Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hey guys i was wondering how hard it is to ute a 79 rangie, i want to chop the back off ute it and stick in a nissan 4.2 engine and box, then convert it to part time 4 and raise it 4 inch suspension and 2 inch body..

i have alot of dreams, any suggestions on where to get this shit from and how hard it will be to do it myself.. and last of all how much will the chop be and where can i get it done

why

just buy a GQ 4.2 nissan ute and mod that

HSV Rangie wrote:why

Sounds like a nissan to me so why stuff a rangie

yeah i agree

why stuff around just get a nissan wagon and chop it into a ute

or get a shorty and extented the wheel base if u want a rangie 100" wheel base


but if u want to more info on how to chop call rangie automotive

9739 6989

they have done heaps of chops

I went through this with my last Rangie

Chev Auto and Nissan Running gear. Sold the lot and am estatic with my Datsun now.

I dont see the point of the nissan motor in a rangie?????

exactly
ifit would fit

And if you are after putting the TD42 in it. Try the Izuzu 4bd1 (or somthing like that). As this has been done so you know it will fit. Dont really see the need to not have constant 4x4.

id love to keep the rangie motor but it chews too much petrol and for a daily driver(50-100km a day) it just isnt efficient, and then theres the whole buy a nissan... a rangie can be bopught running for 2 grand to get the same from a GQ there is like massive costs...

besides i like rangies.. they are different if u tray bacvk ute em' instead of gettin a GQ (YAWN)

the isuzu motor sounds good..i forgot about the old isuzu motors.

chunderlicious wrote:id love to keep the rangie motor but it chews too much petrol and for a daily driver(50-100km a day) it just isnt efficient.

Put it on gas.
I get 20L/100K on gas in my 79 4.4.
Very economical, and I do 80Km a day.

Do the ute conversion and put it on duel fuel have best of all worlds.

You wont conversion nightmares no engineering issues all so easy.

Michael.

chunderlicious wrote:id love to keep the rangie motor but it chews too much petrol and for a daily driver(50-100km a day) it just isnt efficient, and then theres the whole buy a nissan... a rangie can be bopught running for 2 grand to get the same from a GQ there is like massive costs...

besides i like rangies.. they are different if u tray bacvk ute em' instead of gettin a GQ (YAWN)

the isuzu motor sounds good..i forgot about the old isuzu motors.

Spend $4500 and get the Nissan then??? Check for Sale section.

Total cost will be equivelant to buying 5 rangies anyway???

me thinketh you have not thought.

hes thought about it alot really..

rangie ute...how many do u now? compare that to toyo or pootrol
he wants a TD.... dunno what type but yeh

its something differnt i reckon. and the price variance between
the two models allows spare dosh for future mods. i think kinda

I've done a Rangie ute conversion (damn I wish I knew how to post bloody pics here so I could show you/brag) ... they look horn but I have to agree with some of the other advice re the engine transplant ... the Nissan diesels are a great motor but by the time you hot one up (and you will need it to be at least turboed if you want any go at all) it will cost you a bomb and they use heaps of fuel ... just ask anyone who has got one going well ... power is not free dude. So keep the std motor and go the LPG route and save the bucks for other bits ... you can buy a 2nd hand LPG setup for a couple of hundred bucks (hey I think I've still got one in the shed) usually plus a couple hundred more for fitting and away you go .. cheap motoring .. what about the other advantages? retain glorious small V8 sound .... replacement motors cheap as shit ... can buy excellent ones for well under $1000 (diesel injector pump will cost you twice that), no hassles with mod plates etc, no conversion hassles (and believe me .. all conversions create hassles for a while until they are finally fully sorted .. remember there were many engineers designing the original product ... how long do you think it will take you to do as good a job as they???)

Anyway, back to the ute conversion .... I cut my 2 door just behind the "B" pillar, straight across the roof ... left 20 mm extra just to be sure then recut later .... Welded a 25 x 75 flat bar between the b pillar below the hip line, had a piece of 2 mm gal pressed up in a "z" shape to screw to the flat and then to the floor ... had a few creases folded in for extra strength ... then modified the rear tailgate upper frame to suit the bit above the 25 x 75 flat pipe ... a bit of clever engineering required here to fit the whole thing but it can be done ... then had some pieces hade up to wrap around the upper sides (similar to factory rear pillar covers) and then off to the Enginieers .. passed first time .. easy. Of course you don't have to retain an opening rear window and it would then be easier to get another panel pressed up and fit a window from something else (eg Cruiser ute or something like that)

Well it was probably a bit harder than that but it was pretty easy. Just one tip, if you do retain the opening rear tailgate as i did, ensure the glass is on a sufficient enough angle/slope (ie not vertical) otherwise at night it acts like a bloody mirror .. reflecting oncoming cars lights and making you thing you are being rear ended all the bloody time .. lol (see those damned engineers do know their stuff better than us backyarders)

Send me your email address and I will send some pics.

Cheers
Simo

Simo63 wrote:
Send me your email address and I will send some pics.

Cheers
Simo

Pics to me too please Simo

andrew@digitalfish.com.au

Fightara .. photos sent.

Hey simo can u send me the pics too!

steve_crawf@hotmail.com

Cheers

Could i have pics too please, or could someone host them for him?
will pm my email.
Rangie utes are HORN
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Simo63 wrote:Fightara .. photos sent.

Thanks Simo! Looks

Hi..

Pics now hosted at
http://timbot.org/photos/misc/range_ute/

It looks very nice.



Tim