Front bumper w/ winch cradle

[fexlboi]

Nice bumper! First it would be good idea to figure out a way to cut off the front corner as good as possible to get a better approach angle.

[jrman]

That bumper is very similar to what I've been working on.....slowly!
My front valance (sp?) is damaged so figured I'd get rid of it altogether as this rig has also.
My struggling has been fine tuning between function & aesthetics - particularly filling the gap from the front of the door to where the valance starts - that plastic pc on each side has to go, but the trick is figuring out what and how to replace it while also integrating into the bumper.....been dabbling with this for over a year now - back to the drawing board once....will post when completed.

[Mr. Flibble]

On that note, there's a few courses that you can pick up locally. I plan on doing that when I have some free time.

Free time.. maybe in a few years.

Where have you seen 4X4 Courses? I know of the racing schools near Vancouver, but not the 4X4 courses!

[ShaneA]

and I would dump the cable in favor of synthetic line.

I'd have to agree with Jesse on this one. Synthetic lines have made huge advances in the past 10-15 years, and a lot of that has been in the development of high tech racing yachts. My Dad's last racing boat had all synthetic rigging (keeping the mast standing up). This is on a boat that would get constant 5,000 - 15,000lbs of force on the mast depending on wind conditions.

The great thing about synthetics is you can get the specific qualities you want. Some have almost no stretch and others have more stretch (and yes, cable does stretch over time).

Another pro that Jesse didn't say: you can cut most synthetics with a sharp knife in an emergency if needed.

Con: it's harder to predict when it is finally going to fail. Cable will stretch and usually start to fray before failure. Synthetic line tends to just snap when it finally goes.

Shane

[jessef]

reviving a 2 1/2 year old thread.

Good idea's from the guys over the pond at modcuk and delicaclub.

[Big-Bird]

With a pending 2012 Starwagon purchase I have been looking at winch bumpers and the choices are for lack of a better word......just plain lacking! I had a custom winch bumper built for my Xterra by a fellow in Rimbey, Alberta. He used 5/16 thick 6061 plate aluminum and I have been impressed with this unit since day one. This is what he built for me. I had the 'wings' profiled up a fair amount to increase the approach angle. The coating is a color matched polyeurethane specifically made for aluminum. Its not your typical bed liner product. Total weight of this beast (minus the 9500 Ramsey Patriot) is 90 pounds. I am quite sure the weight can be trimmed down to 60-70 pounds for a Delica.



I am going to send him a line drawing of a StarWagon and see what he can come up with. But if anyone is interested in looking for themselves what he can do just head to BANDITBAR(dot)COM.

[pajerry]

Nice Xterra! What front axles are you guys swapping in? Do you have to swap the whole driveline? I know nothing of xterra.

[Big-Bird]

The Xterra Solid Axle Swap(SAS) generally uses a Dana 44 commonly found in Jeep Grand Wagoneers from the late 70's and early 80's.

The reasons are as follows:

1) Drivers side pumpkin housing.
2) 6 bolt rim config is the same as the Xterra and Frontier.
3) Gear ratios for the Nissan H233B rear differential are very similar to those avaiable for the Dana, bigger tires demand taller gears.
4) Track width of the Dana is very close to the stock Nissan track width.
5) SAS kits which are available for Nissans are built to use a Dana.


An SAS conversion on a Nissan Xterra is not a cheap project by any means but does it ever give your 4x4 an edge on the trail. What you see in the above image is a full 6-7" taller than stock height. Its also fully locked in the front end using a Grizzly Locker from Randy's Ring and Pinion in Seattle, WA. They did the gear swap and bumped the Xterra from a 4.636 gear ratio to a 4.875. Probably could have gone to a 5.135 but the larger Nissan gears are not cheap. (about $800.00 per set when you go over the 4.875 ratio).

If anyone is considering doing an SAS conversion on their Starwagon I would recommend using a Birfield differential found in many 80's Toyota 4-Runners and SR5 trucks and Suzuki Samari's/Geo Trackers. You could go custom but that would run a couple grand just for the differential itself.

[Big-Bird]

He replied the next day and said yes he is interested in the Delica project. When the time comes I'll bring the L300 to his shop and in about 2 weeks I will have a finished product. Stephen doesn't build cheap thin wall stuff so his bumpers do cost more than an ARB or TJM unit. His designs are built to take the impact of deer/moose at highway speeds because most of his clients live and work in remote locations. I have build photos from my bumper if anyone wants me to post them up....