Nope, all R50s up until 2001 had the 3.3 and personally I will take the power loss for the extra ruggedness of the 3.3. (I could go into the vg vs. vq in depth) Even my 1999 QX4 has the 3.3.
Are those photos from Katemcy Rocks?
The dual alternator set up sounds interesting. Are those 34's the 34/10.50 LTB's? Burly looking rubber....
Yes and yes. The 34" LTBs are without a doubt the best off-road tires I have ever owned.
The dual alternator setup is awesome. Normally pop the hood on an R50 and you see three belts. The front most belt is a 5 rib and drives the A/C, the second belt is a 6 rib and drives the water pump/fan and the alternator and the final V-belt drives the power steering pump.
In the caR50 everything is as before except on the second belt which comes off the crank hits an idler pulley which increases surface area on the crank pulley then the belt hits the york air compressor, goes up to the secondary alternator down to the tensioner pulley, around the water pump and back down to the crank. There is a doubler pulley on the secondary alternator which then turns via a v-belt the primary electrical system's alternator.
The secondary alternator is a 100amp large case ford with an external regulator. This alternator normally charges 2 deep cycle batteries and powers the computer system (dc-dc power supply) LCD monitor, HAM Radio and eventually the winches. The primary alternator is a GM S2 series 88amp and powers the stock electrical functions. In welding mode the secondary alternator's field is run straight to power off the primary system providing 14 volts to the field which runs the secondary alternator wide open. At about 3000rpm I can burn through 1/4" steel if I am not careful. The high frequency arc from the alternator is perfect for cleaning the welding puddle and makes nice welds.
The R50s have front Macpherson struts, like cars but much larger. That is why it is called the caR50. The rear suspension is similar to the earlier WD21 pathfinders, but we have shorter upper links and longer lower links. Besides the lift springs/blocks the only other thing I have done to the rear end was add F350 stupid duty shocks.
This is before the idler pulley after the crank was installed. When I first started the truck the belt did not have enough contact area on the crank requiring the idler pulley to pull the belt around the crank.
