Ultra tough single-cab GQ Patrol

Nissan’s GQ/GU series of Patrol has deservedly won itself a reputation as one of the toughest and most dependable 4x4s of all time.

As the basis of touring rigs that have covered thousands of kilometres around the country and the globe, and the bedrock of the toughest competition trucks, it’s a reputation that is well earned.

This reputation was the appeal for Victoria’s James Atkinson who recognised the strengths of the venerable Nissans; as a mechanic at the 4x4 Offroad Clinic in Melbourne’s south-east he has seen first-hand the durability that Nissan has built into its Patrols, so he knew one would be right for him.

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“I’ve always been attracted to how tough a GQ single-cab ute looks, and how strong the driveline and chassis is in Nissans,” James told us.

We couldn’t agree more with him and like James we reckon that the earlier, round headlight GQs are the better looking of the breed and the ones to get. This example is James’s second GQ after previously owning a 2.8 wagon, but he had a hankering for a coil-cab ute and bought this clean example back in 2022.

No puny 2.8 for James his time around, the ’93 model tray-back came with the legendary TD42 4.2-litre diesel that the previous owner had added a turbocharger to. Nissan’s TD42 sixes might be known for their durability but you can’t say much about their power outputs, even with the later factory turbo models. That hasn’t stopped Patrol owners wicking them up and adding some life to the old Nissan lump. For a mechanic like James, it was only a matter of twirling the spanners and adding the right hardware.

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The engine was pulled out and the bottom-end rebuilt, but retaining the naturally aspirated specifications.

The top-end copped turbo valve springs, turbo injectors, turbo pre-combustion chambers, and a turbo head gasket, all in readiness to accept some boost from a UFI 18G turbocharger via a HPD top-mount intercooler and 40mm Turbosmart external wastegate. The air enters the mill through a weld-on top half intake plenum, where it meets the diesel fuel supplied via an 11mm pump.

The 4.2 gulps air via a PatrolDocta snorkel and a modified airbox before it is compressed to the tune of 27psi, mixed with diesel, goes bang, and then exits via a three-inch stainless steel exhaust that James welded up for the job. The result of all that activity is 112kW and 394Nm measured at the hubs on the dyno.

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While it’s one thing to turn up the boost and fuel to get the most out of a 4.2, keeping them cool becomes a challenge as they are known to blow steam when you load them up ascending big hills. James has reduced temperatures with a 4x4 Offroad Clinic water pump and a new viscous fan hub.

The engine now makes enough grunt to turn those 37-inch Trepadors when the Patrol is out on the tracks, but for everyday driving the Treps are replaced with a set of 35-inch X-Comp Gladiators. This not only makes it better to drive on the road but it attracts much less attention from the Jacks than it does with the bead-locked 37s fitted. Aside from the beadlock wheels, everything else on the modified Patrol is engineer approved.

The GU Patrol was an evolution of the GQ and as it was slightly bigger and heavier, it scored some heavier duty components which thankfully slip easily under the older model.

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James’s GQ benefits from GU diffs which are not only stronger but also wider to increase the GQ’s wheel track, and they have bigger and better brakes. These diffs are stuffed full with 4.6 geared ARB air lockers front and rear.

The front is located using Superior Hyperflex radius arms and an adjustable Roadsafe Panhard rod, while the rear-end uses Superior long arms, adjustable rear upper control arms, and an adjustable Panhard rod, the latter both from Roadsafe.

Suspending the heavy axles and smoothing out the bumps are Dobinson remote reservoir adjustable shocks and a set of six-inch flexy coils up front, while under the back, another pair of Dobinson remote reservoir adjustable shocks and 250kg rated coils do the work.

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The coil-cab Patrol was in pretty good nick when James picked it up and only required a bit of tidying up to get it looking as good as it does. It even had the PatrolDocta front bar and the high-mount 8274 fitted, but James has added his own touch to both of these.

He made his own set of side-rails and sliders and pulled the winch off to give it a rebuild, adding a drilled and tapped brake shaft, pinned free spool and braced housing. An Albright solenoid controls the power to an Iskra Mahle motor via heavy duty 120mm-sq cables. James says it’s a winch that gives him the confidence to hit the harder tracks knowing that he has the pulling power to get out of trouble if needed.

“Being twin locked and (with) a strong high mount winch means I can go just about anywhere in Australia and not have to worry about being stuck,” he told us.

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You might get the impression that James is pretty handy with the tools and fabrication, and nowhere is that talent more evident than with the tray fitted to the Patrol.

James made it in the carport at home with help from his dad, saying that they spent about six months tinkering with it and he couldn’t be happier with the result. That said, he’s now working on a canopy to fit to the tray with some more long-distance touring planned in the future. As well as continuing to hit the tough tracks around Melbourne, James wants to see more of Australia.

“I did a trip in January that started off at the beach in Robe, South Australia and we made our way to Arkaroola and Wilpena Pound. It was awesome exploring out in the middle of nowhere.

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“I want to finish the canopy set up and go to a bigger fuel pump, maybe aim for 150kW, and then start touring around Australia doing Cape York and Fraser Island among other places,” James says. Sounds like a bloody good plan to us and he’ll certainly have the rig to do it.

He’s the first to admit that skill only gets you so far and help from the right people will get you even further. James thanks his folks Joanne and Stewart Atkinson; he says their endless support made this build possible.

Also, his boss Damien Witts at 4x4 Offroad Clinic who is “my boss/sponsor/supporter when I need parts, advice or a hand”.