The Black Pathfinder

[comeonstart]

I built up a nissan pathfinder for my school senior project this year, Instead of an SAS I decided to use coil-overs on the IFS for a project that would be a little different. I really liked how it worked out here on the east coast, but after a trip to moab for EJS I decided that I wanted a solid axle. Mostly because I want ram assist steering for when the locker is turned on and I simply wanted to know that if I busted a hub or some other random part that someoen on the trail would be able to help out.

Here are the current specs on the pathy

Calmini steering
ARB lockers F/R
5.14 gears
10" fox coil-overs
trailmaster lift kit.
Long arm 5-link out back
custom wound 7" lift springs out back.
Rancho 5012's that have too little travel out back

Here is what I want it to be like when I am done

Waggy d44 with 5.13 and ARB
Radius arm front links
re-using my coil-overs
Replaceing lower rear links with 39" links
Relocating shock mounts out back for longer shocks
Building a new rear bumper to help with departure angle.
want to raise or do a custom gas tank to get it higher off the ground
And lastly I want 36" Iroks at some point


The first thing to do is sell the IFS and at least get the sas in 2wd and new rear links in. That way I can at least drive and move it around a little. So I sold the steering and some other parts to buy a d44 and some link material.
I decided to go with 1.75x1" links with bushings and flix joints from suicidedoors.com I also have a d44 sanded down and stripped. I bought flat tops and hopefully I can pick up some hi-steer arms today.

[XterraGuy]

If you're not already on-board, check out www.noas4x4club.com

Brent

[nissannut]

Sounds good. Take lots of pix.:D

[comeonstart]

Link material came in today. Got tired of waiting on a plasma and started with my porta band. After a while I decided to wait on the plasma some more. I have a good design in my head for the x-member, but I cant try it until I get that crap all cut out. Looking like I will have 42" radius arms and 39" rear arms, o well. I am gonna make this so I can go to some longer travel coil-overs easily in the future. I think 10" is a little lacking for what I want.

I also bought my hi-steer arms today.

[comeonstart]

All the IFS is torched and mostly sold. I have started the grinding. I also just ordered all my rod ends and brackets from Ballistic fab, and I ordered the rubber bushings form suicidedoors.com because I didnt see any on ballistics site. Many thanks to jeff at ballistic for the pointers.

[comeonstart]

The axle radius arm mounts are fully welded, Although I will end up doing some more gusseting. The stock t-bar x-member has been plated for axle side link mounts. I got the toyota steering box placed 1.5 inches forward of the stock box. I am hoping a firned will come over and drill the frame for me :D I am simply waiting on my misalingments to arrive so I can accuratly mock the steering and place the axle permantly. The track bar is just going to go in where ever there is room in the end. I got the rear axle link mounts welded on the the rear x-member built, just need to weld it in next time it becomes light in the morning. Hopefully I will ge pics before it gets dark in the manyanna.

[nissannut]

Why bother with a toyota box? :confused:

[comeonstart]

easy hydro assist, I twisted the splines on my old box somehow, So I dont really want to just break another one you know? If I didnt already have the yota IFS box from my parts truck, I would just have gone with another Nissan box.

[jn_bar]

Do you have any pictures you can post??

[comeonstart]

I cant take pics now, it rained on my and all my crap has flash rust :rolleyes: So I cant show you that. Otherwise the rear suspension is complete and I had the radius arms in, but after looking at them I decided to try something better, so I took it back apart. The arms were mounted too low.

Ps, sealing up a deal for some 37" crawlers :flipoff2: Not many nissans with those yet.

[comeonstart]

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/black92se/DSCN1920.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/black92se/DSCN1921.jpg

[cameron_garrison]

so how is this project coming

[comeonstart]

Sitting on its own weight, all the links kinda are still just tacked, waiting on a steering part before I can go further. Also there is no track bar because I dont hve a drag link yet, that will center it up. I am looking at moer than 16" of travel, so I will end up buying some longer coil-overs in the future.





Also did some work to the yota, I did a tranny swap in it that make the shifts come back 6" so I had a big hole in the tunnel. Fixed that, patched a hole in the floor, and cut the door hinges. It takes about 10 seconds to put the doors on and off.

[RedneckConvert]

Sitting on its own weight, all the links kinda are still just tacked, waiting on a steering part before I can go further. Also there is no track bar because I dont hve a drag link yet, that will center it up. I am looking at moer than 16" of travel, so I will end up buying some longer coil-overs in the future.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/black92se/DSCN2047.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/black92se/DSCN2046.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/black92se/DSCN2045.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/black92se/DSCN2044.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/black92se/DSCN2043.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/black92se/DSCN2048.jpg



Also did some work to the yota, I did a tranny swap in it that make the shifts come back 6" so I had a big hole in the tunnel. Fixed that, patched a hole in the floor, and cut the door hinges. It takes about 10 seconds to put the doors on and off.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/black92se/DSCN2041.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/black92se/DSCN2042.jpg


Fixed, btw what school do you goto may I ask?

[comeonstart]

Thanks, I go to Greenville tech working on an Associated Science Degree, I plan on transferring to Clemson next fall for Mechanical Engineering.

[comeonstart]

I got the mounts for the yota box welded on, and received the slug from Front Range off-road to put into my pittman arm. The steering is VERY tight, I cannot use my hy-steer arms for my tie-rod so my plan is to put some weld into the stock knuckles and then drill that out to 5/8ths for my heims. I also got my track bar mocked up.

[comeonstart]

I got it sitting on with own weight now. Hopefully I will get the brakes working today so I can take it for a spin.

[comeonstart]

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/black92se/DSCN2136.jpg

[nissancrawler]

Looking good, I half wonder if it will even ride better than stock.

[Indyguy]

Is that pic with one of the upper links removed (ie. wristed), or with everything still attached? Impressive flex to say the least. You've done a hell of a job :beer: Interested to see what effects, if any, the panhard bar will have on suspension travel.

[comeonstart]

The pass side is wristed in that pic. I planned on making a quick connect deal for that side. And because I am in a hurry to make it to a ride I havent gotten to that yet. I just have to buy an ARB locker for the 44 and I will have all parts to complete.

[hoohaa]

Excellent flex.

[comeonstart]

Decided to remove the spare tire off the back, saves weight and helps a crappy departure angle. The ARB bumper is also for sale, I thought about cutting it but by the time I got it cut enough to get the anlges I wouldnt have anything left so a new bumper is on the table. I plan to redo the 4-link in the back with longer uppers and more triangulation while moving the rear axle back a few more inches. However, I am thinking I should hold off on that for a while until I get my new driveline figured out, just to save the expense of another new driveshaft.