Are you talking about some sort of sun roof opening? I seen that there was something on the top in your pictures you posted today. I've never seen a Patrol with a sunroof opening. Anybody else?

 Keith

I just snapped some pictures of the hatch... now that you mention it, it does look a bit not stock... Now... what should I do about it?

that is definately not stock.....it is also the only Patrol I seen with a "sun" roof. Your rear view mirror is also not stock but your sunvisors look like original equiptment. What to do...?? I would find a new top or get a welder to patch yours

Bigbadjohn:-I'd agree with fud and evryone else that the sunroof is not stock, and will probably leak unless you silicone the heck out of it. Personnally, I wouldnt worry about it until you have all of the mechanical problems ironned out, there are alot of spare tops out there or patching it would be fairly easy. Youre patrol needs work, but does have some really good things going for it, I noticed that it appears to have the original square turn signal lens(very hard to find) and one of the original fender mounted rear view mirrors. I've never seen one, (if it is original) but they are notorious for damaging the fender and creating a large rust hole on the top of the fender. Good luck and keep us posted

an isuzu p'up rearend? muy interasado! Let us know how the installation goes! It may or may not hold up longterm to the torque of the nissan p-40, but if it goes in relatively easy and holds up it may be another alternative for us patrollers, as out of the 20 or so patrols i've seen at least 8 of them died an early death when the rear end went out and parts were expensive or unavailable. Another thing you'll want to be sure that your water pump is lubed(should have a greasable fitting) as i've burned up two when i started them without thoroughly lubing a Patrol that sat.  good luck-duane

Im having new perches welded on as we speak. The guy, who is a good wheelin buddy, is supposed to call me as soon as he either gets them welded on in the stock SUA configuration, or is forced to weld it in the SOA configuration. Has anybody done SOA on one of these rigs?

SOA! ahh hahaa I am also in the planning stage of this seemingly 'simple' task

 

I've just been in touch with a diff reconditioner and he's suggested an alloy ford 9" centre with 4.11s and a custom housing...

they can do it two ways, weld in the std nissan tubes and use modded nissan axles, or go for a fully manufactured 9" housing with floating axles.

 the reason they weld in the nissan tubes is so they can rotate the centre to reduce pinion angle on the rear uni. neat and professional. Great, except you have to do it the 'legal' way and buy the raised springs, dropshackles etc and not actually do the SOA (it's illegal in some states here) benefit is great articulation in off-road instances, but on the road it's a wallowing nightmare, thanks to the shackles. Problem? yes, it defeats the purpose of an SOA, especially in the $ department.

 

The Ford 9" is plentiful, cheap and simple. The hituff axles aren't. Floating hubs aren't either, but in the long term, costs aren't a problem. it will save you at least 2 standard diff rebuilds... Custom fabricated housings are easy, making the SOA cheap and very customizable. Rotate that diff and reduce the pinion angle, extra shock mounts, add a panhard rod or watts linkage or trailing arm mounts... it's all easy to do at once, even if you don't plan on it just now, a few extra welds on a housing is cheap now. Locker diffs, LSD's open wheelers... you name it the 9" has it in plentiful and therefore cheap supply. Stud pattern and offset, axle length, disc or drum... it's all possible to do quite cheaply, using parts from other vehicles you can source at a wrecker. Disc brakes are a good cheap mod, and I did one for an MQ using late model Chev bits, but the owner wanted a chevy stud pattern,for his new mag wheels, so it was a simple conversion. Chevy suburban's are ideal donors. 4 calipers, stubaxles and rotors 100 bux all up. Once we had  a stubaxle, it was wasy to find a match for the floating hub to get the correct stubaxle and wheel bolt pattern. Then the diff dude went to town, 31 spline axles, LSD centres with 4.11s and discs all around. 2 complete axles (front and rear) for 2800 aussie dollars. and it makes a huge difference to the handling!

 

 

 I've been in one thats had the conversion and a 4" lift. and it really handles well too (yes I thought I was going to fall out when we took a right angle corner at 45 miles an hour, but we went round with a bit of body roll and tyre-squealing) Either way its a pretty serious foundation for all your patrol's surefootedness. Do it right and it's going to make a huge difference in the overall ride and articulation!

 

I didn't quite have a heart attack when i hit a ballpark figure for a G60..., but I was planning to run 35x16 Baja Claws which necessitate the conversion... So much so, that because it's too cost prohibitive (compared with original plan), I've decided to go all out and go for 37" tyres, the cost difference is naf all, so get the diff centre rotated, the new perches and look for an alloy 9" centre (weight savings!) with the hi-tuff axles and floating hubs, spend the few extra on a rear disc brake conversion,

Like i said, not much dearer than finding a replacement stock diff, reconditioning it and doing the SOA on the stock housing.

 

so glad I've got spares... I'll be able to keep the stock diffs spared up for about another 25 years... just in case I change my mind :o)

 

Joe.