1999 Nissan Frontier - Franger Or Nord? - Four Wheeler Network
He finally settled on fabricating a steel bed structure, then covered the sides with fiberglass bedsides from a Ford Ranger truck. Under the rear of the bed is a Warn 16. 5Ti winch to help pull friends forward whenever they can’t keep up with Mike on a trail. Mike and Norma Marrero purchased this Nissan Frontier new in 1999 for camping and wheeling, and it has been evolving ever since. In 2003, Mike took a torch to the front end and relieved the Nissan of its IFS. To complement the front solid axle, he upgraded the rear to a Dana 60 to turn 35-inch-tall rubber with confidence. Over the last few years the Marreros have turned to doing more expedition style trips, so Mike built a custom, narrow bed and wrapped the exterior with factory fiberglass bedsides salvaged from a Ford Ranger bed. Hence the somewhat confusing visual appearance of the half-Nissan, half-Ford body. The factory IFS left town in 2003. Mike fabricated a custom three-link suspension up front to locate the Ford high-pinion Dana 44 that uses GM knuckles. Further fortification comes from Warn alloy shafts, CTM joints, Solid Axle Industries six-lug hubs with big bearing spindles, and Superwinch locking hubs. 1999 Nissan Frontier. Source: www.fourwheeler.com
