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GQ to GU diff swap Question

Tech Talk for Nissan owners.

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GQ to GU diff swap Question

Post by Screwy »

Just looking to do this conversion for width and strength reasons....

I have found a ZD30 GU wagon 2002 and the bloke wants $1500 for the complete front and rear diffs so i was thinking about spending the dollars....

My question is, ive got TD42 SWB 1993 model and wondering if the ZD30 diffs in the GU wagon are the same centres as the front and rear GU centres?
I.E. will my centres bolt straight into ZD30 GU diffs and the axles etc all slide in same splines etc....

I ask as ive heard that some GU models have different sized rear centres...?

Secondly,

those who have done this or know of tech in doing the swap, do the front and rear diffs literally just bolt exactly straight in front and rear with no mods what so ever?
As in are the link mounts and panhard mounts etc all in the exact same spot?

Im thinking i may need to run a longer panhard rod and draglink on the front and longer panhard rear?
If this is the case, are the GQ and GU panhard and draglink bushes and ball joints the same size for the conversion or do i need to make something with GQ balljoint at the steerbox and gu at the Diff end etc etc??

cheers

Screwy
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Re: GQ to GU diff swap Question

Post by turbo gu »

It is a 100% bolt in fit!!

Have done it on a mates GQ. Only differences are the front steering arm. You need a GQ end at the steering box and GU on at the diff.

You might also have to put a GU rear panhard on as they mostly have a bend around the pumpkin. there is no difference in GQ to GU panhards. GQ panhards might rub the back of the housing/brake valve bracket.

The steering arm only needs to be 20mm longer.

The centres are a straight bolt in. Some front lockers need a thrust block removed to run in GU's.

The only difference in size is the h260 rear diff which is only in a few cars anyway
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Re: GQ to GU diff swap Question

Post by Screwy »

ok so im wondering if the ZD30 GU wagons had the standard rear diff or not?

so even the panhards are the same and its only the draglink i need to sort a new one.....

Front GQ arb Airlocker, will it bolt in a GU front?

cheers
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Re: GQ to GU diff swap Question

Post by niss50 »

The locker will bolt in not a prob, the zd30 have the small rear diff.
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Re: GQ to GU diff swap Question

Post by Screwy »

Kewl sounds like a goer then...

Is $1500 a good price for a pair of GU ZD30 wagon diffs i wonder? They dont have any arms etc on them and the rear has no centre....

screwy
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Re: GQ to GU diff swap Question

Post by micka1 »

Turbo gu is correct in what he says ,from memory you gain about 40mm track . it is a direct bolt in job , bar the end on the front steer arm at the steer box end .. what brand steering arm did you have on the shorty anyway ?

as for price i paid 1600 a few years back for front and rear with arms and 3 inch spacers . dunno what their worth nowadays tho .

I have pics and all the info i'm pretty sure in my old GQ build up in members if you search

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Re: GQ to GU diff swap Question

Post by 5inchgq »

Screwy wrote:Is $1500 a good price for a pair of GU ZD30 wagon diffs i wonder? They dont have any arms etc on them and the rear has no centre....

screwy
I paid $2300 for a pair from a specialist patrol wrecker but I got the privelige (sp?) of choosing what ratios I wanted. But I could have paid $1000 and gave them my GQ diffs but I'm keeping them for another project.
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Re: GQ to GU diff swap Question

Post by Screwy »

micka1 wrote:Turbo gu is correct in what he says ,from memory you gain about 40mm track . it is a direct bolt in job , bar the end on the front steer arm at the steer box end .. what brand steering arm did you have on the shorty anyway ?

as for price i paid 1600 a few years back for front and rear with arms and 3 inch spacers . dunno what their worth nowadays tho .

I have pics and all the info i'm pretty sure in my old GQ build up in members if you search

micka1
I have a snake racing tie rod and drag link in it..... I assume i have to use the stock GU tie rod if i do the conversion? Which is fine as my tie rod is bent but isnt bending any further due to it being bent up and into the centre lol.....
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Re: GQ to GU diff swap Question

Post by micka1 »

Screwy wrote:
micka1 wrote:Turbo gu is correct in what he says ,from memory you gain about 40mm track . it is a direct bolt in job , bar the end on the front steer arm at the steer box end .. what brand steering arm did you have on the shorty anyway ?

as for price i paid 1600 a few years back for front and rear with arms and 3 inch spacers . dunno what their worth nowadays tho .

I have pics and all the info i'm pretty sure in my old GQ build up in members if you search

micka1
I have a snake racing tie rod and drag link in it..... I assume i have to use the stock GU tie rod if i do the conversion? Which is fine as my tie rod is bent but isnt bending any further due to it being bent up and into the centre lol.....
snake racing actually do a steering arm from gq steer to gu diff specifically for that conversion see below , so maybe you can just put an end on your arm - tho you said its bent so may need another option / new arm .

http://72.34.32.141/~snakerac/product_i ... 01e51f0248" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: GQ to GU diff swap Question

Post by Screwy »

micka1 wrote:
Screwy wrote:
micka1 wrote:Turbo gu is correct in what he says ,from memory you gain about 40mm track . it is a direct bolt in job , bar the end on the front steer arm at the steer box end .. what brand steering arm did you have on the shorty anyway ?

as for price i paid 1600 a few years back for front and rear with arms and 3 inch spacers . dunno what their worth nowadays tho .

I have pics and all the info i'm pretty sure in my old GQ build up in members if you search

micka1
I have a snake racing tie rod and drag link in it..... I assume i have to use the stock GU tie rod if i do the conversion? Which is fine as my tie rod is bent but isnt bending any further due to it being bent up and into the centre lol.....
snake racing actually do a steering arm from gq steer to gu diff specifically for that conversion see below , so maybe you can just put an end on your arm - tho you said its bent so may need another option / new arm .

http://72.34.32.141/~snakerac/product_i ... 01e51f0248" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Only my Tie rod is bent.....

Draglink is fine.

Ill need the GU Tie rod due to width, wont be able to use my GQ tie rod which is bent so doesnt matter....

might buy a GU snake tie rod and a GQ to GU draglink from them....

screwy
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Re: GQ to GU diff swap Question

Post by Screwy »

Out of curiousity whilst on the subject, does a GU steering box bolt straight in to the GQ chassis and GQ power steer hoses etc without modification?
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Re: GQ to GU diff swap Question

Post by broken80 »

GU box is a straight bolt on replacement all the hoses and mounts are the same.

The GU box is a little taller but dosn't hit anything, I had to modify my intercooler hose to refit it.
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Re: GQ to GU diff swap Question

Post by Screwy »

Are the ZD30 GU steer boxes the same as all other models of steer box?

cheers
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Re: GQ to GU diff swap Question

Post by micka1 »

GU steer boxes are all the same , i think i paid about 200 for mine when i bought it .
Yeah means you could just run a new draglink with gu ends on both sides .

Yeah i mis read tie rod would have to be gu obviously .
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Re: GQ to GU diff swap Question

Post by thehanko »

5inchgq wrote:
Screwy wrote:Is $1500 a good price for a pair of GU ZD30 wagon diffs i wonder? They dont have any arms etc on them and the rear has no centre....

screwy
I paid $2300 for a pair from a specialist patrol wrecker but I got the privelige (sp?) of choosing what ratios I wanted. But I could have paid $1000 and gave them my GQ diffs but I'm keeping them for another project.
When I was looking at Gu diff sets, the going rate seemed to be $2000 for a complete pair, so $1500 minus the rear center seems about right.
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Re: GQ to GU diff swap Question

Post by bigbluemav »

niss50 wrote:The locker will bolt in not a prob, the zd30 have the small rear diff.
Aaah NO. I've got a 2001 manual and it has the H260 rear diff. Apparently alot of the ZD30 and TB45E manuals have the H260 whereas the auto's have the H233.

Not sure about the auto's (only what I've read on here and other forums and my own obs in car yards, car parks etc) as I've only ever owned 1 GU, but I can assure you, it has the H260.

It's not like it's difficult to tell the difference!!
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