[Fitting Nissan Patrol GQ axles to a Discovery]

Ok OK John I concede I was being over logical!

Just spent 20 mins with the back of an envelope and it could be done as you describe. Of course it would still involve having to relocate the drain/fill plugs and the rear difflock mechanism as well as redrilling/tapping out the studs, all of which in my mind would be more involved than cutting and shutting the tube. If you added strengthening bracing to the axle tube when adding the A Frame mount then any worries about weakening the tube could be easily overcome.

Its good to discuss.....

This may sound dumb but how about using the top 2 Nissan arm brackets on the diff, using 2 short arms back to the front A-Frame mounts and doing away with the A-Frame and it's bracket on the diff? It should achieve the same outcome though it may need a panhard rod if the arms aren't sufficiently angled.