Been getting quite a few parts for the ute lately, and even a couple of mates. I have gotten all the parts from a place called All Four X Four Parts, the bloke that runs the place (Fester) is on the ball. I can defiantly recommend them!

Gotta love this rain in Brisbane ey! its been great to see some wet stuff.

Although i saw a interesting thing this morning…

On my way to work (I was driving Oddie’s GTiR) I saw a Magna pull over to the side of the road, and promptly slide into a muddy ditch, and then try and drive forward through it to get out…only to bog the poor thing upto the chassis.

I saw all this as i drove past and decided to turn around and see if i could help. When i got back to the Magna i saw a Mum and Daughter looking forlornly at the vehicle. I stopped and offered to go and get my ute and pull them out. (any chance to go 4×4ing, hehehe) They took me up on the offer so i trotted home grabbed the ute and quickly snatched them backwards outa the ditch.

She was sooo thankful, saying that people very rarely stop to help people anymore, etc etc. Got me wondering….has the mobile phone stopped random kind acts ? Why bother stopping when you know that the person in trouble can very easily call someone and get themselves outa trouble ? Or is it something else ?

Went out to a place called Ormeau with a bunch of Outerlimits and 4×4 Monthly lads…Had a ball!!… It was awesome to head out with a bunch of trucks with very similar capabilities.

About halfway through the trip it started raining, which made the harder tracks ‘very’ entertaining.

The trip was ‘mostly’ carnage-less, except for a stocko Ssangyong  4×4 that came out with us, he managed to acquire quite a few dents and scratches and even managed to tear a small hole in his chassis… ouch!

Full gallery HERE

I fitted a new air filter (including canister) today to make benefit of the snorkle i had recently installed, had to mod the second battery tray a little and spent a fair amount of time mucking around making sure the bonnet wouldn’t foul on the canister. Anyway, pictures are worth a thousand words.

I think it turned out pretty well.

Was just reading on the Patrol 4×4 Forum about a possible new engine for the 2008??? Patrol. Looks very nice.

If Nissan use this engine, then all we need to wish for is the continued use of a live axle front end

Link to engines site HERE

Specs are:

• Configuration: V8
• Displacement: 6.4L (390 cu in)
• Power Output: 200-230 hp (149 - 171 kW) @ 2,600rpm
• Peak Torque: 560-620 lb. ft.(759 - 840 N m) @ 1,400rpm
• Aspiration: Turbocharged
• Combustion System: Direct Injection
• B10/B50 Life: 262,500/375,000 miles
• Dry Engine Weight: 1,150 lbs.

Well….managed to get my new snorkle installed yesterday…..well….i must say….what a pain in the ass…. quite stressful boring huge holes in your nice shiny panel work…and hoping that the template provided is even marginally accurate, which mine was, just. I havent put my fancy new air filter in yet, because that will require ‘persuading’ the inner guard a bit so that the bonnet will still close once installed

Well, over the last couple days, ive managed to pick myself up a Steering box and Full front diff from a 2006 Gu Patrol, with only …wait for it… 11,000 kays on it!!! I stripped the diff last night, the oil and greases were brand new, its was soooo virgin

At this stage i havent decided if im going to just install the Front diff with or without mods yet, it ‘does’ seem like a very good time to laminate and reinforce the diff before installation, but im also super keen to get it in asap so i no longer have to worry about the V8 snapping CV’s like crazy.

Im hoping to install the Gu Steering box next week, because the utes current one is now leaking a fair bit. I also want to mess with the power steering pump a bit too, im really not a fan of the holden PS pump, so have got myself a pump from a GQ Diesel, which im hoping to make some brakets and stuff for and install on the V8.

Went out to Mt Mee with a whole bunch of fella’s from the 4×4 Monthly forum (among others), it was more of a softcore trip with nice views and good opportunities to flap the gums.

Of the whole day there was ONE ok climb that Jim and I went up a few times, the last we time we went up we waited at the top for ages, only to have one of the guys drive around and ask us if we could help rescue a Frontera because he had got a little stuck partway up….(cue thunderbird music) ..was a easy tow really

I dont think ill every get used to the “Im going to buy a car that is specifically designed to be higher than a normal car and go offroad, and turn it into a lowered camry” thing.  I guess you really have to admire the amount of work that would have gone into that Landcruiser thou to get it that low and still drive ok….assuming it does drive ok 

Nice looking ute thou!

Wanna pay $160K for a new 40 year old 4×4 ?….hrmmm

Looks pretty cool thou, and has dana axles….

Link HERE