What are you doing to your rig - the continuing saga

Why not the 3.9L Mopar V6? The 97 SMPFI setup for them pulls around 175hp/225ftlbs, they are everywhere in the yards and come commonly mated to an AX15 or NV3550 depending on the year and whether you get it out of a dakota or a dodge 1500. Very, very common in stripper model dakotas and 1500s with the manual, just rip the whole setup out with the wiring and ECU and everything and call it a day. They come with 231D cases behind them but I'm 99% sure it's a 23 spline output shaft and you can simply bolt a 231J on if you wanted to for some reason, or a d300 if you wanted to go passenger drop.

I was at the yard today and saw four dakotas and three 1500s with either rot/trashed bodywork or accident damage, all 3.9L manual 4x4s. I don't think there's a more common donor out there except possibly 5.2/5.9 dakotas/durangos/rams... all with blown automatics :laugh3:
 
Are you talking about for the Willy's? Simply put the Chevy 4.3L V6 is retarded common, it came in Astro/Safari Vans, 1/2 ton trucks, S-10/Sonoma's, and then some. The 4.3L V6 came out in 1985 and was in use until 2003. It uses a GM small block bellhousing so the transmission possibilities are practically endless. I'd still prefer to keep the D18 too. Running the 4.3L V6 I could easily bolt a TH350 to it and then make the D18 to that, its probably about the most compact setup I can do with an automatic. I could also just keep the T90 manual or go to a wide range of 4spd manuals if I wanted to keep the third pedal. There is also a ton of support for them in regards to power upgrades. Pistons, cam bearing, crank bearings, etc are all shared with the 350 SB V8.
 
Had to go go gadget hands and reach through the engine compartment to pop the hood on the XJ. The rivets that hold the pivot on the hood release broke on the XJ. A little drilling and 2 self tapers later and she's all fixed.
 
Dutch. From what I remember from my.friends that modified trucks like that....the Nissan trucks always left the toys (05+ model years) both in the pre runner aspect and the 4x4 area.
 
left? You mean lead?

If I were to do a Toyota it would be the first gen Tacoma, so 2001 - 2004 with the 4dr cab. Its purely a styling preferance though.

The 2005+ Frontier is most likely what I'm going with. The ability to bolt in the Titan front axle and control arms to get 13" of wheel travel and a stronger front end is very appealing to me. The 4.0L V6 is reputed to be a very god engine and I know my neighbor's 4.0L Xterra has been very good to him. I also like the little extras on the Nissan, integrated tie down rails in the bed for an insane amount of tie down options, integrated faxctory roof rack, and the ability to get a 6ft bed. The 5spd automatic allows you tyo lock it into 1st, 2nd, or 3rd gear so no worried about an aftermarket shift controller. Factory front and rear disc brakes with the fronts being close to 12" in diameter. If I specifically go with a 2008 I can keep the older style headlights (no fiberglass fender options for the newer ones yet) but still get the factory bluetooth and aux inputs on my radio. Features I would have never cared about until we got the wife's new car and I realised how awesome that stuff is.

Besides, finish it off with a bumper and this thing is just plain sick looking:

fwx_09frontier_fenders_01.jpg
 
one of my buddies has a 08 Nismo, and likes it alot. plenty of power, solidly built. I saw one in moab with a D44 solid axle swap on coilovers that was pretty slick, but I haven't been able to talk him into doing it.
 
No i meant left. as in going.fast through the desert the toy can't hang with the Nissan. Im trying.to find the pics of my buddy jumping the crap out of his 06 fronty. never had any issues. they take a good beating. some of the seats from 05-07 the edges wear super fast but that's only real complaint. titan swap is cake too. just a matter of finding the donor.
 
Yeah, I've been reading a ton on these and I'm very much at a point where the D40 Series Frontier is my top choise for what I'm wanting. While aftermarket is limited, everything that I want is there and of good quality. The trucks are very solidly built with a lot of great features. The only real downside is that they have a rather odd bolt pattern and thus wheels are hard to come by. I'm not wanting beadlocks anyways though so its not really an issue. Just some plain jane steel or aluminum wheels will do me just fine.

A SAS would be sweet, but I've been wanting a pre-runner type rig for as long as I can remember. That was my original goal with my first car, a beatdown 2.8L V6 powered '84 S-10. I was also intending to do the same to my 2000 Silverado I had but wound up getting rid of that truck to get a failed attempt at a diesel tow/support rig. It looks like I'll finally be getting into that realm.

It really is a shame that Jeep has never been able to get into the 4dr truck market.
 
Id love a built fronty. plus im pretty sure they make more power than my dodge lol. we got about 20mpg in the xterra with 285's. and it.still had plenty of balls.
 
Yeah, it should be a sweet rig and fit my needs perfectly. I can't even fit my guns in the back of the XJ without folding down the back seat.

I'll probably have to get me a 2wd MJ as a daily beater and parts runner. I've wanted an MJ for a long time too, so it'll work out great for that. The S4 can then be more of a weekend fun car like it should be. After the K04's go on there really isn't much point to daily driving a nearly 500HP AWD car.
 
What's the 6BT going into? The Chebby Dually?
 
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