Colin.ab's extereme 4x4 project

[Colin.ab]

Colin, is that your van raised on your profile pic?

I'm building a T6 Extreme using Seikel parts with a matt wrap on the panels - I've a T6 4Motion DSG, but its not possible to buy in the pure grey in DSG & 4Motion anymore, so Im wrapping a grey metallic one as per the profile pic in matt

 

[Colin.ab]

WOW, that's a build and a half. Are you going to lower the gearing?
If you are fitting a bull bar, you can always add super brights LED driving lights, or a light bar

Yes, Seikel are lowering the DSG gearing to compensate for the wheels and tires, Im not adding a bull bar, but a winch & lazer lights to the grill, Plus a laser light bar above the windscreen in to the roof canopy area, this one will get used off road when I head up to Nordcap in autumn - Standard lights are lethal - hence I came here looking for advice

 

[chriscroft]

Yes, Seikel are lowering the DSG gearing to compensate for the wheels and tires, Im not adding a bull bar, but a winch & lazer lights to the grill, Plus a laser light bar above the windscreen in to the roof canopy area, this one will get used off road when I head up to Nordcap in autumn - Standard lights are lethal - hence I came here looking for advice

View attachment 5171

Absolutely awesome, please keep us all fully informed, Good luck with the build

 

[former member]

Now that is DEFINITELY how to modify a van!

 

[DaveyB]

Properly looking forward to seeing the video footage of you climbing an Icelandic volcano in that beast.

 

[T6 Dave]

@Colin.ab , not to sure you will get those wheels on it , as they seem to be using portal axle boxes driven by driveshafts, ala Unimog idea but without the solid axle in between, this gives them the extra height without driveshafts at crazy angles... The gearing reduction is probably in the portal box like the mogs.. Like the job though.. Still prefer the mog..

 

[T6 Dave]

aha, just saw your using the Seikel parts.. Should be fun, tad costly, but nice fun..

 

[Colin.ab]

@Colin.ab , not to sure you will get those wheels on it , as they seem to be using portal axle boxes driven by driveshafts, ala Unimog idea but without the solid axle in between, this gives them the extra height without driveshafts at crazy angles... The gearing reduction is probably in the portal box like the mogs.. Like the job though.. Still prefer the mog..

Thanks Dave, Seikel pointed me here: Volkswagen Transporter T6 Archive - Seikel

 

[chriscroft]

Thanks Dave, Seikel pointed me here: Volkswagen Transporter T6 Archive - Seikel

Do you think this gear box modification is for a manual gear box only?
I know VW will not use the DSG gearbox on the Amarok, they use manuals or Torque convertor Auto's; because the DSG at very low speeds will be continuously slipping its clutch, and have a very short life.
In fact if you spec up an Amarok for proper off- roading, they don't even use the 4-motion Haldex centre-diff, because again its not really upto it; but Siekel must be happy with that, because there are no VW options on a T6 to change the centre diff, that I am aware of.

 

[T6 Dave]

Interesting @Colin.ab , Seikel don't mention anything about the portals... Maybe they cover that on the major work shown in the lift table in red.. @T6 Dave's Dad had already directed me to the web addy a while ago, nice bits on there. Not sure I'd want a dmf on a serious off roader, as I think you would land up killing it, might be worth doing a solid conversion kit if ones about....

 

[chriscroft]

Interesting @Colin.ab , Seikel don't mention anything about the portals... Maybe they cover that on the major work shown in the lift table in red.. @T6 Dave's Dad had already directed me to the web addy a while ago, nice bits on there. Not sure I'd want a dmf on a serious off roader, as I think you would land up killing it, might be worth doing a solid conversion kit if ones about....

Do you think they remove the Dual Mass Flywheel from the Amarok?, I guess the 2.0l 4 pot, is the same/similar engine to the T6?

 

[T6 Dave]

Not sure, tbh wasn't impressed of the Seikel YouTube showing it going up (or rather failing to) a bank, the vid starts with the Seikel home, and is a white T with black graphics on it.. All it did was spin its wheels! Too high a gearing, a mog would have breezed it! Especially in super crawler!

 

[BIgben]

Not sure, tbh wasn't impressed of the Seikel YouTube showing it going up (or rather failing to) a bank, the vid starts with the Seikel home, and is a white T with black graphics on it.. All it did was spin its wheels! Too high a gearing, a mog would have breezed it! Especially in super crawler!

Pleeeaaaase don't take this the wrong way but do you think another thread might be a good idea for the lifted van so the good info about lights doesn't get buried?

 

[former member]

Not sure, tbh wasn't impressed of the Seikel YouTube showing it going up (or rather failing to) a bank, the vid starts with the Seikel home, and is a white T with black graphics on it.. All it did was spin its wheels! Too high a gearing, a mog would have breezed it! Especially in super crawler!

I'm sure a Challenger tank would too but like a Unimog, it's a massive, specialist vehicle not a practical van.

 

[T6 Dave]

@BIgben TOTALY AGREE, @Polzeylad , yep tracks would do it, but the point is that if your converting a T with portals you HAVE to compare to say a U1300, as your spending seriousness money on mods!

 

[flyingging]

I like the winch. That's what I call useful.
Some useful bits on that site.

 

[former member]

You have to compare it to something totally different?
Shall I compare my M135i to an F1 car because they are both nippy?

I've seen Seikels/Rocktons in action and they are brilliant.
SO much better than slamming a van on 22s and covering it in spoilers.

 

[chriscroft]

You have to compare it to something totally different?
Shall I compare my M135i to an F1 car because they are both nippy?

I've seen Seikels/Rocktons in action and they are brilliant.
SO much better than slamming a van on 22s and covering it in spoilers.

On the matter of the rear spoilers, LR new Disco has just hit the press, and LR are pushing their rear spoiler design as reducing dirt accumulation on the rear of the vehicle. Maybe we will be the last of the no-rear spoilers

 

[former member]

On the matter of the rear spoilers, LR new Disco has just hit the press, and LR are pushing their rear spoiler design as reducing dirt accumulation on the rear of the vehicle. Maybe we will be the last of the no-rear spoilers

They create a vacuum that sucks dirt in.
I have had many cars with and without spoilers (all factory); the spoiler fitted cars all suck up MUCH more dirt.

Don't forget that LR also thinks 22s and ultra low profile tyres are fine on a "proper" 4x4....

 

[T6 Dave]

I'd question the portal design, as will probably suck water into the housing through the driveshaft input when warm.. A fact that all defender and discovery owners will be familiar with through the destruction of wheel bearings due to this phenomenon.. (Through the LR rear wheel bearing seal), the mog is lucky, as it has on board air, and when you select the locks etc it applies low pressure air to the portals to stop water ingress, and also applies low pressure air to the head lights to do the same.

The point I'm trying to make with the T and the mog, is that just because you stick portals on it, it won't in itself make it any better off road on obstacles, just gives you bigger wheels and better road clearances, but if wading.. You need to pressurise things (low pressure) to stop water being sucked in by the warm metal/seal system..

But this my take on things, as I said, looks good if expensive...