SteeevO

I've been a fan of amsoil the last few years.. good stuff.

Just curious, why are you guys choosing to use ac springs over the ome springs?

The non can block should be fine. It basically all goes back together like a VG 30 including intake egr etc. I don't know why I wasn't getting updates on this thread but I'll have to add to this when I'm back on a computer.

Just wanted to say that this information is correct to my knowledge as well

Thanks! the new coilovers in the rear are working awesome! I'll have to do a writeup on those as well in the near future.

if you need suspension parts or parts more along the lines of off road. let me know!

yup, pretty much LS's lol

A few months back we started planning a small run to run through the historic Rubicon Trail in the eldorado national forest found in northern California. The plan was to drive up to lake Tahoe to drop off any tow rigs, then continue on to loon lake where we would camp for the night and get an early start on the trail the following morning. The first day on the trail was planned to take us into buck island lake where we would make camp for 2 nights. This would give us a day to hang out on the lake, go fishing, hiking, take a nap etc.. this down day also would serve as a backup day in case we didn't make it to buck island lake on the first trail day giving us a chance to catch up. the 3rd day we would wheel out ending in lake Tahoe, where we would sleep in a hotel then drive home the following day. This seemed like a solid plan, and besides a strange gut feeling about the trip, we were all packed up and ready to go. But then there was a wrench that got thrown into it. The King fire. I recieved a call from a friend the day before heading north to tell me about a fire that had started up just the night before. I looked into it and it had grown by 6000 acres just overnight then totaling 18000 acres and areas near the rubicon trail were being evacuated. After getting further updates from other friends in the area the decision was made to not attempt to run the trail. The Fire is still burning as I write this and has grown to nearly 90,000 acres. Yes, it's visible from space. So with multiple people taking multiple days off of work, arrangements made to watch kids, loaded gear and a big itch to go wheeling.... what was next? Back to the drawing board and in a few hours a new plan was created to go wheeling in the Sierras outside of fresno. This is an area that I haven't done much wheeling in but it would put us on new trails and would allow us to explore without a strict agenda. We more or less stuck to our original schedule of driving days and wheeling days. We made camp just outside of shaver lake and wheeled into some amazing parts of the forest. there were lots of obstacles that were challenging enough to make you think but nothing too over the top. Along the way we visited Red Lake and Strawberry lake where there were few other people. They are some very quite and relaxing places of the forest. Places we'll definitely have to revisit. Check out full gallery here: http://gallery.ruggedrocksoffroad.com/v/sierra-national-forest-4x4-trails/?g2_page=6 http://gallery.ruggedrocksoffroad.com/d/23814-3/Strawberry_Lake_OHV-Trail_2383.jpg http://gallery.ruggedrocksoffroad.com/d/23913-3/Strawberry_Lake_OHV-Trail_2385.jpg

This one was a junk yard drop in a few years back when I needed a motor at the drop of a hat after needing to be at a race to run comms just a few days later. so this motor has about 300,000 on it. the original motor had 347,000 on it. I still drive it around, to lunch, to and from local trails. the intent is to keep it smog-able. so it better pass next year! lol There wasn't enough demand for them. I need at least 10 - 15 people that are willing to pull the trigger on those with deposits to make it happen. I'm willing to give it another go, but I need to hear from more of you guys. the 33-spline lockright locker has been one of those projects that just won't take hold by the manufactures. I've had numerous companies look at it but we would need to build a whole new locker because 33-spl 2 piece carriers are too rear. we would need to make them for the one piece carier or to possible fit in a LSD case. One company is willing to do it if I order 100 of them.... so far I've had to tell them to jump in a lake. I don't actually Do KOH, we go out there every year to watch the race, some years we volunteer. Years ago some of us had a little camera time and ended up on the DVD. If you've never been to the race, I recommend everyone go atleast once. However this year will be interesting due to the military taking over a good chunk of the land.

I know some people get sticker shock when they see it all in one price but when you break it down, it all makes sense. I've got a 4-link for the rear also, I'll have coilover brackets for the rear available soon as well. Let me tell you, it all works incredibly well. Performance at a level that you can't get out of a D44 anyways.

No this actually was a much milder build than doing all of that.

The pathfinder has had a little bit of a rough year, but in the end has ended up being better than ever! I'm hoping this story / build will actually help other people that are planning on rebuilding VG33E or VG30E engines. If anyone has any questions along the way, please feel free to chime in and ask questions. Back in Feb. we were out at the King of the Hammers race in Johnson Valley, CA like we do every year. We had plenty of people gathered around at camp, a few short trail runs to do, and even a magazine shoot scheduled. Leading up to going to KOH, I did notice that the pathfinder started to smell like it was starting to burn oil. it had been going on for a little while but it wasn't anything super concerning at the time. it was still running strong and I'd periodically check the oil level. The second day in JV, I got up and met Ken Brubaker to shoot the Pathfinder for a magazine article. the shoot went great, and it was cool to meet Ken who was impressed with the build. Right around the time the shoot was done I noticed the burning oil smell was getting worse. I knew a new an engine build was in my future but I didn't think it would be quite this soon. The following night we were leaving camp to go run a trail called Elvis. It would be one of our last opportunities to run the trail since the 29 Palms Base would be expanding soon to encompass this area, therefore being shut off to wheeling forever. So we rounded up our friends and headed out. Before we even got to the nearest road, my friend michael pulled up next to me, signaled to roll down my window and then ask, "Does your truck always smoke like that when it's cold?!". Puzzled as to what we was talking about, I looked behind us and what I first thought was dust, was about 20% dust cloud and 80% smoke. I immediately turned off the rig, looked around underneath and saw oil actually dripping from an exhaust port. Needless to say at this point the rig barely started and had minimal power. I pulled it onto the trailer back at camp, rode with someone else the rest of the trip and then started the new build as soon as I got back home. After all, GoneMoab was only a few months away. The hunt for a rebuildable engine started as soon as I got back home. I actually had the original vg30E that came with the truck that I had been planning on rebuilding. I originally thought it would be cool to have the origina motor back under the hood. but when it came down to it... I opted for the VG33. I thought it would be nice to have a little bit more power. After a few days I had a vg33E that I was hoping would be rebuildable. the crank turned smooth so I took that as a good sign and picked it up for if I remember right... $350 It had a blown head gasket but figured the parts would all still be good after some machine work. My goals for this eninge were simple, keep it a basic rebuild, rebuild it as a VG30E so it drops right back into the truck and make it reliable. reliable as in, large overbore, heavy head work, and massive cams were out of the question. It also must pass smog and not get much worse gas mileage than what what the truck was getting with the 3.0. I wanted this to be more or less a budget build. so here was the plan: -I wanted larger cams, but not super huge so I opted to use the 3.0 cams instead of the 3.3L cams because they are larger and I was able to source them from one of my old VG30 engines. -Since the heads were going to be machined and taken apart I figured I'd take the opportunity to do some minor head work. just to smooth things out and make it more efficient but not do a full port job. I want the torque to stay at lower RPM's since we won't be bouncing this thing off the rev limiter. I typically wheel / crawl at about 2000 RPM's -have it look bone stock when it goes back together includig putting the oil filter on the side of the block rather than on the front like most vg33E engines. so the adventure turning wrenches begins. I pushed the old VG30E to the side and got the VG33 on the engine stand. I flipped it over and started taking it apart. I needed to get down to the bare block. I was going to need some part from the VG30 as well. So I tore it down too: It basically looks the same just.. older and stinkier. Both cranks were sent out to the machine shop, the vg33 crank would get reground, balanced etc.. as well as some machine work to the snout to accomodate the VG30 oil pump. this is neccessary to relocate the oil filter to the side of the VG33 Block. The 3.3 Heads and block were also sent out. (no pics of this drty stuff) [To be continued]

Did RTM ever wheel it?

It really depends on how far you want to go and what exactly it is that you want to build. https://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/advanced_search_result.php?search_in_description=1&keywords=SAS+Kit

If you use the vg33 oil pump and don't want to cut, then the domino effect starts and you won't run the vg30 externals. Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

I know that guy! Good talking to you on the phone today. I can call ironman to see where they are at with everything as well. But a few members here may be able to give you some real life feedback on ironman vs ome on an r50 Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

Once you swap the water pump everything else should be an easy bolt on to my knowledge. If you swap to the 3.0 crank youl want to get it rebalanced to the vg33 pistons and rods. Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

an 1/8" play where?

Warn part number 29091 fits. 90+ d21/d22 pathfinder, xterra, hardbody, frontier. Sent while mobile, typos likely.

This is Rad. Sent while mobile, typos likely.

I did forget to.answer one question.. why isn't Kenny running them?... he ended up selling his D21 HB pickup for a 2nd gGen frontier. Sent while mobile, typos likely.

The only issue that these headers really ever had is that they would crack more often than other sets of dt header because of too much heat at the tri y due to the rear most primary being so short. They are lifetime warranty so it was more of a nussance than anything having to redo an install. This is why I only have DT make them with ceramic coating and not the nickel option. The ceramic helps with heat dissipation. The new design shortens the tube between the tri y and the flange allowing for primarys to be a.few.inches longer also helping with heat dissipation to.prevent cracking. Overall an even better product. They also reangled the egr bung for an easier install. The egr Bung in the past was a little off making it a bit of a pain. I've done these a handfull of times. And its really not too bad! Also, just so you know these aren't the prototypes, these are full production headers taken right out of the first full production batch. Let me know if you have any questions. Sent while mobile, typos likely.

You will love those headers. The ones you're getting from kenny are the first production ones of the latest design. I havent even done a press release, email newsletter or Facebook post about them yet. If for some reason you have any issues with them, please let me know. I stay in pretty close contact with the guys at DT. im the one that pushed them to do the latest update and got Kenny's truck in the shop at DT. Sent while mobile, typos likely.

Thanks guys! Sent while mobile, typos likely.

I've considered doing bumpers but its not easy making it a bolt on solution that can support a winch on these trucks. There is a bunch of stuff in the way. And really the trail gear bumper prices aren't that bad. As far as a sas kit goes i just need to build one more truck like mine to.verify fitment. I have 2 people interested and should be pulling the trigger on that too. Using 14" travel coilovers. Basically the exact same setup as mine. Sent while mobile, typos likely.