MQ Mud Truck

[djmMQ]

Hi all,
I am building a MQ Nissan Patrol mud truck!
My missus & I aswell as a few mates head out every Sunday (atleast) to our local mud holes and slush pits to see how much trouble we can get ourselves into and out of!
We usually take out our daily driver MQ but in trying to keep it in half decent condition, the new 'mud truck' has been born.
This is the seccond attempt so far, after starting on the original truck it didnt take long to realise she was in bad shape.
There was so much rust in the body that i could lift the body from the chassis a good couple of inches (and that was on the good side), luckily a mate donated his spare MQ to me and were back in business.

So far IVe gotten stuck into the body work with a hole saw cutter and angle grinder, cutting out the wheel arches to fit the 33" Geolanders and removing ALL dead weight. Gutted the interior, which will house my two light weight race bucket seats from my old dirt circuit car with two 4 point harnesses.
The engine bay has been cut to fit a mid mount Rover V8 with a crysler centura 4 speen single rail gearbox. (Yeah yeah i know- Rover V8, but its light weight!)
Ive moved my transfur case back 425mm. As it is a floating transfur, ive had to mix and match some tailshafts to suit, out of another MQ Patrol with a fixed transfur - i robbed the front tailshaft which has now become the rear, the rear tailshaft out of the same Nissan has become the front.
The diffs have CIG lockers, Rancho shockies & 2'' springs.
The radiator will be moved to the rear of the truck so that the engine bay can be fully enclosed from the water and ive made up a fuel cell to fit the back aswell.

If anyone is interested ide be happy to post some pics as progress continues-
All in all it will be a good truck once its done
Cheers,
Damien & Gem

[351ciofgrunt]

Sounds good, just a query though, how will you steer in the mud with a permanently locked front diff? I would have just locked the rear and kept the front open.

Or are you planning on unlocking one front hub for some 3 wheel drive action.

[djmMQ]

A fue people have told me about the pros & cons of a welded front diff im keen as to give it a go the truck gets driven in the mud only if its to much of a bitch to steer ill put in a new diff

[V8Patrol]

You'll need "ARM-strong" steering aswell as pwr steering if you weld the front diff.
I did it to a spare diff I had a few years back, even with pwr steering it was near imposiable to turn in low range, not as bad in high range with some speed involved ( 40+kph).
As sugested, you could just lock in one hub only on the front axle for turning..... 3WD



A welded front diff is awsome but only in a straight line unless you have thighs for biceps


I'd suggest a lockrite or similar setup would be perferred over the welded diff......


Kingy

[WICKED]

You'll need "ARM-strong" steering aswell as pwr steering if you weld the front diff.
I did it to a spare diff I had a few years back, even with pwr steering it was near imposiable to turn in low range, not as bad in high range with some speed involved ( 40+kph).
As sugested, you could just lock in one hub only on the front axle for turning..... 3WD



A welded front diff is awsome but only in a straight line unless you have thighs for biceps


I'd suggest a lockrite or similar setup would be perferred over the welded diff......


Kingy

My MQ with 37's, Standard power steering was fine, Better with High Flowed Pump BUT Hydro-Assist is Better again.
My 40 had 37 bogger's, 60's power steering and Detriot Front was fine too steer.

Power Steering, 33's and a welded front should be fine I'd think.

[djmMQ]

Heres a few progress pics so far:

[djmMQ]

You'll need "ARM-strong" steering aswell as pwr steering if you weld the front diff.
I did it to a spare diff I had a few years back, even with pwr steering it was near imposiable to turn in low range, not as bad in high range with some speed involved ( 40+kph).
As sugested, you could just lock in one hub only on the front axle for turning..... 3WD



A welded front diff is awsome but only in a straight line unless you have thighs for biceps


I'd suggest a lockrite or similar setup would be perferred over the welded diff......


Kingy

I gave some thought to what you said and it prompted me to do abit of research....... and weve decided to run an open front diff.
we'll see how it goes!