aussie4wheeler

All hands on deck! I apologize for the late post and urgent content but I am in desperate need of help. I was at the shooting range training with my girlfriend when i went to drop her at the bowling alley for a girls night out. A 1/4 mile from the alley the pathfinder began making a ticking and then a horrible knocking sound that matched the idle speed and got louder with higher revs. I admit that I was driving hard when it happened, some fskcwit cut me off and then yelled something out his window. My juvenile 21 year old brain decided it was a thoroughly good idea to put pedal to metal, pass said Ford driving fskcwit and raise the international symbol for 'eat me' out of my pathys moonroof. I have never had an issue with this pathy until A half mile later after the rough acceleration, The noise began. I pulled into the bowling alley and called a tow truck. Had it towed to me house where i have a modest heated garage with a small but quality selection of hand tools. I have read many horror stories regarding some kind of power valve screw that comes loose in this motor and gets jammed in a valve or lifter or cylinder etc and causes enough damage that a new motor is required..... I hope this is not the case as i just swapped a motor in my landrover and sold the damn thing after a year of headaches and lost thousands on the whole deal. I didn't go in and loctite the screws yet because I was planning on a full motor rebuild with a DNJ rebuild kit this winter including new pistons, rings, pumps, gaskets etc. I don't yet have the money for the kit but I am in the process of pulling the intake manifold tonight to have a look around. I live in northern Wisconsin where snow is an ever present threat, I am riding my motorcycle until I can fix the pathy or until I ship off to army basic combat training. The 02 pathy has 184,000 miles on it. Please offer any advice, I greatly appreciate your attention and assistance. JR, (The American Born Australian, aspiring Army Aviator). Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Yea some 17 yr old in a company Yukon sideswiped me. My quick move to the right saved a ton of damage lol Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Yea a 17 yr old in mommy's company Yukon side swiped me a day before we left on a 7 day adventure fishing trip into canada haha. Pics if the Canadian adventure to come, had some fun on the endless logging trails in northern Ontario

New wix trans filter last night, new wix air filter last night, new rear window reg and motor, hand wash, triple coat of wax, new amsoil change, wix filter.... Oh and a car accident an hour ago... fskc!

this is the day I picked my pathy up, drove 7 hrs in the 96 pathy with 232,000 miles on it and it hadn't been run in over a year these trucks really are amazing!

Thanks for the input B, I used to run the canoe the right way up on my Landrover but it tore the roof racks to hell over a summer abd the only after market rack I could find that would fit the big 3 person canoe carrys like this, I think they were designed for kayaks but they work great. Rain has been an issue but I intend to get a good cover for it, I usually only carry 50 pounds or so of gear in it up there, a bundle or 2 of wood or a trolling motor and fishing gear etc. Do you have a better suggestion besides upside down carry and removing all the paint off my racks? Not to mentions the pathy rack is not as wide as my old Landrover one and the canoe keeps slipping down one side or the other, I know this from carrying it without sportracks upside down on my dads 96 pathy I guess the reason for the rebuild is that I have access to a buddy for the next month or so who is an ASE mechanic and is willing to do the whole rebuild for $800. Ive had so much trouble with my last few rigs (granted they were Land rovers) that I don't wanna take any chances and figure I should just do the rebuild now before I break down in -40f and 3ft of snow on the way back from a job interview at the sheriff's dept. (Something the landy put me through last winter resulting in a cracked block) any abd all input is eagerly accepted, thanks guys Josh

Cool, thanks kyle, my intention always was originally to keep it stock. I got pressure from buddy's to tune it up/d it a cold air intake do this do that etc etc but I think its really a great designs as it is, no real need to go changing to much, im not gonna be towing anything but a canoe and some bicycles so it makes plenty of power as it is. If I throw money at anything I think it needs to be at suspension/tires and some of the accessories I have planned like light bars, CB, radar/laser jammer, aux battery/on board refrigerator etc. I appreciate all the input fellas, if you guys are ever in the northern MI/WI area hunting or traveling etc hit me up. I got a spare room abd plenty of tracks to go wheelin

Thanks for the tip! The main reason for the rebuild is the last 2 vehicles that I have bought have given me nothing but problems after the first 6 months or so and I end up pouring all my money into them, I have a buddy who is a master mechanic who needs some money and offers to do the whole rebuild for $800. I pay for parts and I'll practically have a brand new pathy. With the 48 state trip over 30,000 miles with little money and no resources I want to minimize the risk of some thing major going wrong in the trip. Can you recommend a specific brand or type or hot cam/tune. What about converting to direct injection??

Hey guys. I am conducting a 48 state road trip next summer in my R50 02 pathy and she has just hit 181000. Next week I am doing a full engine rebuild including oil pump, timing chain, water pump, new pistons etc. While the motor is out is there anything I should pay special attention to or replace???

Hey guys, I just bought my first pathfinder 2 months ago, its an 02 LE with 178000 on the clock, have done a few things to her but she's pretty much stock. I got rid of my second overheated and cooked land rover discovery and found the pathy to be a superstar at anything I throw her at! My goal for this truck is to safely reliably take my girlfriend and myself to all 48 states next summer both on and of the tarmac! First thing on the list.. A full engine rebuild, new pistons, valves, pumps gaskets etc!!