Winch relocating - GQ Safari + a ton of other questions

[flyingbrick]

Hi all. I'm tired of searching..................

About two months ago i purchased a SWB GQ .......Its my first 4wd and is a completely different machine to what i'm used to (turbo toyota's mostly)...............I think im getting some kinda bug here.

Anyway.

I have the factory warn 8,000lb winch (just another few hours and its rebuild/freshen will be finished!) and the associated warn/PTO winch bar on the front. I'm wanting to increase my approach angle so wish to loose the standard winch bars overhang as well as the standard chrome front bumpers.

I'm wondering if anyone here has any pics showing how people have got their winches so bar back in their grill. I have had a good look and there does not seem to be much room between grill and oil/aircon/water radiators to move the winch back anymore than it currently is- but I know ive seen pics of it done before.

Does anyone have pics of modified factory winch bars?

Also- Does anyone here in NZ sell nice reasonably priced steel tube front/rear bumpers for these things? I keep seeing tons of really nice custom made bars (SWAMPA or something comes to mind) but really don't have the time or patience to actually make one atm. The steel ARB type bars do nothing for me and the truck is already heavy enough without that stuff.

Thanks all,
Nathan

[coxsy]

here arb winch truck aussie

[coxsy]

also loss the front bumbers the rears and side steps, an sunroof seal will leak sooner or later

[Sadam_Husain]

I'm wanting to increase my approach angle so wish to loose the standard winch bars overhang as well as the standard chrome front bumpers.

I'm wondering if anyone here has any pics showing how people have got their winches so bar back in their grill. I have had a good look and there does not seem to be much room between grill and oil/aircon/water radiators to move the winch back anymore than it currently is- but I know ive seen pics of it done before.

There will be some info and pics in doddzee's thread about moving a factory pto winch back


Press here for thread

[albundy]

My bar is custom made and the winch actually attaches to that as I can get it higher. The bar is then mounted with six large rated bolts back to the chassis. Take the chassis extenders off for the winch. I did not modify any rads etc, but I did cut some of the grill away to accomodat the winch. Sorry haven't got pics.

[cool__bananas]

i can take some photos of the hydrolic whinch in the back of our nissan if you would like?

[flyingbrick]

Pics from everyone would be absolutely awesome.

I'm actually an apprentice fitter-turner ATM so can machine/weld/fab stuff up no problem its just that everyone else here and everywhere has already designed, tested and fine tuned their designs and i see no reason to go re-inventing the wheel.....

now i sound like an idea theifing bastard......mostly because i am.

oooh, another question..

I have totally stripped down/cleaned/sand blasted/painted/greased or replaced all parts of my 8,000lb warn winch EXCEPT for the central spool section which houses the brake. Has anyone had one of these to pieces? I'm not totally sure if its working correctly or not. The other day (because the free-spool was not working) i wound out the entire wire and by the end of it the spool was smoking hot. Should the brake be working the whole time like this? It does not apply itself when winding the wire in.. just out.

[gary_in_nz]

hows it mate, good choice in wagon. i am almost finished my fitter turner apprenticeship, maybe couple of months to go at most. i made up a new mount for the warn winch. she's pretty solid but butt ugly. it is certainly a good improvement over standard. made the sides from 16mm plate then got a 10mm plate for on top with a 100mm channel braced under that plate. then to space it all apart i got some 5mm walled seamless steam pipe hahaha. have a look.

in all honesty i am looking at changing it to some thing that looks a lot better and that will give me some side protection as im starting to bend the front guards just a bit!! I quite like the TJM Bar design so may go similar but do it to suit the Body lift that i put in.

[flyingbrick]

an your truck is AWESOME.

35's? whats the lift?

I love the tube snorkel too. nice work!

[vvega]

hey nathan "waves"

[Shane]

[img][IMG]http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj65/Clarkie007/P1050246.jpg[/img][/img]

[DaveM]

Good setup there Shane. I take it thats as high/far back that you can get the winch before it gets in the way of the aircon rad? Looks like a nice simple design, might have to do something similar once the GQ mods get underway.

[flyingbrick]

Thanks for the great pics everyone

I just popped outside and had a brainstorm.. I think I've come up with a pretty good design which manages to use a few of the factory pieces relocated and cut down. I'll take some pics in a week or two once i get started.

Its kinda funny. This truck is probably (to most people) one of the least inspiring vehicles I've owned.... and yet I LOVE it and have never been so enthusiastic about actually working on a vehicle, pulling shit to pieces and cutting shit up.

OK, some more questions....

1,Someone up there mentioned side step removal. Its been on the TODO list for a while as I assumed that since they are bolted to the body itself they are bad news. Is this correct?

2,There is some play in my steering wheel- I know that this is to be expected since its a truck and all- but is there anything I can do to lessen this? What part commonly wears out first in the steering column to give this? I have no issues with wobbling or shaking at any speed.

3, I have a knocking which comes from the RHS front top spring perch. Sounds crazy but its true . Has anyone else had this problem? between the spring and the perch is a rubber cussion type thing which looks pretty weathered and flogged out.. I can only assume that the knock is somehow caused by that. Jim Wright Nissan quoted me $85 for the replacement part (HAAAAaahahah) so I'll be making my own from gasket rubber at work. Has anyone else suffered this problem or do you think it could be something else other than the spring perch?

The knock can be felt in the spring and is definitely not from the shock or any of the bushes there.

Thanks all

-Nathan

[DaveM]

My GQ and GU both have the knock, annoying, but I put up with it. I've run side step on all my trucks, never got round to getting proper bars made up, but they have at times saved the sills from being damaged,but it never caused damage to the body where the mount, but others may have.

[flyingbrick]

I just took my steps off. On one side the seam is already damaged from the steps taking a hit so im happy they have gone.

PLus it looks way better

So.. another question... because im a post whore...

How many others here have taken off their front/rear mudflaps and uncovered huge rusty holes AND had the already rusty mudflap brackets crumble into a thousand pieces and then wish WHY THE #### DID I TOUCH THESE.

They are so fragile i know i'll rip them off with any kinda impact off road.... May have to rivet sheet metal over the rusty holes i just exposed .

[DaveM]

Get rid of them, they will tear off with 33's anyway. And put rubber flares on, the fibreglass ones will smash easily too

[flyingbrick]

I'm only running 31's right now. Just getting the truck as ready as i can for this weekend out at woodhill 4wd park...

Cheers dude

[vvega]

get a hilux :d

[gary_in_nz]

how big are the holes where the flaps were?? you might get away with a bit of a sand some bog and paint. mine was similar but no holes so just sanded it back and painted.

check your floor pans aswell if you havent already. also the seam under the rear guards for any rust.

[Safari Swb]

yeah and body mounts e.t.c. its easier to remove all the carpets to check for rust

[flyingbrick]

I did find some rust to each side of the rear seat. I have had all carpets out to look for rust. Not sure how im going to attack that yet... will probably just cut it out and then weld a plate over the top. I used to care about things like this but am kinda over it. Unless it starts getting my feet wet I'll probably not get around to it.

Body mounts are all fine.

[Safari Swb]

thats a common area for them to rust out

[flyingbrick]

Workmate has a safari and thats what he told me too.

I'm kinda angry with nissan for doing such a #@%@! shit job with the rust proofing of these trucks. Especially the fact that all of the seat/seatbelt bolts hang through the body into the elements so the ends get all shit and dont want to back out when asked.

PS. Vvega. gtfo and then pleaes weld some rust up for me.. plus my rear guards when I cut the bottoms off.

[coxsy]

old trucks like old car rust is a problem, try having a sun roof with old broken seals,
ie rust in the roof

[PigFmr]

mine when i first done my bar and winch with all nice new paint shame it dont look like it now

[Safari Swb]

thats a nice bar what kinda winch is that?

[flyingbrick]

Well- i went out to woodhill yesterday and had a great time Found that everything everyone had said was correct.

-Nearly ripped off/damaged one of my flares dragging it along a clay bank.
-All four of my mud flaps are hanging off and have had their rusty mounting brackets totally destroyed...no choice but to remove them now
-we came to an abrupt stop a couple of times when the factory winch carrier put itself into the ground
-My tow bar got in the one a few times
-I need a turbo for those times when a run-up is required.... although she went pretty good considering she weighs 2.3 ton

SO.. I have bought some tube and will be welding up my own front bar from scratch during this week (which i have taken off work)
I also hope to perform a rear fender cut as well as......

Man this is fun.

[DaveM]

At least you are out and driving, which is more than I can say