Shazlic's 4X4 Adventure

[Shazlic]

Bought my very first Patrol a couple weeks ago and thought I should keep a build log and what better place to do it than here where there is an abundance of information, guides and helpful members. I have only a few basic mods that I want to start off with but from what I can tell I will go much further than I have originally planned :p Bought the car for $12k with 330000ks and a few minor issues. Has a slight red stain on the floor in the back, for some odd reason the cruise control doesn't work, the heater doesn't work, and there is a roof mounted DVD player I wasn't aware of that is however broken and appears as if there is a disc stuck in there already. Really can't wait to get out and learn some off road skills as it definitely looks like immense fun.

My first baby steps are:
* The EGT block off plate (Arrived the other day)
* Boost/Vacuum gauge (Ordered)
* Dual gauge pillar pod (Ordered)
* Turbo Timer which I just spotted in AutoBahn

My further current plans are:
* A slight lift
* Snorkel
* Winch
* Dual Battery setup
* Some decent spotlights or light bars

So here it is, my 2003 Nissan Patrol 3.0 Di Turbo!
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[rusty00]

Looks like its in good condition from the pics.
Was it basic road km?
Be good to see the modifications installed.

[Shazlic]

Doesn't look like it has gone off road much if at all. Can't be totally sure of that but is very clean and tidy for k's. Probably done a lot of travelling with a family but is just a guess because of DVD player.

[threedogs]

Very nice give Mudski a few days then PM him about setting up Nads after you fit your gauges.
Clean example thats for sure, well done.
Good score with the 04 mags too
I have cover plates for where the cargo seat go too

[jay see]

That's my favorite colour at of all the GU colours available.
Nice.

[Shazlic]

Very slow progress so far :( Parts are slowly starting to come in, the delay is getting my A pillar gauge mount. Have been told that they have a back log of orders on them but could be the eBay site just trying to make excuses. Boost gauge, EGR block and turbo timer have come so far though. Need to find an extension cable to connect my turbo timer controller to the module so I can mount it up inside the sunglass holder to keep it away from prying eyes and keep the dash looking neat and tody still.

60610

Have found out why I don't have a working heater, the heater hoses have been disconnected for some reason. I have filled them with water and checked underneath the dash and can't see any water at all so I am hoping it will be as easy as hooking up the hoses again but I am not getting my hopes up

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Progress on finding out why my central locking doesn't work may have hit a breakthrough as well! Have found this alarm box under the dash which I am guessing is an aftermarket alarm but I never got the remotes for it. Hopefully this has tapped into the standard central locking and is easy to fix up. I am however now paranoid that if I disconnect the battery I am not going to be able to disable the immobiliser, hoping I can find the alarm model number so I can get a wiring diagram and be able to swap it out with a newer unit rather easily.

60614

[Shazlic]

Been quite a while since I have updated this thread, nothing exciting going on just yet anyway. Put my turbo timer in, still not mounted exactly where I want it but needing to make a trip up to Burra where I have a mate at Stockman Electrical (I think that's it) who will extend the wiring to the controller so I can have it mounted exactly where I want it hidden in the sunglass' holder. Also fitted a reverse camera recently as I was sick of reversing with very limited view of a night. Plan on putting rear work lights to double as reversing lights on a switch below my cam switch to help a little more in darker areas. Was more of a challenge getting my wiring from rear of car to centre console than I thought but made it work nice and cleanly.

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Attempted putting in a cheap wireless central locking kit to replace the busted one currently in but couldn't get it to work either because of the kit or the aftermarket alarm has tapped into the central locking elsewhere and preventing it from working where I attempted to patch in. Luckily I didn't cut any of the loom with the central locking kit so was able to return it and bought a winch instead, decent trade off in my opinion.

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[4bye4]

Looks like you are having fun. Surprised about the backlog of piller pods. I thought they were available through a few outlets, patrolapart being one.

[Softy]

Looks like a nice neat GU.. Where about's in S.A are you?

[Shazlic]

Still haven't gotten around to fitting pillar pod mounts or boost gauge yet. Should do that soon but too many birthdays and regos coming up this month. Need to find a nice easy spot to plumb the boost gauge into aswell as finding the grommet in firewall to pass it through. It's hard being short trying to work on a 4x4.

I'm in Gawler Softy

[threedogs]

Loving your style Shazlic keep the mods coming ,eh
There is a block you can buy that fits under the OE boost sender
I just brought one $50 makes it neat easy and no drilling
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Nissan-Patrol-Boost-Gauge-Port-Adapter-Spacer-Kit-/331671411315?hash=item4d39281a73
Well I paid $51 only last week so have a search eh

[Shazlic]

You are an absolute legend Threedogs!
Wouldn't have even known about these if you didn't chime in. Now to wait for pay day and order asap!

[threedogs]

When mine was done they drilled and tapped a 1/8th hole under the IC in the boost housing.
But the boost gauge using thin teflon tubing, it had broken the tubing and playing havoc with
the boost, I would never have noticed it broken if not for changing the glow plugs last week.
I've purchased a heap of 1/8th brass fittings and some silicon tubing with clips, so when it
all arrives I'll re-plumb the Dawes, should look neater than what I have now.
and last longer too

[Shazlic]

Just a small update as I have been flat out this time of year with family events, car show prep for my SS and just generally having no spare money for my Troll. Got the adapter part for the boost gauge after Threedogs recommended it, still yet to fit it as I haven't had the time yet and need to buy some boost line to send it into the cabin. Hopefully finding a grommet through the firewall isn't going to be too much of a hassle. Some sad news is that for first time I reversed without my reverse camera since it has been fitted I happened to reverse straight back into a tree :( Luckily not much damage, the passenger side rear plastic bumper corner has a couple light scratches, a crease in the top of it and managed to pull out majority of the bent metal bracing on that corner. Isn't noticeable unless it is pointed out to someone.

Found on this forum about the gas strut on the small barn door so that is another mod to add to my list that I want to do along with the wider opening hinge bracket :smiley_thumbs_up:

[threedogs]

Not good Shazlic I have done the door strut mod and highly recommend it.
I used rivnuts [nutserts] to hold it in place, in conjunction with the door extender
its a very handy mod.

Ive also fitted that boost adaptor [easy as] and re plumbed the dawes/needle
funnily enough my boost dropped, re adjusted it and EGT's and performance are
great now.

[Shazlic]

Where did you have your boost line enter the cabin?

[threedogs]

on the drivers side through the big grommet

[Shazlic]

Been a very long time since posting on here so a bit of an update. This time 2 years ago the head cracked, has been sitting at my dads since then with very little happening on it to get it running again. Managed to pick up a second hand motor with a stuffed diesel injector pump which fortunately mine worked fine. It has been a long 7 month process of cursing, skinned knuckles, blood, sweat, and tears BUT... The motor is at least in the engine bay now, gearbox has mated up to it and has most of its bolts back in and just picked up 8 new cross member bolts to replace the rotted ones that the thread basically fell off of. Hopefully have it all back together and off to my mechanic to swap off the injector pumps for me and back to cruising in my patrol again. Nothing worse than paying weekly loan instalments for a car you haven't been able to drive for 2 years

[Shazlic]

Well it has been with the mechanic for a week now. The pumps were swapped over, and still wouldn't fire back up. They had trouble getting it to time in correctly and had to take the whole front end off to re-do the whole timing process to find it was 2 teeth out. They can now start it using "start ya bastard" and it will run fine however it will not start without it. They are saying there isn't enough pressure there to start it for some reason (would have thought if it could run fine it wouldn't need extra pressure at start up). Anyone have any ideas before I blow a few grand on a new pump?

[the evil twin]

Hmmm... after sitting for that long it could be a few things.

Fuel Filter, gum or crap in the fuel lines, dodgy fuel pump.

The low pressure may be insufficient to start but once the engine is running the extra flow/pressure available will sustain combustion.

I'm just guessing tho...

[Shazlic]

Might try changing the fuel filter as first port of call and then if that fails try for the lift pump modification. Might end up being the long (and expensive) way around to replacing the pump but could potentially save me money, all goes towards making it a more reliable vehicle either way. Anyone looked at the differences between the Holley red pump and the Aeroflow red pump? Quick google looked like the same specs for half the price but haven't seen anyone using one yet.