Karmann

Brought this thread from the grave I see, I suggest looking at my build thread for my impressions, but I check out the OME kit from Rugged Rocks. Great service! https://ruggedrocksoffroad.com/19962004-r50-pathfinder-suspension-components-c-38_1322_1339.html

Might sound stupid, but if it's closer to a rattle than a grind, it could easily be your cat heat shields. I had to completely remove mine after I got tired of the rattles. You can then line the area with header tape or whatever you like that can stand the heat to perform the same function.

Looks like you scored something with good bones, good work on the resto.

Agreed, though for me, I can usually rotate and move out of the passenger side rear door. I put my usually muddy boots under where the sleeping platform goes past the top of the folded seatback on my rubber floor mats. It's a little awkward, but it works well enough.

NovaPath I like your style.

I built this sleeping platform a few years ago, and have used it on several trips. By now I must have spent at least a month sleeping in the truck, and apart from having to remove the seat bottom, it's very simple. I used less than one piece of plywood, some indoor/outdoor carpeting and a piano hinge. It folds up very small too: It's worked very well for me, and apart from mounting an upcoming ARB fridge where it sits, I'd continue to use it.

From Mojave National Preserve last weekend And a phone picture, because my DSLR's shutter jammed. I'm on a truck scale at an abandoned cinder mine.

Looking good! The supercharged Xterra was on my list when getting my Pathy, but after reading about the mileage and the issues a lot of owners have with the crank sensor, it wasn't worth it to me. Not for only 210 horsepower, which is still incredibly weak for all that trouble. I went with the VQ in my Pathfinder, with the nicer interior as you mentioned, and never looked back. Plus I have something against torsion bars in my trucks/SUVs. I'm not sure why. Either way, it's always fun to look at/drive the other Nissan SUVs, and how you notice all the little differences.

I believe 2 nuts should be fine, they've gotten me through a lot through the years. But yep, you're on the right track, just feed the bolt through the crossmember, stack the washer and lock nut, and then hold the nut as you turn the bolt. That's how I usually do it, I may have forgotten another washer.

Very good looking rig! Crap luck about the fender bender, but at least you've been able to invest that in mods that make the truck more usable and look cool to you. I would like to see a picture of your hi-lift bugout setup, I always get a kick out of those, and have a bit of one in my pathfinder. Oh and welcome, love the nickname for the truck by the way.

They should bolt to the transmission crossmember, and on my 02 I had to remove what I suspect are NVH blocks. They were just weights, and were covering up the holes to mount the skid. After that, it was easy to mount it up, and you just sandwich the bolts like the diagram says (assuming you got one, this is 4x4 parts afterall.)

Looks good, as everyone else said, those are some really clean cuts!

Definitely go with the OME springs all around, it handles a load better, and rides better unloaded IMO. Less lean in the corners, and better control over rough surfaces. I paired mine with extended length Bilstein 5100s out back, and I couldn't be happier. Stock I could hit rough washboards at 35, now with the Bilsteins, I can comfortably do 50-55 all day with complete control. Check out my build thread for more details, and my impressions.

You and I have very similar trucks, even in terms of mods, and the situation you're describing seems to be 100% normal. I've taken mine over the grapevine a million times, done several cross country trips, and have taken it up to high elevation several times, so I'd like to say I'm familiar with how the transmission behaves, and I've noticed that trait every time. My trick is usually just to let off the gas when going back down hill for a few seconds, and it'll eventually settle into OD. Or if you manually switch it out of OD when climbing the hill, and then turn OD back on, it seems to swap gears marginally sooner. But I think you already know both those things. You might be due for a throttle body cleaning, I know I was when I took it all apart. Afterwards it does seem to have less jumpy throttle response, which is a good thing around town and on the trail. Other than that, you might want to get yourself a scan gauge or something to otherwise monitor the tranny temps, and check the fluid frequently of course, but mine hasn't grenaded and it's been doing that shifting pattern for the past 65k. I think it's just a programming issue, I really wish they came with a 5th gear, or lower overdrive just to conserve fuel and quiet it down some, but it's 13 years too late now.