Few questions for the GQ Gurus!

[bornozz]

Gday All, awesome forum.

I recently bought my first GQ and I am pretty happy with it however wanted some info on a couple of issues.

The GQ is a 1992 LWB 4.2 petrol recent gas conversion, 4" spring lift(with Rancho adjustable shocks), 2" body lift (with extended brake lines, lowered radiator etc to suit body lift), ARB Bull Bar, Spotties, Snorkel, Extracters & 2.5" exhaust, 35" Mickey Thompson MTZ's, Front air locker/ rear factory LSD, no sway bars, electrics... etc

Overall I am extremely happy with it, its a tough rig which seems to have been well put together. I have been sorting out a few little issues (badly installed wiring connections and worn out electrical switches mainly) with it so far and wondering about a couple of bigger issues. My intentions for the car are daily driver, weekend basher, camping buggy and occassional tow vehicle.

Question #1: Are Swaybar disconnects worth the investment to make it a little more disciplined on the highway?.... also I have heard that Rancho adjustable shocks are great for jeep and smaller fourbies but not so good on LWB patrols, so if this is true what are better options for adjustability to retain flex offroad and tighten things up on the highway? (I know if I want to keep the lift and flex option I wont get sports car handling on the highway, but I just want a bit better behaved vehicle when the family is ridin along)

Question #2: Short of dumping a chevy in how can I get some more enthusiasm out of the donk? ... it labours and struggles on long hills and overtaking. I dont expect drag strip performance with big rubber but I am sure it could be better than what it is. Any ideas or experiences? .... I have heard people talking about turbo but I know zero about petrol turbo's and dont want to lose reliability or blow fuel consumption through the roof.

Question #3: The third row seats..... did the later GQ's ever come out with a split third row that folds up to the side which perhaps I could swap out for the little bench seat? .... Cos I have three sons which means a lot less arguments if one is right up the back and the other two are separated... only problem is that leaves bugger all room for storage. Would be nice to have an individual seat on one side so I could build in a custom storage system next to it for all my bits. Other options?

Question #4: Brakes!..... How do I upgrade them? ..... had em checked out and fluid flushed etc all good, but she still pulls up about as quick as a semi! Probably the first on my list to sort out. Is it possible?

If you are still reading by now thanks for enduring such a lengthy post. I appreciate your thoughts and feedback. I know it sounds like I want it all without compromising but who doesn't.... lol... and i know if its possible you guys will be able to guide me there. I have been wanting a GQ for so long now I am bloody happy to have joined the Patrol community.

Cheers Brian

[MyGQ]

Question 1: After running with and Without swaybars, the GQ's are that heavy a car with such a small swaybar setup that they make 3/5th off stuff all difference if you have them or not. IMWO not worth having

Question 2: Here is what i did to get the power out of my old setup, keep in mind i has Sprint Gas setup so its all different but the prinicpals are the same. Extractors with 2.5" Sports Exhaust and Turbo Muffler, Crane Cam Fireball Electronic Ignition, Set timing to 15deg BTDC (was turned for gas) Denso W16EPU plugs (best gas plug i have ever used) and had it all tuned, in the end i was running 35's on 3.9:1 diff ratios and was able to beat 4.5L GU's up the same hills with the same size rubber on, so its possible, didn't perform like a race car but had more power that i needed.

Question 3: never seen a GQ with spit 3rd row seat, thats usually GU's All the GQ's i know come with a bench 3rd row seat or no third row seat at all

Question 4: Is the engine a 4.2L EFI? if it is it probably already has the twin pistol Calipars, if its not you can upgrade to twins using the EFI model ones on the front as well as putting on Slotted Rotors, Makes a bit of diff the rotors, just don't get cross drilled ones, not good for mud.

[UKGQ]

Question #3: The third row seats..... did the later GQ's ever come out with a split third row that folds up to the side which perhaps I could swap out for the little bench seat?

Some Patrols have inward-facing bench seats in the rear that fold up against the rear windows. My car's a 92 Cypriot import high-roof LWB (-like a Safari, but a Patrol) that came with them.

Alex.

[create]

I would agree with MYGQ. Mine has more than enough power and gives great economy also. Have a look at my signature for my mods. I can easily cruise on highway at speed limit fully loaded.
Forget swaybars their not worth it.

[Rhysta]

Maybe its just me but my car handles like a boat with out my sway bar in the rear now. Huge amount of body roll now that it has been removed.

Will definitely be sometihng ill be looking into.

[bogged]

Without swaybars, you drive it to the conditions.

It wont handle like it has them, you cant expect it to... but its not a fuckin ferrari...

My swaybars became pot hangers in the back yard.

[Unidriveshafts]

Ditch the ranchos in favour of some boss adjustable shocks, u won't regret it.

[Burra Boy]

As for brakes, agree that slotted rotors are the go. Also make sure your rear bias valve is working properly. A good fluid flush also makes a big difference. And welcome to the club - great rigs

[bornozz]

Righto so two votes for the slotted rotors, they are now on my list.

Will have to work something out for the 3rd row seat, might find a pajero or jackaroo fold up seat and custom fit to make room for my gear.

The engine is efi already on gas with extractors etc but might look into the ignition/plugs upgrade and see how that goes.

Will check out boss adjustable shocks to replace the rancho's...... anyone tried the tough dog adjustable shocks?

Sway bars..... lol.... seems some people like em and some people reckon they dont do much. I know a lifted patrol wont handle like a ferrari and I do drive to conditions, however..... it does handle like a boat. And when you are on Albany highway twisting your way through the forest (often in the dark and/or in the rain) and your trying to get around a slow moving semi in the short overtaking lane with oncoming traffic, you shouldnt have to be white knuckled trying to keep it on course over every little bump in the road. I dont need it to corner like its on rails at 150.... just want it to be more predictable and safe at 100 - 110. Perhaps a combination of different shocks and swaybars might achieve this?

Thanks for your info/responses.... keep em comin.

[coxy321]

Try an 80 series rear seat for the back. I know the cargo areas in the GQ and 80s are roughly the same, so space should be similar. If you want to do it properly you will have to get it complianced if you dont use original Nissan seat mounts.

PS. Swaybars are for girls. Harden up!

[MyGQ]

Righto so two votes for the slotted rotors, they are now on my list.

Will have to work something out for the 3rd row seat, might find a pajero or jackaroo fold up seat and custom fit to make room for my gear.

The engine is efi already on gas with extractors etc but might look into the ignition/plugs upgrade and see how that goes.

Will check out boss adjustable shocks to replace the rancho's...... anyone tried the tough dog adjustable shocks?

Sway bars..... lol.... seems some people like em and some people reckon they dont do much. I know a lifted patrol wont handle like a ferrari and I do drive to conditions, however..... it does handle like a boat. And when you are on Albany highway twisting your way through the forest (often in the dark and/or in the rain) and your trying to get around a slow moving semi in the short overtaking lane with oncoming traffic, you shouldnt have to be white knuckled trying to keep it on course over every little bump in the road. I dont need it to corner like its on rails at 150.... just want it to be more predictable and safe at 100 - 110. Perhaps a combination of different shocks and swaybars might achieve this?

Thanks for your info/responses.... keep em comin.

Ok since its an EFI model you can't do a Crane Cam as its incompatible wit the EFI dizzy. Crane Cam's Ign just replaces the points but gives you better spark, the EFI is an Elect dizzy and noes not use advance weights, the timing advance is handled by the ECU.

[hiy6o]

Try the tough dogs , had mine for a while but the adjuster hasn't been able to move for a bit . Prob my fault , been through heaps of crap and not moved them for ages. You can get an in cab kit so you can stiffen them up from inside .

[rut rat]

We have a 3" lift in ours with Boss adjustable shocks. Best thing we ever did. The ride is so much smoother. Here is a couple of pics when we had the swaybars off. Hubby undoes them when we get to where we are going and does them up again before we leave. If you have your gas tank at the back and your aux tank under the drivers side then you will want to consider a bent control arm. Superior make them. We got everything we needed from Shane at Suspension Stuff.



Jodie (Mrs Rut Rat)

[bornozz]

Awesome your all bloody champions!... given me heaps to go on with now.

Cheers Brian

[chimpboy]

putting on Slotted Rotors, Makes a bit of diff the rotors, just don't get cross drilled ones, not good for mud.

Personally I am a bit iffy on the slotted ones too, but either way I would definitely like to add a vote against the cross-drilled ones.

It is funny though, I don't know what was special about my Mav but I never found the brakes to be a problem, and it was an early one too. Maybe it's because I drive like an old man but I always found that they were weak if you wanted them to be (soft on the pedal) but got very good if you pressed the pedal hard, which is just how you would want them to be.

[coxy321]

putting on Slotted Rotors, Makes a bit of diff the rotors, just don't get cross drilled ones, not good for mud.

Personally I am a bit iffy on the slotted ones too, but either way I would definitely like to add a vote against the cross-drilled ones.

It is funny though, I don't know what was special about my Mav but I never found the brakes to be a problem, and it was an early one too. Maybe it's because I drive like an old man but I always found that they were weak if you wanted them to be (soft on the pedal) but got very good if you pressed the pedal hard, which is just how you would want them to be.

Mine work fine, even though i have drum rear. Two or three months ago i was driving home at night (from out of town), doing 100km/h. I saw a white object up ahead and managed to pull up just in time (about 50cm to impact), albeit a big squiggly under hard brakes. Someone's Alpacas had got out onto the road, almost had two in my grill.