Hi Guys,

Has anyone ever tried getting some extra height out of their All-Trac?

I've been searching online for various lift kits & companies that might do them here in Melbourne Australia. I've heard a few owners utter the same thoughts on the odd occasion but I haven't actually found anyone who's done it yet?

I know plenty of people do it on various subaru models old & new.

So with the All-Trac's capabilities I believe it's reasonable to beef up the suspension & ground clearance a little bit.
If you have any thoughts or know anyone who's already done this I'd be very interested to know.

Thanks.

I've never come across any lift kits for these, nor for the AE92s. The only way that I know of to improve ground
clearance is to:

Larger tires and wheels.  These cars came with 13" rims.  If one moves up to 14" rims, then there is a greater variety of tires from which to choose.  If you choose a tire with larger diameter, then your car sits higher, provided the tire has enough air inside.

Maybe one of the other sites has info on lifting a Corolla.  I wish I could raise mine a few inches, then I could get
under it without using jackstands (say, in an emergency on the road).

I am in the process of doing this.  My plans are:

Front Gen 1 Magna Springs
Rear EL Falcon Springs
14" Wheels

Should add up to 50-60mm of lift without changing the shocks.  Any more then that and it will start getting expensive pretty quick, I don't have the money at the moment, saving up for a new engine for the subi.  I will take before and after shots as well as measurements as I go.  The Magna springs should be here Monday.

Thanks akpv - sorry I beat you to those performance exhaust....(yet to fit)

Really interested to hear how you go. Hey I remember reading some where that NSW government passes a law - you can only lift or lower your vehicle 2inches from OEM factory standard...

datsa - Yep absolutely hear you all the way on 'upping' the wheel size. Only problem is... Like most guys "I want more" ...lift that is..

My idea is to to both: Lift the suspension & increase wheel & tyre size

Yeah, not sure what the update is on the new law but it is crazy talk.  Either way I am in ACT .

I am going to put some rally tires on for off road 4wd type stuff.

Picked up another rolla yesterday as a temporary car for a friend.  It was an auto, has much nicer seats, central locking etc but i don't think it is quite the same as the SR5.  $400 with 5 months rego, not bad at all.  Will probably part it out when rego expires. Some keywords for the search engines, we need more members! ae95 ae95r corolla 4wd 4x4 lift kit lifted raise clearance.

Quoted from akpv

Will probably part it out when rego expires.

I may be interested in some parts;  yes, I live in the U.S., but some parts are just hard to find around here.  If only there was a Sprinter/Carib parts store online.  

Will post up here if it goes ahead.  Anything in particular you are after?

Yeah really interested to hear how you go... I knew you were in Canberra...wasn't sure if NSW law affected you or not..

Could you explain to us a little bit more how you went about about your research for upping the sizes of springs & what led you to choosing the ford ones etc...?
As far as I know you're the only person who's attempted it...my thinking is along the same lines as yours regarding wheels n tyres

Cheers

I read somewhere on the net you could use springs from a falcon and magna, I have never been able to find the post since.  I have an old paper copy of the king springs catalog with specs of all of the springs so i just found a car with the same diameters and slightly longer springs.  Both cars are a little heavier then the ae95 so it will be interesting to see if the ride is too firm or not.  I now have both sets of springs, just need the time to do it.  

How does one go about changing a spring on a live axle car? Shocks off, jack it up and away you go?  I have only ever done macpherson type changes.

Ok i think I remember the thread you're refering to & from what I can recall the ford springs didn't quite fit I'll see if I can find it, coz I might've book marked it but don't have time tonight.

Regarding the springs, I think you need some kind of compression set-up...

I asked my old man & he said making a spring compressor is pretty straight forward. He's got a welding engineering back ground.

I'll see if I can get him to do a sketch...

But I never thought of what you said about removing the shocks - might be possible.

It'd be worth searching some other forums...

Yeah i have spring compressors, i don't reckon i will need them for the rear looking at it though.  Will def need them for the front.

Hey akpv, 'Sorry half off topic' I fitted those headers on the weekend - real tough fit. Wasn't so bad taking them out coz the wrecked car didn't have any radiator or air con, so the entire front of the car was pretty clear.

Looks like the guy who originally installed them in the wreck I took them from, couldn't get them to fit & cut them in 2 places, fitted them & then did some real shonky welding. Long story short my new headers leak out the crappy welds! Still my old cast iron manifold was nearly cracked in two.

The original comes in two pieces but the headers are one long piece. In the end I had to take my radiator out, remove the oil filter, disconnect an oil hose running off the front of the engine block & grind a tiny notch in the sub-frame just to squeeze it in.

I'll post some photo's. When I have more time. I'll have to pull them out again soon, re-do the welds & make a new bolted join so they're an easy 2 piece fit.

In the mean time: 'back on topic'

I found a thread talking about ford springs in the AE95. As I remembered. He says the diameters not quite right but the rest of the thread may be helpful.
Here 'tis:
                         http://www.rollaclub.com/board/?showtopic=14838

The guy called "ogre6br" makes some interesting comments at the end of this thread about ordering through king springs over here in Australia.

I've also posted a similar request regarding suspension lift in twincam & toymods, so I'll report back if I find anything interesting.

I wonder if spacers (like thick washers) dan be used to put distance between the shock and the mount.

Quoted from akpv

I am in the process of doing this.  My plans are:

Front Gen 1 Magna Springs
Rear EL Falcon Springs
14" Wheels

Should add up to 50-60mm of lift without changing the shocks.  Any more then that and it will start getting expensive pretty quick, I don't have the money at the moment, saving up for a new engine for the subi.  I will take before and after shots as well as measurements as I go.  The Magna springs should be here Monday.

I am in the process of getting new struts for the All-Trac; I'm still researching what is available.  But at 207K miles and counting, my springs probably need replacing as well, since I still bottom out occasionally, although there is not much shimmy.  And while my oil pan shows no dings in it, the front crossmember does show some banging.  

I'll look into these springs, as well as a spring compressor -- I'm told to get the good kind.

Check out this clever guy:

http://www.rollaclub.com/board/index.php?showtopic=34863[url][/url]

Good to see some one is pioneering some new ground.

This guy's inspiring.