Project Hardshell

[TheCrabMaster]

The rabbit holes continues to get deeper and deeper. I am starting to wonder if this is all just a dream.

But got my coilovers in the other day. I'm only doing the rear for the time being. Should start fabbing the notch in the rear and building the brackets and everything very soon. Also have some more surprises up my sleeves, so you'll just have to patiently wait. Stay righteous my friends!

[TheCrabMaster]

Alright did a little work today and made some progress!

Started tidying up things here and there. Moved the bracket for the fuel filter and mounted the oil filter kit in the only place it would work on the power steering reservoir.



Got the headers in today also. Everything clears them also so no worries about them. The passenger side went on perfect. The driver side gave me nothing but problems haha.
Put some heat shielding around the power steering line since its pretty close to the exhaust.

Got the intake off and painted. Then put it back together and got the oil catch can fully installed.

Had to make a simple bracket for the catch can since it didn't come with one, then put the heat sleeve over the return for the can since its over the exhaust.

Clearer pic of the egr block off plates and driver side exhaust.

Last but not least, a pic of all the new steering parts and ball joints. So I just need to get the crossover pipe on and the exhaust at the front is done. I have to put the torsion bar crossmember back in then everything up front is basically done.
Next big thing on the list is rear suspension which you all will be happy to hear, the only will be able to get to a legit height is lots of cutting and... DA DA DA DAAAAAAAA. COILOVERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I shall be buying those soon enough. More updates to come!

[TheCrabMaster]

Finally made my intake, made a bracket for the catch can and plumbed it up.

Kind of crappy picture I have to take the intake out again for final cleanup and paint the chrome and the maf housing black. Then it will be ready to put back in for good.

[TheCrabMaster]

Alright did some work on the truck yesterday. Started by getting the driver side suspension tore down. Then I had to cut the old 4x4 bump stop frame out, otherwise ill never commence with the lows!

Originally I was going to box it but its already boxed inside so im not too worried about it.
Next step was to tear down the 2wd spindles. While they were apart I cleaned and paint the hubs, then threw some rear studs in them since they are longer. Then reassembled with new bearings, seals and globs of new grease!

SHINY!
Then threw the upper control arm back on, then threw the knuckles back on with new balljoints.

Also got the oil filter relo kit on and put the starter back in and threw the heat wrap on it.
I don't think it will get the hot near it but it also keeps stuff off the starter.

But that's all for now!

[TheCrabMaster]

PARTS PARTS PARTS PARTS PARTS!
Grabbed basically the rest of what I needed from work today. As I was removing the sway bar yesterday I realized that the end links and the mounting bushing were shot so grabbed some new ones of those. Also got some matching ball joints in so grabbed those. Also my AN -10 45 degree elbows came in for the oil filter relo kit. So I can throw that in soon along with the exhaust. Since im basically doing everything new, I figured might as well just throw new rotors on it with some ceramic pads. Grabbed some new slide pins also to throw in just cuz. And while im at it I grabbed some rear lug studs to put on the 2wd hub since they're longer than the fronts. Also grabbed a can of high temp black to paint the calipers and the center of the rotors so they don't rust!!!!

Decided since ive got it apart might as well just do all new parts haha. Official song for the build is "In Too Deep by Sum 41" hahahahahaha
That's all for now

[TheCrabMaster]

Love how this is getting so many good parts before it can even drive.

Would love to see you shorten the bed a bit and give it a nissan sunny truck shortbed kind of look.

All the parts!!! Naw Brandon did the short bed idea on his and I wasn't into it

[rice4life]

Love how this is getting so many good parts before it can even drive.

Would love to see you shorten the bed a bit and give it a nissan sunny truck shortbed kind of look.

[TheCrabMaster]

PARTS PARTS PARTS PARTS PARTS! Bought more stuff wooooooo!
So when I had to drop the center link to do oil pan must of dislodged the last bit of life in it. So picked up a new one from work and if im doing a center link, it would be pointless to not do tie rods and adjusters. Then went to the junkyard with a friend to get him some stuff and there it was. A 2wd pathfinder, something that has been eluding me for sometime now. So went ahead a pulled the spindles since I still have the 4wd ones on my truck and since they have a huge in the back I need to find some 2wd ones. So since im pulling those off might as well do new bearings and seals. I also was going to grab ball joints, but they had two different styles in the box from design changes over the years, and it bothered me so I ordered more in. Benefit of working at a parts store.

So the front end will be torn apart soon enough, got the AN fittings in the mail. Once I get those I can officially install the oil filter relo kit. Then I can put exhaust in and start making the intake. But going camping for a couple of days to get away for a little and clear my mind from work with family. So ill update later this week!

[TheCrabMaster]

Keep up the good work looking great!

Thanks man, still plenty of things to do but it's deff getting closer

[Reubencanyon]

Keep up the good work looking great!

[TheCrabMaster]

PROGRESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Put some work in today and got a big thing off the list. The truck now has a 5 Speed in it!

Went in relatively smooth for once. Somehow got the top bolts in easily.

Feels good to have a shift sticking into the cab over that stupid gear selector.
Don't mind the interior, like most nissan's its just a expensive storage unit lol

Heres a slightly blurry pic of the engine bay now that the emissions are gone.
Got my fancy egr block off plates!!

The oil filter sandwich plate mounted, just have to order some AN elbows to fully
install the relocation kit.

Had to take a pic of the hood since the shadow made the vents really sick out.
That's all for today all have more updates later, still plenty of things to do! lataz

[TheCrabMaster]

Loving the VG love!

Thanks, cant wait to actually open it up, see how to runs after this massive tune up

Somebody make some 3 piece wheels out of those pathfinder wheels! They are 80's fresh.

Icckkkky the only thing that's happening to those is crap tires and probably a obnoxious color haha

Update! First off went to the junkyard for one item and I ended up grabbing.

$5 later I have a tensioner for the power steering which should get rid of that
horrid noise the belt is producing lol

Next up bought a heat shield for the starter since the exhaust is running past it and originally I grabbed the sleeve for the oil cooler line but theyre too big so ill just it else where. Then also grab pack of vacuum caps since Im in the process of deleting emissions
theres plenty to cap off.

Pic of the pressure plate in.

Old release bearing had a nice grinding feel to it and I couldn't get myself to put
a trans in without changing the input shaft seal.

Everything that comes out I have scrubbed the crap out of, degreased, then either painted the part or just put it back on. Of course everything that had a gasket has been replaced with black rtv and all the bolts have been blue thread locked for reassurance.

I cant even began to tell you how long it took to make this trans silver again lol
Its honestly the hardest thing to resist painting it gold.

Inside of the bellhousing. Scrubbed and cleaned as much as necessary then put back together with a new clutch release bearing.

CAT!
Also went to install the oil filter relocation kit. Have to get some AN elbows for it to clear the frame, so ill end up doing that next week once those arrive. Transmission will be going in on Thursday. So basically at a stand still till then, cant put the exhaust back in till then. Cant put the oil catch can in till I make a intake. Can make a intake till the engine is sitting correctly with the trans in. So we progress is taking a day off. Updates later!

[Asshole Bicycle]

Somebody make some 3 piece wheels out of those pathfinder wheels! They are 80's fresh.

[jayjaypea]

Loving the VG love!

[TheCrabMaster]

I'm surprized you didn't go all out with VG30et turbo manis. Single cam vg30's sound 10/10 gnarly with a good exhaust and intake.

As much as I'd love it, I'd rather keep it na so I can test the limits and keep it running haha last thing I need to do is be rebuilding or swapping another motor