3 Attachment(s)
Most important 'mod' done
While waiting for a new set of Compomotive 18"s to arrive I was lucky enough to find a secondhand set going cheap in Sydney, with 4 new tyres. The only issues was the clear coat was peeling off the wheels. So I bought the wheels and tyres, and had a local smash repairer repaint the wheels (maybe I should have had them power coated...). The wheels came back to me looking good as new, and now they're fitted the car is noticeable more comfortable too. Why would anyone choose to drive around on 20"s?
After fitting the new wheels I measured the height of the car to the highest point on the roof being aerial. Access height 1.92m and normal height 1.97m. Almost the same heights as advertised on the sun visor. Even so the car the noticeably a little taller than it used to be and it now feels just like getting in and out of the D3 with factory 18"s.
The original set of 20"s will be put up for sale, but could really do with a re-paint too. How the 'urban warrior' I bought the car from managed to scratch them up so much is beyond my comprehension.
I've got a busy weekend ahead fitting the rear wheel carrier (freshly back from the powder coater), ARB compressor, and Traxide dual battery system. After that the new D4 will almost be capable of the same off road touring that the old D3 was. The on road comfort and performance of this car is really quite something and is a different order of magnitude to the 2005 D3. It feels (but obviously is not quite) as quick as our 3.6R Outback, and handles much better than the D3.
Regards
Chris
5 Attachment(s)
Compressor and dual battery installed
With the new wheels and tyres on, I finally got around to the compressor and dual battery system. There's been a little blood loss and plenty of swearing along the way (this process thoroughly reminded me of why I'd rather pay other people to work on these things).
The compressor was mounted using the brackey I removed from the D3. I had to modify the bracket slightly (a few whacks with a hammer) to make it fit, it seems there is bump between the battery box and expansion tank that there wasn't on the D3. Could've really used some ratchet spanners to get the compressor on the bracket too.
Then it was on to the dual battery system, using the Optima battery out of the D3 (it only runs a 40L Engel and has been adequate for stationary stretches of up to 4 days in the Top End). Clearing the battery box. I moved the horn in front of the ABS unit:
Attachment 158843
Removed the bracket it was on, removed the connector plugs from the base of the tray, re-routed the wires coming from engine bay side around behind the reservoir. Then stuck the large connector to the base with some strong (allegedly heat resistant) double sided tape. The green connector is not attached to anything, and can move around. The double sided tape and the green plug being 'loose' concerns me and I'll have an auto-electrician re-arragne and securing them properly before we do any serious 4WDing.
Attachment 158844 Attachment 158845
With that done I followed Tim's instructions (called him once, due to my own poor comprehension) and spent the next eight hours (I won't be applying for work as an accessory fitter) installing the system. Isn't the negative stud on the drivers side a pain to get too! Job done and all it seems to work just fine.
Attachment 158846 Attachment 158847
Can anyone see any significant issues with that I've done, particularly the re-location of the plugs (I'm pretty uncomfortable with the green one 'floating' and have little faith in the double sided tape holding the larger one)?
Next job is the installation of the 4x4 Equip rear wheel carrier now that it's back from the powder coater.
