720 small block/straight axle swap

[bark13]

I'm picking up a chevy small block 350 to put in my 83' nissan 720 and plan on getting either 1/2 ton or 1 ton chevy running gear. Has anyone done this or does anyone have any tips?

[captainzeros]

Check out this thread.

visiotech-s-85-720-build-t502124.html

As far as I know, the stock rear-end is holding up just fine.

[MetalFab]

I've had this in the plans for a while, althought I've decided (for now) that a v6 would be way more fun and easier on my wallet at the pump. I, like many others out there, am already tired of the gutless 2.4, but I love the truck. My 85 4x4 has a divorced xfer case. It would be easy to throw any motor/transmission combo in there and just create a new shaft between the trans and xfercase to fit, no other modification to the drivetrain necessary. but..

Take into consideration how close the stock front end is to the motor. I would plan to do the SAS swap first. It will clear out an amazing amount of space, not just in removing the differential, but removing the crossmember under the motor, and removing the torsions and that crossmember would have left the frame wide open for us to do whatever we wanted with visios swap. If you do go and remove the x-members just make sure you add a few more back in than you pulled out lol, especially in a 4x4 application you'll turn it into a pretzel with a v8 and big tires. We could have routed the exhaust straight down and back on visio's ride if we didn't have the torsion bars in the way.

[bark13]

I thought about going with the 4.3 v6 but my buddy offered to donate a 350 for the project so i figured why not? It needs a little work though. What transmission did visio go with? I would like to go with chevy running gear but i'm assuming it will be much too wide any suggestions?

[MetalFab]

they do make adapters to clock transfercases, I'm not sure whats available for the application and I havn't sized up a chevy xfercase to a nissan frame yet. Let me know if you take any measurements because I'm planning the chevy 350/4sp/np205 swap into a 79 datsun KC here soon. I got all the parts in the shop. I'll try to remember to put it all together and take measurements. I'm just waiting for a yota solid axle to fall into my lap before I attempt it. Keep us up to date on your project.