sorry to invade the froum, I'm a toy guy...but I'm going to be dropping my moms neon for her and looking at a runner or pathy to replace it...

So I figured I'd come to the pros, what do I want to look for around those years...I'm not big on the accessories I just wanna know which drivetrain works.

motor options, which are prefered?

rear diff...lockers limited slips to watch for?

Auto vs manual?

specific tcases - gear driven vs. chain driven? anything else to watch for


thanks alot guys.

nothing?

get the 3.5 liter over the 3.3 because it has that extra hp and they switched from a timing belt to a chain which was smart. Most newer pathy's come with an lsd h233b rear with 4.636 gears stock. Some had the 4.3 gears with an open diff. Good luck finding a manual tranny, it is definately prefered over an auto but kinda rare.

The tcases are tx10, they are chain driven but they are friggin huge, they make a toy mini truck case look like it came out of a sammi.

so what kinda size is the R&P?

what about any electrical issues to watch for?

thanks guys, a great start...

A 4-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission is standard on LE and SE 4X2, while the SE 4X4 is offered with a choice of automatic or 5-speed manual transmissions.

from Nissannews.com

2002 is the first year of the 3.5:D

so what kinda size is the R&P?

what about any electrical issues to watch for?

thanks guys, a great start...

For all R50 Pathfinders (1996-2004):

The rear H233B has a 233mm ring gear (over 9-1/4"), D44-sized 33-spline 1.31" axleshafts, LSD is a Tochigi-Fuji unit with not-so-much preload (but you can fix that), drum brakes.

Front diff is a high-pinion version of the R200A, 200mm ring gear, always open, with drive flanges and big 11.8" discs. Ratios available were only the 4.363 and 4.636, no others.

VG33E engine (1996-2000), 170Hp, 200lb-ft, general all around workhorse with good low-end torque. Same family of engines that the 300ZX made famous, but it is only a single overhead cam. No so good on fuel.

VQ35DE engine (2000.5-2004), 245ish Hp, 260lb-ft ish (numbers vary for manual and automatics, manual more HP, less Tq, vice-versa for auto). Better on fuel if you keep a light foot. Double-overhead cams, variable intake runners, etc. This is the same basic engine that is in just about every Nissan out there now, but it was introduced in the 3.5l displacement in the R50 first.

Manual transmissions only offered on lower-trim and sport-trims. Same transmission as Nissan trucks on VG engines, unique trans for VQ engines (only offered for 2000.5-2002 models). Some recent VG manuals have had issues with first and third chunking the dog-clutches, but these are in years that the R50 was using the VQ engine.

Autos, same story for matchups. Both pretty durable.

T-cases come in two flavors. Manual TX10A with all VG engines, only with manual trans on VQ engines after 2001. Chain-driven, very durable unit used from 1986.5-2004 on all US Nissan 4x4s, low-range of 2.02:1. "All-Mode" ATX14A unit available with VQ engines. Computer controlled with TCM, ABS, and ECU communication. Manually selectable modes with switch inside. Chain-driven, 2.596:1 low-range. Only sold here for a few years, no word on durability.

No major electrical issues with these vehicles that I am aware of.

2002 is the first year of the 3.5:D

Barry, see my post. 1999.5 was the "Face-lift" mid-year intro, then 2000.5 was the "engine bump" mid-year intro. For some reason the two didn't coincide, makes searching for them online a bit more confusing (since most people don't list [and don't know about] the ".5" in the year).

ATX14A is very reliable, haven't heard of any electronic issues with them or experienced any. When they went to the 3.5 the TX14A became 100% electronic controled, earlier models used a lever to engage 4 low. All TX14As have a differential allowing all mode 4x4. The TX14A is standard on QX4 models of the R50 and there is no manual tranny option. The manaul transmission really makes the R50 feel more 'alive' especially in earlier models with the 3.3. My 98 R50 started life as an auto and is now a manual. Much lower gears in the manual.