MrJim

That's too bad. I think everyone understands though. I am doing all I can to get my engine issues resolved this month too. Congrats on your schooling. That will only make things better for you.

Yeah, that's a good site.

Hey Bonez! This is good info. So you are saying it would be best to change both front and rear axles? Not just the front? Don't any have matching gear ratios so that I can keep my locker?

Yeah, that is beautiful, but it is beyond my budget for awhile. I basically want to rebuild my engine and go to a simple SAS swap, though I would love to have a multilink suspension SAS, its probably going to be much simpler than that initially. I figure i will get the axle in place, geared, and working. Then later possible upgrade it from there.

Okay, that is way more I would want to spend. I might end up getting a ring job and my heads redone, but in the meantime, does anyone know how different the 1995 INFINITI J30 3.0L 6-cyl Engine Code [A] VG30DE engine is from the 94 3.0 Pathfinder Engine? This one is $320 locally with 85k miles.

I wonder what they are comparing the 80's style drive to, because mine has been cranked up fully to try to level with lifted rear. Mine has the Calmini torsion bars and they allow you to crank it a bit higher, but everything else is so stressed like cv joints that its making my ride stiff and unstable anyway. I think that a SAS would only make things better than they are at the moment. So are we talking about the full size Jeep Wagoneer? Does that have to be shortened at all?

I am thinking along the lines of not wanting to piss with it. It is lifted beyond what it is designed for up front and its reaking havoc on my steering and tires. I am ready to do a SAS so I can have a cleaner lift up front. As for the 3.3 swap, I am very happy with the 3.0 power. Mine just needs to be refreshed again. The last time there was major engine work on it was in 2001, so its about time.

I would love some help when the time comes. I am waiting on some money that is due my way (might be another month or two), but pulling my engine and having it redone is #1 on my list, and at the same time I want to get a SAS done up front. My front end is so out of whack that its killing my tires and I don't have the height I want up there either. I dont just want to stick some used engine in there, because my was rebuilt and is very strong, but it has issues that need addressing internally.

Hey Everyone! Sorry I have not been around much lately. I have been on here there, lurking in the shadows. I took the Pathfinder to run some errands today and I love that truck. I have a substantial amount of money that might be coming my way soon. If it does, then I will need some immediate pulling the engine to have it repaired. Its runs strong still, but its smoking and tapping a bit more than I prefer. Here are my options over the next few months, I want that front axle GONE. I need some good basic info about installing a SAS, including best axle to use. I need to pull the engine for a high power rebuild, or possibly be upgrading the engine to small block ford, chevy, or dodge engine. I have a locker for the rear axle to install. As you can see there is a lot to do. Let me know if anyone want to to help in anyway, even if its just to direct me to the best parts. I want this rig to make a seriously strong appearance at this year's MrJim Run. Open to suggestions!

Yes, it appears that it depends allot on where you are located. There is probably some business venture waiting to be had where you transport rigs from one region where nobody cares to other regions where they can't get enough of them. Sounds too much like work to me, but you never know. Actually, car dealers do it all the time. In the middle of the winter dealers in the north central US that get the worst weather dealer trade their cars for extra 4x4s and they trade to regions where there is no snow and people just want good cars. Supply and demand I suppose. Anyway, I was not trying to knock Jags or Toyotas. Maybe I was just a little to blunt in saying what I have seen personally. For the record, I like both Toyotas and Jags.

I have put allot of thought into this and here is what bothers me about the Jags. Yes, they are sexy sexy sexy. And the paint and body lines are artistic. The interiors remain flawless, so why are they selling for 1200-1600 across the country. My guess is this. I had a 10 year old BMW with 90000 miles on it under warranty. The transmission went bad and the very best quote I could get for rebuilding that 10 yr old 540i tranmission was $8800. That was more than half of the total value of the car and Then I had other issues pop up out of nowhere and I ended up selling the car for 8000 cash. My biggest personal loss ever on a car. Now, if something looks too good to be true, then there is a good change it is too good to be true. There will always be the lazy uneducated selling out there and we have to have checks in hand , pen full of ink, ready to seal the deal when those roll around. Just watch certain high dollar cars like bmw, mercedes, lexus, infinite, jags, range rovers, and others when they fall into everyman's price range, because one repair that could cost you $40 on your Nissan, might be 4000 on the Jag. My daughter hit something and ripped the bottom of the oil pan on her mercedes. She shut the engine off immediately and had it towed hom. The CHEAPEST damn oil pan for that 560 mercedes was $880 just for the part and they wanted another $600 to install. I bought the pan and paid a local guy to install it at my house, but I got somewhat lucky. Just beware of really enticing cars that seem to sell for much less than they are work in general.

You have to give me some kudos for not just talking smack and then failing to produce evidence. We have things we love about this car or that car, but there are some chronic issues out there with some cars that we love. Hell, the Pathfinders had that stupid exhaust manifold issue for so many years. We bitched and bitched until they finally put a recall out for any Pathfinder under 100000 miles with broken manifold bolts, that they would replace for free. That was one of Nissans biggest and most common issues. The next thing I think was automatic transmissions on certain years. They would just stop working or sometimes they would have only reverse. It was a problem on a much smaller scale than the number of Toyotas with bad head gaskets, but an issue just the same. If you managed to get one Jag that not only looks exquistic like they do, but that actually runs and drives without heavy weekly maintenance than you have something to be proud of there. That is not the norm for that car.

See the Jag section I added to the bottom of the first post.

Just for the sake of saying it, I think that Rangers have always been a damned good little truck too. I have owned more than I can remember and they are just excellent little trucks. They could stand to have a beefier rear suspension for hauling, but they are priced right in the market and are almost always good to go without needing work too. http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/cto/2443464833.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/2439171768.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/ctd/2446014427.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/ctd/2446642370.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/ctd/2444025460.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/2441179351.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/cto/2442916418.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/ctd/2447091439.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/2449622126.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/cto/2436559549.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/cto/2436743319.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/cto/2438869249.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/2438352501.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/cto/2448878040.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/2442932268.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ctd/2450339185.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/cto/2446401018.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/cto/2445109209.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/cto/2450765711.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/cto/2447579348.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/2445772471.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/cto/2438152820.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/ctd/2444564835.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/cto/2450587174.html Well, I think I have proved my point. There are a ton of little Ford Rangers out there for sale at a good price, still running strong. I drove on of my to over 500,000 miles and the throwout bearing went out on the transmission. I just sold it cheap since I had so many years of good service from it and I bought another.

Yeah, I agree that there are only handfulls of Pathfinders at most salvage yards and one common argument for buying a Toyota, at least in the NW is that parts are literally everywhere. That begs the question, "Why" I have always liked Toyotas too, until I actually started looking at them as a general group for buying when over 100,000 miles and generally all 4Runners were either way over priced because they just spent a mint putting a new engine in it, or they were $1200 because they needed an engine. Examples: on V6 and 4 cyl on Toyotas that are on sale here tonight... http://seattle.craig...2444660317.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/2450730363.html http://seattle.craig...2450342697.html http://seattle.craig...2450140629.html http://seattle.craig...2449220119.html http://seattle.craig...2448109473.html http://seattle.craig...2447559105.html http://seattle.craig...2446973473.html http://seattle.craig...2446554203.html http://seattle.craig...2443338916.html http://seattle.craig...2445363175.html http://seattle.craig...2446169673.html http://seattle.craig...2443303587.html http://seattle.craig...2442473351.html http://seattle.craig...2440475416.html http://seattle.craig...2439139302.html http://seattle.craig...2438655362.html http://seattle.craig...2438391982.html Now the Pathfinders http://seattle.craig...2449776953.html http://seattle.craig...2448752122.html http://seattle.craig...2447157336.html http://seattle.craig...2444936902.html http://seattle.craig...2443125388.html http://seattle.craig...2440688342.html http://seattle.craig...2439267486.html http://seattle.craig...2438833275.html http://seattle.craig...2438830044.html http://seattle.craig...2437050355.html http://seattle.craig...2435854278.html So, I was not making this stuff up. Comparitively, the Pathfinder outlasts the Toyota and sells for less. Toyotas look good and run good when they are running. Its like a Land Rover or a Jaguire. If you can afford to keep dumping money into it just so you can drive it, then cool. Just sayin.. .. *****One more thing, do not take anyone's word for it that an engine has been rebuilt without paperwork from a reputable company that documents that and be sure to verify it before you buy. I have bought and sold hundreds of cars and I have had guys tell me that they just bought this 20k engine and installed it so it was like new, but he didn't have the papers. It did run okay, but still had the same VIN number on the engine block as the frame as I confirmed later. People lie. Make them prove it in writing. Sorry, I think Jags are sexy as hell and there is a definite reason that a car that looks that good sell for these prices. http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/cto/2449130093.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/cto/2446799439.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/2444097363.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/2443991554.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/cto/2442741367.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/cto/2442601063.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/2440198008.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/2436252271.html http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/cto/2435952816.html I am only telling you what I have seen for past 10 years on a daily basis. I am sure that all Jags, 4Runners, etc. ran good at some point and there are always examples where they are literally babied through live, but the average jag never sales for book value and they are problematic cars from the dealership. I used to have close friends who bought his and hers matching new Jags and for a year, they had loaner cars everytime you saw them, because the Jag was in the shop. I have always thought they have sexy lines and are one of the hottest looking cars around, but they are definitely on the lemon list.

I posted on the vote page. I am pretty much okay going anywhere you all decide to go. It seems that the overwhelming choice on the vote was Manatash. If I knew a head count, I could check into setting up a staging area at my Brother's cabin across the street from Walker Valley on Big Lake with bon fire pit, swimming, fishing, and a place to boat. I would have to clear it with him but I am throwing it out there as as option. I like keeping it set for first weekend in October each year. It allows plenty of time to prep for it. I am hoping to have some serious upgrades completed before this year's run. Again though, I will happily go whereever the majority wants to go.

This is a qood question. I can tell you that I have an unhealthy habit of surfing the web for best "truck" prices, cars too, and I buy them on the side to resale from time to time. When you start to watch a specific price range like 1000-2000 you will see many regulars and most will be exhibiting their indivual trademark flaws. Ford Taurus's notoriously have bad transmissions in them. Chevy trucks are full of rust when they hit 100k miles (often), Toyota's in general have head gasket issues. Pathfinder Automatics are on that list too. I see allot of Pathfinder's with bad Auto transmissions for sale in otherwise perfect condition. Jeeps have bad brakes and electronic issues. One of the hottest trucks I ever saw on the trails here in Washington was a Toyota 4 Runner that had been seriously built up by the mechanic owner. It was a tank. I love their looks too, but Pathfinders in general are a wolf in sheeps clothing. My friend Rob who rode shotgun on the MrJim run was utterly amazed at the strength, gearing, agility, and overall good show that our Pathfinders put on and he owns a Hummer. He was in awe as we drove straight into hellish curvy canyons of roads at steep inclines with no worries. All in all, truthfully, I think you will spend a fortune on a 4-Runner, just to have the engine overheat and blow a head gasket again at some point and the Pathfinders will be cruising right along with little or no issues. I am really embarrassed for Toyota. They once were owning the trails with Jeeps, but they are money pits that don't seem to hold up when really used like a truck. Please don't send me hate me about this. I am just telling you what I have seen personally. Do a craigslist ad for 1000-2000 for Pathfinders and then another for 4Runners. You will see my point afterwards. Pathfinders all say things like "Best truck I ever owned, but having a baby,), while the Toyota ads will say things like perfect rig, just needs a motor, or may need a thermostat. All you have to do is do a comparison. One more thing, if you go to nearly any junk yard, they have an abundance of Toyotas. Many may be stripped, but only a small handfull of Pathfinders every end up in the salvage yards. They are difficult to find in salvage yards most of the time. Because they are still out there kicking butts and taking names. Buy a Pathfinder and in 6 months, it will be you writing this message to someone else to tell them why a Pathfinder is a much better choice. MrJim

I will often not see questions in my NPORA inbox for awile and often they are asking me about what the best part is or where to find a specific adapter, etc. I started NPORA because I love being able to help people with these things, and now that we are as large as we are, its better to post your questions on the forums so that more people can see the question and if someone gives you incorrect info on an open post, there will be 20 others waiting to make the correction moments later. Its a good system. If you have a direct question to me or about my Pathfinder specifically, then by all means shoot me a message. But if you find that you have an issue that just has you stumped, put the whole crew on the project by posting it in the forums. Also, if you wish to have something deleted or corrected, please contact a moderator. They are very organized and much more efficient on our latest systems here than I am. I want you to know the best way to get help that you need and the fastest way to get responses about your issue here on NPORA. Thank you Everyone! Hope you all had great Father's Day today. MrJim

I see that we are going to Manastash this year. I don't think I have been there, but know there are some great areas around it, so it ought to be good. Sorry I have not been more involved in planning this, but I will definitely be there with bells on. I am hoping to have some majoy work done on my Pathfinder by Oct. 1st, so I will wait for the unveiling at the run. This will be out best year yet. Thank you again for putting this together guys. I hope we have a huge showing and no mishaps like broken windows, doors, etc. here. My winch bumper has been severy braced for it as compared to last year when it was basically hanging from one bracket. I will be there rain or shine, snow or sleet. How many do we think are going at this point? MrJim

I have not heard anything about Reiter in awhile. I am curious to know when we can get back in there.

Well, I will be in Georgia next month if anyone wanted to make southern run.

Personally, I would love it if we could do something a little closer to Everett this year like Walker Valley, but I will happily arrive where ever you all decide to go to collectively.

Its sounds like a fun weekend. Sorry I had to miss it this time. It would be fun to have a beater Pathfinder like that to just have fun with.

I wish I would have thought about this option before now. Too many other irons in the fire now... Next time...

I don't see my Pathfinder being ready for anything this weekend. I am having some issues and can't really afford to do the work that is needed by this weekend. Take lots of photos and have fun. I will catch you next time.