Hi All,
This is a great opportuntiy for me to be among such esteemed members of this super site, something that was unknown to me until last week.
While I have found much entertainment, and often excellent correspondence being a member of the Nissan 4x4 forum, I did note that my personal interests have always been focussed on the Patrol, and I beg a sympathetic response to having a foot in both camps?
I am semi-retired now, and SWAMBO and myself have travelled extensively in 2009 through Lesotho, Mozambique and Bostwana, the Patrol being the magnificent vehicle it is, was so faithful and with minimal disruption alround. (One incident when the starter motor simply cooked itself is a story for another day, and I have already noted on your site correspondence the cause that explains it all). I was helped by some fantastic friends, who put it all together again with a rebuild that is simply amazing! And a hell of a lot cheaper than new, too! (naturally replacement was unavailable from the whole country)
By the way, I have an ongoing hate relationship with spares for Nissans in RSA, as well as the incompetent service delivery at agents, so please excuse my outbursts from the start!
My background to 4x4 started some years ago, when on our small farm, (on the Umgeni river between PMB and Greytown), we rebuilt an old series 2 L/R, and installed two tanks - one to get to Pietermaritzburg and the other to get back, such was the fuel comsumption! Moving on to a new Datsun tracker, I can remember the occasions in the early 80's when we traversed the bottom of the Albert Falls dam during the terrible drought (it was virtually empty) and then our lessons learned on how not to drive on the North Coast beaches without the fundamental rules!!
We've come a long way on the learning curve since then, moving gradually on to a L/R Disco (Series 1 V8), which still goes SO well, ( but with the usual L/R history) and this remains in semi retirement with me, as a beloved companion!
After I nearly went backrupt with a subsequent Range Rover, I was taught a few more lessons in fundamentals, and bought our first Nissan Patrol 4000 M 2000) secondhand in 2003, with little trouble other than a replacement clutch. (Mr Clutch, Durban)
Ultimately I found (by chance) our current Patrol, which we purchased on a trade in, and it has been pure joy all along to date.
I use the Hardbody Kingcab for daily run abouts as I am tall, and it suits me very well, in fact more comfortable than the Patrol for tall people!
Finally, PLEASE, can one of you very learned engineers help me to understand in SIMPLE LANGUAGE (like ABC), how to put a picture or two onto the format? (I cannot comprehend the detailed instructions in your guidlines for procedures, as I am NOT PC literate either!)
Regards,
Chris van Selm
PS: Ek is 'n oud Matie, en verwelkom om in albei tale te korrespondeer!
)
] - as die foto groter as 180 Kb is moet jy dit eers "crimp" [ek vind IRFAN VIEW beste daarvoor - en jy laai dit GRATIS af met internet] - Regs klik op die foto, kies "Open With.> en kies dan Irfan View .. kies "IMAGE" ... daar kies jy "Resize" - en "Save as" as jy daarmee klaar is [so 450 x 350 pixel is goed genoeg]
)