OFF ROAD & 4x4

Some of the brands we trust when modifying your vehicle:

PERFORMANCE AND TUNING

TURBO AND SUPERCHARGER KITS

Off road vehicles can be used for different activities and on different surfaces such as sand, rock, dirt, and mud. Your vehicle's ability to drive on such surfaces and carry or tow heavy loads, which is a common use for off road-focused vehicles, can be improved through increasing the torque output of your engine.

Upgrading your existing turbo or supercharger installation, or adding one to a non-boosted engine, is the most effective way to increase torque (and, therefore, power) outputs on petrol and diesel engines.

Depending on what offroad activities you use your vehicle for (e.g., rock crawling, driving on dirt tracks, beaches or sand dunes), you could unlock additional performance by:

changing turbo size to improve engine response or change torque characteristics,
fitting a bigger intercooler to aid cooling at lower speeds,
changing supercharger or crank pulley sizes to increase boost.

We can provide advice on, as well as supply, fit and organise tuning for, modifications that best suit your vehicle's application.

FUEL SYSTEMS

Modifying your engine to increase torque output (e.g., adding or modifying turbo or supercharger systems) will often require changes to your vehicle's fuel system; the more air you put into an engine, the more fuel it will need to maintain correct air:fuel ratios.

Depending on how aggressively your engine is tuned, your factory fuel system may be capable of meeting the increased demands, however changes are often required to provide enough fuelling head room to protect your engine and extend component life.

In their most basic forms, fuel systems are comprised of one or more fuel pumps (e.g., in-tank, external, mechanical), fuel lines (hard and flexible), a fuel pressure regulator and fuel injectors. In some applications, surge tanks (that reduce the likelihood of fuel starvation) and temperature sensors may also be added for engine protection or tuning.

Changing to an ethanol-based fuel, such as E85, can enable engines to produce more torque with greater pre-detonation safety and produce less harmful exhaust gasses; however, ethanol fuels can be more corrosive than normal petrol, so changing fuel system components to ones that support ethanol fuels is important for component longevity.

We'll discuss recommended fuel system changes when fitting engine modifications, or contact us to find out more about changing your vehicle to run on an alternative fuel.

ECU TUNING

Most, if not all, engine modifications will require your vehicle's computer (ECU) to be retuned to take advantage of the modifications and run efficiently and optimally. Basic tuning of an ECU involves modifying fuel and ignition values and should only be performed by an experienced tuner*. Incorrectly tuning a vehicle's ECU can result in poor engine operation or complete failure.

Some factory ECUs can be tuned, however many are partially, or completely, locked. In cases where a vehicle's ECU is locked, then a "piggyback" or complete aftermarket replacement may be required. Many aftermarket ECU manufacturers (e.g., Haltech, Link) provide ECUs that plug directly into factory wiring harnesses without modification, although this is not always the case, and sometimes patch harnesses, or modification to vehicle wiring is required.

In addition to providing support for engine modifications, complete aftermarket ECUs can provide features that standard ECUs don't, such as traction control, data logging, boost control, and flex fuel support.

We'll discuss tuning options with you when fitting vehicle/engine modifications.

We outsource ECU tuning to reputable tuners within South Australia who are chosen depending on their experience with specific engine/ECU combinations.

PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE

OIL CATCH CANS

As part of normal operation, engines vaporise a small amount of their oil, which is recirculated back into the engine for combustion. This is done to reduce engine emissions, however, in doing so, it can cause side effects such as poor engine operation.

Passive oil catch cans, which are, effectively, a small tank (usually installed in the engine bay) separate oil particles from air (using a filter) and store it, rather than routing it back into the engine's air intake system. The accumulated oil can be emptied and re-added to the engine at chosen intervals, or discarded with the rest of the engine oil when your vehicle is serviced.

Active oil catch cans use a pump to pull the vaporised oil from the engine, then filter and store it, rather than relying on natural vapour flow. Active catch cans are often more effective, but are more expensive to purchase and install, due to their relative complexity.

We recommend installing a catch can on modified engines that may produce more oil vapour, particularly on diesel engines. We can supply and fit a range of oil catch can systems, either universal or vehicle-specific, depending on availability and cost.

SECONDARY FUEL FILTERS

Diesel-powered vehicles, like the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger, are very popular in Australia, however, despite their popularity, we have some of the lowest quality diesel in the world. Dirty fuel can cause problems in modern fuel injection systems due to their low internal tolerances.

Installing an aftermarket fuel filter in addition to the factory filter can help keep harmful debris out of your engine's fuel injection system, maintaining optimum engine performance and component longevity.

We can install one of a range of aftermarket fuel filters in your vehicle to help keep unwanted contaminants out of your engine.

HOT WASHING AND CARBON CLEANING

Carbon build up (a by product of normal engine operation) is usually found in and around intake and exhaust valves, runners and manifolds. If left to accumulate over time, carbon build up can cause:

rough running,
engine vibration,
poor cold starting, and
reduced fuel economy.

The best way to completely remove carbon build up is to remove and clean affected engine components. After removing parts for cleaning, the first stage of the cleaning process, as shown in the image to the left, is manually removing the carbon with a blunt instrument (to avoid damaging engine components), then put them in our industrial-grade hot washer, before reinstalling.

Increasingly, plastic and composite materials are being used in the manufacture of engine intake components which would be damaged if cleaned in our hot washer. For this reason, we use an ultrasonic cleaner for these parts, which is much gentler but just as effective.

SUSPENSION AND DRIVELINE

LIFT KITS

Modern offroad vehicles, such as the Toyota Landcruiser, are designed to work well on and off the road. To make them work on the road, compromises need to be made to their offroad abilities.

Installing a lift kit on your offroad vehicle increases its ride height, which can improve:

ground clearance,
approach and departure angles, and
wheel articulation.

Lift kits come in different forms depending on the type of suspension your vehicle has and the offroad activities you want to use your vehicle for.

DIFFERENTIAL DROPS

Many modern off road vehicles use a solid rear axle with leaf or coil springs in the rear and independent suspension in the front of the vehicle. This type of suspension, when found on the front of a vehicle is referred to as Independent Front Suspension (IFS). Using both types of suspension systems on a vehicle allows for better steering and vehicle control, whilst still being able to support large loads in the rear of the vehicle.

Independent suspension systems differ from their solid axle counterparts in a few key ways, but the most significant is that the differential is mounted to the vehicle's chassis, rather than being supported by and moving with the suspension.

When "lifting" the suspension on an IFS-equipped vehicle, the angle of the drive shafts and, therefore, CV (constant velocity) joints increases, which can lead to premature CV joint wear. The solution to this is to install a differential drop kit, which spaces the differential away from the vehicle's chassis, lowering the drive shaft and CV angles.

Speak to us to find out if a differential drop kit would benefit your vehicle and, if so, what kits are available.

CONTROL ARMS & CORRECTION KITS

Aftermarket suspension components such as control arms, sway bar links and panhard rods are often used to correct the limitations of a vehicle's range of suspension adjustment, which is important once a vehicle has had its suspension lifted.

Aftermarket suspension components can also be constructed of stronger materials, with more durable bushes, to deal with the stresses applied to suspension systems when off road driving.

We specialise in a range of off road suspension products to cater for most vehicles and customer requirements.

ACCESSORIES

SNORKELS

Off road vehicles can be tested by all sorts of obstacles, one of which may be deep water. Depending on where the lowest point of your vehicle's air intake system is located, you risk sucking water into your engine if the water is too deep.

Since water isn't compressible, too much water in your engine's combustion chambers while it's running could result in damaged engine internals, which are expensive to repair.

The solution to this problem is a snorkel kit, which moves your vehicle's air intake opening to roof height. Since your vehicle isn't a submarine, this should be high enough for any water crossing.

Be confident when crossing deep water on your next adventure by having us fit a snorkel kit to your vehicle.

BODY PROTECTION

Body protection for off road vehicles include front bars, side step/rock sliders and rear bars and are often fabricated from steel or aluminium plate, depending on the application. Depending on which components are fitted, they can not only protect your vehicle's body work, but also provide somewhere for accessories to be attached.

Mountable accessories may include:

spare wheel carriers,
winches,
recovery hooks,
antennas,
spotlights and
fishing rod holders.

We can supply and fit a range of body protection options for common off road vehicles, including options that are compatible with factory-fitted airbag sensors.

LOAD AND LUGGAGE CARRYING

If you're taking an off road or camping trip, you'll likely have a lot of things to take with you - swags, clothes, food, and equipment for activities, in addition to vehicle accessories that take up internal space, such as a fridge.

Fitting racks, a basket or storage pod to the roof of your vehicle can significantly increase the usability of your vehicle.

If you're towing a trailer or caravan, you'll need a heavy-duty tow bar fitted, including wiring to ensure lights and brakes work as they should.

Speak to us about the load and luggage carrying accessories available for your vehicle.

RECOVERY SYSTEMS

Australia is a big country with vast uninhabited remote areas; avoid getting your vehicle stuck by fitting a winch to your existing heavy-duty front bar.

Modern winches are available in a range of sizes with impressive features, such as wireless remote control.

Speak to us about which winch is suitable for the weight and configuration of your vehicle.

LIGHTS, BATTERIES, GAUGES AND ELECTRONICS

If you're bringing the conveniences of home with you on your adventures, you'll likely need electricity. Solar panels, a second battery and inverter will be invaluable for campsite lighting and keeping food and drinks cold, while still being able to start your vehicle when it's time to leave.

Being able to keep an eye on your engine and transmission's vitals often isn't well catered for in standard vehicles. We can fit sensors and gauges to monitor temperature and pressure of coolant, engine oil, transmission fluid, battery voltage, etc.

8186 1011