another newbie introduction

[Pathillogical]

Hello everyone!

Finally graduating college at 38 is a relief and now I have time to work on my truck. I got a 97 Pathfinder SE 3.3 V6 last year with 58k on it and now it has 73k and needs a tune up and some other stuff and I am looking forward to getting dirty with it.

Here come my first questions:

Tune up parts from dealer: plugs, wires, cap, rotor, pcv, fuel filter = $220
Aftermarket parts from Advance Auto = $150
My mechanic (handles the things I shy away from like trannys) says I should only go with the nissan OEM parts i.e. NGK platnum plugs etc.

What would you do? And just how tough is that one by the firewall to get to?



Rear bumper therapy. How do you folks think a twin tube bumper over a custom valance would look? I am going to replace the front lower valance as well and I was going to leave it primered black and keep the rear valance primer black underneath a chrome tube. I like the idea of a tube from a towing/cosmetic angle, but have not seen one 'made' for the pathfinder only the hardbody. Any ideas or thoughts?

Thanks and look forward to more in the future. This looks like a class establishment.