JamesRich

Guys I hope y'all knew I was joking about the "traitor" in the title. I know it had to hurt to give up his play toy. Personally I think the wife would have had to just drive the pathfinder for a while till we found her a new vehicle. I am just getting into playing with pathfinders but I have a Suzuki boulevard 109 that I ride every day to work and anywhere else I can have an excuse to ride. If I had to give it up I would probably cry like a baby. So anyway I didn't want to upset anyone, especially the member that owned it, I was just making a joke. And 88 thanks for the links, I always try to search but I'm not good at it, mostly because I don't have much computer time. James

It had a light bar, looks like it got ripped off somewhere along the way. Pieces of it are still bolted on. Anything else I might be interested in removing from his old truck? Does anyone remember the story with his rear springs, were they from a jeep or some aftermarket lift kit? I figured he might have just cleaned them and painted them red. James

I think this would help more on a throttle body motor because the sensor is so close to the throttle body and the crap that comes in thought the PCV. On a port injected truck the sensor is far from the engine so it doesn't get dirty. I will try it as soon as I get a chance. James

I went to the pick a part in Baton Rouge Louisiana today and found this in the cash for clunkers section. Then I walked around the side to the back and found this! Some one from here doomed a pathfinder to death! (One that had to be in running condition to be accepted for the cash for clunkers program) First they locked up the motor, and within the next month it will be crushed. Did someone get that rope yet? It had a body lift and a pair of springs that were not stock. They were painted red so I don't know if they were after market or from a jeep but they weren't stock, so I nabbed them. I made a pretty good haul; I got quite a few parts from a 94 model for mine. I even found one in the regular section with rear disk brakes and LSD. I got an xterra luggage rack for my truck. I will have to cut it up to make it fit but nothing I can't handle. I may have to go back for the axle but worry about changing from drum brakes to disk. All you change is the axle or do you have to change the master cylinder too? Any way my brother and I had a blast raiding the yard but I couldn't believe someone from here would doom their truck to death. I'll bet their wife made them do it! James

Thanks man, I look forward to having lots of fun in this truck. From what I've been hearing on this forum and others these trucks run forever and go through almost anything. The main place I will be wheeling is my hunting lease. I wont have to worry about rain anymore when I'm hunting 5 miles away from the camp. James

A bent tie rod was the first thing I looked for but I didn't think about the compression rod. You were right on the money, part of the rubber bushing is missing from the back or nut side. It doesn't look like it moved that far forward to cause the toe problem but we will see after I change them. This is why I join forums, when I have a problem someone usually knows what is causing it. You guys are great! Thank you Precise, that was precise info! Now I bet none of the local part houses will have the bushings. James

I put A picture up here http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=25204&pid=462020&st=0entry462020 Now I just need to put it in my signature. James

I worked as a mechanic for 16 years so it was just like another day at work but my hands are too big for some spots, like trying to take the nuts off the fan hub. But that was the only hard part. Also the service manual shows a mark on the oil pump housing to line up the crank pulley with. There was no mark on mine. The belt comes with three lines on it to line up with the punch marks on the crank and cam shaft pulleys so it worked out. My belt was so loose it was rattling on the cover. Changing the belt made a huge difference in how it runs. Its alot smoother now. I was concerned about that too. The guy I bought it from didn't know much about it he had just bought it in October. He didn't know much english either. Upon inspection I found that the hood and passenger fender have been replaced. It doesn't look like it was hit bad because the header panel wasn't changed it was just bent back a little. I did find some rust behind the front wheel on the driver side and along the top of the windshield but not really bad. It has a crappy paint job they didn't fix the rust just sanded and painted over it. They even painted over the stickers that were originally along the bottom. at least it looks good when you stand back. Later I will paint it a satin OD green, I will just have to build myself up to it because painting sucks. James

Because I just got it two weeks ago. Brought it home from Houston on my trailer. Gave it the once over, and changed the timing belt. I drove it around a little and it really drives like crap, the sport suspension switch works and helps out alot but i knew something was not right. I checked the toe in with a tape measure and it has 1 1/2" of toe it! I cant figure how it got like that, none of the steering parts look like they have been touched in a long time. I bought it from a mexican, i guess he just kept putting tires on the front. Work is busy right now and hunting season just ended but I will try to get it going this weekend then maybe find some mud. James

Finally snapped a pic of my new to me pathfinder. 87 SE V6 5 speed 107,000 miles My wife fussed me because the tires were muddy. I told her I'm sure these guys are used to seeing muddy tires. James

I'm going to hit some scrape yards this weekend and see what I can find. Yesterday a hit a local one in Lafayette. They had two pathfinders, an 87 and a 96. They were picked pretty clean but the 87 had a roof rack but it is a little ruff. I know where its at if I cant find better. James

So how do you tell if you have a LSD from just nosing around underneath? James

Y'all want to see where we will be in the next 20 years if things don't change, watch the show "V for vendetta". It will show you what the government will do when they get too much control. It is supposed to be fiction but it all seem too true to me. And if you want to see what needs to be done read the book "unintended consequences". I don't think it was ever published (the government wont allow it) but you can find it on the web in PDF form. James

That made my stomach sick! As long as I looked for an older model and they are forced to destroy a nice one! James

Thanks for all the reply and welcomes guys. Y'all have set me up with some ideas now I just need to raid some scrap yards. We have a local pick a part and I think there is a big one in Baton Rouge, I'll have to make some rounds. I already tested to see if I had a LSD while I was testing the clutch. Only smoked one tire. (No I haven't grown up yet) On my last post I meant your idea was the least destructive not most. Lol! You had to put nutserts in to bolt the racks down? I had hoped that there would be a nut tack welded to the body supports where the rack would bolt up if it had one. A guy on clubtitan put armada racks on his Titan. When he pulled the headliner down it already had nuts welded to the roof supports, so he just drilled through where the nuts were. A Titan never came with roof racks but apparently the roof supports are the same for the titan and armada. Oh well it didn't hurt to hope. James

Thanks for the links, I had heard of using springs from a jeep but didn't know the details. My only concern is won't it ride like crap with springs from a heavier truck. I am a machinist, if I lift it I will probably just make a set of aluminum spacers with a pocket for the spring. But I won't go more then an 1" or 1 1/2". There are guys in our lease with the little Japanese trucks that do ok and one suzuki samurai. I have all of them beat with ground clearance already. A locking rear differential will help, any poor man fixes for that? (other than a welding machine) My freezer is full of deer and the wife is bitching so if your house was closer I would be knocking on your door! I wasn't sure if they had stock racks, I think your idea is the most destructive. I will have to find a set of stock racks to put on mine and go your route. If I want to take the basket off it won't look like its missing something. I already have an air tank I made from a large aluminum forklift propane tank that I could use if I needed it, but if I add tanks to the bumpers I will install an electric air compressor somewhere. I have already made air tanks out of 4" exhaust pipe for a low rider and don't understand what kind of accidents you could be talking about. James I have been searching for a pathfinder forum with good guys that have lots of knowledge and aren't afraid to answer a question, and I think I found it. You guys seem like a great bunch! A little info on myself; I worked as an auto and diesel mechanic for 16 years until I screwed up my knee. After two surgeries and it not getting better The doctor suggested a career with less heavy lifting. So I went to school for machining. So now at 40 years old with my mechanical experience and ability to cut iron and fabricate I'm ready to cut loose on this pathfinder as much as my check book (and wife) will allow. I'm also a Nissan man to the core been owning Nissan's since 89. My regular ride is a 06 Titan, wife drives an 01 Quest, and now the pathfinder.

Yours looks like a pretty simple design, I'm not set on them being air tanks it was just a thought while I'm building. Are you climbing a tree stump in that second picture? Thats wild! Your truck looks awesome but I don't want to go that radical with this one i won't even lift it. I will be squeezing through some tight spots where I go hunting so I will have to do some trimming and I don't want to have to trim too high. We don't have any deep mud holes to go through but that is why I want the winch. If I do get high centered I can drag it out. How did you mount your roof rack? I'm guessing drill through the roof and a support member from the inside and bolt it down? James

I just got an 87 for a hunting truck and would like to dress it out for the woods. Has anyone put custom bumpers or a roof rack on a first generation pathfinder? I would like to see pictures and suggestion on how to mount a roof rack and different style bumpers. I have been welding for years and should be able to fabricate all of these parts. I want a winch bumper for the front and a rear bumper with a receiver hitch incorporated into it. Possibly even air tanks in the bumpers. So anyone have pics of their ride? James

You are lucky, I looked for a while and then finally gave in and paid $1800 for an 87. It only has 107,000 miles and is really nice shape, almost everything works even the factory alarm. My gas gauge doesn't work either I need a new sender for the tank, anyone know where I can get one? James

everyone forgets about the 87s. Just because we are considered classics doesn't mean we are not important! Lol! Anyone know where I can get a pdf owners manual or service manual? James

Hey Guys, I just bought an 87 pathfinder se with 107,000 miles. I bought this truck for hunting but I never told my wife that I wanted one since they came out in 87, so I finally got the truck I always wanted! My daily ride is an 06 Titan crew LE two wheel drive. This is my first 4X4 and I want to dress it out. I have been a mechanic since 1988 and like to weld so this should get interesting, as I can afford it. James