I've now owned my '87 Pathy SE V6 for about 4 weeks now. I had just sold my '82 Chevy 2by so we could buy more of a family vehical and something ether in FWD or a 4X4 due to the Maine winters... There is a classifieds publication here in the NE called Uncle Henry's. After the guy came and picked up my truck I started thumbing throught the 'Trucks for Sale' section. I am a mechanic and know enough what to stay away from. Larger SUV's where out of the question because of fuel economy. I'd had enough of 8mpg from my Chevy. The only thing that was left were Yotas and Nissans. I came to this conclusion because of quality. I knew that I'd never find something like a Cherokee or Blazer in decent shape mechanically for the money I had to spend. A 4 runner was my first thought but that proved to be a waste of time. They are worth gold (with a decent body) here in Maine. I then found my '87. I thought, for the price, I have to check it out. I got a friend to drive me the 15 minutes up the road and really fell in love when I saw it. Its been about 4 years since the last 4X4 ('76 CJ5) I has owned and the mud started running through my veins. We checked it over and found that it was fairly well taken care of. My biggest concern being the motor and drive train. We took it down the road to a nice dirt pit so I could try out the transfer and hubs (automatic). Seemed to be great.. Just the incredible noise from the steering stops (scared us at first) and the strut rod bushings had rotten. So long story short I weighed my options and payed him $800. Not bad for up here. 129,000 clocked, SE loaded (every available option I think, help?), new tires, good interior, and of course lots and lots of body rot. The body isn't too too bad (still passed inspectoin) but just ugly. I'm waiting till I move back south to fix it. Well I drove it for a few weeks thinking, "Man this thing is guttless!!" It became really really obvious when it rained that I needed a tune up. So I changed the cap, rotor, wires and plugs yesterday. It had to of been over 50,000 miles since the last tune up. All the contacts in the cap were allmost wore in half! After getting it back together I took her for a spin, all I have to say is WOW! She really came to life.. The lack of power was my only complaint but now, I have none (well parts are more exspesive than most). This just shows how much a tune up can benifit.

So now that I've fixed my power problem, I don't think I'll ever buy another SUV unless it was a Pathfinder. It really has impressed me. Well looks like I'm converted......

Ben

Glad to hear you make the switch. I love my pathy to death. Goes anywhere I want to go. Enjoy the cold winters and welcome to the boards.


"I'm just a Bill... Going up and down Capitol Hill...."

Right on man! These trucks are great and have relatively few annoyances compared to other 4x4s. Just go easy on the steering system and she'll get you anywhere you want to go.

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"I'm just a bill... on Capitol Hill.."

Yep. My only complaint w/my truck is the Darn steering! That's ok though. I'm working on swapping to a solid axle now (I like hardcore wheeling, so this is something I had planned almost right after I bought it anyway, but it's become priority now!).

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Isaac

1993 Nissan Hardbody 4x4
Too many mods to list

(Click Link for Small Picture Gallery)

quote:

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Originally posted by NissanProject:
Yep. My only complaint w/my truck is the Darn steering! That's ok though. I'm working on swapping to a solid axle now (I like hardcore wheeling, so this is something I had planned almost right after I bought it anyway, but it's become priority now!).


1993 Nissan Hardbody 4x4
Too many mods to list

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Speaking of steering, just recently I noticed that all of my suspension/steering components had never had a drop of grease since the assemb. line. All the factory 'bolts' were in place. This impressed me because nothing has been replaced in 30K, and only the CL and ideler arm are showing signs of wear. Even the stock automatic hubs work fine. Allmost every thing (just the radio had been changed) on my Pathy was stock when I bought it. I replaced the fac shocks (they were DONE), a u-joint, torsion bushings, tune up and changed the fluids. It runs fine and drives nice as well.

But even after all the mechanical BS, it comes down to what you said. How is it off-road? That is where it really impresses me. A stock form SUV that handles great on and off-road. I too am a advid fan of off-roading, but sadly the Pathy is a desginated grocery getter. My wife claimed her for now. But in the future I also want to SAS a Nissan after seeing pics of one on 38" tires. BEEF

Ben

A Pathy is a capable truck for a stock SUV. It offers an excellent rear suspension with run of the mill IFS. Autos work particularly well, although they don't live forever. A few cheap mods such as '73-79 Ford F100, F150 2x4 or 4x4 coils, sway bar disconnects or all together removal, a torsion bar crank, longer shocks and decent tires is a great low buck way to go. Springs are plentiful in salvage yards. Torsions can be cranked for free or replaced with 30% stiffer versions for under $150.

Enjoy the truck. There's lots of others here who enjoy their Pathy's. Of course I'm partial to regular cab Frontiers - mostly because they're rare and share the Pathy's shorter wheelbase.


1998 Frontier 4x4 seriously built
2002 Xterra 4x4 still stock
"Conjunction Junction, what's your Dysfunction?"

38's are what I plan going to after my SAS (if all goes well, I start cuttin' off the IFS in July! Hope nothin' gets in my way --$$$ wise-- until then!).

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Isaac

1993 Nissan Hardbody 4x4
Too many mods to list

(Click Link for Small Picture Gallery)

Desert Rat:

I do plan on installing the Ford*coughjunkcough* coils and longer shocks. Even in stock form the Pathy flexes great!

NP:

I'd like to have a p-up on 38"s as well... Once I move back home, I plan on starting a SAS on a Hardbody or *in a quiet voice* a Yota *ducks*..

Ben

You aint kiddin about the rear-end flex



I've got alot more than that actually...that's just the only pic I had on tap hehe

Mr. Will

|1992 SE-V6 4x4, 2001 LE 3.5|
http://www.netsnapshot.com/pcw/pickalbum?W92PathSE

With or without rear sway?

You can get alot of flex out of the rear. I'm running F100 springs and no sway bars and still the stock shock. The shock is my limiting point, it gets maxed out. I would replace it, but I really hate replacing a perfectly good set of shocks, just for the extra flex. I'll wait till the factory shocks wear out. My 95 has 98k and only 1 shock is starting to show wear. That's my passenger front.


"I'm just a Bill... Going up and down Capitol Hill...."

I'm running no sways at all, stock shocks. They are only 2 years old, but will need to be replaced soon. I like being able to adjust them from in-cab though. The stiffer setting feels alot better on the road around town, and the softer is good for the highway/offroad.

Having no swaybars made the body roll a little bit more(duh), but I drive like granny so it's no big deal.

Karsten(BART) had no swaybars on his Pathy with 6" of lift and 33's. He was out on that Italy run, driving around those mountain roads with no problems hahaha

Mr. Will

|1992 SE-V6 4x4, 2001 LE 3.5|
http://www.netsnapshot.com/pcw/pickalbum?W92PathSE

[QUOTE]Originally posted by 92PathSE:
I'm running no sways at all, stock shocks. They are only 2 years old, but will need to be replaced soon. I like being able to adjust them from in-cab though. The stiffer setting feels alot better on the road around town, and the softer is good for the highway/offroad.[QUOTE]

When I replaced my shocks I didn't have much extra cash so opted for some generic replacements. But after 4 months, its time for something better. Kind of glad I didn't buy "better" shocks at the time knowing what I know now about the F coils and longer shocks.


If I was the only driver, I'd scrap my sways also. My wife drives like a 'bat outa h3ll' so I'll keep em for now. Just add some quick disconnects.

While we're ont he topic, I got a funny story...

When i was 16, i decided to take off the rear swaybar. I got confused and pulled off the wrong bar...the panhard rod. That's the big one right behind the rear diff that connects the axle and frame. Needless to say, I about crapped my pants driving around the block. I got back in the driveway and quickly put it back on.

Mr. Will

|1992 SE-V6 4x4, 2001 LE 3.5|
http://www.netsnapshot.com/pcw/pickalbum?W92PathSE

It's not really neccesary to remove the sway bar to flex out fully, it'll just make it a little stiffer and so harder to flex all the way but it will flex the full range with the swaybar connected. Check out Eli's flex:
http://www.ultimatesuv.com/Pathfinder_Rear_Susp_Page.htm
he had the bar connected there...

91 Path
N.W.O.R.C. Member