Justin517

Hello all, I amd Justin and I'm 24 years old. I ahve a 2003 pathfinder SE that i ahve had for about 3 years. Originally purchased by me for a former significant other, that went bad, she stopped paying for it, I "re-po'd" it. I come from the world of Audi/VW and have a background in american muscle cars. I will be honest in that I dont really care for SUVs very much, but I do really like this pathfinder. My dad has a '98 with 200k on it and it hasnt had too many problems, and he is pretty rough on it. Mine has had bno issues besides a dead alternator which was my own fault (big puddle and no splash guard). Past vehicles include: 1992 VW GTI 8v... $300 beater that I put a clutch, cam, custom borla side exit exhaust, bilstein shocks and 450f/350r springs in it, just sold it this past weekend. 1990 Audi coupe quattro... Inline 5 with a big holset turbo and stand alone... sold it before I was able to finish it, I moved and had nowhere to work on it. 1997 Audi A4 1.8T quattro, manual, sport package. Bigger turbo, Hans Dahlback tuning, test pipe + borla exhaust, Bilstein shocks, Vogtland springs, hotchkiss h-sport sway bars, 17x8" wheels with 235/45-17s, more stuff I'm forgetting 1990 jeep cherokee 4.0L 5 speed 4x4... did alot of 4-wheeling with it, fun lil rig. 1979 Monte carlo... 430 hp, close to 500 ft/lbs, B&M'd out TH-350, 4.11:1 with a lock right locker, and lotsa other goodies. 1986 ford T-bird... first real car, beat the crap out of it. 1983 Mustang GLX... 5.0L 5 speed Convertible... sold it before I could drive, lol. I do all of my own work on all the vehicles I have owned.

The extra hp is probably in the tuning more than anything else. I an audi person and I know people change the their 2.8L V6 computer coding from the A4 tune to the A6 tune for more HP (its like 8-10 IIRC) probably in the timing maps.

It seems like everyone on here has the 2" lift, atleast thats what my searching has shown me. The rear of my '03 is sagging a bit (lots of hauling/towing) I honestly dont want to go really high with it (and I know 2" isnt REALLY high, but... w/e, lol) and I am only going to be running 265/70-16s on the stock wheels. I cnat go bigger without spacers or different wheels and I dont particularly want to do either,a nd I dont think I'll like how it looks with a 2" lift and the size tires I'm running. I'm really just looking for a stiffer spring with not much lift. So anyway, does anyone have the 1/2" lift AC springs? I was considering just doing the rear for now, as my front suspension is in fine shape and has always been a bit higher than the rear. Or should I just go with the OME HD 1.75" lift? (I dont really feel like dropping $600+ right now though) Any info is greatly appreciated.

Hmm, thats good to know. Maybe I will look into that. although I'm sure it would be cheaper to just remove my power valves and weld the holes from the rods., esp if its basically the same manifold.

The power valve screw issue scares the crap out of me... would a 350Z (or maxima) intake manifold (possibly just upper, on the pathfinder lower?) work in place of a pathfinder manifold? I know low end torque would be sacrificed (but it may ahve more top end), but would it work? I was also thinking of maybe fabricating just an upper manifold, like a plenum with velocity stacks inside of it? I dont mind some fabrication, or adapter plates for the TB if necessary. Just a vague idea at this point and looking for some ideas. I know its not that big of a deal to loctite them, but I usually cant leave well enough alone.

I have a 2003 nissan pathfinder SE with an auto tranny. I am more of a manual transmission sort of guy but this car was originally purchased for my (ex)girlfriend to drive, but now its my primary vehicle. I do not care for the way the transmission shifts, it feels to be geared more towards comfort than "performance" or transmission longjevity. I know it was realitively easy in my TH-350 on my old monte carlo drag car to make it shift quicker and harder (a spacer plate with different holes/restrictions between the case and valve body, and 2 removed check balls) and on newer cars you can use some sort of power programmer to increase line pressure and firm up the shifts, but I have been unable to find either method for the pathfinder. All the power programmers seem to just increase engine performance, do they mess with the transmission settings also? Thank you in advance for any information.