2WD to 4WD?

[themadscientist]

I have D21 questions. Please to dropping of the knowledge.

1. Are the mounts on the frames there so if I have a 2WD hardbody truck and I can get the front suspension from a 4WD I can bolt it in? My concern is only the suspension. I will not need to mount the diff or the transfer case just the control arms to hang the 4WD hubs.

2. Which side is the front diff and drive shaft on, the driver or passenger side?

3. Is there a disk brake conversion available for the rear?

[Rev_D21]

You will probably have to do some suspension fabbing for sure. The 2wd frame is equipped for different tension rods than the 4wd for one.

Driver side output shaft location.

SE Pathfinders from the same vintage sometimes came with rear disc setups. The ebrake cables will need modification in order to work.

[themadscientist]

So I could swap in the pathfinder rear end if I put some leaf spring pads on it? I would expect a coil spring rear to be more responsive at high speed, would you agree? Could the pickup be easily modified to accept the coil rear suspension by stealing the bracketry off the Pathfinder?

When I say high speed, I mean high speed too, 100-150MPH.

[Rev_D21]

You can swap the Pathy rear and it has been done. The gearing might be a little low for a 2wd though. If you are good at fab work you could swap the rear to coil spring, I assume it will be more responsive than leaf springs as well as more progressive by nature. You could always back-half a HB to make it what ever you want it to be since you will be doing some welding anyhow.

[themadscientist]

It would be so much easier to start with a Pathfider, but the short bed HB is more my style. If it saves some fab work I might have to suck it up to save energy and money to handle other aspects of the project. Anybody experienced both vehicles at highway speeds? I recall my SB 2WD Ranger became a real canyon carver and stable high speed vehicle with a wheel and tire change. i was leaving 5.0s in the dust on windy roads. That's not saying mugh, those things are dogs stock, but watching a little 2.9 walk away must still harm the ego.

[StephenG]

I'm just wondering, and this may be completely inane to even consider, but... Would it be possible to just swap a hardbody... body onto a pathfinder frame? Certainly would almost be easier I would think.

[themadscientist]

I had that thought as well when I discovered they have the same wheelbase.

[RT22]

I am all for making things that do not exist, by why re-engineer something that exists, and you can get a used 4x4 cheaper than making one in my opinion.

[themadscientist]

4x4 hardbodies are scarce in Japan and when found are usually four-door. Short bed regular cab 4x4s are almost non-existent. My googlation has revealed that the pathfider frame swap has been done successfully.

[StephenG]

Another option is to find a long bed chassis and section it. I've seen this done on older american trucks to make them more desirable. A competent customs/fab shop should have little trouble making it happen.

[themadscientist]

A competent customs/fab shop should have little trouble making it happen.

Houston, we have a problem. The work around here is scary ghetto. I once saw a dude using a coat hanger as welding rod.

I mail my machine work to mainland because I don't trust them to do it right. No way would I let them chop my frame. That and the four-doors are very expensive and modifying the frame would induce substantial and expensive legalities that would make buying two trucks and switching the bodies actually cheaper and easier.