Time to say goodbye?

[Flying Torquewrench]

Unfortunately, it is becoming financially uneconomical to keep the Patrol going. Due to private circumstances I have driven her very little in the last few years. I had somebody else use it for a bit so that she kept running.

I drove her a couple of weeks ago for the first time in over 2 years as I needed to pick up some mulch for the garden. During the drive I noticed that the clutch slipped badly when pulling away with a loaded trailer.

A clutch is easy to buy but the last time they replaced the clutch they already told me that the flywheel is coming to the end of its life. A new Dual Mass Flywheel can only be purchased from the Nissan dealer for £1407.50 which includes new mounting bolts. A L.O.F. Powerspec clutch is £234 as I want a decent clutch and not a Euro Car Parts special

I have been speaking to local garages to change the clutch + flywheel and the cheapest quote is £750, with a caveat that it will most likely be more as the car is 26 years old. Together this makes it at least £2400 which is difficult to justify on a 26 year old car.

The only other option would be a conversion to a Solid Flywheel which Xtreme outback sell for £909. This is a new flywheel and clutch. However, the stories about converting the flywheel are putting me off. Some love it but a lot of people hate it due to increased vibration and noise. Even this option is still £1700.
Another issue that is starting to come up is that good quality parts for the Patrol are becoming harder to get.

Unfortunately, there is not a lot out there that can replace the Patrol when it comes down to reliability. Land Rover Discovery is more a case of “when” you have an expensive repair instead of “if” you have an expensive repair. Also, too much electrics in them for my liking.

The only viable alternative would be a pickup truck but donÂ’t really want to spend £20k on one either.

[Flying Torquewrench]

After a bit of deliberation and a look at suitable alternatives, the Patrol will stay. The only real alternative to the Patrol is either a Jeep Grand Cherokee or a Land Rover Discovery.

Having done a search on the net it appears that spare parts for a Grand Cherokee are rather hard to come by in this country at reasonable prices. Especially as I would be looking at something around the 10 year mark, access to spares is important. I don’t think that I have to explain why a Discovery doesn’t work for me. Parts are relatively cheap and readily available but more and more electronics that need a computer to sort out. In addition, not an “if” but a “when” you get a big, expensive repair.

Other options would be a pickup truck but the insurance rates are through the roof. Even with 21 years of No Claims Discount.

Over the last few years the engine and gearbox of the Patrol have been overhauled. Now it needs a new flywheel and clutch. It means that all big components have been overhauled or replaced. Not a lot of electronics on the Patrol and easy to work on at home.

In the last few weeks I have ordered a new flywheel, clutch, crankshaft seal and a whole plethora of other parts. Once again, the body is coming off and nearly everything left on the chassis will be replaced. Most parts are now 26 years old and with good access it makes sense to replace them all. The body has a few rust spots that need repairing and will get a good rustproofing whilst I have easy access.

A little bit of engine work but nothing major. The valve clearance needs to be measured and adjusted now that the new head has been on for 3 years. The glow plugs need removing and installing, to avoid them getting corroded into place. The rest is normal service work.

My other car had its MOT a couple of weeks ago and they identified an exhaust leak. Nothing major and I could happily continue driving. Coming back from the Continent the noises began to increase. Back on UK soil it sounded like I was driving a tractor. Had a quick look underneath and one of the clamps that holds the exhaust together had moved. Now the front exhaust piece was not connected to the middle section, hence the racket. A quick fix with a hose clamp and all was quiet again.

A day later I take the Patrol out and it is also making a racket. The exhaust has corroded through just in front of the middle box. None of the aftermarket parts sellers stock a middle section for a SWB Y61. I can get an OEM one from Japan but including shipping/duty/tax it will cost close to £850!!

In the past I have changed a couple of rear boxes but they all corrode through in about 3 years. I am now considering building my own exhaust from section 2 (middle) to the back. Stainless steel exhaust parts are plentiful on the internet.
Never welded stainless steel, so that will be a learning curve. I will also talk to a couple of exhaust manufacturers to see what it would cost if they built it.

[solarman216]

Good on you, keep the Patrol going, re the exhaust, I made my own from turbo right back in 3 inch stainless, the whole lot did not cost anywhere near 850, as for welding I have stainless wire but not got the correct gas only argo shield light so when I tried welding I could not get acceptable results, so went for mild steel wire, no problem at all, I followed the original design with 2 bolt flanges so if any maintenance is needed it is simply unbolt and on the bench, as has happened a couple of times with the rear section for straightening after off road cappers, Rick

[Flying Torquewrench]

Cheers Rick. To be honest, making a new one myself seems to be the only way forward. May I ask where you got your exhaust parts from?

Slowly ordering more parts for the Patrol. So far everything has been available at reasonable prices, so that is a bonus. Of course, the flywheel is the exception to that.

Picked the flywheel up from the dealer last week and the parts manager couldn’t be more helpful. Nothing is too much to ask and he will always look up part numbers/ prices etc. when I email him. I was talking to him about how difficult it was to find somebody who was willing to replace the clutch/flywheel on the Patrol. The garages that are willing to do it, charge through the nose at £95 ex VAT per hour. He told me that the Nissan Dealer charges £160 per hour!! I didn’t ask if that was including VAT.

With that in mind, I am glad that most of the work on the Patrol I can do myself.

[solarman216]

I bought a 6Mtr length from my mate who specialises in SS stuff, could not transport it so cut it in half, still have the 2nd half, but shipping to you will be difficult I fear, as for the fittings I just sourced them from the net, I can try and find the company if you like, Rick

[solarman216]

If you do a search about 2 to 3 years ago, I did a thread of the exhaust fabrication from start to finish, Rick