The Robbo Clan Wagon

Gday fellow Patrol owners,
a few quick pics of the new Family bush-basher. Picked it up last week, a 99 2.8TD GU, 200 thou on the clock.

Ripped the factory front bumper off and whacked a second hand, airbag compliant winch bar on it on Friday. Needed some heating to straighten some dings, and some paint, but came up well.


Got some 285/75/16 Maxxis muddies going on tomorrow...:clapping:

Looking at a winch and plasma, a nice legal 2 inch lift and a Scotts Rods 3 inch exhaust in not to distant future.
Pyro/ bost guages and pillar pod housing being sorted out at the moment.

Love the car, will carry all our 4 kids well....can't wait to get it reasonably sorted, and hit the tracks again with the whole family, and not have to leave half the Clan at home.

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...hoto0375-1.jpg The old Xtrail, catch ya later.

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...hoto0377-1.jpg Home sweet home.

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...49796189_n.jpg Front off

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...20194463_n.jpg
Bar on and wired.

Lots more to come, barring financial difficulties from the Missus....I love mucking around with cars, its a great excuse to have a beer, and entertain the kids outside in the shed.

Cheers

Nice pics.

Take care out there.

Rossco

Well done mate good job

Very nice mate, well done!

Look forward to seeing her grow!!!

Nice clean slate mate!!! Now the fun begins making it individually your own!!!

nice job mate well done on the bar

Looks like a neat and tidy truck mate, very nice

very nice truck mate. Hope to see you out there :D

Heres a precautionary tale....one of WOE, that got a lot better.
Had some spare time at work, so pulled the intake pipework off the intercooler to the intake manifold. Bloody hell, the whole intake plenum was about 80 percent reduced with crud...turns out the EGR wasn't blocked, as a thought it was.
"No drama" I figure....long screwdriver, brake clean and a heap of rags got it as clean as i could without comppletely removing it. Took about an hour.
Go to start the car...CLUNK.
"Uhoh"......try again...Clunk, BANG, tappity, tappity, tap...kill it immediately.
"WTF?"...goo and gunk should compress, not harm anything, I reckon.
Next minor debacle...snap the bloody overflow off the radiator.

Right, thats it...get it flatbedded to a workshop, recommended to me by a mate.
Get it there....and it starts and runs perfectly. The flatbed ride must have dislodged whatever was oinging around, inside the cylinder.
Ten thousand tonnes of crud spewing out of the exhaust (which is what I expected...not the CLUNK)

So I figure "its here now...fix the radiator, drain and replace coolant, get a new fan and replace the viscous hub. While your at it, remove and retorque the crank bolt with new loctite"

The result....?
Original Viscous hub was stuffed, fan blades had small cracks and would have let go at some stage, the top radiator hose connection had already been snapped off by a previous owner, and the clamp was tensioned with a zip tie (didn't know this)
New coolant added, new radiator top tank, new hub and fan.
Crank bolt was removed, cleaned, loctited and re-torqued..so thats all good.

Car runs perfectly, Temp Guage about 10mm to the left of original position.

Glad it happened at work, not up in the hills with the kids, or on a beach below the high tide mark.:clapping:
A cooked donk and 4 screaming kids (and a screaming Missus) would be my idea of hell.

EGR is NOW blocked, intercooler butterfly removed, intake cleaned, EGT and boost gauges plumbed...just have to wire them up.
Had 4 hours at Glasshouse today in some mud and some hill climbs...car runs perfectly.
Love it.

Just some photos of some new additions.
The Maxxis Bighorn 285/75/16
http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o..._Photo0411.jpg

1 x purchased recovery hook, and 1 x made by myself out of 12mm steel plate.
http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...hoto0409-1.jpg http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o..._Photo0410.jpg

I NEVER want to snap that radiator overflow pipe again, so I have covered it with some 1 mm chequer plate. It will bend if I lean on it, but better than snapping that pipe again.:wink:

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o..._Photo0406.jpg

Apologies for the photo quality, they are off my steam powered mobile.

Good work on all counts mate!!! Doesn't aggressive rubber just bring them to life!! Looks a treat!!

Mate I LOVE the Maxxis...aired down to 20 today, the rig just pulled everywhere no worries at all.
Yeah, its been only 1200km and they are gunna get noisy, but thats what kids are for...drown the tyres out!
At least I can confidently do what I want, and the only bogs will be due to driver error...not the tyres.
Gotta be really conscious of gearing with the 2.8, sometimes a short halt and flick into low range is required, but its a really good truck.

Sand driving will be interesting...a lot of "loud pedal" and low pressures should do the trick.

Gday, (wall of words again, sorry)

I have had a "dual pillar pod"set up in the Troll for 2 weeks, but just got around to wiring it up.
This is a kit purchased for 400 bucks from an online vendor, I had priced many numerous different options and styles but the pillar pod combo came in the most cost effective ie best for our budget.

(I looked at the 3 pod mounts, very flimsy plastic, and guages will be obscured. The twin pod mount is made of about 1-2 mm plastic, very rigid...and a spraycan of Triple M "mid grey" makes it fit in well.)

Pyro plumbed in about 20 mm down dump via drilled hole and a welded nut.....took exhaust off from dump to the next flange and did it in a vice.
Boost tapped into factory pressure line from rear of intercooler to turbo boost controller (via a simple T piece)

First impressions...this stock 2.8TD is limited to 12 psi boost, pyro is yet to get over 400.
That, to me, is a nice an SAFE stock tune..happy with that.

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...ber2011003.jpg http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...ber2011004.jpg

Bad points...
a dual vacuum/boost is pointless (ponted out repeatedly on this and other Forums...I just need to do something, before I believe it!:wink:)

The boost scale goes from negative 25 to positive 30 psi. The needle moves from 0-12 on our car.
http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...ber2011013.jpg


The pyro is graduated in scales of 100 degrees celcius...I think it goes from 0-1200degrees C...so a lot of the guage is not used (On THIS engine)
I checked wiring 20 times, because the needle wouldn't deflect at idle and once warmed up..Only under driving load does the needle move, and then occasionally get up to the 3-400 mark (an excellent result...but the scale needs to be smaller, in my opinion)
http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...ber2011014.jpg


It is easy to set audible warning tones, I have set mine at approx 14 psi boost and 450 degrees C...a high pitched tone is emitted if these limits are reached.
Backlights are red and blue, I have left mine at red purely because I didn't have time to chase a lighting circut for the night function.

I will definately post some pics...once I work out where the kids have stashed the camera:mad:

edit photos added(Vehicle is stationary, at night and not running..ignition is on)

If anyone want photos of plumbing of either guage, engine bay etc, just ask and I am happy to oblige...

I am glad they are now functioning...until the ECU TALK comes back into sale around Feb 2012 (fingers crossed) I like to have some idea, of what the engine is doing.


Next---roof rack and awning for the Clan.:clapping:

PS apologies for the pretty bad edit...I have massive "automatic scrolling" issues posting on the Forum, for some reason

Dropped the spare tyre in today and replaced it with a 285/75/16 AT cheapie....not a Brand Name...but enough to get me outta trouble, in my local area.
While rim and tyre were off the back door, noticed 12 years of dust and mud wedged behind the spare wheel carrier.
Also the carrier itself was rusted pretty bad (surface rust) so I sandblasted it at work, and hit it with some black gloss Killrust.

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o..._Photo0412.jpg http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o..._Photo0415.jpg

Came up ok...and the 33 inch spare fitted well, with no obstruction of wiper or door.

Roof rack currently being assembled, one beer at a time, downstairs.
Might take a while:trink13:

coming along nicely there Dave, now where's that roof rack!!!???? lol

Loosely assembled on some saw horses downstairs...weighs 50 bloody kilos.
Need some help from a mate tomorrow, to swing it up and mount it.

Awesome ebay find...cost bugger all delivered via Evil Bay. :bananarock:

Appears to be exactly what I was looking at via Ironman, UV 4x4 etc...but a grand less. Full length, 8 mounting feet, tie down points and various mounting holes for spotties etc

If I can get it on the roof of the Troll, without killing myself, or someone else:blowup:....

pics to follow:wink:

aye those racks sure are bloody cheap on their at the mo, look the biz too

My second hand steel rack is a heavy blighter too. Must check the load rating for the roof of our GQ wagon.

Very impressed with what you've got done, esp at this time of year!

Gday Silver...cheers mate.
First day of hols today....want to get this done, then I can jump in the car with the kids, when ever I want over next 2 weeks, and head out for the day.
With 4 kids seats, the prams and other associated shite have to go up on the roof.

yeah, us too, and we only have the one nipper! we just take too much stuff!!.

Bought one of those MSA roof bags to put light bulky stuff in - its a bit of a pain to fit, and a bit of a pain to fill. One good thing is that the Nipper loves to get up on the roof and 'Help Daddy Load Up'. She generally is a big help, too :-)

Give it a few years, and I will have all the help I need I reckon. Kids are all under 3 at the moment!

Have a 2m x 2.5m awning waiting to go on the rack, sitting in the shed. Will help when we pull up in the scrub, give the kids and Missus some shade. Loking at a rear awning for over the barn doors as well, at some stage.

This is the heavy piece of kit...need to be put on the guttters and final adjustments made.
http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...ber2011022.jpg

Touched up my home-made recovery point this week...
http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...ber2011019.jpg


And the new el-cheapo spare mounted....
http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...ber2011016.jpg

And the whole reason I am setting up the Troll...the kids have a ball out in the bush.
Gotta be better than DVDs and computer games:wink:
http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...PC020001-1.jpg

Got the rack installed on Boxing Day,then whacked up my Superch%$p awning....on sale $199 bucks,and this thing is awesome.
Its a hand rolled awning, not auto retractable though...2 minutes extra to rollup, not a big issue.

Gave it a test up at Bribie with 2 kids and the Missus,and left it erected over night during some decent rain and its working well...wish I knew it was such good qualiity, I would have grabbed another one.

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o..._Photo0425.jpg
Awning and Rack on.

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o..._Photo0429.jpg
Chillin at Bribie with half the Clan.

Going to work out a pulley system for my shed,want to suspend the rack and awning off the shed trusses when not in use (work periods)....then just reverse patrol underneath and lower the rack back onto the gutters, when its needed.

Thats the plan, anyway:smile:

Cheers,

That's a fine lookin setup mate top job

Thats a nice piece of machinery you have there Dave. Great pic of the young bloke too, can see he's enjoying the great outdoors.

If I could find the previous owner of the vehicle, I would gladly buy him a bottle of what-ever he wants to drink, Trolatron.
Seriously, the entire undercarriage and engine bay still have the factory torque marques on nuts and washers...it appears to have been a straight tourer.
The aftermarket cruise control is an absolute dream, and the rear end is already wired with an Anderson plug....so when I get a "day-tripper" trailer squared away (our current 6x4 box trailer...wired with a fridge, decent springs, rims and tyres and room for all the Clan gear:confused:)....we should be set.

Unfortunately, with the roofrack and 33s, I can't lift the truck 1mm without knocking down the external carport.... I only built a year ago.


But.....at the end of the day,my Missus is 5"3...and my kids are all still in baby seats,so I have plenty of time to work something out:smile:

I have the "roofrack shed suspension system" in the shed working well now...so it can get pulled off, along with the awning, and secured by myself.

So I am now limited to "upping the boost" to around 14 psi, hopefully a 3 inch exhaust...and regular maintenance, monitoring and repairs.

Love a new compressor, rear steel bar, winch, dual batteries......the list is endless

Edit... my kids love going "ffoooorbbbbeeeeeiing"...they sleep well in the car, love naming cars and animals...and will happily bounce around with Dad in some pretty stupid spots.

Thats the whole reason I bought the Troll....no fun unless the whole family is there!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by robbo0001

Unfortunately, with the roofrack and 33s, I can't lift the truck 1mm without knocking down the external carport.... I only built a year ago.

.

---

Yeh know what you mean, I want a roof rack but will probabley have to air down to drive into my shed lol.

Ray

Added another "ebay cheapie".....an unbranded rear roll-up awning (tigerz11). Purchasd from Melbourne on Wednesday, delivered and installed on Friday...happy with that

Had its first test on Bribie Island yesterday, every bit of shade helps with the kids.
Had some decent rain as well, both awnings kept everything dry.

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...ber2011043.jpg

Have sorted out my shed hoist system, so the racks and awnings can now be stored outta the way, until required.

Absolutely brilliant.

Love your intention.....fun for the whole family.

What is it with trolls and carports? Mine's about 2mm too big to fit under the carport. I can fit the bonnet under the carport, but the pod on the back is 2mm too big - and I'm not airing down every time I want to park up.

May you all have many, many years of fun and enjoyment.

Take care out there.

Rossco

Nice rig robbo good to hear she running all ok no engine damage :)

Gday DX

"What is it with trolls and carports? Mine's about 2mm too big to fit under the carport. I can fit the bonnet under the carport, but the pod on the back is 2mm too big - and I'm not airing down every time I want to park up."

Yeah it either air up/down every time I get home. Or try and install the roofrack out the front of the house everytime i need it....and its to heavy and awkward for that.
Another option will be to raise the carport about 120mm...thats being looked at over a few beers.
No rush though..

Cheers Muddonk....very happy with the engine, specially now I know all the critical points have been checked and confimed good.

Robbo, did you fit the aftermarket cruise control and if so was it hard and what brand, also is your rig manual or auto

Gday Ian,
cruise was already fitted when I purchased the vehicle recently. Its a vacuum operated cruise system that appears to be plumbed in off the brake booster, the Patrol is a diesel manual 5 speed....cruise works at speeds from 60 anp up. Cuts out when you brake, clutch in or turn unit off.

I will grab some specs tomorrow mate and chuck em up....I think the install documentation/ warranty is in the vehicle docs.

Edit The unit MAY be factory aftermarket.
Its a rectangular box that sits below steering column at my right knee....One slide switch ON/OFF...two square buttons "set/accelerate" and "cancel/ decelerate" with a red indicator light to indicate ON.

The only documentation I have is a serial number and the user instructions, however I can't find any manufacturers marks or model number. It is definately plumbed iinto the brake vacuum line booster as the "sense" or "control" pressure, via a tee piece. There is a control box tied up below the boosted assembly, and I can't really see any makers ID on that either.

If anyone knows who manufactured it...I would be happy to know as well, for future reference.

Sorry couldn't add any definite info mate

Cheers

Mate, regarding my above edit...after a bit of research, I believe it is an

AUTRON AC533 Vacuum cruise control
http://www.autron.com.au/newweb/index1280.htm

(Products--->cruise--->AC533)

and the switch appears to be a CM13

(Products--->cruise--->AC533---->Features....selection of switches available (link))

Sorry....couldn't copy pictures or the links properly to post.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Dave,

Thanks mate, I'll have a look at the link and see if I can get a setup for my car.

Cheers Ian

These Autron units aren't factory as such but they are what dealers fit. Well at least thats what they were going to fit to my Navara ute when I wanted genuine cruise in it. You can get them elsewhere other than Nissan is the point I'm trying to make and for cheaper if you wanted to do this.

Been a few months, but "we" ( haha...me, very quietly)...have been slowly getting the Patrol sorted out.

ALL PHOTOS OFF MY SHITE MOBILE...My apologies in advance.:(


Factory steps removed and "bare bones"sliders installed about 2 months ago..on sale, from these guys.http://www.rocksliders.com.au/

Great service...the sliders didn't conform to the body as much as I wanted originally, however my kids can still use them as side-steps, so I am very happy with em.
Easily take the weight of the car. First thing I did after fitting them...was jack the Patrol up of the sliders.
No worries, at all.



http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o.../Photo0481.jpg

Got the Shed system sorted out...pull it up manually with a 150kg rated pulley, attach a chain on each corner. Easily hangs a steel 4 post roof-rack with a side and rear awning still attached...http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o.../Photo0476.jpg

Took two kids up to Bribie for a swim...the set-up works well...http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o.../Photo0465.jpg

Ran into BigMav at the Lagoon...not in his Mav.:tease:
Had a good yarn about all things 4wd.

I managed to send my tool-box straight through the interior door trim, on the large barn door at the rear of the Patrol. Busted vinyl and a big hole through the particle board...eventuated in a drop down table. Not the best re-trimming job, and the support cables need to be swapped from auto-elec cable to possibly stainless, but the back board and table are 2mm aluminium...so its light.........It has already held 12 full stubbies, so I can wait til it snaps.:tease:....
http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o.../Photo0490.jpg http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o.../Photo0474.jpg

Disregard the colour of the vinyl in the pictures...both photos should be the same.
Used Triple M Vinyl Medium Grey....its a perfect match for the rest of the car.

And last, but NOT least....the Harris Hardnose and Harris Hardcase fitted.
Had the pleasure of meeting Mal the other week, these two items are a straight fit....and a LOT better than anything I had tried to buid myself.
Probably last longer than our Patrol:biggrin:
A good, SOLID peice of metal work, to protect the steering and the Diff....love em.

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...hoto0485-1.jpg http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o.../Photo0487.jpg http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...hoto0484-1.jpg...


Next on the list....either double-din head unit with a roof-top DVD, for the 4 eating-machines.
Or a rear bar...for the Boss (can't park...haha, thats my excuse)
Or a Tigerz 12000 pound winch....cos I can't drive ( thats my excuse:thumbup:)

Cheers.
Robbo

Good stuff mate all that steel looks the goods. looks mean now

Nice one Robbo, jeez it looks clean under there ..... got the kids playing house under there did ya????? Lol

Not for long, Clunk....had some good rain in BrisVegas this week.

Powdercoated Harris gear...and pressure pack (Black-gloss) Robbo gear...I should never be allowed near a paint can, with beers..:devilred:

Can't stop til the can is fiinished....nothings gunna rust though:biggrin:

It looks great mate.... im just jealous, I really need to give the underneath of mine a bloody good scrub. Love that setup you have for removing and storing your roof rack, im sure I've said it before but I have garage envy, can't get any where near my car port with the rack oin lol