Stagea Gazza

Count me in. I was going to go to Andrew direct as I thought I missed out on the group buy. Rudi, I reckon we practice on yours and then do mine...

Yep, I think he was asleep before I was even out of Palm Beach. That was funny watching perople's faces as they watched a line of strange wagons heading up the road. From where I was sitting I also noticed a few M35s side-by-side at a red light seemed to be blowing some white smoke - assumed just a bit of oil burn Looking forward to hearing more about your brake upgrade and any other mods.

I finally got a chance to fit the brace yesterday and I am amazed how different the car is is to drive - much firmer and precise in the steering. Very happy with result of adding the brace to the mix of whiteline sway bars, stiffer king springs and bilstein shocks. For a fairly big wagon the handling is now fairly impressive. Well done Dale.

Interesting, I've never tried that. I'll definitely give it a try. I did a flush a couple of years ago when the light first starting coming on - but I'll give it another go.

I have exactly the same random 4wd issue and unfortunately have for years. I'm not a great fan of the car when the 4wd light is on in the wet. Even in the dry it behaves a little differently. Same thing. Pump runs not long after startup, interior lights dim and then toss a coin if the light comes on or not. At its worst about 90% of the time but lately about 50%. I once had a theory that holding the brake on at startup might fix it. Maybe it delays it. (not so sure if it actually makes any difference but it makes me feel better). Seems strange that it happens early after startup - if the 4wd light doesn't come on initially, it then won't come on at all. Does anyone know if the 3 relays near the Attessa pump have anything to do with it? (I did fiddle with these once and just created a 4wd and Hicas issue!) Offering a reward to the first person to solve this.

Yes, I'll be there.

Fantastic Dale - count me in for front+rear braces whenever you have some available. Good work Iain and Craig too.

[sYDNEY] Spotted Andy's M35 parked in Sutherland this morning. Sent a message but turns out that someone else now owns the car...

And don't forget to firstly loosen the idler bolt before trying to tighten the belt. Otherwise the idler won't slide. Probably obvious but I made that exact mistake!

I recently noticed that my fuel economy is not as good as it used to be. This was starting to hurt on 98. Firstly I cleaned/re-oiled the aftermarket k&n air filter (yes it was filthy) and cleaned the air flow meter with mass air flow sensor cleaner. I have today received a set of spark plugs for the M35 - there is a bit already written on this topic and I chose the NGK Iridium IX (LFR6AIX-11) from PerformanceLub. Just to cover everything I picked-up today an o2 sensor from Nissan. For the M35 this is 22690-AQ800 at around $160 incl GST. Not cheap but neither is fuel... Sometime next week I will get around to fitting the spark plugs and o2 sensor. I will also try and get the injectors cleaned off-car.

Agree with Andy about the ETC. It looks like your windscreen has a heater element. If you only have one reversing light (and a fog light on the other tail light) I reckon you got the 'cold pack' option.

Replaced the shocks with Bilsteins and the springs with original-height (ARX) King Springs heavy duty. However, I've recently seen a heap of lowered ARX and they do look better - even with the flared guards. I just find the tailgate doesn't open high enough so at the time decided against lowering. The ride is firmer but still comfortable. It just suffers now from the factory sway bars but Dale will soon sort this out with the Whitelines.

I've got a set of factory ARX springs and shocks in storage if you must go higher. But I recommend lowering of the RS/RX for bitumen and finding a ute for fishing. I know what you mean about the exhaust tips. I didn't realise until now that the Calsonic has a pressure flap - clever. I just thought mine was always blocked . Agree with everything PN-Mad mentioned. I replaced my transfer case and Attesa fluids and there is lots of good info on how to do it with the search. Both fairly easy but I needed an extra hand with bleeding the Attesa pump.

Paid. Can't wait. Thanks Dale.

+1 Count me in for a complete set please Dale. Thanks!

Heard a funny comment from a vocal in the crowd at Eastern Creek dragway last night... "Ha, he just got beaten by that Volvo!" The driver of the R32 gts-t in the other lane was probably shocked too. From up the back I guess the M35 did look a bit like a V70.

Similar thing happened to me. Driver's window got stuck in the down position and after taking off door panel found one hot window motor. Did a recon on the motor and its running again but I don't think much life remaining on the brushes. Good to know that we can use the brushes from an R33 unit. Thanks.

That would be my wife, Stephen. Maguires gold label trim detailer, lots of tyre shine, and a bit of time over the long weekend are my secret. So she is out spending money again! Thanks private eye... Poor thing wouldn't have heard your toot. Way to much exhaust noise within that car (mental note: must get that noise fixed soon!).

That was me Nick!

I was going to use Charlestone Exhaust over a year ago but at that time the flange profile was not available and the car was going to be stored with Bruce for a few days while the stock flange was copied. At the time my wife couldn't do without the car so unfortunately it didn't happen. Anyway, I ended up buying a stainless custom dump pipe off ebay and found out it was made by Westside Mufflers. After speaking to Brad about just fitting the dump I ended up getting him to make the rest stainless 3 inch exhaust too. It was a bit of an experiment and the quality of installation is excellent. Only problem is that the end result is noisy (see 'drone' above). The car is going back in a for a resonator box to be installed which I think is what the Lagalis (cat back only?) comes with standard. Would recommend either Charlestone or Westside if you go for a custom exhaust.

That was my wife in the silver one. You were spotted too! I heard about the offset numberplate when I got home.

Saw the same nice white S2 on windsor road at rouse hill around 5:25. Given the area, thought it was CL11QE but when I caught up found that it was COP:??? As it turns out, CL11QE must have been just over the next hill... Didn't get a wave from COP:??? Perhaps no recognition for an M35... where's the Stagea love?

If I put my foot on the brake before starting and hold it on the brake until it is into drive then the 4wd light does not seem to come on (well maybe not as often anyway). Not very scientific but i'd be interested in hearing if anyone else notices a similar thing.

I had a set of Bilsteins fitted to the ARX but kept the original springs for ride height (wanted to keep the stock look plus find the tailgate is fairly low already). This generally fixed the washy ride but it now crashes over the slightest depression in the road. I guess that the softish stock springs are not matched to the stiff Billsteins. Currently waiting to get a set of ARX height Pedders springs made thorugh Ben at Northshore. Apparently 30% stiffer springs. The stiffer springs should also help cornering - perhaps what it will finally need is an adjustable set of sway bars like Andy has done.

Last meeting was great - see you all tomorrow. Top work Craig. +1 for pizza