Project Pathspector

[Pathspector]

Thought I would start a build tread on the build progress of my 1995 Pathfinder.
Well I actually kicked this project off a couple of months ago with the start of fab work on a custom front and rear bumper.


Here’s what I’m starting with. 1995 Pathfinder SE, 3.0, Auto, 31-10.50x15 MT with 175,000 mile.

https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/DSCN0112.JPG.282.jpg

Start of front bumper.
https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/DSCN0087.JPG.1872.jpg

https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/DSCN0091.JPG.847.jpg

I was going to originally stack it like this.

https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/DSCN0131.JPG.1155.jpg

https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/DSCN0135.JPG.3635.jpg

Then I started playing with other ideas like this. The I couldn’t make up my mind which I like better.

https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/DSCN0118.JPG.3815.jpg

Well here’s what I decided to do.

https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/DSCN0006.JPG.1371.jpg

https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/DSCN0012.JPG.3418.jpg

Here’s my matching rear bumper.

https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/DSCN0048.JPG.1150.jpg

I have been working on my sliders today. Here’s what I have so far.

https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/DSCN0060.JPG.6850.jpg

I plan on finishing the sliders in the next couple days. Then I’ll be ready to get my body lift done, so I can start fab work for mounting everything. I’ll keep you updated as I go.

Hope you enjoy, Terry

[itsme1738]

you should put on the bl before sliders that way the sliders can be closer to the body....

[itsme1738]

oh by the way kick ass bumpers

[Pathspector]

I have not mounted anything yet. I was just checking fit. After I get the BL in I will start mounting everything.

Terry

[itsme1738]

cool!!!!!!!!

[OdiN]

That's a cool front bumper!

Kinda hard to see the rear in that pic.

[Pathspector]

Just an update on my progress.

I've pretty much finished my slider until I get my body lift installed and can make my mounting plates.

https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_7695.JPG.1605.jpg

Checking fit.

https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_7705.JPG.2481.jpg

I picked up my new winch last week and got my mounting plate made.

https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_7734.JPG.5758.jpg

Making sure everything still fits like I want it to.

https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_7716.JPG.6819.jpg

Getting a feel of how everything will look together.

https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_7726.JPG.8637.jpg

I got start on replace the timing belt, water pump and thermostat today. After that is done I'll install the body lift, replace my exhaust stud and work on the suspension.

Terry

[OdiN]

Yeah you definitely need that body lift. Those tires look like they will rub like mad if you start flexing.

Are those the BFG MT KM's?

[Sully4x4]

They aren't the BFG MT's, they look like either Destination MT's or an off brand.

[Pathspector]

They are Mastercrafts. They seem to be alright so far. If they don't workout I may go with BFG MT.

Terry

[pathmaker1]

31's should clear fine with no BL.....some pathys came from the factory with 31X10.5 like my old white one. just slap on a PML and trim the fenders. dont worry about a BL(not a fan of em). i ran true 34's with no BL and just a PML with 1" coil spacers and 1/2" BJ spacers up front and a little fender trimming. runnin 34's with a PML and a 1.5" BL(came with it when i bought it) on my current pathy and it rubs a litle out back at full flex with no sway bars. what size tire are you looking to run after the lift(body and suspension) is said and done?


nice fab work you did there. that front bumper looks stout. how are you attaching it to the frame? make sure to show some pics of the mounting points for the bumpers and sliders!!

[Sully4x4]

My pathy came with 31x10.50's and the 15x7 lego rims. When I went t the 15x8's, I had to take off the fender flares that he has. Even with my PML and 3"BL, my 31's rub on those same fender flares when the wheel is stuffed at full turn. But, without those fender flares, it doesn't even get remotely close to rubbing anywhere. Just sharing my experience. I am really tempted to take mine back off. They just help with road spray from my tires.

[Pathspector]

I'm just having a little isue since I changed wheels, with rubbing when it is fully stuff. I would like to go with 33's when I have to buy tires again. That is why I'm going with the BL now, so I can mount my new bumpers and sliders were I need them after the BL. I'm going to show my ignorance. What is PML?

Terry

[itsme1738]

pml.....poor mans lift....crank on those t-bars....my 88 pathy came with 31s stock.....didnt rub a bit...did a 3 in bl and,put on 33s...had to take off the fender flares,and they rub at full turn(but it looks good).....and i dont care much for the mess it makes....meaning the spray from the tires.....when i sas i WILL put the flares back on to help with this problem....:twocents:

[Sully4x4]

When you crank the tbars, most people get rear coils to get a lift in the rear end as well. My stock pathy coils were shot, so when I got different coils in the rear, it shot up.

[Dowser]

He's refering to a "Poor Mans Lift" It's basically a set of Either the 90's V8 Jeep Grand Cherokee Front Springs for the Rear,(have to cut pig tails off) Or a set of Ford Bronco Springs. I can't recall the years the Ford spring comes from at the moment. After that people basically add some Extra padding in the Spring seat too. You can Buy them on summit, but if your A real Cheapo you can make your Own Doughnuts out of A really thick Truck Mud flap or some of that Heavy duty Floor matt stuff. You get about 3"'s Roughly from the rear. You should technically Fab up a Panhard Rod Drop Down Bracket, or if you dont have the tools or ability,(which you look to have) you can buy one from either Calmini, or Trailmaster I think.) If you want significantly more Articulation then remove the rear stabilizer and just Don't drive like a complete ass around corners.

As for the Front, People just reindex the Torsion bars so that the UCA's are about 1/4" to 1/2" away from the Bump stops. With all that extra weight up front though from that bumper you may need to go with a stiffer Torsion Bar. Cheapest I found was Sway a way and I had them on my old 91. I thought they were good.

*WARNING* if you add bigger meats like 33's and jack up your UCA's and such, you best be a very careful driver offroad or your steering is gonna fall apart. Nissans have some real shitty Centerlinks, and the Idler Arms are pretty weak. Either Fab up a brace for the Idler Arm or buy one from Calmini. Centerlink options for aftermarket are Hoohaa centerlinks, whick can be found at http://www.grassroots4x4.com/ I think and you'll have to ream out the Idler Arm to fit if I remember correctly.

Personally from my experience, shit snowballed quick as soon as I started my IFS suspension upgrade. Once you touch one thing, you have to touch it all.

hope that helps

[itsme1738]

wow he said it right

[Pathspector]

Thanks for all the help and info guy's. I already have the Ilder arm brace and am thinking of getting a Hoohaa CL. I'll see were I'm at after I get all this done with clearance and go from there. I already pretty much figured I'm going to have to go with heavier TB, with the bumper that I made and winch up front. Is there anyone in Colorado who handles Sway a way?

Terry

[Packman5280]

i would only add that the centerlinks are not that weak until you use them beyond their design specifications, ie after you crank the t-bars everything is at a different angle, so the stresses are applied differently. but the end result is the same, you need to address your steering, once you lift it going up a curb could break something.

[Sully4x4]

Yea, that pretty much covers it lol. I did not do the panhard drop, however, and my coils are from a Bronco. I think the coils from the ford trucks has to be older F-100's. Check out 4x4parts.com and do a search for the coil replacement, there is a nice write-up there. I got new UCA's to correct my ball joint angle, though. You can find some used ones pretty cheap now-a-days. I replaced my entire front end like Dowser said, so I pretty much knocked it all out. Though my balljoint boots already fell apart :D

EDIT: Since I am a slow typer, you can get some good torsion bars from 4x4parts as well for $210, which isn't a bad price. They used to sell sway-aways but I don't think so anymore.

[OdiN]

Give 4wheel parts a call for sway aways (oh and A/C does still sell the sway aways according to them).

I got the same ones 4x4parts sells for cheaper from 4Wheel Parts - but you'd have to go to Denver to get them.

I think I paid $170 total for my sway aways.

[Pathspector]

Give 4wheel parts a call for sway aways (oh and A/C does still sell the sway aways according to them).

I got the same ones 4x4parts sells for cheaper from 4Wheel Parts - but you'd have to go to Denver to get them.

I think I paid $170 total for my sway aways.


Thanks! My daughter lives in Denver, so the next time I'm up seeing her I will check 4Wheel parts out.

Terry

[ChefTyler]

You do know that Four Wheel Parts will ship to you.

[OdiN]

True - wonder if the cost would be more to ship direct to you vs. to their warehouse. Worth a call to them anyway.

[ChefTyler]

True - wonder if the cost would be more to ship direct to you vs. to their warehouse. Worth a call to them anyway.

My experience with 4WP has been that if it has to be shipped to their warehouse from the distribution center they will ship it to your house/business at no cost (if it's coming from another store, ie. the COS or Westminster store that doesn't apply).

[Pathspector]

I finally got a little time to work on it this weekend. It’s coming along pretty nice. I got the body lift in. Herculine the lower part of the body. Finished up the rear bumper mounts and painted it. Made the mounting plates for my sliders and painted. Here’s a few pic’s of my progress.

Herculining
https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_7767.JPG.9972.jpg

Sliders painted and ready to mount.
https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_7786.JPG.4824.jpg

https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_7789.JPG.1321.jpg

Rear bump painted and mounted.
https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_7776.JPG.2228.jpg

https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_7782.JPG.2571.jpg

https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_7781.JPG.4736.jpg

I’m hoping to complete this faze of the project this week, so I can go do a little wheelin next weekend. I still have to build the mount and paint the front bumper, mount the winch, install a new radiator and the steering and suspension work. I hope I get it done.

Terry

[OdiN]

lookin good!

[steeze]

Looks real clean man, I of course dig the white and black look.

[Pathspector]

Steeze, I really like your X. I thought about getting creative with the Herculiner like you did, but back out when the time came.

Terry

[Sully4x4]

Lookin good man!

[Pathspector]

Well I got a lot done on my project this weekend. I got the sliders mounted. Replaced upper and lower control arm bushings, strutarm bushing and replaced lower ball joints. Installed idlerarm brace, shocks and steering stabilizer. I finished the mounts for my front bumper and added the decking, painted and mounted it. I got the winch mounted, but need to wire it. Here’s some pic’s

Sliders mounted
https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_7832.JPG.8093.jpg

Pathmaker1, You ask me to show pic’s of how I was mounting my fron bumper. Here is the upper mount. I used the original frame mount.
https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_7791.JPG.304.jpg

Here it is mounted to the frame.
https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_7800.JPG.2638.jpg

Here’s how it comes through to mount to the bumper.
https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_7797.JPG.826.jpg

Here’s the bumper mounted to it.
https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_7804.JPG.8697.jpg

Front Bumper painted and ready to mount.
https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_7810.JPG.2672.jpg

https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_7813.JPG.5708.jpg

Bumper mounted… Here you can see the lower braces that run down to the frame.
https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_7824.JPG.2376.jpg

https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_7817.JPG.5010.jpg

Winch mount and looking good.
https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_7823.JPG.4405.jpg

I just have some loose ends to tie up and I should be ready to do some wheelin next weekend. :D

Terry

[JeffW]

Damn. Looks awesome. See you on the trails...

[itsme1738]

great job.......nice write up....keep us up to date please

[Sully4x4]

Kick ass job man!

[OdiN]

Looks good dude!

[Bamboozled]

Looks good, Man. I would be very tempted to beef up the upper mounts, for winching anyways.

[Houdini]

The bumper looks pretty good. Its definitely original.

I would also suggest beefing up those mounts though. You don't want to pull the bumper off with the winch or tap a tree or rock with that bumper and have it fold back into the grill.

[Pathspector]

Thanks guys...

Bamboozled & Houdini, I am a little worried about the upper mounts. I don't see any problems with winching, but I think they may buckle if I hit something just right. You have any ideas on beefing them up?

Terry

[JeffW]

....I would also suggest beefing up those mounts though. You don't want to pull the bumper off with the winch or tap a tree or rock with that bumper and have it fold back into the grill.

Good point. Those mounts aren't sufficient for an 8000# winch. They need to be beefed up and connected to the frame further back.

Still a beautiful bumper.

[Pathspector]

Well I have the first phase done. Now I need to start saving for phase 2, which will more than likely start next winter. Until then I can enjoy doing a little wheelin. Here’s a few pic’s I took today while out testing/playing. :) :bannana:

Terry


https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_7886.JPG.6680.jpg

https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_7895.JPG.5838.jpg

https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_7903.JPG.2190.jpg

https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_7907.JPG.2937.jpg

https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_7919.JPG.7428.jpg

[Pathspector]

Well I figured I'd give a little update on the small projects I've been working on. I installed a CB and some PIAA lights to the front bumper. Removed the front sway bar and made some quick disconnects for the rear. Replaced all the exhaust studs and the EGR valve after I broke it where the exhaust tube hooks to it :( Started building a rear storeage box. Here's a few pic's on how that it going.

My plans
https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/Rear%20Storeage%20Box%20%282%29.jpg.4835.jpg

Here's my progress on it.
https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_8337.JPG.4053.jpg

https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_8352.JPG.8764.jpg

https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_8358.JPG.4693.jpg

https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_8360.JPG.2022.jpg

https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_8368.JPG.5098.jpg

I still need to do the draw fronts, make some dividers and get it paint. Hopefully finish later this week.

Terry

[OdiN]

Lookin good!

[owenb2]

X2!

[JeffW]

Thanks guys...

Bamboozled & Houdini, I am a little worried about the upper mounts. I don't see any problems with winching, but I think they may buckle if I hit something just right. You have any ideas on beefing them up?

Terry

I haven't looded under a D21 Pathy lately, but this is what my Xterra mounts look like:

http://www.whitescarver.com/jeffscarver/Xterra/TJM01.JPG

You will note that the mounting plate connects to the horns and frame tiedowns.

Beautiful Pathy. Can't wait to see it in person sometime soon......

.

[pathmaker1]

the frame horns of the pathys dont stick out enough to do that. the frame ends at the radiator bottom support. im having the same worries about my bumper cause i dont think it has enough support especially under hard winching. did ok this past weekend but i only had 2 moderate pulls on it.

im going to look into it more this weekend and if i find a good solution ill post up with some pics.

[Sully4x4]

Have some box bars going down to where the tow hooks are Rich. Screw them in through the 2 holes on each frame horn. It's been done and works great.

[pathmaker1]

thats exactly what i was thinkin of doin Sully. gonna look into it this weekend.

[Pathspector]

Got some time today to take some picture of my recent mod's.

PIAA Lights
https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_8369.JPG.9242.jpg

Here's the sway bar disconnects that I made.
https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_8378.JPG.1144.jpg

Finally finished my storeage box. I used Herculiner instead of paint.
https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_8384.JPG.9173.jpg

https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_8389.JPG.8066.jpg

CO2 tank mounted and ready for use.
https://www.netkennel.com/Images/165/IMG_8390.JPG.385.jpg

[steeze]

Very Cool...

Everything looks super clean, Awesome Job!