@Slartibartfast Moving this from the intro thread:
Sounds like one hell of a rig! For posting pictures, you need to host them elsewhere. I use Photobucket but it's a buggy POS and I recommend finding something better.
Do the adjusters hang down from the crossmember? If you re-index the bars in the adjusters (basically take it apart and put it back together a spline or two off from where it was) you can get the adjusters to tuck up into the crossmember out of harm's way.
Rugged Rocks makes a heavy-duty engine mount kit, though it sounds like shipping to Kenya is generally problematic. It's a simple enough design that you or someone you know who has a welder could probably cobble something similar together. A friend and I made a similar set of mounts for his Blazer by hacking up the factory mount plates and welding on a set of simple bushings he found online. The easier way to go is to just take a stock mount and weld a chain from the top mount to the bottom one, leaving enough slack to allow for some movement but preventing the mount from pulling apart.
The steering linkage is a weak point, especially if you're running a lift. I remember reading something about using one-ton Chevy tie rod ends but I don't remember specifics on that. Also look into the 2WD Hardbody steering swap, I'm planning on that for my rig at some point and the guys who've done it seem pretty happy with it.
Thanks, this helps a lot. I come back to the US a couple of times a year, so engine mounts are definitely small enough to throw in the suit case. The chain idea is not a bad one either - Is that perpetually making noise or not really?. I'll give it a try if the engine rugged rocks mounts to don't make it (or maybe in addition if it makes sense).
So the suspension issues are getting outside of my experience, but here is what I know/have been thinking:
Yes the adjusters hang down from the crossmember - this leaves them exposed. This is amazing advice - I have replaced the adjusters once before and already the new ones have taken a few bad whacks. Is it worth my trouble to get some different torsion bars? Such as these: https://swayaway.com/product/torsion-bar-set-87-97-pathfinder-4wd/ - They are clearly not light
Further, the vehicle does not have any sort of lift or change stock suspension (aside from jacking up the torsion bars a bit). Considering how hard I drive this thing, do you think adding a small suspension lift would lead to a few less problems or add even more? It would open the door for some slightly bigger tires which might help. I have been toying with the idea of bringing/importing one of those partial kits or importing a full kit. Or even just buying the upper control arms next time I'm in the states and piecing together the rest with stuff I can find out here. Any advice on these options?
This thread seemed pretty helpful - http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/topic/19148-94-pathy-lift-options/?p=325961 - For suspension he recommends some UCAs+bigger springs. If I bought a pair of UCAs and brought them back with me, I think I could find some bigger springs to fit out here. Seems like an easy option - but in terms of durability on really hard use, will this cause other problems? Lastly, would this lift allow me to crank down my torsion bars from max and thus relieve some stress?
...I'm talking well outside my understanding here, so hope I'm on the right track - and thanks again for the help (from anyone).
