SWERVE 2003 GU Patrol

[Swerve]

Had this 2003 GU Patrol with the ZD30 deisel for 5 years, best car I have ever owned. Years owned from 2005 - 2010. Traded up for a 2010 GU Patrol with the mighty 4.8 petrol

Wed Sep 19, 2007 10:30 pm
Seeing as I’m getting the GU ready for the desert. I though I’d start a thread on it .

Last week I had new tyres put on BFG AT 285/75/16 or 33” in old school. It already has 2” Dobinson Springs but purchased the shocks today. Next week I put the new shocks and new brake pads in.

I have homemade cargo drawers in the rear which I modified last week with a 50L water bladder all plumber back along with fitting my cheap stove, air compressor, 12v for fluro and fridge. Also fitted racks with shovel, shovel holder is trailer jockey clamps for the auto shop.

Hopefully will fit a dual battery in the spare space in the engine bay shown, if I have time. I also have a shelf to fit over the jerry's. Just havnt put it back into untill I finish loading.

[Swerve]

Wed Sep 26, 2007 9:06 pm

Well installed the rear Dobinsons Shocks and new rear brake pads.



Getting the old shocks out were a PITA as the top mount is very very tight with the nut facing the spring with about 1.5 " space. Well changed the rear left and have a look

Rear view showing the left wheel lower (yeah more wheel travel, as already had the 2" springs)


Original Shock


New Shock


Comparrison


Then started to change the brake pads, hadn't done a set for a long long time. After realising I need a G clamp I then had three attempts as I never pushed it in far enough. By then I had already put the pads in and realised it wouldnt fit over the disc. The right side took me bugger all as I now had the technique



Next is the front which should be alot easier. The dobinsons instruction also said to install finger tight and to only tingten when the car is back on the ground with the suspension at ride level as the rubber bushes need to sit in the correct position.

[Swerve]

Fri Sep 28, 2007 7:14 pm

Well have sorted out the fridge. Had to remove the spring base as the height was to much with the 50mm cushion on top. Here is a photo of the fridge in and out. Mind you, you must be tall or stand on the step to see inside. Works for me though.



This morning after dropping the Mrs (I can say that now ) at the station I start at 7:30am on the front brakes and shocks. Now I know what I'm doing it was quite simple but still took 3 hours to replace the front shocks and brake pads. Had to angle grind the bottom shock mounts as they were seized and no other way in getting them off.



Then did some more work on Iziexplorer (GPS) http://www.oziexplorer3.com/eng/oziexplorer.html
I now have this working but still on a steep learning curve. Spent 3 hours last night enteroing GPS co-ordinates. BORING. But at least I know were I'm going now.


I did a test during the week of running the freezer all night. Sure enough I had 1 crank in the battery and she was flat. This means I needed a dual battery. Called around today and the 2 major 4WD stockists (TJM and ARB) both have dual battery mounts for the GU. TJM was $145 while ARB was $106.

Collected the ARB mount and the instruction and goods are top notch. Instuctions are all proper photos and detail instructions. Kit also has everything, Bloody excellent. The mount in now in and just need to copnect the bettary and REDARK isolator which I got with the fridge.

[Swerve]

Sat Oct 20, 2007 9:01 am
Well back from the trip and 7500km in 14 days !!!

Car performed well with the onl issue the coolant overflow starting a minor leaking from the constant bunping in the deserert. This has stopped back on the blacktop. Other than a Galah (bird) taking out the radio antenna, everything went fine.

the Holden Rodeo got bogged once and a flat tyre. Full report to come.



Sat Mar 01, 2008 8:18 pm
On the way home today after seeing Big Cyrill we went for a local 4WD.

Gave Ian the keys and I sat back $hiting myself. All was good except for Ian tearing my aerial off

[Swerve]

Fri Dec 19, 2008 5:16 pm

Well left Sydney at 7:15pm yesterday and arrived at Brisbane 7:15am this morning after travelling 950km towing the 2.5t boat with dog as the co-driver.

300km in, I noticed a few problems. The back was bouncing like a Bull rider at a rodeo and at 60km a hour I had a huge squeak from the rear.

At some late night hour last night i crawlled under the car and found the following.

1- Guessed my rear shocks were blown to explain the pogo effect I was having in the cab.
2- Rear stabiliser link was snapped. I'm cranky with my mechanic as I said replace it with Nissan, as I was planning on fitting the ARB 2" extenders later on. He decided to use a custom setup from road cars. My 1st impression was the link were to long. It appear that when the rear was fully compressed, (with 2.5t behind it bound to happen) the bars hits the diff and the links have no where to cgo but SNAP.
3- haymen reese sty;le hitch was squealing like a pig stuck in the mud. Upon further investigation the pin that hold the receiver was visabily worn and allowing that little bit more movement , letting out the squeak i was getting

Now that I know my problems I wasnt so worried and I continued on my way.

had 2 hours sleeps and to work. Called Nissan and orderd some new original sway bar links. Pulled the rear shocks of the diffs and wanted to find out if both or one had blown. Sure enough only one had lost its compression.

these shock were purchased on Sep 19, 2007 and have done 20,000km. Called Doninsons on Far North QLD who put me onto the two Brisbane agents.

Found a agent with some in stock and went down. Pulled out the shock and walked in. He agreed it was FUBAR (F'd Up Beyond All Recognition) as the Compression was gone. Called Dobinsons and under Warranty. Now that is service. I was 1000km from home, shock was 14 months old, 20,000km and I got a warranty claim with my receipt etc.

When I purchased the shocks I also bought some stuff for the 1972 G60, I made some comments then about the quality service from Dobinson as they made some U bolts and helped with the bushings for the 72.. Today they proved again they are the BEST Suspension place in OZ. Sure I was willing to pay the $140 for a shock but always nice when the other party comes to the party, even without being asked.

Please if your buying suspension, always consider Dobinson in your shopping list. Well the new shock installed and gez so much nicer. I realise now it was blown weeks ago but hadnt picked up.

Sway bar links arrive Monday.

See ya

Steve

PS- 37 degrees (99F) here and bloody hot, poor dog is dying in his 2" coat of fur.

[Swerve]

Sun Feb 14, 2010 9:08 pm

Well the GU has been serving us well and now has 145,000km and no mchanicals ! ever Best car I have ever owned

Only recent photo of mt UHF and Electric Brake Controller

[Swerve]

Tue Apr 27, 2010 5:25 pm

Hey All,

Wel my turbo has been whining for over 12 months and 25,000kms. Last service I had them check it out and had exhuast leaks from the manifld, turbo actuator, There was movment on the turbo shaft etc.

New turbo was installed today total $2400 poorer, but ................ she goes very nice now. Last drive to Sussex Inlet a mont ago towing the small boat, she wasfeeling slugish. Just driving home from Nissan, I was impressed. Amazing how you don't notice a slight loss of power over a long time.

Next thing is to see how the fuel consumption changes it has increased by 1-2 litres per hundred over the last 2 years.

Steve

[Swerve]

Wed Sep 01, 2010 9:30 pm

Well going for a BIG 4WD this weekend with Gibbo and the normal crowd.
I scored a free 2nd hand winch a few weeks back and finially started installing it this week. Bought a roller fairead on ebay, took teh bottom splash shroud off and hoisted teh winch up using rachet straps

Winch is now in but wasnt working ? couldn't work out how to hotwire it and then found this online today. Wiring was correct and the Superwinch diagrams are $hit this was usefull as well

So after hotwiring and testing it all I had one bung solenoid I collect one tomorrow and she will be connected and working for this weekend

Will get a solid state solenoid later, as mounting the current solenoids on the bullbar at this stage and looks ugly Will move the solid state inside the bullbar or engine bay


First you need to ground the motor.
For one side, put 12V at F1 and connect F2 to A (usually i use a big screwdriver for that).
For the other side, put 12V to F2 and connect F1 to A.
it's very important that the connections are good, if not, there is no enough current for the motor to rotate.
I dont know which side is spool or unspool, just try it.
By the way, the connections are the same for almost all winch motors.

A - Armature
F1 - Field 1
F2 - Field 2

The connections between F1/F2 terminal to the A terminal make the series connection between the Armature and Field

[Swerve]

Tue Sep 28, 2010 8:31 pm

Bought one of these yesterday



Which will allow me to open the small barn door wider like this

BEFORE



AFTER

[Swerve]

Thu Oct 21, 2010 1:46 pm

Just bored and thinking cars still. Took the roof racks of the GU yesterday as not needed anymore, plus I hate the look and the whistling

GU is in today at Mr Nissan getting a major 160k service, changing all fluids etc. Expecting about a $1,100 bill this evening. ALso asked them to check the turbo over as (maybe just me) I thought it was lacking a little power ? Only when I'm towing the 2.5t boat Doesnt hurt to have them check it over after they changed the turbo out 3 months ago.

Besides that GU is staying and not being sold at this stage (Money money money, need MORE) so will just keep it and use it

Current tyres are BFG AT's 285/16/75 (33") and have done 65,000kms since the start of the Simpson Desert in 2007, Will need to get new ones soon and thinking of going back to 32" 275/16/75 as better gearing for towing, and really don’t do enough heavy offroad to warrant the bigger tyres. Plus the G60 is becoming the better 4WD of choice off road

Need to pull the rear shocks off the dif soon as thinking the rebound may have died, just feeling a little sharp jolts at the rear, again those shocks have done 65,000kms so can't complain. I reckon there fine, it’s just my paranoid nature. I will search for hours over one rattle pleased to say my GU doesn’t rattle AT ALL.

Also need to take that winch off as it isn't working and looks ugly with all that winch wire just sitting tied to the bulbar.

That’s all,

Seeya