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i want a 4x4 truck...

2966 Views 24 Replies 12 Participants Last post by  weatherm
i really want a 4x4 truck but damn why are they so expensive! i've looked at frontiers, and toyotas and they're pricey for a decent one. I have a frontier thats running fairly sound. I've put in a motor with 38k, trans was rebuilt by the previous owner as well as the diff. I thought about selling it, however the outside looks like crap. I don't think i can sell it for much.

Anywhoo.. i have recently thought about a 4x4 swap. Here are my thoughts. I want to use a toyota front axle, with a toyota transfer case out of an 85. I don't want to turn my truck into a rock crawler. but i want to be able play in the rocks mud and sand. I have read that toyota axles are pretty stout, and i think they should be good to handle some 33" tires and the power of my ka.

Does anyone have any suggestions? or ideas? :)
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Why Toyota parts and not Nissan?

Also, are you keeping it IFS or do you want to SAS?
sas of course.. im open to suggestions. I picked yota parts over nissans cus i come across them more often like in craigslist or ebay.
If you are going to SAS, then it doesn't matter what axles you use as long as they are rated for what you are going to put them thru, the correct width and has the pumpkin on the correct side.

Also, are you going to run the case divorced or not?
you travel up to oregon any? ill have mine for sale if i go thru with this titan.
if i go with a yota front axle i have to go divorced tcase.
these trucks are designed to have a driver's side pumpkin, there is no room for the driveshaft in between the cat and the tranny on the passenger side, unless you want a retardedly tall truck. also, you would have to run a divorced case and there would be a lot of fabrication involved.


you can pick up a 4x4 tranny and tcase that will bolt right in with an addition of a crossmember and all you would have to do is figure out what you want to run for a front axle. a full width d44 from an 80's wagoneer works great. unfortunately, typing it out isn't as easy as putting it together, but forget about toyota stuff up front.
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you dont want a crazy rock crawler yet you want to SAS it. thats kinda pointless to me. Why do all that work make just to have a 4x4 that your not going to wheel hard. Sell your 2wd truck and pick up an XJ or something like that, cheep solid axle upfront, tons of parts out there for them. a 3in lift some cutting and 32s and you have a good dual purpose streetable rig you can take on the trails
you dont want a crazy rock crawler yet you want to SAS it. thats kinda pointless to me. Why do all that work make just to have a 4x4 that your not going to wheel hard. Sell your 2wd truck and pick up an XJ or something like that, cheep solid axle upfront, tons of parts out there for them. a 3in lift some cutting and 32s and you have a good dual purpose streetable rig you can take on the trails
im sure i can pick up a jeep on the cheap, however i do see a bunch of lifted jeeps around my area. However i like my frontier more. I think it would be a cooler truck than a jeep once its lifted with a sas swap.
these trucks are designed to have a driver's side pumpkin, there is no room for the driveshaft in between the cat and the tranny on the passenger side, unless you want a retardedly tall truck. also, you would have to run a divorced case and there would be a lot of fabrication involved.


you can pick up a 4x4 tranny and tcase that will bolt right in with an addition of a crossmember and all you would have to do is figure out what you want to run for a front axle. a full width d44 from an 80's wagoneer works great. unfortunately, typing it out isn't as easy as putting it together, but forget about toyota stuff up front.
hi, i have a four cylinder so my only cat is one the left.

Last night i was thinking of swapping out my trans for a 4x4 unit along with the transfer case and using a d44. Like what you suggested. Also the parts seem to be readily available on car-parts. I would just have to find someone to fabricate the spring hangers.

would something like a cal mini sas kit work on my 4cyl chassis?
Or you could buy my truck that's already SAS'ed for 7K + shipping if there is any and save yourself a ton of work and money.

For sale Nissan frontier
In this case, buy don't build. I was in the same boat as you with my 2wd KA Hardbody.
hi, i have a four cylinder so my only cat is one the left.

Last night i was thinking of swapping out my trans for a 4x4 unit along with the transfer case and using a d44. Like what you suggested. Also the parts seem to be readily available on car-parts. I would just have to find someone to fabricate the spring hangers.

would something like a cal mini sas kit work on my 4cyl chassis?
you are going to spend much more money then you are probably hoping to if you are thinking about converting a 4cyl to 4x4 and putting a solid axle up front.
the calmini kit is sketchy. i would stay away.
Hell, drop 7k on a sas'd machine! Good deal.
very good deal
you are going to spend much more money then you are probably hoping to if you are thinking about converting a 4cyl to 4x4 and putting a solid axle up front.
the calmini kit is sketchy. i would stay away.
what wrong with sas'ing a 4cyl? i feel like the 4 banger has adequate power to move some 33's with proper gearing.
its going to be a dog unless you are in 4lo and have crawler gears, which run over $1k.
Hell, drop 7k on a sas'd machine! Good deal.
that wouldnt be fun.. i wanna build my own truck and enjoy the fruits of my labor..
go buy a old land rover disco 1 they are 3k or less and will do just fine.

but if you want something reliable and cost more buy a nissan.. i love my truck but if i want offroad performance out of the box its a land rover or toyota fj40 :)
have you had a 4x before?
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