newbie and SFA nut!

[Keilux]

Good evening fellow Hiluxiars!I recently acquired an '88 2200 Hilux D/C from my brothers god parents who own a toyota dealership up north (she is a beauty), it took alot of persuading and haggling (being "family") and all but, i managed to get him too part with his favourite bakkie after a quarter of a decade, much too his sons disgust
After having spent alot of time on google i stumbled upon this forum, and have read every topic in the SFA section over the past few weeks
All i can say is what a bunch of top class ouens! from all the advice and knowledge that gets shared on here im suprised that the chaps at toyota havent printed this all off and created an "advanced users manual for fantics" from it! i have aleady recieved an enormous amount of help just by reading through the various topics.
Thank you all and keep it up! to the regular noise makers i feel like we are old mates already!

[Keilux]

[Oupa Stig]

I'm sure Andy will say hello pretty soon (Mud Dog). He's from your neck of the woods.
Welcome here!

And post some pics of that Raptor...
So we can see a real Raptor, instead of a Ranger with plastic Raptor bits stuck on.

[Oupa Stig]

Oh, by the way, that SFA looks like a beaut!

[Keilux]

Thanks Oupa Stig, still trying to get my head around this forum business and posting pics.. I'll see what I can do from my phone tho

[Mud Dog]

Hi and welcome Luke!!

Yep, indeed a nice old SFA! Arguably the best 4x4 bakkie ever produced (not even Clarkson could kill one), and if it's not glaringly obvious, I'm partial to the old SFA's - so maybe we share that as well as home towns.

We have a small but loyal following in this area and have get-togethers every now and so often so please feel more than welcome to join us on the next one (we'll let you know when).

Enjoy this forum as a 'home from home'.

[Keilux]

The day I made a mistake

[Keilux]

Thanks Mud Dog! It will most definately be my home away from home as I'm currently based in the Middle East... I'm excited to hear there is a following down in the land of milk and honey! Haha I'm going to need loads of help with this beauty... To get her right...

[Keilux]

Enough of that raptor nonsense though... Another view of my new found love

[Haboob]

Welcome Luke, May your passion bring you many fond memories...
Andy will let you know when we have the next outing when the weather down here warms up a bit...

[Tarquin]

Hi Luke
I couldn't help but notice the camo wet suit..
Do you spear fish?

[Bugzy]

Welcome Luke, fortunately you saw the light....nice Hilux!!

[Keilux]

Thanks for the warm welcomes everyone! Awesome Haboob I'm definitely keen! Haha yes tarquin I do spear and anything else that has anything to do with the ocean as well!

[Froll]

Welcome Luke, hope you enjoy it here on the forum.

[swartvark]

Hi Luke
Welcome to the forum and the SFA family.

Good looking Hilux.

[Keilux]

Thank you Roger and Tiaan!

[FIRSTGEER]

Howzit and very welcome Luke.Great to see another member from our neck of the woods.We are a small group of members from the local area but our outings and get togethers are not to be missed.Really a great bunch of okes with a common passion.It will be great for you to meet the guys and for us to get to know you.

[Kaspaas]

Welcome Luke!

Nice looking SFA!
Enjoy

[Mud Dog]

Luke, are you back in SA? Just asking because the weather is warming up and we're planning something again.

[Keilux]

Unfortunately not Andy, I'll be back in October for a few days tho....

[Mud Dog]

Let's have those dates then luke. Perhaps we can work around them - nothing is written in stone yet.

[Keilux]

I'll have to confirm the dates, I'm heading to Botswana to tangle with tigers for a week or so and then back to east london, unfortunately won't be taking the hilux tho...

[Mud Dog]

A couple of us met last night to discuss this and the suggested dates would be the weekend of 25 / 26 /27 Sept.

Let us know when you're available anyway because there are other outings in the pipeline as well.

[Keilux]

Thanks for keeping me in the loop Andy! I'm only getting back from Botswana on the 27th... Buggerit! I will be in EL till the 5th after that and am planning on pulling out the front axel to do a Saddle correction before I get an OME setup... Got quotes for it and winches etc. do you think it's wise to pop the quote on here? I want to make sure they not going to sell me the wrong parts..

[Mud Dog]

You can post for comparative purposes, no problem.

[Keilux]

1st quote

[Keilux]

From what I've read in other threads it seems as tho this chap is trying to sell me two passenger side leaf packs... And these saddle correction plates?!

[niclemaitre]

So, a problem with the SFA is that the spring perches on the front axle get bent downwards, giving the springs a W-shape. To correct this you can either fit "saddle correction plates" or remove the springs, beat the perches flat with a hammer, reinforce the perches by welding in flat bar and then fit the new springs.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2162&p=22017&hilit= ... rch#p22017

Here is the discussion thread on saddle correction:
viewtopic.php?f=95&t=7412&hilit=saddle+correction

[Keilux]

Ok mooi, I did read those threads... I didn't however know that there was just a "correction plate" that you can fit... Would these plates not just distort after the first corrugated road you hit? I'd imagine the best method would be to haul out the axle and beat it flat and weld in the flat bar to permanently prevent any repeat of the issue...

[Mud Dog]

Ok mooi, I did read those threads... I didn't however know that there was just a "correction plate" that you can fit... Would these plates not just distort after the first corrugated road you hit? I'd imagine the best method would be to haul out the axle and beat it flat and weld in the flat bar to permanently prevent any repeat of the issue...

That's what I would do.

[Keilux]

I think Andy just offered to help

[Mud Dog]

Sheesh! Wishful thinking!

If I had the spare time on my hands that I thought I would have after retiring, I would give you a hand - as it is, I don't seem to be getting around to my own projects.

It's an easy job, just time consuming, but if you really come unstuck and need help, let me know - will make a plan. :wnkx:

[Keilux]

Hahaha no worries, Im definately going to go the route of correcting those perches properly, even if it is a case of oil sweat and tears!