4x4 conversion questions

[bdbseven]

Does anyone have any info on the 4x4 conversions they did in the 70's?

Things like what kind of kits/parts they used. Transfer cases, rear ends etc.

Also my steering box is shot,any ideas?

[datzenmike]

What's wrong with the steering? Too sloppy?

 

Take a good look at the tie rod end ball joints a well as the idler arm and steering Pittman arm ball joints. It only takes a small amount of play to be multiplied 19.8 times by the steering box ratio to show up as a huge amount of steering wheel slop. Be sure that all the steering components are in good shape first including the correct front wheel bearing play. All this will affect the slop in the wheel.

 

If the box itself is worn, some of the play can be adjusted out, but not all. Adjusting the box is a waste of time if the ball joints are worn.

[bdbseven]

Thanks Mike!

[lynchfourtwenty]

i was told they used alot of jeep parts, it was hear say tho, dont know if that helps but its what i've been told.

[datsunaholic]

The conversion almost exclusively used Dana 30 front ends and Dana 20 transfer cases. The Front end was modified to use the Datsun front brakes by use of a special hub and bracket for the calipers or modifying the stock backing plate for drums depending on year (I have both kinds). The T-case had an adapter that bolted onto the input to turn a D20, which was normally a married T-case, into a divorced T-case. The T-case itself was mounted with brackets welded and bolted to the frame, every converter did it a little different. Custom driveshafts were made for front and back, though the back SOMETIMES was simply a modified stock one.

 

The rear axle was kept stock, but the spring perches were moved to the to of the axle and the axle housing remounted to gain lift. The problem was the rear axle was kept in it's stock gear ratio in most cases... 4.38:1, and there isn't a 4.38:1 Dana 30. The Dana 30 used was almost always a 4.10:1. In fact the only ratio that Dana and Datsun had in common was 4.88:1, which was relatively rare as it was used in the J13-powered 520/521 from 66-69, and some '73 620s. The ratio mismatch makes the T-case bind up on pavement.

 

I've also seen conversions that used Toyota axles, but they were done well after the fact.

 

4X4 converters either made the parts themselves or bought all or some of the parts from LOW Engineering, but the conversion parts have been out of production for almost 30 years. You won't find any. The only way to make a conversion now is to have a donor vehicle to get the parts from.