Go for it. It will take twice as long and cost three times more than you expect. None of that will matter in the end however. 😁I have over the past 2 years set my eyes on turning a sedan into a semi-offroad capable vehicle.
A little information for reference: the sedan I have bought is a 2015 mazda 6 unibody because I love the interior and overall look of the car isn't too aggressive.and I believe it to be a reasonable starting point to this build.
I don't want to cut and change too much of the sedans body and underbody. I'm more looking for a way to redesign it to become a bolt on frame design.
I have done research on the wheelbase for my sedan and have run into problems involving the ute chasis to fit my sedan. However I have found that a 2010 single cab ford ranger chasis would fit the specs perfectly.
I have no interest in being told that the cost isn't worth it. I'm more interested in experienced auto heads and fabricators/garage geniuses informing me on every little detail that I would need to take into account.
That way I can do a budget and get a realistic time frame on the completion
Date
Cheers.
4x4 2015 Mazda6
Kia Ora. My name is Taylor, I am 23 years old from New Zealand and over the past 2 years i have set my eyes on turning my sedan into a semi-offroad capable vehicle. In other words I want to put the unibody Mazda6 onto a separate ladder-frame 4WD chassis. or custom build or fabricate an underbody that is road legal.
My reasoning for this is because I want to make my current car into one capable of handling the roads of Aotearoa. And it's drivers.
A little information for reference: the sedan I have bought is a 2015 mazda 6 unibody because I love the interior and overall look of the car isn't too aggressive.and I believe it to be a reasonable starting point to this build.
I don't want to cut and change too much of the sedans body and underbody. I'm more looking for a way to redesign it to become a bolt on frame design.
I have done research on the wheelbase for my sedan and have run into problems involving the ute chasis to fit my sedan. However I have found that a 2010 single cab ford ranger chasis would fit the specs perfectly.
I have no interest in being told that the cost isn't worth it. I'm more interested in experienced auto heads and fabricators/garage geniuses informing me on every little detail that I would need to take into account.
That way I can do a budget and get a realistic time frame on the completion
Date
Cheers.
My reasoning for this is because I want to make my current car into one capable of handling the roads of Aotearoa. And it's drivers.
A little information for reference: the sedan I have bought is a 2015 mazda 6 unibody because I love the interior and overall look of the car isn't too aggressive.and I believe it to be a reasonable starting point to this build.
I don't want to cut and change too much of the sedans body and underbody. I'm more looking for a way to redesign it to become a bolt on frame design.
I have done research on the wheelbase for my sedan and have run into problems involving the ute chasis to fit my sedan. However I have found that a 2010 single cab ford ranger chasis would fit the specs perfectly.
I have no interest in being told that the cost isn't worth it. I'm more interested in experienced auto heads and fabricators/garage geniuses informing me on every little detail that I would need to take into account.
That way I can do a budget and get a realistic time frame on the completion
Date
Cheers.
1 - 9 of 9 Posts
Go for it. It will take twice as long and cost three times more than you expect. None of that will matter in the end however. 😁
Youd probably have better chance with the CX-9 chassis.
Could you give me any factual reason as to why that would be the case?
Just thought I'd mention that the CX-9 (SUV) has a much larger wheelbase then my MAZDA6 (SEDAN). Which would to my knowledge, Create an abundance of problems to pile on top of all the existing standard problems that come with a body and chasis swap.
Edited: I realized after re-reading that my statement comes off as offensive and I do apologize that was not my intention.
Just thought I'd mention that the CX-9 (SUV) has a much larger wheelbase then my MAZDA6 (SEDAN). Which would to my knowledge, Create an abundance of problems to pile on top of all the existing standard problems that come with a body and chasis swap.
Edited: I realized after re-reading that my statement comes off as offensive and I do apologize that was not my intention.
I'm not sure @TalonTsi90 realized that you want to put the unibody Mazda6 onto a separate ladder-frame (part-time?) 4WD chassis. That is what you're looking to do, correct?
To call that a gigantic undertaking would be, in my view, an understatement.
Do realize, though, that if you put the car onto a fairly HD ladder frame 4WD ladder frame... and particularly if you lose at least the independent rear suspension (if not, also, the frt independent suspension) you'd have more of a rock crawler than a high speed rough road "express". Ride sophistication would not be your calling-card...
To call that a gigantic undertaking would be, in my view, an understatement.
Do realize, though, that if you put the car onto a fairly HD ladder frame 4WD ladder frame... and particularly if you lose at least the independent rear suspension (if not, also, the frt independent suspension) you'd have more of a rock crawler than a high speed rough road "express". Ride sophistication would not be your calling-card...
I definitely understand your point and thank you for enlightening me on that fact, I'm going to edit my original post to help future readers.
And yes you are correct with what I intend to do
And yes you are correct with what I intend to do
if it fits a 2010 ranger frame, then it will fit older rangers frames back to around 01, if i remember right. somewhere around 01/02 they made the single cab truck a few inches longer in order to make the cab more comfortable for taller people. i have an 04 single cab ranger and just learned a few month ago about the cab being longer on "the ranger station" forum. (2) What's new | The Ranger Station
someone in my town has done a few unibody to frame mods to vehicles. not on as new a vehicle as yours but they have done it. they end up being off road vehicles with larger tires since the wheel well space has a huge gap now. it will look funny with something like 31s on it.
can you just do a lift on your current set up? they make lifts for all kinds of vehicles that were not meant to be lifted. i see lifter miatas all over the place with 30s or 31s on them. if you can lift a miata, you should be able to find something for your 6
someone in my town has done a few unibody to frame mods to vehicles. not on as new a vehicle as yours but they have done it. they end up being off road vehicles with larger tires since the wheel well space has a huge gap now. it will look funny with something like 31s on it.
can you just do a lift on your current set up? they make lifts for all kinds of vehicles that were not meant to be lifted. i see lifter miatas all over the place with 30s or 31s on them. if you can lift a miata, you should be able to find something for your 6
The Explorer is built on the same frame I believe.
Not remotely, Mazda divorced Ford a long time ago.The Explorer is built on the same frame I believe.
1 - 9 of 9 Posts
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