Some Good Guys Out There!

[Roger]

Recently I needed to borrow a front Axle case and a Radius arm for some 3d scanning / front axle mods. Karl Webster, without hesitation not only came good, he even arranged to meet a third party for collection! Top man. Thanks Karl.

 

[felix2566]

What mods you planning?

 

[karl webster]

No problem at all roger.

 

[Roger]

Its on my off roader - Im running 38.5" treps these days (measure more like ø39") and its taken the front axle to its limits, last event the front diff just 'popped' a tooth so easily in reverse up a hill (a high pinion puts load on the coast side of the teeth when in reverse) - its the 3rd diff in recent times, so Ive gone for a custom made blackbird industries Evo2 axle. with custom made radius arms with coilover and bump stops. We had to run coilovers due to the collision of the new axle 'c' and the existing spring cups. The guys at blackbird are not stressed about running 42" and upto 600bhp!

Essentially a Y61 front diff with 4.66 ratio (I was already custom at 4.56 which is close enough for the back to match up in off road scenario) fitted with even larger than Nissan standard side gears with 35 spline side gears and a ARB front locker, the guys at Blackbird also increase the cap bolt size of the diff bearings adding in more strength. The shafts are custom made onto Mitsubishi Shogun Rear CVs (mahoosive in comparison to standard CV's), brakes are landcruiser 150 with defender vented 4 pots. The setup has given me a LOT more strength on the front axle, an impressive 43° of steering angle and a massive increase in front articulation due to the larger separation of the radius arm mounting.

Mine was actually the first 80 Series Blackbird fitted an Evo axle, so there was a lot of scanning, measuring, and learning involved – but they absolutely nailed it. They’re more than ready to do another, and I honestly can’t recommend them enough. Top-notch work and great guys to deal with.

 

[felix2566]

That's a very cool looking bit of kit you have had made there! I presume it's a competition truck. Any pictures of it in action?

 

[Roger]

Its my old fill bodied 1hdt. Owned for about 12 years or so. Always been an off roader but kept on the road. Years of being trialed and play days had taken its toll on the body so I truck cabbed it last year with a roll cage fitted.

 

[felix2566]

Brilliant, looks like a very fun truck! Love it!

 

[Lorin]

Its on my off roader - Im running 38.5" treps these days (measure more like ø39") and its taken the front axle to its limits, last event the front diff just 'popped' a tooth so easily in reverse up a hill (a high pinion puts load on the coast side of the teeth when in reverse) - its the 3rd diff in recent times, so Ive gone for a custom made blackbird industries Evo2 axle. with custom made radius arms with coilover and bump stops. We had to run coilovers due to the collision of the new axle 'c' and the existing spring cups. The guys at blackbird are not stressed about running 42" and upto 600bhp!

Essentially a Y61 front diff with 4.66 ratio (I was already custom at 4.56 which is close enough for the back to match up in off road scenario) fitted with even larger than Nissan standard side gears with 35 spline side gears and a ARB front locker, the guys at Blackbird also increase the cap bolt size of the diff bearings adding in more strength. The shafts are custom made onto Mitsubishi Shogun Rear CVs (mahoosive in comparison to standard CV's), brakes are landcruiser 150 with defender vented 4 pots. The setup has given me a LOT more strength on the front axle, an impressive 43° of steering angle and a massive increase in front articulation due to the larger separation of the radius arm mounting.

Mine was actually the first 80 Series Blackbird fitted an Evo axle, so there was a lot of scanning, measuring, and learning involved – but they absolutely nailed it. They’re more than ready to do another, and I honestly can’t recommend them enough. Top-notch work and great guys to deal with.

I love that front axle. I have been looking at an adaptor that allows the H233 high pinion Patrol differential to be fitted in the 80 axle. Uses an ARB locker with 80 series side gears to work with the 80 axles. My biggest concern was knowing who could do the work for me but that company looks like just the type that might undertake it.

 

[Gav missin]

Ah now Roger.you were ar korc a couple of weekends back. You met my mates Jon and Alf in there 1hz barn door 80. I was on holiday but got those pics of your 80 sent to me by them. They're both on this site. Threw me as your 80 was raptor black before the chop.

 

[Roger]

I love that front axle. I have been looking at an adaptor that allows the H233 high pinion Patrol differential to be fitted in the 80 axle. Uses an ARB locker with 80 series side gears to work with the 80 axles. My biggest concern was knowing who could do the work for me but that company looks like just the type that might undertake it.

Absolutely Lorin, the guys at Blackbird really are top of their game. They also race their own motors in the Ultra4/King of/Dirt classes - they know what axle punishment is.


What really impressed me is the use of 3d scanning to just get it right first time. I think I might do a build thread on here showing what they did and how - its truly impressive.

 

[Roger]

Ah now Roger.you were ar korc a couple of weekends back. You met my mates Jon and Alf in there 1hz barn door 80. I was on holiday but got those pics of your 80 sent to me by them. They're both on this site. Threw me as your 80 was raptor black before the chop.

Spoke to them both for a good while. I was cooing over that 1HZ! What a beauty - I was hoping my lad would buy it but he cant afford the insurance (19yrs old).

It was Raptored - worst thing I ever did and will never do it again. I figured that as there was only half of the car left now that I would dig deep and go back to bare metal for the new respray - it wasnt pleasant but its done now and the respray looks better for it.