ripper
17th December 2010, 02:17 PM
Had our Trol for almost 2 weeks now.
Intro'ed myself here. www.nissanpatrol.com.au/Just-bought-a-GQ-just-joined-your-forum. (http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/showthread.php?1874-Just-bought-a-GQ-just-joined-your-forum.)
We've never had a 4x4 before, and to be honest we didn't really want a 4x4. Now that we have it we love it.
We wanted something cheap, simple to work on (no EFI), with plenty of luggage space and more ground clearance than the Toyo* Cressida we have.
Thought a 2WD dual cab might be the go until we realised how bad the back seats are in them.
We had a 78' HZ Kingswood wagon once, and would've gone back to one of them except that decent ones are now three times as much as we sold our's for about 10 years ago.
Didn't want a Commodore or Falcon (build quality/comfort issues).
This led us to 4x4's, and looking at a few brands led us to the big 2 as the only real options. A friend has a 60 series and talks about how rough it rides, so that left us with GQ's as the only cars in Australia which fitted our description.
We found our Ripper GQ on eBay, got it for a good price, and are now pleased we were picky about getting the right car. It seems to have been really well looked after until maybe the last few years (just a bit untidy). Don't plan to work it hard off road, mainly have it for touring.
Having a Nissan feels like familiar territory. My first car (over 20 years ago) was a 1971 Datsun 1600 that I stripped back to the last nut and bolt then rebuilt it.
Specs:
Silver 89 GQ LWB 7 seater Wagon, TB42 Petrol/LPG Auto,
243,000 Km, Bull Bar, Driving Lights, Side Steps, Extractors, Factory Diff Lock, Sway Bar Disconnects, 75L Petrol, 115L LPG, Central Locking, 2 Power Windows (only 1 works :-), Pioneer CD Player, Cruise Control (haven't figured out how to work it yet), gauze in front of the radiator because of the locust plague here at the moment.
Few things need doing:
Fix small tear in drivers seat, replace windscreen washer bottle, full service (done engine oil and filter, going to do all fluids), get spotties working, clean up some surface rust (in gutters, near dent left rear corner, under barn doors), and some real rust (engine bay), sway bar "D" bushes F&R, LPG fuel gauge, misc body rattles.
Looks like a lot now that I've written it all down.
Plans:
Mod centre console and passenger side arm rest, fit buzzer for temp and oil pressure, electronic ignition, dual batteries, fit out the back for sleeping, replace steering wheel (N14 Pulsar?), engine immobiliser, replace electric windows with winders, new foam on seats to make them slope back more and to improve leg room in back, fix clock.
Maybe:
Transmission cooler, air horns, roof console, dash pod, UHF, stone guard for petrol tank, roof rack, lower side steps to level with chassis (easier for older passengers), perforated vinyl on windows, rear air con.
Wish List:
Camper Trailer.
I like this but can't draw at all myself.
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/ripperdeals/GQ/resizedPatrol2Sketch.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/ripperdeals/GQ/resizedCopyofPatrol2.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/ripperdeals/GQ/resizedCopyofPatrol1.jpg
I'll add more photos as I get things done and we make a few trips with it.
Intro'ed myself here. www.nissanpatrol.com.au/Just-bought-a-GQ-just-joined-your-forum. (http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/showthread.php?1874-Just-bought-a-GQ-just-joined-your-forum.)
We've never had a 4x4 before, and to be honest we didn't really want a 4x4. Now that we have it we love it.
We wanted something cheap, simple to work on (no EFI), with plenty of luggage space and more ground clearance than the Toyo* Cressida we have.
Thought a 2WD dual cab might be the go until we realised how bad the back seats are in them.
We had a 78' HZ Kingswood wagon once, and would've gone back to one of them except that decent ones are now three times as much as we sold our's for about 10 years ago.
Didn't want a Commodore or Falcon (build quality/comfort issues).
This led us to 4x4's, and looking at a few brands led us to the big 2 as the only real options. A friend has a 60 series and talks about how rough it rides, so that left us with GQ's as the only cars in Australia which fitted our description.
We found our Ripper GQ on eBay, got it for a good price, and are now pleased we were picky about getting the right car. It seems to have been really well looked after until maybe the last few years (just a bit untidy). Don't plan to work it hard off road, mainly have it for touring.
Having a Nissan feels like familiar territory. My first car (over 20 years ago) was a 1971 Datsun 1600 that I stripped back to the last nut and bolt then rebuilt it.
Specs:
Silver 89 GQ LWB 7 seater Wagon, TB42 Petrol/LPG Auto,
243,000 Km, Bull Bar, Driving Lights, Side Steps, Extractors, Factory Diff Lock, Sway Bar Disconnects, 75L Petrol, 115L LPG, Central Locking, 2 Power Windows (only 1 works :-), Pioneer CD Player, Cruise Control (haven't figured out how to work it yet), gauze in front of the radiator because of the locust plague here at the moment.
Few things need doing:
Fix small tear in drivers seat, replace windscreen washer bottle, full service (done engine oil and filter, going to do all fluids), get spotties working, clean up some surface rust (in gutters, near dent left rear corner, under barn doors), and some real rust (engine bay), sway bar "D" bushes F&R, LPG fuel gauge, misc body rattles.
Looks like a lot now that I've written it all down.
Plans:
Mod centre console and passenger side arm rest, fit buzzer for temp and oil pressure, electronic ignition, dual batteries, fit out the back for sleeping, replace steering wheel (N14 Pulsar?), engine immobiliser, replace electric windows with winders, new foam on seats to make them slope back more and to improve leg room in back, fix clock.
Maybe:
Transmission cooler, air horns, roof console, dash pod, UHF, stone guard for petrol tank, roof rack, lower side steps to level with chassis (easier for older passengers), perforated vinyl on windows, rear air con.
Wish List:
Camper Trailer.
I like this but can't draw at all myself.
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/ripperdeals/GQ/resizedPatrol2Sketch.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/ripperdeals/GQ/resizedCopyofPatrol2.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/ripperdeals/GQ/resizedCopyofPatrol1.jpg
I'll add more photos as I get things done and we make a few trips with it.