My 2001 Pathfinder (R50 ) mild/budget build

[stioc]

So far so good but they haven't seen any hardcore wheeling- I've dragged them descending dirt hills a few times and had one light contact with a rock.

I thought about welding mine but decided against it, the frame is more like sheet metal and welding makes the metal brittle. Besides I haven't heard of an actual account where the bolt on sliders didn't do the job. As an added advantage I can remove them at will if needed for any reason (rust, selling the truck etc).

 

[stioc]

I modified the brackets for the grill guard and was able to finally install it. However, while I liked how it looked it didn't seem very stout for offroading. It also made the approach angle worse so I took it off today and added it to the pile if things to sell.

I also mounted my air compressor in the engine compartment. This not only opens up some room in the trunk best off all it makes filling up the tires a lot more efficient from not having to unpack, connect then pack again. On the downside the compressor won't last as long as it would stored in its bag inside. Oh well.

It was a tight fit but it fit.

 

[Lecoq]

What kind of compressor is that? If it has a disconnect for the hose I would recommend you leave it off until you need it. Otherwise the hose will be too hot to handle or might crack from being exposed to the constant heat.

Nice setup. Onboard air ******!

 

[stioc]

That's a good point about the hose getting hot and cracking from constant heat etc.

The compressor is the popular MV50, you can't find a better compressor for the price (~ $50). Some people use them for both airing up tires and running the lockers but requires some additional work than an ARB.

 

[Lecoq]

You should hardline the compressor to a quick connect located in the top corner of the passenger side front grill. I want to see it done

 

[stioc]

Quick connect up front should be pretty easy to do, all you need is the right hose with the female and male quick connect air fittings.

I've been trying (in a half as$ way) to cure my IACV issues but it's still not working right so today I took it all apart, cleaned it and put it back together. So far so good. The philips screws were so tight I couldn't budge them and fearing fubaring them I used the good ole visegrip to break them free them spun them off with a screw driver.

This would've been a good time to change the spark plugs too- but I wasn't feeling that generous haha.

 

[quaintbucket]

Hey I just registered to say, "awesome job!" on your build.

I found your thread by doing a google search about the 2001 R50 and I have to say that I was impressed.

I'm looking at one today and with your information, I might be taking this one over the 1995 if everything checks out.

The one that particularly interests me the most was your storage in the cargo area. I'm a little surprised you didn't go ahead and allow for an extra length of carpet to extend over the open space to both protect the door as serve as a "hidden" compartment with velcro.

Thanks again for your coverage

 

[stioc]

Hey I just registered to say, "awesome job!" on your build.

I found your thread by doing a google search about the 2001 R50 and I have to say that I was impressed.

It's always nice to hear some words of appreciation every now and then but thank you for taking the time to register so you can say them. I will guarantee that no matter what truck you end up with you'll love hanging out here on the ExPo. The wealth of knowledge people have here is amazing- as well as their willingness to help those that ask.

The one that particularly interests me the most was your storage in the cargo area. I'm a little surprised you didn't go ahead and allow for an extra length of carpet to extend over the open space to both protect the door as serve as a "hidden" compartment with velcro.

That's a great idea that I didn't think of. I may have mentioned it in the posts back then but it was definitely one of those quick/hack jobs you do on the fly as a 'temporary' solution without a whole lot of thought put into the nice bits Unfortunately as it happens all too often the temporary solutions stick around longer than they're intended for. I've thought about going back and improving the design a bit but honestly it works ok enough for me that I left it alone and moved on to other things.

I'm looking at one today and with your information, I might be taking this one over the 1995 if everything checks out.

Thanks again for your coverage

Good luck! Let us know if you get it and then start a build thread of your very own

 

[kjp1969]

I'm interested in how the compressor holds up- one less thing to store in the back is always a good thing.

A rear storage cabinet is also good, provided that it doesn't take more space than it frees up. Mine is convenient, but takes up too much space.

 

[Allof75]

Very nice placement of the compressor, I've been looking at that exact one myself. I definitely think the air will be nice for airing up/down. How exactly is it mounted? Did you have to move the battery at all? In my engine bay at least, it looks like it might be too tight.

 

[stioc]

I'm interested in how the compressor holds up- one less thing to store in the back is always a good thing.

A rear storage cabinet is also good, provided that it doesn't take more space than it frees up. Mine is convenient, but takes up too much space.

It won't last as long as it would stored inside but I've heard of several folks that have had their's in the engine comparment for over 3 years. We'll see.

Very nice placement of the compressor, I've been looking at that exact one myself. I definitely think the air will be nice for airing up/down. How exactly is it mounted? Did you have to move the battery at all? In my engine bay at least, it looks like it might be too tight.

I see the air compressor as pretty much a need when out in the back country. I did have to move the battery over a bit. It's held in place by a bolt into the side panel. It's a fairly snug fit but it fit.

 

[XPLORx4]

I used to have an ARB compressor, but after I killed it by exceeding its duty cycle too often, I swapped it for the MV50. I built my own manifold and air tank using parts purchased at Home Depot. Both of my rock sliders are plumbed to hold air, and each slider has quick-disconnect air fittings mounted fore and aft, so when I air up, all I do is attach four 2'-long hoses to the sliders, one for each tire, and walk away. The pressure switch is an 85-105psi switch, so the compressor shuts off at 105psi, and turns on at 85psi. The pressure regulator (which limits the pressure in my sliders - and tires) is set to 35psi, so when the compressor stops running, I know my tires are full!

This is how I've mounted my MV50 compressor for on-board air:

 

[quaintbucket]

Good luck! Let us know if you get it and then start a build thread of your very own

Thanks! Unfortunately the 2001 was a wash but fortunately I got a line on a couple 1997 and a 1996 that shows some promise.

As far as a build thread, I will love to do it if people don't mind seeing an update every 6 months.

It's surprising how hard it is to find a pathfinder with a manual transmission these days. Did you have that issue yourself?

 

[Allof75]

I used to have an ARB compressor, but after I killed it by exceeding its duty cycle too often, I swapped it for the MV50. I built my own manifold and air tank using parts purchased at Home Depot. Both of my rock sliders are plumbed to hold air, and each slider has quick-disconnect air fittings mounted fore and aft, so when I air up, all I do is attach four 2'-long hoses to the sliders, one for each tire, and walk away. The pressure switch is an 85-105psi switch, so the compressor shuts off at 105psi, and turns on at 85psi. The pressure regulator (which limits the pressure in my sliders - and tires) is set to 35psi, so when the compressor stops running, I know my tires are full!

This is how I've mounted my MV50 compressor for on-board air:

That's a brilliant mount/storage idea! I'm definitely hopping on board now, I'll just have to look a bit further into the mounting situation, next time I pop the hood.

 

[stioc]

The pressure switch is an 85-105psi switch, so the compressor shuts off at 105psi, and turns on at 85psi. The pressure regulator (which limits the pressure in my sliders - and tires) is set to 35psi, so when the compressor stops running, I know my tires are full!

Brilliant indeed! hit the switch, walk away, come back and the tires are air'd up - love it!

It's surprising how hard it is to find a pathfinder with a manual transmission these days. Did you have that issue yourself?

My criteria was, one owner, white 2nd gen R50 with an automatic and good condition. The hardest part for me was finding a white one, I only came across one...and I own it