Nissan Patrol Swb - Whats your Thoughts on this car?  

MJ80

Flag spending 10G on a SWB pig patrol.

Being a swb i wouldn't lift it at all as its already super sensitive to rollovers, with a lift i dare say it wouldn't last long driving anything even moderately difficult but then again i wouldn't own one at all.

If you must own a swb patrol, keep it low, locked, cut guards and big tyres, just don't raise it.

HighLuxBoi

WOW tonz of info thanks man! so...if i cut the guards will the car still pass roadworthy and pits and stuff...as im soon to be a p plater in QLD...
And is 10 grand is too much for a swb? if anything what would you recommend *i had a Lux, im after lots of flex, cheap to get and cheap to do up...lockers, lifts if needed...etc?* and what would you put on it? cause i want this 4x4 to go everywhere i point it *Rockwise* and still be street legal...

BRISBANE EPOXY FLOORS

well 35s arent street legal. biggest is 31 inch on one of them i believe. either is more than 2 inches suspension lift and 2 inch body lift

MJ80

I interpreted what you said as in spending 10K after the purchase, not as the whole cost inc car. Unsure about if its still roadworthy with a guard trim, id say so but don't quote me on it.

If your budget as a whole is 10K and you want a go most places 4wd with alot of gear available with a large scope for modifications then your probably safe with the point and shoot GQ, although if it was me id get a LWB, but even thats ridiculous as id never own a GQ personally. Seems to fit the bill, cheap, capable, large scope of mods, point and shoot car, albeit but ugly.

Also you wont have a 4wd that can go anywhere and it still be legal in QLD, mod laws are too tight atm although i believe we have recently adopted NCOP for laws regarding vehicle modification so that may or may not open up your options in regard to engineering and what not. As previously you would be limited to around a 31-32 (?) " tyre and a 2" spring lift and 2" body lift, do not fit a body lift, they serve no purpose, cut guards.

HighLuxBoi

Hmm okay tyres and lifts "legal..ness?" if thats a word, arn't really the largest issue as much as Engine size etc. But M's comment really sparked some curiosity, because it seems he?/she? was not to sold on a short wheel base, so i thought what other choices do i have? because i really want flex *for rocks* but i've only found a few 4b's that actually flex well *keep in mind this is semi stock because my budget is 10 for the car and 6 for upgrades*, so whats the best bet for getting a good flexing 4b? thats cheap to buy *Used* and cheap to get Upgrades for
*Lockers,Lift,tyres IF NEEDED* Help is greatly appreiciated as i dont want to waste the money i worked for lol...

*edit*
Wow thanks okay, so a LWB GQ? is that my only option? as i have...probs a 14-16k budget and i'am...fairly new, not brand new as i have been 4bing on the farm with my dad since i was old enough to see over the wheel and dash

BRISBANE EPOXY FLOORS

go a gu and then mod it later on when you get money up again. the gu's are getting old now and are way overpriced in my opinion.

MJ80

Of course its not your only option, you can buy whatever the hell you want, if its flex your chasing then any car can be made to do it, its just the big coil wagons do it exceptionally well with relative ease is all.

Are you chasing petrol or diesel ? if your budget is 16K id be looking at the 80 series's now as a more comfortable and better looking better engined and equally capable yet more expensive option than the GQ, id say the factory TD's are still out of your reach with 16K but there's wicked petrol's to be had for that money that wouldn't require a cent spent.

HighLuxBoi

Okay so GQ or 80? and epoxy gu's are like 20 grand haha! bit outta my price range O_O
but quickly MJ80 i found a 80 series for 17 and a half it had 37s some sort of lift and a set of spotties..should i try get help to pay for it and spend the extra cash for a decent 80 or just buy a cheaper one for 8k?...or should i just go GQ and then sell it once i feel like upgrading once i have better finacial status....or just bite the bullet now and buy somethign i wont sell?

MJ80

I cant decide what car you should buy, iv just given you a brief overview now you decide, try to buy a good one straight up your wasting time and money buying an "inbetweener" The big question is petrol or diesel as it dictates what you can and cant afford from both, if your looking at petrols buy a late model 80 series they will be in good nick and should have some nice bolt ons for that sort of money, if your looking at diesels, specifically turbo diesels, buy a GQ , i only say that because you cant afford factory TD80s with that budget, but you will be able to pick up TD GQ's. You would be able to get a 1HZ or 1HZ-T 80 for under 16 but it would be relatively standard with the kms almost certainly over 300K, not really a bad thing but something to consider.

HighLuxBoi

Man thanks! you've been so much help! seems i might go the GQ...i don't mind tehre look...and your right! you can get some good deals on TD's for a GQ

tman686

hey mate i own a gq swb if u have a look at my topics theres pics on there i only put gu shocks and coils and set of 31 inch a/t and havent been stuck out in bush yet and got a fair bit of flex so u dont need to spend big money to get thru bush and stuff ive takin it to land cruiser park and done tracks up there no problem ive done all tracks at glass house wif no problem

10k is abit out ragous

MJ80

You need to explore more, theres shit at GH you wouldn't go near without being locked both ends with big rubber and no fear of panel damage, let alone 31" AT's and GU shocks ?

web86

MJ80 has pretty well hit the nail on the head with his advice. think your modifications through, research whats best for you and dont waste your money. My 80series has cost me around 18g so far and i have many many more plans for it yet!

'MJ80' what is this NCOP that you speak of?????

MJ80

NCOP is a National Code of Practice (for vehicle modifications) Untill recently QLD has always had our own, much stricter laws for modifications and the rest of the country has been using NCOP, basically it was a retarded system where your car could be legal in NSW but as soon as you drove it into QLD it was classified as an illegal death trap. QLD adopting NCOP is a step in the right direction and i believe it has opened up the suspension side of things considerably, however things like tyre size increases are still limited to 15mm, its still a totally broken system but its not as bad as it was before.

HighLuxBoi

Been checking alot of stuff out, are the sus kits from locktup anygood?

no more holdens

GQ would be the better option as opposed to a GU
Wouldnt touch a GU with a barge pole
They are cheap because they are sh*t
No where near as tuff and rugged as a GQ
Hence why GQs are commanding better money lately (for a good well looked after one,not a busted up one)
(Dont blame the messenger, Good GQs are changing hands from 10K-15K and beyond for a goodie)
I payed over 10K for my GQ 12 months ago and just got a cash over of 3K more than i paid for it
Its a 1997 just done 200K

MJ80,
Is right regarding the road law codes
Work within the rules and your safe
Work outside the rules and youll look for trouble
A thing to remember the 80 series pettie are all wheel drive and love the juice
Alot more than the pettie (TB42) GQs
The GQ 4.2 petties get around 20-25L/100Ks
Very thursty
Only factory turbo diesel GQ was the 2.8
The 4.2 were only N/A any turboed version are aftermarket
A diesel GQ does and always will command better $$$ for the equivelant pettie version
Good luck with the search
Theres alot of crap out there,finding a good GQ youll be looking for a while
I looked everywhere,online,magazines,anywhere i could find 1 advertised and it took me near 9 months

HighLuxBoi

GQ are the wagons right? and GU are the utes?

B Unit

I'm far from a Nissan expert, but I think the GU's were just the later models, regardless of being ute or wagon.

MJ80

Correct GQ 1987-1997 GU - 1997-2009

no more holdens

GQ range (years above ^^^)
Had the wagon (LWB) swb and ute
Even had leaf spring suspension on the early GQ utes
The rest coil suspension
Had 4 engine combos
RB30 Petrol
TB42 Petrol (early versions carb,later versions EFI)
RD28 Diesel Turbo
TD42 diesel N/A
Then model variations from ,
Full hose out models (povo pack) to luxo models (Leather interior ,wood grain inserts,electric everything)
Can also get TB42 auto versions
Very hard to get a good 1, and they are exxy to rebuild

HighLuxBoi

OH okay so GQ's are the ealier nissans and GU's are the later ones?

MJ80