derjack
Adventurer
I know it is always is compromise but I am actually trying to check out of what a Chevrolet G30 4x4 (e.g. Pathfinder) is capable of- off the road of course?
I´ve seen what Ford´s E350 are like (Quigley and Ujoint and Conversins with a F350 Coil Frontend)- but this is not my topic here.
Why this?
What I am looking for is a 4x4 van with an (at least possible) Diesel engine (to drive to north Africa/Sahara without fuel issues). It is not mandatory to build a rock crawler but it should have enough suspension travel and clearance for min. 35". Enough room for a double bed, 100l water. My actual rig is very cool but tooo slow (for me) with 3ton weight vs. 100HP :Wow1:
Chevy G Series is a uni-body construction, what makes the rig (in 5,2m length, V8 Gas Engine) roughly 700kg lighter than an E350, which is good! I found a G30 is around 2300-2500kg, more or less empty. But this means it could be weaker also.
A G30 has 6 or seven body-crossmembers that should give enough strength to the body off-road. Although it seems these are not fully welded on but just pointed- right?
I find it very hard to source real technical information about the different models- like brakes or axles. Haven`t these changed through the 80´s until 1996?
- G30 is with a solid front axle if I am right? Which one, have these changed? Chevy went from Dana to OEM right?
- Are GM axles interchangeable with Danas and if- which ones?
- Are GM axles coming from GM trucks and which years/models from?
- Are knuckles interchangeable with e.g. Fords including brakes? There are kingpin and ball joint ones. Ford, Chevy and Dana went on different variants depending on year according to 4x4 pirates article (Dana 60).
- Can a Dana 44 be changed to 60 or is a 60 wider?
- Comments on transfer cases? These are NPxx if I am right. Are there preferred ones?
- Tranny: TH400 is common, is it interchangeable to TH700, due to 4 gears? + a 6.2 with a banks has probably too much torque for the TH350/400.
- Additional tanks for gas and water: There is not much room below the Van if I want to keep clearance. What is standard size and what is possible, maybe OEM?
What conversions are known besides Pathfinder? Any good ideas for upgrades?
I´ve seen what Ford´s E350 are like (Quigley and Ujoint and Conversins with a F350 Coil Frontend)- but this is not my topic here.
Why this?
What I am looking for is a 4x4 van with an (at least possible) Diesel engine (to drive to north Africa/Sahara without fuel issues). It is not mandatory to build a rock crawler but it should have enough suspension travel and clearance for min. 35". Enough room for a double bed, 100l water. My actual rig is very cool but tooo slow (for me) with 3ton weight vs. 100HP :Wow1:
Chevy G Series is a uni-body construction, what makes the rig (in 5,2m length, V8 Gas Engine) roughly 700kg lighter than an E350, which is good! I found a G30 is around 2300-2500kg, more or less empty. But this means it could be weaker also.
A G30 has 6 or seven body-crossmembers that should give enough strength to the body off-road. Although it seems these are not fully welded on but just pointed- right?
I find it very hard to source real technical information about the different models- like brakes or axles. Haven`t these changed through the 80´s until 1996?
- G30 is with a solid front axle if I am right? Which one, have these changed? Chevy went from Dana to OEM right?
- Are GM axles interchangeable with Danas and if- which ones?
- Are GM axles coming from GM trucks and which years/models from?
- Are knuckles interchangeable with e.g. Fords including brakes? There are kingpin and ball joint ones. Ford, Chevy and Dana went on different variants depending on year according to 4x4 pirates article (Dana 60).
- Can a Dana 44 be changed to 60 or is a 60 wider?
- Comments on transfer cases? These are NPxx if I am right. Are there preferred ones?
- Tranny: TH400 is common, is it interchangeable to TH700, due to 4 gears? + a 6.2 with a banks has probably too much torque for the TH350/400.
- Additional tanks for gas and water: There is not much room below the Van if I want to keep clearance. What is standard size and what is possible, maybe OEM?
What conversions are known besides Pathfinder? Any good ideas for upgrades?
