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One Possible Way For MQ's to Go
I bought my patrol nearly 4 years ago for 7500. It was your typical silver patrol with ordinary looking cat stickers that nissan thought looked cool.
As soon as I picked it up I drove it to my panel beater to get re painted. I kept the same nissan silver but added twilight blue to the lower half, bumpers, bullbar, grills, roll bar, spotlight backs, mirrors and wipers. The rear canopy also was colour coded to give an even look and finish. At the same time I had a couple of minor dints taken out and the front quarter panel indicators removed for a smoother body look. I also filled all badge holes as they do nothing for appearance and relocated the spare to the inside of the tailgate. This work totalled 2000.
The patrol was adequately powered by the reliable SD3300 diesel however it was not the acceleration power I had wanted. So in my mind I was dreaming V8 conversion. 2 years ago a small oil leak turned into a blown 5th and 6th cylinder and a diesel rebuild was at least before labour, so I went for the V8 conversion.
The motor seen below is a holden 253, 4.2L V8, blue motor which means it has the pollution gear of the eighties. It is from a 1983 VC commodore. It was purchased from Maryborough wreckers and cost 1700 which included all running parts, top to bottom, front to back. It was a running motor pulled from a vehicle for me. The price included freight.
The motor had to use a bell housing adaptor from Mark's Adaptors which cost 1000 and included new engine mounts. It meshed straight up to the standard 4 speed gear box beautifully.
On top of the motor is the carbie included in the purchase of the motor which is a Sequential Quadrijet which as I have lately heard is ideal for 4x4ing as it has a smaller fuel well that doesn't lop-side when on angles but has the sequential jets to deliver plenty of juice. To filter the air I have placed on a 9 inch K&N charger filter which sits inches under the bonnet scoop. The filter price cost 90 The custom intake pipe cost 80 and The Nissan bonnet scoop cost 53
The next addition to my 4x4 was a set of trick rims and tyres. Due to the fact of the MQ having only a 4 speed manual I really wanted to go with tall rims and profiles so 16 inch rims were sort. After a few weeks of looking at dull wheels I found my current rims, Magnum RV sports - 16x8. The bfgoodrich muddies are 285x75 (33x12x15) and have been on for 3 years, this set up cost 1500. I now agree with ARB's advice to get these mud terrains as they have not worn baddly or irregularly. All up, the rim and tyre combo came in at from Bob Jane's lowest price guarantee. I am currently saving for bfg 315's which will take the overall size to 36's x 12.5
The rear wheel has been relocated to the inside of the cabin, attached to the tailgate inside via a single 12mm thread. The spare is a BFG all terrain 33x12.5x15
The suspension has been worked slightly starting with a reset higher front springs that gave 2" lift straight up, and pulling these out yourself saves heaps it cost me 150 for the reset. Longer and wider shocks have been sort in the items known as Tough Dog Foam Cells from opposite lock, 125 each and very much worth it.
New body mounts have been added to give another 2 1/4 " lift, 4x4 shop kits 435, I sort them from a rubber maker and all up with bolts and 8 new mounts 64. It pays to do the work yourself.
The rear seat has been moved backwards via a switch of base plates, when they are reversed they give extra room.
A high lift jack is mounted inside the cab between the front seats and the step up to the rear cabin area. It is secured to the passenger wall and to the floor in the centre. This jack was won for sending a photo to bush driver mag for the tricked up trucks.
Recently I located a set of Stratos sports seats for 50 each and place them in for 50 bucks they were a steal 850 each new and there were only a couple of rips in them.
Steel factory flares have been added now and the final touch is in the mail now - a set of Lokka lock rite diff locks front and rear these are cheaper and have a 3 yr warranty. These were purchased through 4wd systems buy one get one half price 1100 all up.
The next step now is to remove the small patches of rust beginning around the mudflap region - theses muddies do throw up a lot of rocks. The guards are going to be cut by an inch each end and the flare split in the middle with a joiner piece. The flares will also become twilight blue colour.
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