Rear-end

[DirtJumper]

Hey, I just picked up a 1990 Pathfinder with the 3.0L that was beaten to shit by the PO....but the drivetrain seems to be in great condition, so I am working on swapping the engine, trans and t-case into my Suzuki Samurai.

What I am wondering is if the rear axle will hold up to tires 35"-36" tall, or if I should just swap in Dana 44s and be done with it?

Thanks for the help,

Steve

[Luv2ski]

You have an H233b rearend. They are stronger than a D44. Let me see if I cant dig up an old thread on one of my Nissan boards that has pictures of a D44, 9" and H233b together. If I recall correctly, the H233b is more comparable to the Ford 9".....

the problem is, gears are expensive as hell.

[DirtJumper]

Thank you...sounds awesome minus the expensive gears.

Where are good places for aftermarket parts? Only place I have been able to find is Calmini...

And also, if my reading is right, I can get gears from a 2001+ frontier, or a non super-charged Xterra and they will be able to install in my axle?

Thanks.

[Luv2ski]

www.4x4parts.com

http://www.spencerlowracing.com/products/

I sent a link to this thread to the Nissan GURU....he'll be able to help...his name is Brent (offroadX)

[XterraGuy]

I don't know where the comparison discussion is, but it's true, the H233B is beefier than a D44. The D44 ring gear is 8.75" in diameter vs. the H233B at 9.17" (233 mm). The axle shafts are pretty comparable though.
The H233B is physically similar to the Ford 9" in that it's a drop-out/third-member design. The 9" has a slightly smaller ring gear, but the pinion has the third support bearing at the head that lends it additional strength.
The 33-spline H233B definitely has a leg up on both.

As for swapping gears, yes, you can swap all H233B gears from the 1990 model year through 2004. If you're looking for the 4.90, the 2002-2004 non-supercharged Xterra has them. They were also used on some SE-trim Frontiers from 2001-2003. Check the axle code on the door jamb sticker for HG49 to confirm.

Brent

[Zukidriver]

I think the bearings both carrier and wheel bears are a bit bigger, and they also have the gusseted center section like Toyota.

The only real problem is finding gears and other parts for it. Also on some Pathfinders you have disc brakes on the rear. Mostly newer I believe. Spline count is probably 31 spline on the older housings, and 33 on newer.

[Luv2ski]

see...like I said, Brent knows all that is Nissan. ...

also, the H233b is way easier to install gears on that a Dana axle.

[87 pathy]

Depending on whats available you may not have to change gears. The manual transmisisons had 4.375:1 and the autos had 4.62:1. if you can get a solid axle up front with a gear ratio within 1.5% you shouldn't have to do any gear swaps

But.. to get back to original ratio (30 or 31" tires) using 35's you need approximately 5.13:1 gear ratio... forgot to add that. I'm running 36's and 5.38's

[Luv2ski]

I got 4.9s:flipoff2: in my 02 frontier....

[DirtJumper]

Thanks! I will definately look into some 4.88s or 4.90s for the thing. I would love to get my hands on some used gears from a yard to save a little bit of money anyways... I like the idea of the drop-out third...more familiar with that setup (same as samurai). The axle should be perfect for my swap (not too wide).

I will have to take a look at what gears the rig has...I don't know if I will need as low of gears as I am shaving probably 1000-1200 lbs because I am using the samurai body.

Thanks for all your help!

[Luv2ski]

there are also a few places to get 5.13s if you really wanted to get crazy.

[87 pathy]

there are also a few places to get 5.13s if you really wanted to get crazy.


5.13's are what you need. stock tires = 4.38:1 36= 5.13:1.
i run 5:38's and i never use 5th gear. i think you will be disapointed with 4.9:1 on 35's

[Zukidriver]

I will have to take a look at what gears the rig has...I don't know if I will need as low of gears as I am shaving probably 1000-1200 lbs because I am using the samurai body.

Are using all the running gear? Motor tranny transfercase and axle, or are you still using the sami t-case. If you are using the sami t-case you can get a reduction for high range and low range. The nissan you will be stuck with what it comes with, so go low in the axles, or put some sort of doubler in line.

[87 pathy]

Are using all the running gear? Motor tranny transfercase and axle, or are you still using the sami t-case. If you are using the sami t-case you can get a reduction for high range and low range. The nissan you will be stuck with what it comes with, so go low in the axles, or put some sort of doubler in line.

Calmini makes a xfer case gear set for the pathfinder but its spendy

i don't know if he could used the sami xfer case. you would have to get a new nissan tranny cause the xer case is married and you would have to get a 2wd transmission, then he might be too long and have horrible drive line angles

[DirtJumper]

Calmini makes a xfer case gear set for the pathfinder but its spendy

i don't know if he could used the sami xfer case. you would have to get a new nissan tranny cause the xer case is married and you would have to get a 2wd transmission, then he might be too long and have horrible drive line angles


Bingo. I will be using all the Nissan running gear, and am pushing the limits of space and driveline angles anyhow :D . Hey, if people can fit a 4.3 Chevy V6 in a sami with a divorced case, I am sure I can do this one fine. I will need to order the Calmini SYE though, unless anyone can point me in another direction...

I will look seriously into the 5.13s...I don't have to do the gears right away anyways, so we will see how it goes on the street before I dump money into it.

I have been trying to find the gear ratio I have currently, anyone have any ideas? 1990 4wd Pathfinder with a manual and 3.0L? 4.37s?

Again, thanks for all the help!

[87 pathy]

read above!

yes, 3L Manual transmission, = 4.375:1 rear end gear ratio
Automatic transmission =4.62:1

and as for the 4.3 in a sami.. thats alot of work. I have stuffed one. You need a body lift, you need an adaptor to a xfer case (can't use the sami xfer case doing this cause it needs to be married to fit in the allowed space)

Thats a great idea of using the nissan drive drain. they are STOUT. And since your 90 is EFI (not throttle body) you can build the piss out of it. If you wanted to spend the money i think you could hit about 300 hp without to many mods. If you had a bottomless wallet you could hit 800hp.. from a 3L V6!

JP

[DirtJumper]

read above!

yes, 3L Manual transmission, = 4.375:1 rear end gear ratio
Automatic transmission =4.62:1

and as for the 4.3 in a sami.. thats alot of work. I have stuffed one. You need a body lift, you need an adaptor to a xfer case (can't use the sami xfer case doing this cause it needs to be married to fit in the allowed space)

Thats a great idea of using the nissan drive drain. they are STOUT. And since your 90 is EFI (not throttle body) you can build the piss out of it. If you wanted to spend the money i think you could hit about 300 hp without to many mods. If you had a bottomless wallet you could hit 800hp.. from a 3L V6!

JP

Thanks, sorry I missed the quote up there :rolleyes:

Yeh I was looking at the Nissan engines for a while, started at the KA24DE, but the tailshaft on that trans is HUGE :o . So I started reading around looking at 300ZXs and such...now imagine my suprise when I found a 4x4 version of that engine! :D

Only problem is I have never seen anyone do the swap before, so hopefully I don't annoy people with too many questions. I am ordering in a FSM for a Pathfinder soon (heard Haynes manuals aren't so good) so that should answer a lot of my questions about the emissions equipment and the little things I have never seen before.

What would you recommend as far as engine mods go? I would love to keep it without forced induction for now. Headers, intake, what else would be a good couple of mods?

Thanks again,

Steven

[Luv2ski]

You can get headers from pace setter i think
Cam regrinds from Schneider cams (http://www.schneidercams.com) part number 17071 is what I would go with with an auto tranny

Custom exhaust is what you are doing I bet to fit it under the sammy.

some sort of cold air intake like a snorkle...

If you want to talk to a guy in NOAS that has built a 3.0 really well, come over to

http://www.noas4x4club.com/website/PHPBB/index.php

and look for Yotah8r I bet he is pushing 220 out of a mildly built 3.0. I know he tore the engine apart, had it bored out and rebuilt it with some stout stuff....teflon lined something or others....

[DirtJumper]

You can get headers from pace setter i think
Cam regrinds from Schneider cams (http://www.schneidercams.com) part number 17071 is what I would go with with an auto tranny

Custom exhaust is what you are doing I bet to fit it under the sammy.

some sort of cold air intake like a snorkle...

If you want to talk to a guy in NOAS that has built a 3.0 really well, come over to

http://www.noas4x4club.com/website/PHPBB/index.php

and look for Yotah8r I bet he is pushing 220 out of a mildly built 3.0. I know he tore the engine apart, had it bored out and rebuilt it with some stout stuff....teflon lined something or others....

Yeh, I don't know cam grinds...I would love something that would pull as low as possible. I have a manual...so would I be looking at the same thing or the 17070?

There's lots of mud here so I will be doing a snorkel, just a shitty home-made one :rolleyes: Should work well anyways though, better than the stock unit (cleaned the mud out of it and now the thing actually PULLS :D

Would you go with Thorely headers or are pace-setters good enough?

[87 pathy]

If you go through the engine, have it bored about 30 over , get cams, headers and custom exhaust, match port the heads on the exhaust and intake (you could do this yourself its not hard) get aftermarket fuel injectors.. just with that you will push up towards 300hp

[Zukidriver]

Who has the injectors?

[jn_bar]

I am doing an sas on my 89 SE pathfinder right now. I just so happen to have one of those sweet rear ends, just sitting behind the house rear disc brakes and all. I live in slc, utah. If anyone would like to buy it, $100 and she's yours.

[DirtJumper]

Thanks! I will probably go through the engine at a later date..just some good maintenance service will do me for now. In a bit I will look at rebuilding and boring it out some...

[Packman5280]

Thats a great idea of using the nissan drive drain. they are STOUT. And since your 90 is EFI (not throttle body) you can build the piss out of it. If you wanted to spend the money i think you could hit about 300 hp without to many mods. If you had a bottomless wallet you could hit 800hp.. from a 3L V6!

JP

The 90 is TBI, port injection started in 93 I believe. VG30i as opposed to VG30e

[XterraGuy]

Your current ratio is in the axle code on the ID plate in the engine bay above the right wheel arch. HG43 would be 4.375, HG46 would be 4.625

Pathfinder disc brakes were available from the get-go in 87, through 95, and were an option at all times only available on the SE trim.

All 87-95 Pathfinders were 31-spline. The 33-spline rears are found in the 96-04 Pathfinder, 00-04 Xterra, and the 00-04 Frontier (excluding the 00 regular cab through 9/99 production)

The 87-89 were the TBI models, 90+ were MPFI.

The Schneider 17071 cams are the way to go with auto transmission. I'd love the 17072 but they say that the idle is too lumpy to handle the constant drag from an automatic. For a manual, the 17072 is definitely worth considering.

The stock injectors have plenty of overhead for a modest performance build.

Brent

[DirtJumper]

Your current ratio is in the axle code on the ID plate in the engine bay above the right wheel arch. HG43 would be 4.375, HG46 would be 4.625

Pathfinder disc brakes were available from the get-go in 87, through 95, and were an option at all times only available on the SE trim.

All 87-95 Pathfinders were 31-spline. The 33-spline rears are found in the 96-04 Pathfinder, 00-04 Xterra, and the 00-04 Frontier (excluding the 00 regular cab through 9/99 production)

The 87-89 were the TBI models, 90+ were MPFI.

The Schneider 17071 cams are the way to go with auto transmission. I'd love the 17072 but they say that the idle is too lumpy to handle the constant drag from an automatic. For a manual, the 17072 is definitely worth considering.

The stock injectors have plenty of overhead for a modest performance build.

Brent

Thanks, I will keep this in mind for sure.

I got it under-way (stripping the wiring anyways) and it's not pretty. I know lots of you guys have awesome builds, but have you ever looked at your dash wiring?

[img]Http://www3.telus.net/public/sgmurray/Build Pics/DSCN0591 (Small).JPG

Anyways, with how these engines are, should I just leave the harness alone, or should I remove the wires for the heater, etc? I have to go into the stereo harness, it's a mess.

Thanks for the advice

[DirtJumper]

Hey guys, one quick question for ya, I want to use an in-line pump for the swap, the lowest HP pump I can find is 85psi, I found that the regulated pressure in the 3.0 is 43 PSI...do I need a new fuel regulator for the 85 psi pump (too much overpressure) or will the stock regulator do fine?

Thanks for all your help!