ben2go
Adventurer
Space is the reason.It makes things so much easier and faster.Taking the hour or so to remove the body/cabin can save hours in labor.
UJOR Build Thread
- Thread starter ujoint
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Space is the reason.It makes things so much easier and faster.Taking the hour or so to remove the body/cabin can save hours in labor.
derjack
Adventurer
Hi
The theory is clear, but it's it really less work?
ben2go
Adventurer
In my opinion yes.Anything that reduces labor times is less work.Less labor and labor equates to a happier customer.I am looking at this from a mechanic's point of view because that is what I used to do professionally.
CodyY
Explorer
Same here. Most shadetree mechanics dont realize that oem parts are assembled in systems; and removing an entire system is 99% of the time simpler and faster than fighting to remove a single component. Much less the frustration.
And once you've gotten a few under your belt, you're makin money.
And once you've gotten a few under your belt, you're makin money.
ujoint
Supporting Sponsor
We did pull the body on V3, and V4. I'd like to see it done in 1hr! Not possible in my opinion and I've done a few. There are always a few body bolts that are rusted up and have to be cut or broken off. This black van only had 2, the rest put up a fight but didn't break. It is worth doing, simply changing an injector on these 6.0's is a major headache and will test your patience! Not easy, I would never do head studs or gaskets w/o pullig the body. --- Swapping the engine can be done w/o pulling the body but it's much easier this way.
151fab
Observer
Could I get the 5.4 liter crowd to chime in on how pleased or displeased they are with the power of their vehicles (I know the v10 or diesel would be favorable, I'm just wondering if the 5.4 is acceptable). I'll probably end up with 35" tires and a 6" lift on an extended passenger e-350, I'll re-gear the axles accordingly. I don't expect to carry more than the usual weekend camping gear or a small boat. I realize the performance when towing will be compromised with the smaller engine and that's fine, I'm more curious about the day to day driving performance ie: head wind, freeway speeds, passing ability, etc. I've owned a f150 with a 5.4 and was very pleased with it's ability and even towed a 27' fountain all the time with it and had no complaints but a van may be a whole different story.
How about the four speed trans of the 5.4 (versus the five speed in the v10)? I'm not opposed to pulling the 4 speed out and swapping in the five speed while I'm doing the 4x4 conversion so the trans isn't a deal breaker (if that swap is even possible).
I'd buy a v10 but they're nearly impossible to find in the 2011-2013 year range with XLT extended passenger.
How about the four speed trans of the 5.4 (versus the five speed in the v10)? I'm not opposed to pulling the 4 speed out and swapping in the five speed while I'm doing the 4x4 conversion so the trans isn't a deal breaker (if that swap is even possible).
I'd buy a v10 but they're nearly impossible to find in the 2011-2013 year range with XLT extended passenger.
Found a home for that Cummins you're looking to unload, Chris: http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/119202-Diesel-4-door-Centurian-Bronco-3500, and the CL link: http://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto/4159424612.html (not mine, no affiliation, etc, etc).
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On an unrelated note ... I've been thinking a lot lately about the Nissan NV platform (I'm a Nissan guy at heart); have you done any looking at those?
1990 Centurian Turbo diesel 4 door bronco - $3500 (Pennsauken)
7.3 turbo diesel with the banks kit and trans controller. 208,000 miles. pw,pl,cruise,auto trans,hitch. New brake calipers,starter,alt,brakelines. Call 856-662-3991 and leave message. Calls only no emails no texts leave call back number please. 3500.00 obo or trade Needs some rust repair.
..........
On an unrelated note ... I've been thinking a lot lately about the Nissan NV platform (I'm a Nissan guy at heart); have you done any looking at those?
dcguillory
Adventurer
JUST PLAIN AWESOME!!
mgmetalworks
Explorer
If you pull up the Nissan parts catalog and look at the NV and the Titan side by side, they share a lot of the same suspension components. And, at least from what the parts catalog shows, 2WD and 4WD Titans share a lot of parts too. It looks as though the mechanical integration of a 4x4 system might not be that difficult as you could probably get quite a ways just by swapping over Titan parts.
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The real challenge is getting everything to work together from an electronics standpoint though. I haven't looked into to it too much but you're going to have to have some way to do some tweaking to the NV's control systems after everything is together. That isn't necessarily trivial if there isn't a lot of aftermarket support for Nissan engine and transmission controllers. It is totally feasible...Quigley has done it... it just might not be "easy" for a DIY'er. Maybe luck would shine down on the project and all of the controllers used in the Titan are the same as the NV??? (hahaha! it's never THAT easy!)
I'm an Xterra guy ('08), and the 'E-Ticket' upgrade for us (& the equivalent 2nd Gen Frontier guys) is to step up to the Titan front diff & suspension ... it's all bolt-in.
The Quigley NV conversion uses a single speed transfer case, so no low range (booo) ... I'd need to do some digging; but if the NV trans is the same as the other F-Alpha based vehicles (Xterra/Frontier/Pathfinder/Titan/Armada/QX56), then the only difference to get it 4x4 compatible is a tailhousing & tailshaft swap ... at that point Advance Adapters has an Atlas adapter plate to bolt on ... with the Atlas, the base vehicle doesn't need to care about the t-case. From there mount a front diff (be nice if the NV could bolt up the Titan m205, but that seems like wishful thinking), or chop off the IFS and go to SFA (JK axles - wheel sensors, really - can be made to talk to the Nissan electronics ... no Christmas-tree dash); but if it was that simple, I have to figure that's the way Quigley would have gone. I wonder what I'm missing ...
I keep threatening my wife that if we get to needing more vehicle than what we've got now (my '08 X, her '04 Pathfinder) I'll do something like this ... or start with a low mile 2wd V8 Pathfinder ... but I've got too many projects, and not enough space, as it is!
The Quigley NV conversion uses a single speed transfer case, so no low range (booo) ... I'd need to do some digging; but if the NV trans is the same as the other F-Alpha based vehicles (Xterra/Frontier/Pathfinder/Titan/Armada/QX56), then the only difference to get it 4x4 compatible is a tailhousing & tailshaft swap ... at that point Advance Adapters has an Atlas adapter plate to bolt on ... with the Atlas, the base vehicle doesn't need to care about the t-case. From there mount a front diff (be nice if the NV could bolt up the Titan m205, but that seems like wishful thinking), or chop off the IFS and go to SFA (JK axles - wheel sensors, really - can be made to talk to the Nissan electronics ... no Christmas-tree dash); but if it was that simple, I have to figure that's the way Quigley would have gone. I wonder what I'm missing ...
I keep threatening my wife that if we get to needing more vehicle than what we've got now (my '08 X, her '04 Pathfinder) I'll do something like this ... or start with a low mile 2wd V8 Pathfinder ... but I've got too many projects, and not enough space, as it is!
mgmetalworks
Explorer
I don't want to hijack Chris's thread with Nissan talk so I won't say much else other than I started looking into what it would take to do this conversion for a customer and it looked totally feasible without having to design/build a lot of custom parts. It wasn't cheap though...not if you bought everything new. If you got a salvaged Titan, it might not be so bad. But "not so bad" is a relative term and could mean different things to different people.
Indeed! Sorry to derail the thread, Chris ... I like what you've done for the E-Series; a Ujoint flavored Nissan would be cool, especially given my somewhat underwhelming reaction to the Quigley conversion (even if their blue one does look pretty darn good in the Moab pictures from their site).
ujoint
Supporting Sponsor
Droooooool. Centurion! A buddy of mine has one with a 7.3, pure awesomeness.
Well, I have a 5.4 in V5 and I like it. 6" lift, 35's, 4.88's and I've tried to keep the weight down. Is it a powerhouse? Nope. Does it do what I need it to do? Yep! As a DD family hauler its perfect. Quiet, reliable, easy & cheap to maintain and the entry price is lower as you know. For what you described it will work fine. Just don't plan to strap a big trailer to it and climb mountains!
No problemo. I haven't been under one of them so I have no info! Wouldn't mind though, we hardly see them around here. I'm assuming that they're rack & pinion?
Well, I have a 5.4 in V5 and I like it. 6" lift, 35's, 4.88's and I've tried to keep the weight down. Is it a powerhouse? Nope. Does it do what I need it to do? Yep! As a DD family hauler its perfect. Quiet, reliable, easy & cheap to maintain and the entry price is lower as you know. For what you described it will work fine. Just don't plan to strap a big trailer to it and climb mountains!
No problemo. I haven't been under one of them so I have no info! Wouldn't mind though, we hardly see them around here. I'm assuming that they're rack & pinion?