tmoore4512

I agree 100% with both of you. I went after the CL transmission because it WAS listed as 4WD but it was actually 2WD. After some research I decided that since I only had about $150 worth of trade tied up in it, and that the 4WD output shaft and rear housing would bolt right in, I went for it. Now...here is the weird thing: According to this post by RJSquirrl http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/topic/25568-re4r01a-hd-transmission-information/ It states that the "HD" RE4R01A has "larger components" or "beefier" per se. With that said...I made phone calls and went to various shops... According to everyone I spoke to, the two transmissions are identical in every way... Even part numbers for rebuild kits are the exact same...with the exception of a letter designation such as: Rockauto.com PARTS AUTHORITY Part # MRK6900B (2003 Xterra) PARTS AUTHORITY Part # MRK6900F (1995 Pathfinder) I spoke to a sales rep at said website and they were unable to tell me the difference in the two kits. According to him side by side they appeared to be the same size (clutches etc). All of this without actually opening the packages but looking through the plastic blister packs at the parts inside. So now...I am curious, where did this information that RJSquirrl posted originally come from? Did I just shoot myself in the foot...? Should I just rebuild one of the 2 95 Pathfinder RE4R01A transmissions and resell the Xterra trans since according to everyone I have spoken to...they are the same? Confusing why they would put an "HD model trans" with the same name in a truck...sales ploy? Pictures to follow when I get off shift and back home...

Researched the transmission crap. I am pretty confused at this point. Why did Nissan use THE SAME PART NUMBER for 2 different (internally) transmissions?? Grrr

Wow, super clean truck! Sharp! Seafoam is awesome!

I have a Gates belt on mine now...have had no issues and will probably put a Gates back on when I do the job again. I need to do cam seals and front crank seal.

All great suggestions... What I did was a combination of Penetrol (Schaefers Oil Products) which is essentially the same things as PB Blaster, and heat. Had to use a pair of channel locks to break it loose the first time around. Second replacement I had purchased a O2 sensor socket from a local parts house, it was about $20 but made it that much easier. Still had to use penetrant and heat however. I would suggest using an anti seize that is designed for O2 sensors or high heat as mentioned...

I know I know, it has been done before...so why a new topic? Keep reading... Recently I swapped in a low mileage RE4R01A and new torque converter into my truck that had lost reverse. It did well for around 500 miles before it totally crapped the bed and lost all gears. So there it goes...winched down in the front and chained in the back... So for over a year it had sat due to the reverse issue, and was back on the road for less then a month before it died again. Gave me enough time to fab up that fuel can mount in place of the spare, tune the dual band transceiver as well as the CB/SSB...and plan for a trip that I will not be able to attend this Labor Day at WITC Summertown, TN. To the point: A search of Craigslist revealed a fellow who had a 2003 Xterra transmission, (listed as 4wd but in reality it was a 2wd) for sale. Went and did a trade for said item, and brought it back. The plan: Dissassemble one of my (gah I have more than one?!) RL4R01A transmissions and remove the output shaft and rear housing. Strip and rebuild (and adding the Superior Shift Correction kit) the 2003 Xterra RE4R01A (Allegedly HD) transmission with the output shaft and rear housing from the RL4R01A as before removed. Time willing I will do the work myself, which shouldn't be too bad after reading the FSM A/T portion along with the experience of rebuilding several other transmissions. (350T, 400T and 700R4 GM). If not, then will take it to a local transmission shop and have them knock it out for me. I intend to photograph within reason the process and post for your viewing pleasure. Has anyone done the 2wd to 4wd surgery on our transmissions? Any input, pitfalls or suggestions? Still putting money back for the master kit and new torque converter...so bring on the discussion.

Man, looking great! Talk about a low ratio on that crawl...yikes!

Great topic. Something that I have neglected to think about while gathering parts for this build.

Welcome to the forums! Similar things have happened to other Pathfinder owners (maybe not EXACTLY as you describe, but close) before... Exhaust is a common issue on the WD21. There is extensive write ups in reference to exhaust components including headers and piping, cats and mufflers etc. Doug Thorley write ups: http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/topic/31098-another-doug-thorley-header-leak-problem/?hl=%2Bthorley+%2Bheader+%2Binstall&do=findComment&comment=588653 http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/topic/25869-hands-on-experience-with-doug-thorley-headers/?hl=%2Bthorley+%2Bheader+%2Binstall http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/topic/15027-doug-thorley-header-install/?hl=%2Bthorley+%2Bheader+%2Binstall http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/topic/8933-future-manifold-replacement/ Other brands and Pace Setter write ups: http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/topic/35249-exhaust-systems/?hl=%2Bpace+%2Bsetter http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/topic/34820-custom-headers/?hl=%20pace%20%20setter http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/topic/31955-headers/?hl=%2Bpace+%2Bsetter&do=findComment&comment=602482 All of this was located using the search function...Try it out!

So I saw that I said the above...and guess what...my trans went belly up...and so did the rebuilt trans I swapped in...but hey, my old VG30 is still running...going to get an Xterra trans in the morning...

Looking good. Excited to follow your build!

Okay, so I have to disagree with the TC portion. Here is why: I swapped transmissions about 2 maybe 3 weeks ago. Put a brand new torque converter in jjust to be on the safe side (Thanks RockAuto.com) Anyway, day before yesterday my dang transmission started slipping bad in 4th gear. Not sure if it was a slip or if it just went straight into neutral. But it was pulling fine then bam, nothing. Pulled over, and no reverse, or 1 or 2. Turned truck off, then back on and it drives fine for several hundred yards, then does the same thing. So, to not do any more damage I park it. I do the fluid check etc etc. Ended up draining fluid and replacing, just for S&G's (and to make me feel better.) Nothing. So it sat overnight at TSC, and I came back with a trailer. Just to let my curiosity ease a bit...I started it, and what the...it drives...but no sooner do I back out of the spot it was left and pull forward to the trailer, it quits pulling. Load it up (thank God for the winch) and upon arrival at my buddies shop...it drives all around his yard as he is laughing at me telling me I am retarded. So...not the TC. I dont know what it is, but I cannot trust it to be reliable...so I am back to the drawing board unfortunately.

Oddly enough you can buy the seal removal and installation tool but not the seal. I believe I bought mine for $8.99 USD. Now there was a company who supplied to reman companies everything one would need to rebuild the compresssor, however it was bulk sales, and you had to provide a tax ID.

Yes sir...mine did the same exact thing. Went the whole nine yards and researched rebuilding the compressor, unfortunately the ONLY part that cannot be had is a ceramic seal which is the culprit. Mine came out in three pieces. Ended up having to buy a reman...it works, but being a hands on fix it type of guy it hit my pride. Bummer that a common man cannot get that seal. Unless something has changed it was unavailable a few years back...

When I joined this forum years back, there was not too many local 'finder guys, or gals. Maybe they just were not active... Look forward to seeing you guys there! Anyway, sorry to thread jack!

Detrashed the inside...wasn't too bad. Just glad to have it back on the road.

No wheel spacers on my end...last I knew the closest Nissan enthusiast (from Nicoclub) was in Lafayette.

Hey its all good. No shame in a mall crawler, right B?! I actually just finished up swapping in a new(er) transmission, that actually had reverse gears that still worked. Have all the stuff to do my solid swap just gotta take the time to do it. So its been sitting for over a year. Going to use it to tote the coolers and chairs at the Labor Day ride. I am due south of you. Shelbyville...

Dude we are not far from each other. You should take that ride to Summertown this Labor Day for the ride. Come on, it will be fun.

Just saw this...now that I have two TX10's I like the thought... Ive done it with Yota cases before, makes a huge difference...

I have ran heavy duty power cables on the underside of the vehicle before, zip tying them up to the body so they are out of harms way. Then terminated them into the cab using grommets. It helped suppress the ground loop and whine from the signal cables being too close to the power. On my buddies work truck we ran power and ground through conduit fastened to the undercarriage for the rear winch. Worked great. But I havent ran any audio power wire in my pathy...just thinking out loud I guess Sent from my old brick of a phone!