GQ options

[martyn]

Hi Peter. Im sure the head can be repaird, Take it to Hi Power motor engeneering in Souter st in PTA West if it is possible to fix I know they will be able to and do a good job as well. They will stitch weld on it and recondition it for you so it'll be like new. (This is if it is possible to repair as sometimes the crack is not in a repairable position). All the best with your endevers. Ps sorry if this is a bit jumbled am writing from my phone

[Jules]

Peter

Also try these guys in Durban they are excellent

Casting Repair Services, the owner is Gordon McCreedy and the telephone number is 031 - 2093168. His email address is gordonmccreedy@crsgroup.co.za

They get work from as far as Cape Town

Shalom

Jules

[ricster]

Peter.... When you mentioned milk and honey in the mini chat... I thought you were just being funny.... little did I know.... Damn, sorry to hear this mate !!

( rubs a little salt into the wound... ) Put in a 4.2 diesel with turbo....

Peter, on a petrol motor with the compression ratio being a LOT lower than on the 4.2 diesels, I would say that stitching the crack could work. Personally, this would sit in the back of my mind and confidence would still be low.

One can get recon heads from Alert Spares and similar companies..... BUT.... I had a bad experience with this option. When I received my non OE head for my TD42, I never checked the water ports or pressure tested as I assumed that as it is a new head, there will be nothing wrong..... big friggin mistake !!! This head cost half the price of a Nissan SA factory head, and would have been fine and still working I believe, had I checked EVERYTHING.

The other option is to look at a Nissan SA new head. I paid R12K from Nissan for my head, that is currently on my motor. I have 100% piece of mind with my motor. I also used a genuine Nissan head gasket ( R 1800), due to the high compression ratio, but I think a good quality ( Payen or similar) aftermarket gasket set would be perfect for the petrol version.

One can also look at possibly doing a little work on the cam shaft to assist with better power delivery, and possibly better fuel economy as better power may use less petrol.... hey every bit helps I guess!!

You will have a sweet 100% perfect motor to last you many many miles further.

[Clem]

Question from me guys: Is the 4.2 known for any particular weak areas? I mean is the cracked head unheard-of or is it something that is known to occur with the 4.2 engine? What would cause this?

[SRXy]

@Clem: As far as I know this is a fairly common problem with the 4.2 Petrols.

@ Peter Connan: If you have the cash and time, I'd put a 4.2D in. If you have extra cash I'd try source a TD42T and put that in. There isn't much difference (in my experience) between driving a TD42 and a TB42 in the real world, besides a LOT of fuel expenses. My TD42 GQ is a pleasure to drive, it accelerates up hills that my TD42 GU can't!

[Chris Skinner]

Thanks Gents

Chris, I am going to state this hard and fast:

If I do change engines, it will be for an engine factory-built into a Patrol. No Lexus's or any other stuff.

I do not have any particular problem with the lexus engine per se, except that in my opinion it is not the correct engine for a rock-crawling Patrol The Patrol's low range is too high, and the Luxus's bottom-end torque is not enough.

Furthermore, while the lexus engine is cheap, the conversion is not. A good conversion costs more than my car is worth, thus if that were the only option, I would rather buy a second Patrol, and strip one of the two for spares...

Furthermore, I still want a simple engine, particularly in terms of the electrics/electronics. I have had lots of problems in the past with aftermarket ECU's, and would prefer to stear clear of that.

OK, won't mention that again ....

[ricster]

Will the gearbox ratios not be different between the petrol and diesel??

[ricster]

hahaha... Chris... Peter is a die hard purist... as much as I think the 4.2TD option is a great idea.... I doubt if Peter would actually even consider this.... but hey.... stranger things have happened....hahaha

[Tinus lotz]

chris i agree with peter on this one .......the only person that n know of that can say that they are happy with the lexus in their trollies is alex ,the cost of the engine is not the problem its the stuff to make it work like body lifts, ecu, exthausts , havent seen one done properly for less than 60 000

[Jules]

If my GQ packs up then I will buy a Pathfinder

Shalom