FND4PTH - 1999 Pathfinder Build Thread

[vengeful]

Alright, what the hey, I'll toss one of these up here, too. :beer:

This isn't going to be nearly as detailed, at least at first as XterraWolf's build up thread, but it'll get there over the next year or so.

First post, I'll start off with the underbody protection stuff.

BlackPanther Front Skidplate
BlackPanther Engine Skidplate
BlackPanther T-Case Skidplate
4Crawler (Roger Brown) Rock Sliderz

Underbody skidplates by BlackPanther Armor:

The little one is the front bash, the larger, hourglass-ish shaped one is for the engine/tranny, and the new looking one is the T-case skid.

Hardware kit, including Rock Washers.

The rockwashers are essentially skidplates for the bolt heads. They prevent rocks from shearing the bolt heads off, or rounding them, preventing you from being able to remove the skidplates.

T-case skidplate installed, showing RockWashers.

Another view of the RockWasher installed.

This shot kind of shows the front and engine skids, along with the rock sliders.

This poser shot shows a bit of a side angle on the 4Crawler Rock Sliderz.

Next chapter will be the ARB Safari Snorkel.

 

[vengeful]

ARB Navara Safari Snorkel

This installment will illustrate the installation of the ARB Navara Snorkel onto my Pathfinder.

For a complete writeup, Click Here.

First, I marked out the locations of the holes with a silver Sharpie on the fender.

Main pass-through hole cutout. I used a grinder with a cut-off wheel to cut the hole, as I didn't have the correct size hole-saw.

Initial fitment testing. This was before the A-pillar bracket was attached. It sat very close to the fender at this point. I could have modified the a-pillar bracket for the snorkel to fit more snugly, but for being the first person on record in North America to attempt to fit a Navara snorkel on a Pathfinder, I think it worked out pretty well!

With the snorkel head and a-pillar bracket attached.

Final alignment. Not too shabby for a snorkel that is meant for a different truck.

Finished Product:

I cannot see the snorkel at all from the drivers seat. Sometimes I have to look around the A-pillar to make sure it's still there...LOL.

 

[vengeful]

This installment will cover my Homegrown CO2 based tire inflation unit. I'm also working on developing the most powerful electric compressor for installation in the Pathy, so I can run air-tools if necessary.

First step was finding a suitable place to mount the tank, and gathering up all of the needed items.

I used the base of the bracket as a template to trim away some of the carpet for a more secure mounting through the body of the Pathy. Notice the shiny silver sound deadener on the floor.

Turns out the 10lb tank I got was taller and skinnier than the ones from Powertank, and the 10lb Powertank bracket didn't hold the tank securely. I eliminated the metal strap, and bought two velcro Scuba tank straps to secure the tank to the bracket. I've had the truck at over 60 degrees off-camber...yes, it was laying on its side, but it was on a berm!...and the tank has stayed secure.

I sourced the tank from a friend of mine who runs a Fire Suppression company and deals with CO2 a lot. I think I paid all of $50 for it. The regulator was purchased on eBay for $45 (shipped), and the bracket was about $5 used. I then purchased one of those $20 air fittings kits from Sears, and I was rockin!

This setup will air up my 32x11.50x15" BFG A/Ts from 15psi to 40psi in about 20 seconds per tire. Speed rivals the Powertank systems, but the price is incomparable! :wavey:

 

[articulate]

I sourced the tank from a friend of mine who runs a Fire Suppression company and deals with CO2 a lot. I think I paid all of $50 for it. The regulator was purchased on eBay for $45 (shipped), and the bracket was about $5 used. I then purchased one of those $20 air fittings kits from Sears, and I was rockin!

This setup will air up my 32x11.50x15" BFG A/Ts from 15psi to 40psi in about 20 seconds per tire. Speed rivals the Powertank systems, but the price is incomparable! :wavey:

That absolutely rocks. I looked at buying a CO2 tank from a local wheelin' shop, and choked at the cost. That's a superb set up you came up with, and you can't beat that budget.


Does your Pathfinder have a torsion bar front suspension?

 

[vengeful]

No, it doesn't. It's got a really lame car setup. Coils and McPhereson struts.

I'm going to be doing a coilover conversion up front in the not-too-distant future. :sombrero:

 

[The BN Guy]

Looking good! I like that snorkle versus the flat looking one intended for your rig.

 

[vengeful]

Looking good! I like that snorkle versus the flat looking one intended for your rig.

Actually, there isn't a snorkel available for the R50 (1996-2004) Pathfinders. The WD21 (1987-1995) Pathfinders have the funky flat snorkel. My snorkel is actually the same one on your truck Pat.

 

[vapathy]

dan looking good as always.

 

[vengeful]

TJM T-15 Winch Bumper...Installed!

I drove up to Toronto on Friday (27 Apr 2007) to install this bumper on my Pathfinder and an ARB on Simon's. Install went over flawlessly, and we even figured out a better way to route the snorkel.

Crappy stock plastic thing that Nissan claims is a bumper. It got mostly ripped off by a stump and was held on by zip-ties!

Lower plastic portion removed. Upper metal fashion piece remains.

Stock bumper removed, unbolting washer fluid reservoir to make room for the TJM Brackets. (in photo: Simon & Pezzy)

TJM mounting bracket bolted to body structure. You can see my crummy little Animal House PA speaker. I really should upgrade that...

Bumper resting on mounting brackets...test fit. It fits!

Cracked Hella 500s and turn signals mounted in bumper.

All finished up...

I love it so far!

 

[IggyB]

Looks good.

Are you attending RIT?

 

[vengeful]

When I feel like it. unk03: LOL

Yeah, I go there. Getting burnt out though. Want to take some time off and go explore South America. Hah.

 

[vengeful]

Lots of work ahead!

Well, after a long weekend wheeling some of the more treacherous terrain at Rausch Creek in Pennsylvania, I've got a lot of repa...oops I mean mods to perform!

I managed to bend every single lower suspension member, break my t-case skid clean off, and reduce the volume of my gas tank by several gallons. I also shredded a BFG A/T, and am running arond with one Dunlop Mud-Rover...looking ridiculous. LOL. Anyways, I've got somw plans for the truck to get it back to where it was, and to make sure the damages incurred this past weekend don't happen again.

First, I'm going to be buying a beefier set of tires. Either a 33x10.50x15 BFG Mud or a 32x11.50x15 Goodyear MT/R, depending onb availability and cost.

Secondly, I'm going to invest in a Lincoln WeldPak 3200 or similar 115V ARC/MIG welder, so that I can perform step 3.

Thirdly, I'm going to purchase new rear suspension links from Nissan and weld some thick angle on the top and bottom to stiffen them up and provide protection from rocks.

Fourth, I am going to purchase a set of reinforced camber corrective front LCAs from Japan, and weld some creatively bent 1/8" steel plate to the bottoms.

I'm also going to replace all the suspension bushings with Poly bushings from Automotive Customizers in Florida.

Next, im going to remove all the existung skidplates, beat them back into shape, and weld some reinforcement angle strips on them to help prevent them from bending to an extent that does not allow easy reinstallation. At ths point, I'm also going to remove and modify the transmission cross member to allow the t-case skid to be reinstalled.

I also need to remove the gas tank skid and reshape it, as well as pull the dents from the gas tank.

My upper rear shock mounts are in need or replacement as well.

At the same time of the control arms, I'm going to install a set of small front strut spacers to counter the weight of the bumper and (future) winch. The rear coils will be replaced, and Air-Lift air bags will be installed.

Eventually, the CO2 setup will be replaced with a home-engineered Electric York compressor setup. It should put out about 9CFM at 100psi. Around that time, an Odyssey 2150 will be added to cope with the added electrical pull.

There's a lot more coming, but I want to leave a little to the imagination.

 

[nissandoms47]

Thats a nice list dan.

I just got back from a weekend in moab and managed to destroy a inner cv joint and break a flange off one of my strut spacers. I'm pretty sure that happened from bajaing it on poison spider and the front suspension topped out numerous times. Go with the MT/Rs lol.

 

[vengeful]

Just got back from Home Depot with a bunch of goodies...now it's time to get serious on the Pathy and pick up that Corrado I've had my eye on!

Lincoln WeldPak 3200HD - pretty much the biggest 115V welder available, since I live in a towhouse, I can't use a 220V Welder, since the only 220 outlet is in the basement, and well...that's not exactly well ventilated, and I'm not about to run a 150 ft extension cord for it.

Makita 4.5" angle grinder.
Ryobi 18V Cordless Recip. Saw
Ryobi 18V Cordless Hammer Drill & flashlight

Now I've got all the tools I need to get the Pathy going right. :wings:

 

[xcmountain80]

I love the Nissan's that looks great!


Aaron