New Patrol Arriving tomorrow

Submitted: Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 12:27

ThreadID: 17350 Views:2330 Replies:4 FollowUps:10

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Rokkitt

Hi,

Finally have the new car - at least picking it up tomorrow.
I need some advice/tips on where to start with my new 3.0 ST Patrol. I know the diff breathers need to be extended - probably gearbox/transfer case breathers also. Is there anything else that needs to be looked at before taking it offroad?
ARB will release the bullbar and scrub bars in the next few weeks - I have the money aside for this, but in the meantime I need my UHF radio - short of using a handheld does anyone know if there is anywhere to mount my UHF aerial temporarily?

Thanks in advance.
Rokkitt

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Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 12:30

Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 12:30

Why not buy it and see what it does before you spend on it?

AnswerID: 81900

Reply By: Member - Chris M (QLD) - Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 12:33

Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 12:33

Gday mate,

Bet your excited! Enjoy it mate, it's the best feeling.

In my own opinion, yeah, ok it is a 4wd and it will take soft 4wding easily. But if you intend on doing some harder tracks, do the work to it first.

By work I mean, put some nice aftermarket suspension in it, your bullbar and scrub bars, steps to stop rocks flicking up and chipping the "under door section", set of good tyres and probably a locker if you want to go that far.

It's an amazing feeling to watch your mates spin the wheels, lose traction, crash around the track, then idle up without much of an ado. Saves drivetrain, engine wear, driver stress, swmbo stress, and unnecessary repairs.

The difference between a mate of mine TD6 and mine, he went out the day after getting it and me waiting 4 weeks until getting tyres, lift, steps and locker is amazing.

It's an idea anyway! As for the UHF, use a handheld until you fit yours pemanently, easier in the long run!

Cheers

Chris.

AnswerID: 81902

Follow Up By: Rokkitt - Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 12:44

Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 12:44

Excited, thats an understatement - off to beechport for the weekend so I will have a chance to try it out. Unfortunately as the Bullbar/brushbars and steps have not yet been released by ARB then this will have to wait.
Suspension upgrades will first require me to build an opinion on what the truck needs - the tyres that are on it claim to be an all terrain so they will do for a start.
Can't wait a month to take it out - not that I will be able to do all these upgrades in a month - the handbrake won't allow that. Have organised the bar work when available but then I expect it to be another year or two in the customisations/upgrades dept.
Diff breathers are inexpensive and crucial, I was wondering whether I should spend tomorrow evening preparing it a little.

Rokkitt

FollowupID: 341052

Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 12:47

Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 12:47

Why do you keep saying diff breather mods are crucial? The Nissan ones will work 100% fine with standard suspension....

FollowupID: 341053

Follow Up By: Member - Chris M (QLD) - Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 12:58

Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 12:58

Agree with truckster, if you don't deem the other mods necessary, you obviously won't be taking the truck anywhere too hardcore, the existing breather will suffice!

FollowupID: 341057

Follow Up By: Rokkitt - Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 13:22

Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 13:22

I understood the diff breathers are essential, being fairly short. Thats OK, saves me a job doesn't it - all that's left to do is buy a handheld and enjoy the weekend - ahh better put some fuel in it......
Going away with the 4WD Club but I plan to be more of a spectator when most of the fun starts but it would be nice to be prepared a little bit.
No it won't be stressed to much for quite some time, finances will ensure that, but stepping from a highly modified NH Pajero I don't want to miss anything.

Rokkitt
Thanks I will be sit back and relax tomorrow night and enjoy a few beers instead.

FollowupID: 341068

Follow Up By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 13:28

Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 13:28

Gotta agree with the other lads.....there'd be a shyte-load of other things i'd be doing b4 worrying about the diff breathers. Even then it's really only the back one that's a bit ordinary......5 minute job to whip the old one off the diff-pumpkin fitting, whack on a longer piece of rubber hose and stick it up through the rubber grommit on the under side of the rear body panel (behind the rear wheel). You can phart around getting it to go all the way to the top of the "D" pillar if you think you really must.....but consider for a minute.....how many times have you been through water that has resulted in the inside of your cargo area (say at floor level) getting filled with water??? I bet if it does happen in your nice new truck, the state of your diff will be low on your list of worries.
Seriously, don't worry too much about the diff breathers.....

FollowupID: 341070

Follow Up By: Rokkitt - Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 13:32

Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 13:32

Thanks for your thought's, looks like 10 minutes on this site has once again not only saved time, but money as well - one of the best forum's on the net!

Thanks very much - let you know how the new truck goes on Tuesday.

Rokkitt

FollowupID: 341073

Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 15:18

Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 15:18

You should ask nissan to throw in a spare set of tail lights, them things would have to be a grand at least and talk about exposed to damage.

FollowupID: 341084

Reply By: Rokkitt - Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 17:14

Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 17:14

Will have to be real careful of those tail lights, give it a few months and they will start turning up in 2nd hand yards in pieces - hopefully not mine! then the price should drop.
Hoping I will never have to replace them - I don't think my Pajero lights are any less exposed and I have never had a problem with them, check it all out in a lot more depth over the weekend.

Rokkitt

AnswerID: 81961

Reply By: Member - Jeff M (WA) - Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 17:53

Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 17:53

Just buy a "Z" bracket from Dick Smith. Unscrew one of the bolts that run along the side of the mud guard under the bonnet edge, put the "z" bracket on and do the bolt back up. Put the arial on there, if it's not a whopper it should be fine. I've only got a dinky 2.5db Dipole but it's been on there since I bought the car and it's been absolutally hammered and still as good as new.

AnswerID: 81966

Follow Up By: rolande- Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 18:42

Wednesday, Oct 27, 2004 at 18:42

Jeff,
Normal Z bracket not good on GU, haven't had that close a look on the new model, the upright part of the guard has a small fold which makes fitting impossible without bending the bracket, decided it was easier to mount a bracket elsewhere, was wondering why I hadn't seen it done before - then found out
Rolande

FollowupID: 341128