Some guy named Rondo with a Frontier just doed it.

Looks pretty cool. http://www.98txfrontier.homestead.com

He used a Dana 44 in the rear, and a 80s Wagoneer axle in the front I believe.

And for some reason it looks overly stiff up front...



Good job, but it looks like the spring rates could be tweaked.

Nifty! Can't wait for someone to do it to their X...

If you were to do a SAS up fron in the X, why would you replace the rear? Isn't the H233 a fairly solid axle?
John

It's a stout axle, but finding gearing can be a chore. The 4.636:1 ratio in Nissans isn't available in most domestic axles.

not to mention getting 4 wheels that match...

or carry 2 spares.

So now I ask... Is there a solid axle that would work with the H233B and gears?

Matching gears (or very close) from a D44 to a H233b

4.88/4.87 5.13/5.14 5.43/5.43??

Supposedely you can get a 5.43 ring set for the older pathies/HB out of Iceland but I don't know anybody that has em. Also I don't know if they are totally compatible with the newer H233B.

Rondo is using a 5.38 ring set which is actually a little stronger than the 5.13 set due to an extra tooth and design from what I've been told. Currently you can't get a 5.38 set for the H233b

Also, there are chevy six lug conversions for many of the Front axle D44's, which match up just fine for the Nissans other than thread pitch.

That wouldn't be a big problem, you can get new studs for less than $2 each.

Look for a pre 76 Bronco axle, the 76-77 have disc brakes which will cost you more...I have a 69 Bronco and it's nice to have a truck to look at and visualize the swap

OK Auto in Stewartsville, NJ just did a D44 front swap in a pathfinder, and a long arm kit....all custom work. The labor alone was 200 hours (at $60 per hour), not to mention the cost of the parts. Yes SAS is the way to go, but make sure you can afford the expense.

For me, I was considering the SAS...then I found an 85 4runner with 6" of lift and 35" tires (already solid axle up front from Toyota). The price was good, and the aftermarket is unlimited with toyota parts...not to mention the junkyards. However, I do still wheel the Xterra, but is has more or less been retired to a daily driver.

Jason

Fuck ! Talk about gouging.
5 solid 40 hour weeks ? 25 full days ?
They saw him coming.

It only takes 17 hours to assemble an entire Xterra, there is no way it took someone 200 hours to place an axle under the Xterra and weld some spring and arm mounts to the frame.

My friend is having a custom spring conversion done to his leaf spring CJ-7, and that's only taking 3 days. Edit Just checked and it's only 10 hours of labor.

From what I heard it did not take that long and they did not charge him for all the time or gave him a break on the rate. He is VERY happy though and as soon as I get some pictures I will get them posted. They also made a whole new set up for the rear to match the articulation up front.

It would but it's not worth putting a Dana 30 under your truck, the Bronco Dana 30's are a dime a dozen since everyone swaps to a Dana 44...these came on 71 and later Bronco's, the 76/77's came with discs but you can convert any of the axles to discs. Also look to see if you can get the radius arms as well, then you do what's call wristing the passenger side for a huge improvement in flex. Some info: http://www.lonestar-ebc.com/content/tech/fabrication/wristed_radius_arm/lee_n_wristed_arm.htm

http://www.wt4wheeling.com/tech/wristfront.htm

If you really want a Dana 30 you can have mine(just pick it up) from my 69 Bronco as I will be doing a Dana 44 or Dana 60 swap on it.

XOC,

not saying that they actually worked on it for the full 200 hours....but dont forget that they engineered the lift and long arms that went into the vehicle. (Front end utilizes coil over shocks.).....and FSR is correct. They did not charge him for all the hours and gave a break on the labor rate.

Review and pics should be up on their site shortly.

...as for the 17 hours to build an Xterra, I am sure that they aren't made by hand, and all are generally the same.

Well first of all your better off to do the swap your self other wise you'll end up paying about 20 Grand just to put an axle up front, it should only take a week todo if you put in some work everyday after work. THe cost for every thing you need to do it gears, coil buckets, axle etc shouldn't be any more then 2 grand and thats install by you and ready don't forget your gonna need a custom drive shaft also. Hope you guys don't mind a non x-terra owner here i was just checking your site and seen this post and had to help you out. DesertRAT notice you live in az maybe we can get together sometime and run Martinez or something. Almost forgot STAY AWAY FROM DANA 30's they are cheap axle the housing is know to bend and brake d44 will work fine up front but in the rear it would be better to put a ford 9 inch or something stronger then a d44.

We already have a 9.25" in the rear, but thanks for your advice.

I'll get right on it, ruining my $25,000 Xterra by doing a half assed $2000 axle swap on it.

Well i didn't mean to sound like a ass but $2000 isn't half assed its total do able and safe its done this way all the time for this much, if you got the cash to pay some one to do go for it! But as i see it most folks don't so thats why i made the post to help you guys out a bit. Also it doesn't look like the gears you guys have isn't close enough to stop binding with a swaped d44 in the front so thats why i said swap a 9 incher in there.

Maybe in 2015, when the Xterra is an old beater like your 1988 Montero, $2000 will be more reasonable, but until then... oh fuck it, there's no reasoning with people like you...

What's with the attitude Ian, this guy comes to give some advice on a swap which WAS NOT WRONG AT ALL except that is would not cost 20K to get a swap done professionally and you attack him?

Swapping the rear diff is something to consider as well, the gears alone are about $600 for the Nissan H233B and our lockers choices are well an ARB unless you are the real lucky few who have found out Nissan built their trucks with 31 spline axles and you can then install a Detroit.

Just because the guy doesn't drive a Nissan is not a reason to attack him, everyone who wheels can learn from what others have done and then adapt this info/design to work on their rig.