Jump to content

Reintroduction! I am back!


urimashe
 Share

Recommended Posts

Hello Everyone out there! this is Urimashe! Its been awhile, so long as i thought I should reintroduce myself. you all met me when i was in school to become a mechanic at Universal Technical Institute.

It has been... heck i think a few years now since my last post. I had a 1995 pathy when i was in Arizona, I loved that Truck, if anyone remembers the only thing i didn't like was the fuel economy as I was a starving student then. I regret selling her, I ended up with a honda that broke down 3 months after i got it, then got another car, it blue up in 6 months, then i got a Nissan 200sx. I sold that after i finished school, I blame the switch in vehicles on a Girl, always a girl that makes you make the biggest mistakes I think LOL.

 

Lets fast forward a bit, After graduating and becoming a certified Ford Tech, I moved back to my home state of Alaska. I bought a Van i liked off my Friend, drove it awhile, All the while missing my first Pathfinder (a 1988 pathfinder, fully loaded with power everything, sun roof and the weird thing on the roof that held 2 fog lamps) I kept my eyes out for an old 87, 88, or 89, non popped up i could afford at the time, nor did any newer ones. I found alot of broken pathfinders that where spent, sad to see so many good vehicles just thrown away. I ended up getting another big van (a chevy g30, one day it will be a camper.) drove that alone with a dodge truck for awhile. again still missing a pathy.

 

Now to the current day. This last summer, A friend of mine contacted me about a D21 he had that i really wanted. The engine was not running, and he no longer had the time, money, or wherewithal to continue the project. I Made an offer, $200 bucks and i would tow it away.

 

xqc87o.jpg

 

 

Here She is, Or He, Have Not decided yet. No its Not a Pathy, BUT it does combine my love of the pathy and my love of trucks, AND my high interest in a higher MPG. Maybe I Could put a camper on the back and call it a Mobilehome Pathy? jk, jk.

KA24E engine.

 

The engine was out and sitting in the back, the Manual trans left inside, the cv joint has a torn boot, The driveline was missing its center support bearing.

This truck was a mess....

 

I stripped the engine down, found the timing guides in the oil pan, I thought i wasted 2 bucks on this truck. but I did not let that keep me from having what I want, I stripped the engine, found the crank and rod bearings toast, at this point i was biting my fingernails. is the engine scrap? Closer inspection of the crank found that the pot metal used in the old guides did not harm the hardened crank, not even a scratch. A little light abrasive paper to clean the crank (nothing strong enough to hurt the crank, just enough to remove some hard gunk) the crank shined. undamaged, whole! I was ecstatic, I could continue this build Unhindered.

I examined the old bearings, stamped on all the crank and rod bearings where STD (no not that kinda std!) standard! I ordered a new full set, While waiting for the bearings i stripped the head, found the aluminum head to be scored, rough, the screw holes stripping, I ordered a re-manufactured head, no time to waste!

 

The bearings arrived, after the block was cleaned as much as i could with out tanking it, i threw in the bearings, the crank, Carefully placed strips of plasti-gauge on each crank bearing, torqued to spec, then removed. 2 digits away from the TIGHTEST factory spec! This KA24E is a beast, ate its own timing guides with out so much as wearing down the crank journals.

 

with the arrival of the new head, and new timing set, as well as some OEM bolts and parts, I assembled the engine. taking my time to grease everything that needed greasing, torquing all the fasteners, a prayer, a few swear words, and a little blood, it was finished.

 

But then there was a problem. HOW did my fiend get this engine out, the engine and manual trans has to come out as a set!, otherwise it wont clear the front diff! long story short, My friend pulled and pulled until it popped out. thank heavens it did not damage anything.

 

Not willing to pull the trans, I did what any ford Tech does in this situation with a truck. I removed the cab mounts and lifted the cab, gaining clearance i needed to tilt the trans up, insert the shaft in to the clutch and lower the engine in with a few more swear words, an old man, and the sound of Dragonforce through Fire and flames playing in the background. It was in, done.

 

to shorten this already long post. The engine went in, the rest of the components went on. My nails were down to the bone with all the nervous biting i went through to get this far, I turned the key, It cranked, IT FIRED! Sweet baby Rays its running!

 

That is my new story, my new d21, My new daily project, and probably my forever truck.

 

GOOD TO BE BACK!

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I didn't get any pics of the rebuild, I can take some pics of the work i will be doing in the shop Tomorrow. I am still looking for a local pathy that has all the bells and whistles i can fall in love with again. but no luck, found alot down south, but i dont have the time, or money for those right now.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...