the Portals though. Great technology!

My mate priced the Mopar plug and play portal axel's and diffs for his JK Jeep, full setup over 30 grand..