Suzuki XL-7 build- “XL7-UP”

Coco said:
Arm looks awesome, but am I missing something? There is no upper control arm?
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Suzuki used a strut instead of an upper arm. Calmini made an upper strut kit for first gen’s years ago.

I’ve thought about making my own upper arm setup, and running Tacoma or 4Runner loaded struts.
 
One of my Facebook friends built this XL7 truck, and will be here next week to wheel. Sadly, my XL isn’t ready, but I’m hoping to at least tag along for some trails. It’s really got me wanting to chop mine now too, and build a tray back, after seeing a lot of FJ’s and Patrols from Australia lately on instagram.


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They’re multiplying! For $300, I can make money whatever I do….UNLESS I keep it and end up daily driving or wheeling it. Also, I can confidently say, in over 35 vehicles bought, I’ve never lost a title, until today. Signed it all up….then promptly lost it I guess, while I was more focused on winching it on.

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Finally finished welding the control arms and test fit both on the rig. Struts are from a Buick Regal rear.

This coil was supposed to be stiffer, and longer than OEM, but at static height, it's almost completely compressed. I may have to swap to something else.

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The black XL’s custom front arms have been a nightmare to deal with, so I decided to tear into the white one for a change of pace. I’ve been on a kick of following the Australians that turn their patrols and FJ’s into utes, so I decided to do the same. I removed about 650lbs off the back of this. Made a simple flatbed out of 2x4’s to get an idea what I’ll look like. Got the tires for free from a member on here. I need to get some DOM to bend up an internal roll bar before I plate the cab closed.

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It’s only body work right? It’ll be nice to have a roll down window. Originally I thought about doing a two piece back wall with a window I could remove with some screws, but this’ll be much more practical.
Traded for a cooler I got for free, so I’m not into it too much money!

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Collecting parts. R150F from a 3.0 ‘95 4Runner and chain drive case, from pullnsave. $166 out the door on todays 50% off sale! Need to take some cores in to knock another $35 off.

Edit: returned the cores, and bought some 2nd gen high angle joints with slip yokes. I’ll have to retube them, but that’s okay, I needed to anyways to make my own length of shaft. Saw a Wolfsburg edition TDI too, so I felt it fitting to grab the badges



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