DIY Quigley to MG 4x4 Conversion

[ranchero]

this! : "I bought a cheap right angle drill from Home Depot ($69) and it has done 4 installs already like a champ. Step bits and a good cutting fluid are a good thing to have too. I've used Harbor Freight step bits for three installs. I also use Rapid Tap cutting fluid and drilling just sails through the frame."

That right angle drill and step bits make it easy!

[shenrie]

Originally Posted by ranchero

That right angle drill and step bits make it easy!

Uhgreed! Tyson bought his drill and step bits from harbor freight and they worked great! Drilling frame was considerably easier than I anticipated.

[Jsweezy]

Step bits make the process a dream. Even with Ujoints conversion, if people would just use step bits like we did to BrianJWilsons van they wouldn't even worry.

[ohsix]

I ordered a right angle drill, cutting oil, and step bits from Amazon. They should be delivered tomorrow.

I took a look under the van last night and I'll have to cut off the Quigley track bar mount to install the MG track bar mount. Quigley's track bar mount is also welded to the engine cross member to strengthen it after they trimmed it to clear the front axle. The MG and Quigley mounts put the track bar in about the same place front to back, but the MG mount sets the track bar about 2" lower. The MG mount also looks quite a bit beefier. I'm guessing geometry is important here, otherwise I would just use the Quigley mount and save some time.

[Jsweezy]

NOOOOO!!!

Don't try and save time doing this and definitely don't use some other manufacturers track bar mount, because your right, geometry is key. MG spent a lot of time ( and im not just saying that) getting that track bar mount correct so make sure you use it and try to mount it as best you can by getting all that other stuff out of the way.

[Jsweezy]

When do we get to see a photo of this van anyway?!

[ohsix]

Here's how it sits right now.


Here's the Quigley track bar mount

[shenrie]

Originally Posted by Jsweezy

NOOOOO!!!

Don't try and save time doing this and definitely don't use some other manufacturers track bar mount, because your right, geometry is key. MG spent a lot of time ( and im not just saying that) getting that track bar mount correct so make sure you use it and try to mount it as best you can by getting all that other stuff out of the way.

x2!

I mentioned the wonky steering habits of my Quigley at speed to a local suspension guru and after looking at my front end setup first he thing said to me was that the angles were terrible on the trackbar. definitely utilize mg's design.

[ohsix]

I installed the UJOR 6" lift rear springs and longer shocks this weekend. I thought I could reuse the Agile RIP shocks, but they were too short. They measured 22" from center of eyelet to the base of the stud. I opened my Fox shocks from UJOR and the shorter set is 22" from eyelet to eyelet and the other set is much longer. The 22" shocks would not reach the mounting point on the axle with the weight of the van on the springs, so that told me I'm supposed to use the longer shocks. These shocks only have about 3.75" of shaft exposed with the weight of the van on the springs. Maybe that's all the up travel I'll need though.

Old Quigley spring and lift block compared to UJOR spring:


New parts installed:



New rear ride height:


The rear of the van is empty right now, so it will probably sit a little lower with seats, interior, and spare tire.

Swapping rear springs and shocks took me about 7 hours. I could probably do it in 4 or 5 if I had to do it again. I had to get creative to attach the new springs as you have to flatten the arch to get them to reach the mounting points.

I had planned to start tearing down the front end, but I've been nursing the OEM 2012 battery along for a while, and finally said that's enough. The van wouldn't start (needed to reposition), so I removed the battery to go get a new one and spent the rest of my time sandblasting and painting the junkyard radius arms that will be used with the new front axle.

[86Scotty]

Awesome. If you guys keep motivating me perhaps I'll finish mine........before summer.