New GU... well... almost ;)

[Agronaught]

Bought my first GU a couple of weeks ago, 2003 4.8L Manual with LPG and a 2" lift otherwise unmodified.

http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2012/10/65.jpg

http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2012/10/66.jpg

Some very minor panel damage to be repaired, otherwise reasonably clean and straight for the age of the car.

My focus so far is on the mechanical side, I tend to assume maintenance has been lacking when I buy a used car:

* ALL fluids replaced.
* break lines, cooling system, etc flushed.
* fluids changed in diff's/gearbox etc.
* All disks/rotors needed replacement, so new break pads etc. (glad I got a resonable price!)

That done time to start the mods...

* Installed GME TX3340 UHF CB + antenna
* Installed Yaesu FT-857D + UHF/VHF ground independent antenna. Yet to install HF antenna.
* Installed 8 Guage cabling from battery to internal fuse box for above radio's and extras.

To do:

* Recovery points (this weekend) - have basic recovery kit now.
* Dual battery setup... Battery box in the rear to run the above radio's etc.
* Bash plates front and rear (over LPG tank).
* Larger reserve tank as 35L just aint enough. (to 80L).
* New entertainment system to keep the kiddies happy on long trips.
* Steel rims + 185's.
* winch etc.

And I'm sure *LOTS* more.

J.

[threedogs]

Welcome mate PM sent, You'll never finish trust me, but welcome great bunch of people here and plenty of info as well.
Ask any question you like ,jump in anytime and enjoy

[MEGOMONSTER]

And let the games begin. Start emptying the wallet.


Jack taps here...........

[healy]

Welcome mate nice rig plenty of time to get the mods done

[krbrooking]

Looking pretty nice mate. You know if you ever run out of things in your list you are more than welcome to help me tick some of mine off.

[Agronaught]

Hi all,

Went for a drive today, hot day (mid 30's), and noticed after exiting the Bulli Pass (*lots* of engine breaking, 3rd gear) that the temperature gauge was 'bouncing' between normal (1/3) to just below the marker at the hot end and back. This then settled down driving along the coast to my destination.

Later on the return trip it started happening again and I stopped, with *lots* of bubbling into the expansion bottle. I let this settle down and topped up with 1L of coolant I happened to pick up while in town 'just in case'.

So I'm now thinking...

* head gasket
* cracked head
* faulty thermostat...

At home I've let the car cool down and noted the coolant levels were good (hard to tell with the expansion bottle placement). I've started the car and noted NO bubbles to the radiator as the car warmed up to temperature, also no evidence of coolent in the engine oil or oil in the coolant.

Note that the coolant and engine oil were changed on Thursday along with a BG Clean, cooling system flush, injector clean, break lines flushed etc (all fluids).

The only other sign of a potential problem is a white smoke on cold start, which disappears within a couple of minutes of starting the engine.

On a hot engine I didn't note any movement of coolant via the radiator cap (started cold and monitored until running temp).

So I'm leaning towards a dodgy thermostat... or am I missing something ? In buying the car and prepping it for use it's now had 2 mechanics crawling over it, so I would have hoped a problem like a blown gasket or cracked head would be picked up.


j

[MudRunnerTD]

Sounds like dodgy Earth mate

[Agronaught]

I'm not so sure there - coolant is definitely going AWOL.

I'll book it in somewhere for a pressure check and hope that it's just a gasket, given it's LPG at 200K there's probably a fair chance of a cracked head :( No point getting gloomy yet... pressure check first...

j.

[Agronaught]

Took it for another drive and it started bubbling into the expansion bottle. Looks like the last owner did a job on me, and the paid inspection can't have run the pressure test I asked for and paid for :furious:.

Options...

looks like I need to find somewhere to pressure test (confirm diagnoses), take the head off and identify if it's simply a gasket or worse. Assuming it's a cracked head I would assume a full rebuild is the 'usual' solution ?

Admittedly I did buy the car half expecting a rebuild in a couple of years and have no intention of selling it, so a rebuild is still worth while. Not sure I could stretch the budget to an engine swap though..

I guess it depends on how bad the engine is. It still has oodles of power and seems to have been well cared for, so a case of bad luck.

J.

[Greengu98]

nice car mate, not good about the head, mine is doing same to me now

[BearGUST]

If the gauge is bouncing it sounds like there's air in the system. Is it possible that it just hasn't been bled properly?
Who did the work?

[Agronaught]

The cooling system flush was the local mechanic when I had all fluids, rotors etc, done. An incompletely bled system was my first thought, but I've added 4L of coolant since then and this isn't the first time. The problem that lead to my having the system flushed and replacing the thermostat etc was driving up a steep incline, stopping and hearing a *lot* of boiling from the expansion chamber. Now I'm listening for it I can hear minor bubbling from far lower intensity drives.

I'll take the car in for a pressure test later this week to confirm.

I now have quotes for a replacement rebuilt motor that I'm comfortable (if not entirely happy) with, so the worst case isn't as bad as I thought it would be. It all depends on the pressure test and what we find if/when the head is removed. (hoping for the best, planning for the worst).

Oddly the big question... do I retain the LPG which is due for a full inspection in under 2 years, or ditch it and go for a long range tank given LPG is rarely available for < 79.9 and indexed to increase at 2.5% a year for the next several years, and this is for the most part a weekend (low km) car. The LPG is also an older system and why I'm 'assuming' the heads cracked, I don't think we will know until it's tested and subsequently removed.

If it's just a gasket... Joy! If not... new engine.

The big question is why the independent vehicle inspection didn't find this.

Even with an engine change I'm happy enough with the overall price of the car, it just means I'll have to wait a while before I add more toys.

J.

[Agronaught]

Finally talked to the original mechanic, and he's adamant that a test was run and no faults found. I'll see him on Friday as I'm not sure if the 'pressure test' was simply a compression test, or a cooling system pressure test.

Here's hoping it's fixable. The money that it would take for a new engine would pay for a roof rack, front and end bars, armour etc.

J.

[Agronaught]

I've decided trying to diagnose problems in a recently purchased car via Google is akin to self diagnosing cancer via medical web sites... Assuming the worst before I've even tried the most common solutions...

Booked in for a pressure test at NatRad tomorrow.

J.

[BearGUST]

Haha, I'd tend to agree. Wait till you have some definite answer before making plans.

[Agronaught]

Found it!

Had the system pressure tested. At normal pressure levels no leaks, increase the pressure slightly and the top seam on the radiator opened up spraying coolant.

New radiator is being fitted by NatRad right now ;)


And... fixed! The expansion bottle is working as it should, with coolant being sucked back into the radiator when the engine cools. This is one happy camper :)

Now for recovery points and bash plates...

[Agronaught]

Well that problem fixed, time to mount some radios.

http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2012/10/89.jpg

GME Tx3340 remote 80ch UHF
FT-857D DC to Daylight

Still need to cut a facia to cover the gaps. Managed to use screw holes left by a prior owner, still have a few to fill though.

[Agronaught]

In case you have missed the 'other' thread, the first Major mod will be.... wait for it...

A NEW Engine!!

Yes, in spite of having a mechanical inspection from a mechanic chosen by me it looks like the head is well and truely cracked. Based on the 200K travelled on this one I'm opting for a swap-out and have found a new engine for a price I'm comfortable with, not happy about, but comfortable with. I'm sticking with the TB48 engine as it will do everything I want and at this stage I'm not interested in adding turbo's etc. Cold induction (snorkle) and larger exhaust at some stage but I think that will be it.

Unfortunately this is a mighty chunk out of my toy budget for now :(

J.

[Agronaught]

Umm... Wow! Just picked up the car and i simply cant believe the difference... I guess the old engine was sicker than i thought.

[Agronaught]

Another week, another expense :(

After the engine change the lpg economy nose dived to 2km/L which somewhat limits the range and cost benefit if LPG.

Dropped it in for lpg work and the converter had shat itself. Replaced and flash lube added at the same time.

Lets hope. The money im willing to spend is in short supply.

<sigh>

[Agronaught]

New converter on the lpg appears to have resolved the economy issue. If so im happy as its money well spent and will be recouped after a few trips.

It was nice to finally get out camping !

[Agronaught]

Present arrived from Outback Ideas

22919

Thanks threedogs, ill see if i can put them on tomorrow ;)

Actually just had a look, I'll have to do a slight mod to the bull bar mount and sandwitch the recovery points between the bull bar mounts and chassis rails. Doesn't look overly difficult, bull bar will need to come off though.

[Agronaught]

Wow, this threads now famous!

As seen on 4WD TV. Nearly chocked on my beer when i saw the pics of my troll pop up on the tube rofl.

[happygu]

Good to hear all is looking better now let's hope for kilometres of good running for you and lots more camping trips