Safari Advice

[Hutzpah]

I'm coming back to NZ after a long break and want to buy
anther Nissan Patrol 4.2l diesel like I had in Western Australia only thing is I see alot of Nissan Safari advertised in Trade me.

I'm not right up on the Nissan Safari, a few pointers on what to look
out for and be weary of would be very helpful.

Is the 24 volt a problem?

Are the mileage that they quote for real-they seem very low.

What's the factory turbo like?

What's it like getting parts especially 24 volt?

What are the electrics like as they do seem fancy to the standard Patrol.


I don't really do four wheel driving, but do like to do a bit of shooting so a 4x4 is good to have. I'm going to see if I can pick up a SWB turbo diesel I have $10000 to put into it and may very well scrap another grand or two out of the piggy bank.

Any practical advice or links to read up would be much appreciated.
I'll need wheels for me and the family not long after I get there as life with no wheels sucks.

Thanks Hutzpah

[meece4x4]

I'm coming back to NZ after a long break and want to buy
anther Nissan Patrol 4.2l diesel like I had in Western Australia only thing is I see alot of Nissan Safari advertised in Trade me.

I'm not right up on the Nissan Safari, a few pointers on what to look
out for and be weary of would be very helpful.

Is the 24 volt a problem?

Are the mileage that they quote for real-they seem very low.

What's the factory turbo like?

What's it like getting parts especially 24 volt?

What are the electrics like as they do seem fancy to the standard Patrol.


I don't really do four wheel driving, but do like to do a bit of shooting so a 4x4 is good to have. I'm going to see if I can pick up a SWB turbo diesel I have $10000 to put into it and may very well scrap another grand or two out of the piggy bank.

Any practical advice or links to read up would be much appreciated.
I'll need wheels for me and the family not long after I get there as life with no wheels sucks.

Thanks Hutzpah

basically the Nissan Safari is just the jap import/NZ spec Patrol, there is little difference other than trim options, way more electrics and the fact that most Saf's are 24V,

The main Safari you will find is the Grandroad and Kingroad spec'ed ones

the Grandroad is the most common, and most of the time have AC, electric windows, central locking, electric sunroofs on the High roof LWB model, heated front seats, power Ariel, rear LSD, sway bar disconects and some had the factory electric rear locker option and PTO winch on the manuals or a 24V warn 8000lb electric winch on the auto's etc, the main difference I can see with the Kingroad is it has all the Grandroad options but also included the leather seat options, and later model ones sometimes had a fridge and electric "everything"

As for 24V electrical systems, they are more reliable than 12V, other than electric window issues most of the electrical issues that Saf's have are confined to the 12V system(the temp, tacho, and oil pressure are all 12v and are known to have issues and the 12 v converter stops working on them, easy to replace and aftermarket ones are available)

the most common problem that Saf have are the same as the Patrol, look for the death wobbles at 80k's and check for rust in all the usual nissan patrol places, firewall, roof gutters, inner guards etc.

no experience with the factory turbo as all the Saf's ive driven were non turbo with is more the norm, personally though (and darenz will chime in about this ) I think your'd be better off buying a non turbo shorty for say $4-5K and spending a few grand on after market turbo'ing it.

130-300K is the norm for 1988-1995 Saf k's remember OZ trucks really clock up the k's were we dont here. most late 80's trucks seem to be around the 280-300 mark the later ones 150 ish,

getting parts is no problem, you can get most parts new, 4wdbits.co.nz has all the suspension, bushes and shocks for the Saf and theres a ton of them being wrecked on Trademe or ORE at any time .. Saf's are increasing in value (well any beam axle 4wd is just going up in price) as we are not allowed to import older trucks like this any more.

Ive never regretted buying my LWB safari, they are capable, strong, easy to work on and pretty bulletproof. my main regret was I should have bought it as my first 4wd rather than wasting (a lot) of money on less capable trucks.

[Hutzpah]

Thanks meece4x4 for time taken to post
you have relieved my fears of the 24 volt electrics.

They do sound alot more up market to the ones in Oz, leather
seats now that would be nice.

I remeber seeing one that was a Sprint model I think do you know
much about that model?

Hutzpah

[DaveM]

Stay away from the spirit unless you want a gutless RD28T motor. You will usually get rust around the rear sliding windows on the shorties, but not a major to fix/replace if needed.

[1hamish1]

search for dieselboy as the author and check out his swb safari he is selling. I know he keeps his vehicles in top condition and it is a very nice example.

[darinz]

Mechanically the same as a Patrol or Maverick so what you know from Oz is the same here. 24v is so common in NZ now it is no big deal with the exception of fitting huge stereo's etc as you'll need some serious voltage reducing gear. 24v is far better for winchs.
Factory turbo is good but I would try and go aftermarket but that would cost more. Factory turbo models only seem to be slightly dearer than NA and a full aftermarket system will cost $4 to $5k.
You can get cheap turbos for them but they are exactly that. OK if you're happy to have a journal bearing turbo and happy to do the thrust bearings in them as these seem to have a limited life span. Not expensive to replace but I would only be fitting them to a toy.

[Hutzpah]

Thanks for the comments and the advice on the turbos
much appreciated as I've never own one.

I am checking up on trade me quite a bit trying to get an
idea on prices a couple of nice ones have come up for around $12000
but I really need to have a close look before spending that sort of money. In two weeks I'll be back home not long.

Hutzpah

[DaveM]

$12k should get you a fairly nice one, can go for as low as $9k with slightly rougher body

[Hutzpah]

Another question.

Let me get this right a turbo increases power from an engine
there fore it must put extra strain on a engine.

So what is considered the right amount of boast with out
lessening the life of your engine?

I'm just thinking about what to ask when the time comes to look at a motor. Buying a vehicle running very high boast might no be a good idea.

Your help always appreciated.

Hutzpah

[DieselBoy]

I would be very cautious about buying a truck with a engine that has been running more than 15psi, and even more cautious about buying one that hasn't had the injector pump modified with a boost compensator.

You get awesome power results at 15psi with the correct tuning, with minimal decrease in engine life.

[darinz]

I would be very cautious about buying a truck with a engine that has been running more than 15psi, and even more cautious about buying one that hasn't had the injector pump modified with a boost compensator.

You get awesome power results at 15psi with the correct tuning, with minimal decrease in engine life.

I disagree to a point.
Depending on the model of engine anything up to 20psi won't noticeably shorten a TD42 engine life as long as it is tuned correctly.
If it is a pre 93 with aftermarket turbo then 20psi is fine. If it is a post 93 with aftermarket turbo then 15psi is max safe boost. If it is factory turbo then it won't do more than 14 - 15psi unless the turbo has been modified anyway.
Fuel compensator is definitely a good idea but all it really does is stop overfueling at low boost so since a TD42 will hit high boost at low revs it isn't that important unless running a modified fuel pump and a big turbo. If you have a factory turbo or something up to t3 size then it isn't really a issue.
What is more important than boost is exhuast gas temp and lots of black smoke is an indicator it will be on the high side.

And after all that, if you are struggling to understand this then do exactly as DB has said above. (mind you he does drive a LR so isn't very bright obviously )

[Hutzpah]

Great post darinz very informative that's cleared that up.

Dredging the drake pit of my memory I remember
being toll that some earlier engine were believed to be better
quality I think they said "the ones with black tappet cover but not solely those."

Huzpah

[Twodiffs]

So how'd you get on hutzpah?

[DieselBoy]

Mines still sitting here in the shed, so he didn't come buy that..........

[darinz]

Totally OT but I love your sig

[Hutzpah]

"So how'd you get on hutzpah?"

Had a totally crazy time packing up the house and sorting out all the loose ends, thank G_d I'm now in NZ.
My stuff is someware in the Pacific Ocean bobbing up and down in a 20ft container and I the wife and two kids are crashed out at relations living out of suit cases.

I bid on a Nissan on Trademe and went to $8900 and was out bidded also looked at one today but it was an auto.
I'm going to Auckland tomorrow to pickup a Rav 4 for my wife and also hope to check out a Patrol at the same time.

I'm going to take a chill pill on finding a Nissan now we have wheels as I'm finding it harder than I thought to find one I like.

Hutzpah

[Swamped]

Are you after a later model one??
Where are you.

Theres a lwb parked down the road here. Red, looks quite tidy, no mods (least what I can see from the road) for $6500 or offers

A swb will be useless for family stuff eh. If i was buying another patrol I'd go lwb.

[Hutzpah]

Well I've found a nice NZ partol for $8000 its a
1993 4.2l diesel with 260,000km on the clock really tidy except
for the rear sliding window frames and rubbers need replaceing,little bit of rust under the rubbers.

Its got auto front hubs,diff lock.electric mirros and windows,electric aerial with nice pioner CD player with auxilary,
cold air conditioner,new battery,new alternator,new cluch and shocks.
All in all I'm very happy with the vechicle its very clean inside,outside and underneath it starts great and is not burning any oil.
I must say that the turning circle is so much better in the swb patrol that my first lwb patrol just easyer to drive.
There are a few things to fixs eg: rear mud flap brackets,side window frames and rubbers also I want to add a low boast tubo and bullbar.
The wife is happy but the kids have complained about climbing in
being abit difficult.

Hutzpah

(I'll try and up load a few photos.)

[Hutzpah]

Went out and took a photo but now can't work out how to upload.
Hutzpah

[SP450andLE]

You have to upload the photos onto photobucket (or similar), downsize them a bit (I think I do it to 640 x 480?) and copy and paste the IMG code into here.
Alternatively you can put click on the 'Img' button when posting and put the direct URL to the image [img]HERE[/img]

Hope that helps