MT's dessert dragger, anyone know what they used for running gear?
225 views
6 replies
6 following
K
MT's dessert dragger, anyone know what they used for running gear?
shavedmax
+1y
i went through my old MT's to figure out if they kept the 4x4 trans and just unbolted the front diff, then put on the 2wd h body frame, or if they changed up the trans too. anyone know?
yourbabysdaddy
+1y
I think they swaped out the whole front frame clip with a 2wd. I didnt follow the whole build-up, but for some reason that part sticks out in my mind
low mazda
+1y
a desert runner is a 2wd truck, just set up on a 4wd frame, so they ddin't have to change anything but the front frame section.
SCINFERNL
+1y
Since I was the one who covered the whole buildup... I'd probably be the best person to answer this.
The front frame clip was swapped with a 2WD V-6 Hardbody front frame clip just in frotn of the A-pillars. This left the oil pan hanging down way too far, so we modified the newer Frontier oil pickup to work with a regular Hardbody V6 oil pan and then modified the windage tray in the Hardbody V6 oil pan to accept the modified oil pickup. Luckily, all of the bolt holes in the Hardbody V6 oil pan and the V6 Frontier engine are the SAME! Up until that point, we would have had to build a new oil pan if it hadn't been spot on.
And there you have it... As far as other modifications... Every crossmember in that truck from front to back had to be modified or removed and replaced to make the truck lay frame. Everything hangs down on the Desert Runners.
The front frame clip was swapped with a 2WD V-6 Hardbody front frame clip just in frotn of the A-pillars. This left the oil pan hanging down way too far, so we modified the newer Frontier oil pickup to work with a regular Hardbody V6 oil pan and then modified the windage tray in the Hardbody V6 oil pan to accept the modified oil pickup. Luckily, all of the bolt holes in the Hardbody V6 oil pan and the V6 Frontier engine are the SAME! Up until that point, we would have had to build a new oil pan if it hadn't been spot on.
And there you have it... As far as other modifications... Every crossmember in that truck from front to back had to be modified or removed and replaced to make the truck lay frame. Everything hangs down on the Desert Runners.
SCINFERNL
+1y
Also, an FYI - the stock rear end is too wide to lay with, so we also used a Hardbody V6 rear end for the buildup. The junkyard was beyond happy to have the front stock suspension and front clip, along with the supercharged V6 rear end we gave them in trade!
bdroppeddak
+1y
somehow i dont remember all that in the tech section.....
shavedmax
+1y
Originally posted by SCINFERNL
Since I was the one who covered the whole buildup... I'd probably be the best person to answer this.
The front frame clip was swapped with a 2WD V-6 Hardbody front frame clip just in frotn of the A-pillars. This left the oil pan hanging down way too far, so we modified the newer Frontier oil pickup to work with a regular Hardbody V6 oil pan and then modified the windage tray in the Hardbody V6 oil pan to accept the modified oil pickup. Luckily, all of the bolt holes in the Hardbody V6 oil pan and the V6 Frontier engine are the SAME! Up until that point, we would have had to build a new oil pan if it hadn't been spot on.
And there you have it... As far as other modifications... Every crossmember in that truck from front to back had to be modified or removed and replaced to make the truck lay frame. Everything hangs down on the Desert Runners.
wow, i never thought i would get the answer from the man....., the mith....... , the legend.........
my main concern had been if there had been a front diff or not to deal with. i didnt realize the dessert runners were actually 2wd, just assumed they were 4wd. they pictures and the tech article was actually great, i was planning on doing something similar, but with a 4x4, but it may be more than i bargain for and ill just look for a 2wd
Since I was the one who covered the whole buildup... I'd probably be the best person to answer this.
The front frame clip was swapped with a 2WD V-6 Hardbody front frame clip just in frotn of the A-pillars. This left the oil pan hanging down way too far, so we modified the newer Frontier oil pickup to work with a regular Hardbody V6 oil pan and then modified the windage tray in the Hardbody V6 oil pan to accept the modified oil pickup. Luckily, all of the bolt holes in the Hardbody V6 oil pan and the V6 Frontier engine are the SAME! Up until that point, we would have had to build a new oil pan if it hadn't been spot on.
And there you have it... As far as other modifications... Every crossmember in that truck from front to back had to be modified or removed and replaced to make the truck lay frame. Everything hangs down on the Desert Runners.
wow, i never thought i would get the answer from the man....., the mith....... , the legend.........
my main concern had been if there had been a front diff or not to deal with. i didnt realize the dessert runners were actually 2wd, just assumed they were 4wd. they pictures and the tech article was actually great, i was planning on doing something similar, but with a 4x4, but it may be more than i bargain for and ill just look for a 2wd