Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Widebody Hardbody

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Widebody Hardbody

    We're going to jump into this project in medias res. This started in February of this year when I got an $800 landscaping truck, 2wd four cylinder 1987 king cab Nissan D21.

    SAM_3244

    SAM_3250

    SAM_3243

    As it stands now it's been painted, I've made a custom flat bed and roll bar and a custom rear bumper. The rear end has been swapped to a 10 bolt 8.6 inch from a 2009 Chevy Tahoe that has been rebuilt with 4.56:1 gears and a Yukon limited slip diff. The rear end had all the stock bracketry cut off for it to be perched on Old Man Emu heavy duty leaf springs. At some point in the future I might go to a triangulated 4 link in the rear, but until it's driving the rear suspension is done.

    SAM_3255

    The track width is a full 13 inches wider than stock and the tires are tucked under trailer fenders in the rear that stick out about 5.5 inches wider than the stock body. The wheels are 17x8.5s from a Toyota 4runner just to confuse people with the Toyota logos.

    SAM_3248

    The bed and bumper are made mainly of 3x2x.120, 2x2x.095, and 1.5x.120 round A513 tube.

    SAM_3252

    SAM_3253

    Up front the stock engine and transmission have been pulled and I've started cleaning up the engine bay to prepare for the swap.

    SAM_3257

    SAM_3259

    For the new powerplant I'm in the middle of rebuilding an LQ9 6.0L out of a 2004 Escalade, the plan is forged pistons, a fairly aggressive cam, and bigger injectors. Should be good for around 400 HP. For the transmission I have a CD009 6 speed out of a 2008 G37 that I will adapt using the Collin's adapter and a T56 bellhousing, that way I'll still have a little bit of Nissan at heart, haha.

    IMG_20190902_170719388

    SAM_3224

    SAM_3232

    I've still got a long ways to go, but the plans to finish it are: Fiberglass front fenders with a 4" bulge. Make custom A arms up front that are about 6 inches longer per side and going to a coil over shock to get the torsion bars out of the way of the exhaust. Front steering knuckles and brakes are going to be modified unit's from a 2018 Silverado. I'd also like to convert to a rack and pinion but planning on that particular item hasn't gotten very far yet.

    The transmission tunnel is going to have to be clearanced somewhat to fit the new bigger bellhousing, depending on how low I can set the engine. The plan is to get pretty low with the oil pan from a CTS-V and making a custom front crossmember. I also need to make a matching front bumper.

  • #2
    Going back in time, this is how the truck looked when I got it.

    IMG_20190202_115547645

    IMG_20190202_115538324_HDR

    This first modification was the wheels and tires.

    IMG_20190216_131642957_HDR

    And two months after that I chopped 18 inches off the frame to start making the flat bed.

    IMG_20190427_133026556_HDR

    Comment


    • #3
      This thing is sick!

      What's the end goal? Will you keep it off-roady with the knobbier tires, or make it more of a fast street/drag truck and swap the tires? Either way I love it and I'll be keeping an eye on this one

      Comment


      • #4
        Ideally I'll be able to have a set of street tires and a set of off road tires. Traction is definitely going to be an issue with 29" tall tires and 4.56 gears because I initially picked that ratio to suit the stock motor with something like 80 horsepower.

        I see this thing being used for bombing down fire roads, but it should do some pretty good burnouts.

        Comment


        • #5
          Definitely one of the coolest builds I've seen. cant wait for updates.

          Comment


          • #6
            Continuing our trip through the past with the fab work on the bed.

            This was setting the ride height of the bed frame.

            IMG_20190504_130556963_HDR

            Making all the cross members.

            IMG_20190505_144257930_HDR

            IMG_20190505_134840841_HDR

            Bed mounts.

            IMG_20190509_160546299_HDR

            Flat bed on the mounts for the first time.

            IMG_20190509_172428357_HDR

            Main hoops for the roll bar.

            IMG_20190512_182055818_HDR

            IMG_20190518_134359636_HDR

            Fabbed the bumper in place on the truck.

            IMG_20190519_100330089_HDR

            IMG_20190526_155947057_HDR

            IMG_20190526_173118778_HDR

            IMG_20190526_173218260_HDR

            And when I first got the fenders mounted and it started looking like a truck again.

            IMG_20190531_184044747_HDR

            IMG_20190531_202318053_HDR

            Comment


            • #7
              I've been largely just collecting parts recently, but I finally have everything I need to take my block to the machine shop.

              The block has been totally stripped down.

              _DSF7029

              _DSF7033

              _DSF7035

              The stock forged rods have been cleaned up.

              _DSF7039

              _DSF7028

              I got a new set of 0.005" oversized flat top forged pistons with valve reliefs.

              _DSF7045

              And finally a new Lumpy Boi. This is Summit's stage 3 truck cam.

              _DSF7052

              IMG_20190927_163816715

              Not pictured is about $500 in ARP fasteners. I got head bolts, main cap studs, and rod bolts from them.

              I'll leave you with some fun night rain shots of the truck.

              _DSF6936

              _DSF6931

              Comment


              • #8
                Wow!!!
                My BMW E36 318ti Steel Blue Compact build thread -
                http://www.stanceworks.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=88271

                Comment


                • #9
                  Looks like more an Australian's UTE now.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    I love your fab work, but I have to say I'd rather see it with prerunner-style fenders and bedsides.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Asshole Bicycle View Post
                      I love your fab work, but I have to say I'd rather see it with prerunner-style fenders and bedsides.
                      It is getting prerunner style fender up front. In the back I kind of always wanted the utilitarian flatbed. Plus I've never seen anything like this and there's tons of full glass prerunners out there.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Some minor progress, I've taken the LQ9 block to the machine shop. They're pretty swamped so it'll probably be January before I get it back.

                        I figured people would enjoy this picture of me loading it into my work truck. She was riding pretty low that day.

                        DSCF7462

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Some minor progress, I've taken the LQ9 block to the machine shop. They're pretty swamped so it'll probably be January before I get it back.
                          Like this awesome https://prohighgrades.com/case-converter
                          I figured people would enjoy this picture of me loading it into my work truck. She was riding pretty low that day.
                          I just wanted to mention that your project is looking pretty awesome
                          And you have a funny version of a work truck=))
                          Last edited by jane477; 08-04-2020, 03:16 PM.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            It's been forever since I've updated this build, but Seattle's 11 months of rain are finally coming to an end so I've been able to get outside and do some more work.

                            First of all, I got the Collin's adapter for my CD009 and put that together with my T56 bellhousing.

                            IMG_20200703_125215075

                            IMG_20200703_131110049

                            IMG_20200703_131128959

                            And my long-block is pretty much done. I'm going with the Trailblazer SS intake despite how ugly it is, so I'll probably need to make an aluminum cover for it at some point. I've also just started the process of snuggling this thing into the engine bay, and I'm going to be making a custom cross-member\skid-plate mount to get it low enough for the hood to clear the intake.

                            DSCF0341

                            DSCF0342

                            DSCF0344

                            I've fabbed up the front half of my "exo-cage." This is all removable using TMR Custom's interlocking tube clamps. The front half currently rests on 1/8" doubler plates on the aprons, but I would like to tie that down to the frame rails later. I need to finish the suspension before I know what clearance I have for that tubing tho.

                            IMG_20200620_184507005_HDR

                            IMG_20200620_184520708_HDR

                            IMG_20200619_165042209_HDR

                            And finally I started playing with my fiberglass front fenders. I will need to make front A-arms that are 5-5.5" longer on each side to fill out the wheel well properly.

                            DSCF0335

                            DSCF0333

                            DSCF0329

                            DSCF0328

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              It's been a productive weekend so far. Mounted the trans on the engine for the first time, sans flywheel and clutch so it'll have to come back apart.

                              IMG_20200710_174343012

                              IMG_20200710_174318490

                              And then I spent the next 6 or so hours taking her in and out of the bay to test clearance. The cross member that goes between the lower control arms got notched out and replaced with a tube about 1.5" lower to clear the oil pan, and that new cross member will double as a skid plate mount. Also, I'm pretty sure the intake manifold is going to stick out the hood an inch or two at the front.

                              DSCF0353

                              New cross member / skid-plate mount:

                              DSCF0348

                              Alternator clears the frame which is nice.

                              IMG_20200711_134910587_HDR

                              Steering column needs a little work to clear the headers.

                              DSCF0351

                              Nice and close to the firewall.

                              DSCF0355

                              Engine mounts are tacked up.

                              DSCF0349

                              DSCF0350

                              Transmission sits pretty high in the cab and required removing more trans tunnel than I had been guessing. Also interferes with the old hydro hand brake mount I had made, so that has to move.

                              IMG_20200711_151133287

                              IMG_20200711_151148971_HDR

                              And finally it started raining pretty heavily before I could get the trans mount made, but that's not a bad couple days work.

                              IMG_20200711_182541779

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X