New Rig

[Tad]

Actually Em's, she wants something that can do moderate trails with some comfort.
2000 Infinity QX4
$1,500 + a timing belt kit, really fun rig to drive.









Em's doing all the work until we get to some sliders and build some real bumpers.
I just point and look things up.
Neither of us had ever done a timing belt on a Nissan before this so we were a bit scared to say the least.

[Stuka]

Nice score, thats a great price even with having to do the timing belt. Very comfortable ont hose long trips too

[lobie]

Good luck! It's tight in there.

[Tad]

Good luck! It's tight in there.

Oh yea, # 6 plug is way too much fun.

[lobie]

I did a timing belt on an 88 v6 4 runner and it was a pain. Had all kinds of vac lines. Had to almost take the whole front end apart. Do the water pump while your in there.

[Tad]

I did a timing belt on an 88 v6 4 runner and it was a pain. Had all kinds of vac lines. Had to almost take the whole front end apart. Do the water pump while your in there.

We did take the whole front end off, PITA.

Water pump, thermostat, cam and crank seals, all drive belts, all hoses, new AL rad, added trans cooler.
Yup, you don't want to go back in there twice.
We even took the hood off to get better access.

[jpcoutts]

I thought working on a wag was a challenge!

[The PIG Smith]

Wow....I think I would have to let someone else have that kinda fun!
I have enough stress in my life without adding to it on purpose.

I am jealous that you were able to tackle that kinda project.

Makes me feel bad about my 1 ton van project.
It needs ball joints bad...real bad.
I went to Harbor Freight and bought their best ball joint press kit.
Then, as I begin this project, I discover my van has some sort of air bag inside the front coil springs.
Well...this has scared me some...like so what do I do if I pinch one of those bags with a spring compressor?
My saving a few bucks has now turned into a very expensive repair.
Ask me how I know....been there, done that.
The fool in my heart says, "Not a prob, I can do that"...then later, the folks are the garage..."What a fool!"
I have not changed them out yet...my time is limited...am thinking of paying the $150 in labor or so have someone else mess with it.

[Tad]

Wow....I think I would have to let someone else have that kinda fun!
...

Bryan,
If we could have gotten the work done for $150 or even $250 we would have no problem letting someone else do it.
They want a fortune to do this kind of work and Em really likes doing her own work.
It also serves as a decent distraction from the normal M-F routine.

The Q is being ignored a little as we wait for the suspension components to arrive.
New struts, new bushings and 2" lift coils.
Should be able to fit some 30" tires on there without rubbing.
These things have worse clearance issues than NT FSJ's.

[The PIG Smith]

If we could have gotten the work done for $150 or even $250 we would have no problem letting someone else do it.
They want a fortune to do this kind of work and Em really likes doing her own work.

After seeing what you went through to get to that timing belt, the labor would be outrageous.

The ~$150-200 that I mentioned was what I was quoted for the labor to replace the four ball joints on my van.
Let's see....Divide four balls by $200 is about $50 a ball joint...Wow...sounds expensive.
But if I pinch that air bag....I am guessing a lot more.

Anyways...nice rig...I like it!
It sorta reminds me of my '99 WJ in a very remote way.
My WJ has a nice ride, creature comforts, tunes, 4.0L I6 grunt, Dana solid axles...
...but my WJ sucks down way more fuel than your Nissan for sure!

[Tad]

Happy to report that we just finished a 5-day 1K mile road trip in the Q and it went perfect.
Avg was about 16mpg in varied terrain and up to 18mpg on some of the 200+ mile long stretches.
Low range was pretty decent, some sort of LSD in the back, need to research that.

Hopefully I will get some time to work on the donor engine for the Wag over the next couple of weeks.

[Stuka]

Not bad for a break in run

Did you blow the engine in your waggy?

[Tad]

...Did you blow the engine in your waggy?

Pretty much, it will still run but has about 3/4" of slop in the timing chain and I can only keep it running at 1,500 rpm or higher, sounds like I may have lost a rod bearing also.
I'll know for sure when we pull it down. At 300K I'm not tossing any $$ at it.
Donor engine is at 90K, runs good, took a little degreaser to get down to original paint.
Lot's to do before the swap but hope to get it pulled this coming Sunday.

[Stuka]

Can't complain about getting up to 300K. My J10 has 240K (ish) on it now. Still runs great, although it is down on power a bit, but it drives and hauls what I need it to

[Tad]

Can't complain about getting up to 300K...

Heck no, that was a $300 Buick Skylark I bought back in '02.
The engine ran for 9 years and I made at least $300 off of parts from the carcass + scrap.
Age and use does takes a toll, I've known for several years that compression was in the gutter, early last spring I was between 80-100 on all 8 cylinders dry, about 90-110 wet.
Engine braking in low range at altitudes like Ouray was downright scary at times.

I'll never bad mouth a Buick 350, great engines.
But I should have kept the $500 Hearse with the 500 @ 60K miles.

[lindel]

It looks so, so....


























Unabused!! LOL

[jaber]

As for the timing job, kudos for doing it yourself. I had to do one in a PT Cruiser and that was TERRIBLE... It was billed as a $900 job and took me 11 hours.

That other engine looks VERY familiar...

[Tad]

Rear OME medium duty springs went in yesterday.
Almost 3" of lift which should settle to about 2"



Front got torn down today for new OME heavy duty springs and KYB GR2 struts that will get assembled with new bearings Monday afternoon at Casey's shop.



These got added, there's a good deal of drag created in the factory setup with just drive slugs.



That will be it for Ouray beside the normal fluid and filter stuff.
Once it cools down and I make some room on the back patio (meaning finish the jeep which is taking up all the room there) we'll bring it back in and get rid of the plastic bumpers in favor of something real with my Warn 8000 up front.
At that point we will get rstep to help with some rocker protection, I don't have much hope for the plastic step taking any sort of hit.

[Stuka]

I didn't even know you could put hubs on those without changing the outers out. Pretty cool.

If the back has coils, I would not expect them to settle much. In my experience coils don't really settle at all.

[rstep]

That looks good with some lift,I'll try and swing by tomorrow.