Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

Below is a schematic summary of most items replaced, besides the head gasket and the work on the head itself.
As well as many pipes and fittings (which were leaking), and not shown on this picture.

The videos of the engine hum before and after is too big to upload, so this is posted on youtube.

Before:


After:

Once the engine was put back together again, it started first time!

While it was idling, only then did Graham realise the alternator had a few bad bearings rumbling. So that had to be serviced as well!

Other less critical things that was also done now:
1) Both rear view mirrors were loose. They work electronically from inside (very fancy for 1993), but were loose from the operating mechanism inside the mirror housing. This was glued together, and work as new.
2) The passenger door electric window did not work anymore. I checked the fuses before and all seemed okay. Only when Graham opened up the door panel did we realise there was no electric motor anymore!! See picture below. Got one fro Dawid.
3) The two pumps for the water spray, front and rear, (rear - also fancy for 1993!) did not work. Graham got them alive again. Not sure how.
4) Being the Petrol model, it actually came out with a factory fitted diff lock. The diff lock works, but the vacuum pipes were hard and brittle, and we could not get the solenoid to work again. This I will still get replaced.

Now inside the bonnet is all back to what it should be like.

Suspension was next:

The original coils and shocks from 1993 were still in, and they were beyond kaput.
See below.
Since the plan with this car is not to go extreme off road, but rather to have a fun "Kerk & Werk" car, I am not too ambitious with the suspension. Also after all invested in the car, going overboard on suspension is really not a priority.

I had a pair of TJMs for the rear already.
Graham fitted some second hand 20mm lifting shocks in the rear, and 4.8 coils in front (with 20mm spacers to get it in line with the rear.), and decent (newish) shocks for the front.

Before: After:

A few more things had to be done:

1) Most of the bushes in front had to be replaced, the rear was still fine.

2) The starter key was so badly worn out, that one could literally pull it out while the engine is running.
A copy was made, and the good news is that it was just the key that is worn, rather than the key housing.
So that is sorted.

3) The exhaust needs a bit of persuasion as it is knocking a bit. That is quick and simple, still to do.

So I can pick her up on Monday!

Still on my to list to do:
a) Take out al the minor dents and respray.
b) The final step in the restoration would be the inside. That is a a last priority and will have to wait a while (I have spent quite a bit already). But once done, I will post the before and after on this thread.


Somebody that has driven both GUs and GQs, please comment:
I am really surprised at the small turning circle of this car. It is way way better than my V8.
Do all GQs have a smaller turning circle?

Nice job so far Alex, looks really good!

I think the fact that it is a shorty is what makes the biggest difference in the turning circle as I think the front suspension is identical to the normal GQ's and very close to the GU's?

So...what you are saying is we have to dice again now that you are running on 6 cilinders? ??

Tinus lotz wrote:So...what you are saying is we have to dice again now that you are running on 6 cilinders? ??

Is jy nie bang nie?!

Alex Roux wrote:

Tinus lotz wrote:So...what you are saying is we have to dice again now that you are running on 6 cilinders? ??

Is jy nie bang nie?!

Shorty maak my skrikkerig.....bang nee ....ons reel net bietjie boost en feul

Tinus lotz wrote:Shorty maak my skrikkerig.....bang nee ....ons reel net bietjie boost en feul

Ek maak net die tenk vol, dan het ek klaar gereel vir fuel!

Ek wou nog se:
Voor hierdie diens, toe die vergasser nog petrol gedrup het en die kar nog petrol by die exhaust uitgespoeg het, was my verbruik 4.2 km/l.
So, whatch this space, ek sal hier opdateer wat die verbruik nou is.