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FirstGenFreak's SLOW WD21 Build


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Gidday All, below is copied form my intro thread to get the ball rolling, will have updates next week!

My name is Pete and I am from Victoria in Australia

Here's My Old truck - 86 with a Z24. I had this thing for 11 trouble free years and I don't know what made me sell it but the second it drove off I regretted it. 

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Fast forward a few years and it just came over me that I had to have another one. 

A few months of shopping I found this old girl and picked it up for a song. An '86 like my old one. 

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The thing that sold me on this particular car were the condition of the body and the interior. Anyone into these cars will know how hard it is to find nice trim bits. 

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And here is the only rust in the car, being a dry inland car
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After picking it up I got 50 km before it started overheating. 
Stopped, cooled it down, topped off the water and put a new radiator cap on, got another 10km and it overheated again. .. And again. 

Luckily we have roadside assist and they covered the tow (180km).

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First steps are to address the overheating issue. Will start with new waterpump, radiator and thermostat. If that doesn't fix it I still have a spare engine from my old pathy. 

Then I'll fit a 32/36 Weber, Extractors, remove the LP Gas Conversion.
I know most of you are probably running VGs but I've always been a Z24 fan, and had a great run out of them. Over here the VGs have a rep for being a bit of a fuel guzzler. 
I'd like to find a set of factory wheelarch flares and do a lift and fit 31s. 

I'll be sure to update on progress but will be slow as the car is kept on a rural property I own, so I'll only get to work on it a couple of times a month. 

If you made it this far, thanks for reading!

Keep the shiny side up!

Peter


 

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Went up to our property for a day and in between working on the house tinkered with the car for a couple of hours.

Removed all of the 'old man' add-ons


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Also threw my 31s on, but they are coming back off until I sort out a lift.
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Also found the culprit for my overheating issue
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Threw in a new water pump and radiator at the same time, went for a run, cool as a cucumber!
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That's it for now!

Pete

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  • 3 weeks later...

Finally found a fuel tank, will chase up a new fuel pump (tank came from a VG30 car, so assuming different pump [??]) and a half decent carb.

Then I can get rid of the LPG conversion, which I am looking forward to. 

tank.jpg

Also found that the engine has quite a bit of blowby, so will look at rebuilding the spare I have.



 

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2 hours ago, jjonez said:

Awesome!  I actually just saw a white 2-door today on my way home from a trip.  How many miles/km's?

Nice! Don't see too many on the road anymore. This one has 338,000 kms / 210000 miles, so she's done a bit of work!

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  • 1 month later...

So I got up to our property a couple of weeks ago and removed the LP Gas tank and the auxiliary fuel tank that was fitted.

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In addition I got up under the dash and cleaned up all of the old 90s add-ons and the LPG wiring. Was a great feeling removing all the dodgy splices and re-taping the loom like OEM!
Got rid of this car alarm too
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Pulled the sender out of the tanks, thinking I'd just use the OEM one out of the aux tank.... 
Now I should have expected this, as the PO told me the car had not been ran on petrol for over 10 years...
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Not sure if you can quite imagine the smell, but think of varnish mixed with stale red wine.

Anyhow, OEM tank is fitted but waiting for a factory Z24 low pressure pump/pickup assy, which I now have as well as a good carb for it 
As soon as lockdown is done, I'll get over there and get if fired up on petrol, then I can see about getting it registered!

That's it for now
Stay safe out there guys!

Pete
 

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  • 3 weeks later...

Replaced fuel sender/pickup unit, blew all the varnish out of the fuel lines.
Fitted a new carb, new fuel hoses front-to-back.

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Fired straight up and with the timing adjusted idles like a swiss watch.
Pulled the driver's front guard ready for rust repair.

Will drop pics in later

Stay safe all. 

-FGF

Edited by FirstGenFreak
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Removed the drivers guard to do a rust repair, a bit worse than I originally thought but this is the only rust in the entire car, so I can live with it!

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Found a 2wd D21 king cab at my local wreckers (interestingly I very nearly bought this car about 4 months ago, now I've got a few bits off it for the WD.)

Snipped the bottom off the RH guard to help in my repairs, should get the repair done over the weekend.

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More small, slow updates soon

Stay safe and healthy

FGF

 

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Repaired the guard today, cut the section out of the D21 2wd at the wreckers

 

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For those that didn't know, the 2wds have smaller wheelarches which means the bottom of the guard is about 1" wider 
- last time I did this repair I just cut straight across above the lower bodyline and welded the whole bottom on. In this case I had to section it down.

Welded in, light skim of filler and a coat of generic rattlecan white...

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Now it's ready to go back on the car next time I'm up at the property, which will be after lockdown at this point.

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I'm pretty happy with it.

 

Till next time stay safe out there 

-FGF

Edited by FirstGenFreak
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  • 4 months later...

Now I know I DID title this a "Slow" build, but I did envisage I'd be damn close to driving this truck around by now!

But, due to Covid lockdowns I haven't been able to leave Melbourne to go and work on the car (or our house we are renovating).
We've just had a new 3 car garage built and I am gagging to get up there and see it in person.

It's heart-breaking for us but everyone here is missing out on something they wish they could do.

So I'm Itching to go and get some work done on the WD. The next step is to pull the motor and either rebuild it, or freshen up my spare engine. 
Spare engine is at my folks about 30km away, I'm not allowed to go there either, so we play the waiting game. 

I did manage to find a reco cylinder head in a local classified here so that is a start to the engine build.

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Hopefully I have some more updates soon, in the meantime I will be within 5km of my home and not leave the house unless it is to go to my permitted job or to buy groceries, or my allocated 1 hour per day excersise, also noting our 8pm to 5 am curfew... Good times

Stay safe out there y'all

FGF

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Wow, things like what you are going through with the political virus makes me feel bad for folks that don't have the freedom that us Americans take for granted. 

 

Looking at that head, reminded me of when I built a Frankenstein Z series for my 1980 200SX (think it was the Silvia for you folks, was the hatchback and that was the model name for the Japanese market). I used the Z24 block from a pickup and because the car was port injected rather than carbureted, used the head from an 1983 200SX (they came with the Z22 here). The intake ports were a different shape, more oval with a notch at the top for the injector to spray into. Also had slightly larger valves than the original Z20 the car had. That combination even with the dished pistons that I accidentally ordered (I thought I was ordering flat-tops) was enough to bump the compression to where I had to run premium gasoline during the heat of summer. Also wound up using the flywheel and clutch I had for my 1975 280z (left hand drive Fairlady for you folks :) ) since the Z20 clutch was too weak and the new clutch was slipping under load from day one. 

That little project taught me that rebuilding Nissan engines was expensive compared to the common American engines of the time. Looking back, that project was 25 years ago, man I am old....

 

Hope things blow over soon and you can get back to real life again. 

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Thanks, it's draconian but it is definitely reducing the number of cases. Not sure how much longer it will be sustainable for, at some point we just need to learn to live with it and get on with our lives and re-ignite the economy. 

Sounds like a similar head to the KA24. We never got the injected Z24s here. 

We still call them a 280z here, my Ex GF's old lady had one!

They are all expensive here, I've just finished putting together a warmed over Chrysler 318, cost me a bomb. The Z will be a bit cheaper by comparison. 

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If the 87 uses torsion suspension, good luck finding any kind of a lift kit. I have scoured every off roading nook and cranny. Nothing. It seems like it's just impossible. I was only looking to go up 3-5 inches but there's absolutely nothing, so I cranked the torsion bars and gained about 3/4 to an inch. Sorry for my American measurements. I wanted 8-13cm and tightening up the torsion bars got me 1.9-2.5cm

 

Edited by 95PsychoPathfinder
Photo I tried to add cut off literally at the beginning of the wheel well a
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On 9/19/2020 at 10:42 PM, Mr_Reverse said:

Wow, things like what you are going through with the political virus makes me feel bad for folks that don't have the freedom that us Americans take for granted. 

 

Looking at that head, reminded me of when I built a Frankenstein Z series for my 1980 200SX (think it was the Silvia for you folks, was the hatchback and that was the model name for the Japanese market). I used the Z24 block from a pickup and because the car was port injected rather than carbureted, used the head from an 1983 200SX (they came with the Z22 here). The intake ports were a different shape, more oval with a notch at the top for the injector to spray into. Also had slightly larger valves than the original Z20 the car had. That combination even with the dished pistons that I accidentally ordered (I thought I was ordering flat-tops) was enough to bump the compression to where I had to run premium gasoline during the heat of summer. Also wound up using the flywheel and clutch I had for my 1975 280z (left hand drive Fairlady for you folks :) ) since the Z20 clutch was too weak and the new clutch was slipping under load from day one. 

That little project taught me that rebuilding Nissan engines was expensive compared to the common American engines of the time. Looking back, that project was 25 years ago, man I am old....

 

Hope things blow over soon and you can get back to real life again. 

 

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3 hours ago, 95PsychoPathfinder said:

If the 87 uses torsion suspension, good luck finding any kind of a lift kit. I have scoured every off roading nook and cranny. Nothing. It seems like it's just impossible. I was only looking to go up 3-5 inches but there's absolutely nothing, so I cranked the torsion bars and gained about 3/4 to an inch. Sorry for my American measurements. I wanted 8-13cm and tightening up the torsion bars got me 1.9-2.5cm

 


Lift stuff is available, but limited to about 2" suspension - do a search here - there is a wealth of knowledge and experience.
For your 3-5" I'd be doing a 2" suspension with superlift upper arms, JGC rear springs combined with a 2" body lift. I've ran that combo before and it works quite well and holds good wheel alignment if you don't beat it hard offroad. 

You can get more lift out of the front end by re-indexing your torsion bars. It definitely looks sagged in your pics. 

 

Edited by FirstGenFreak
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Sorry Mr. FirstGenFreak, I must apologize for my ignorant fellow American, I apologize for the first bit of his post, and while it does suck to have restrictions in sure you'll appreciate the mathematics I'm about to lay down and I know you appreciate not having a lunatic running your country.

The United States has 13 times the number of people as Australia, so you'd expect the US to have 13 times the number of cases and deaths. 

 

Mr. Reverse I speak to you now,

All of these numbers are current as of 09/26/2020

US. Covid cases 7,078,798 

New cases 45,752

US. Covid deaths 204,497

Australia Covid cases 27,040

New cases 24

Australia Covid death 872

So if we take Australias figures and multiply by 13 because the United States has 13 times the number of people we get

27040 x 13 = 351,520 total cases

24 x 13 = 312 new cases

872 x 13 = 11,336 deaths 

That's friggin insane! The US has 262 times more cases, 1,906 times more of which were new cases reported yesterday, and 235 times more deaths... So Mr. Reverse I gotta say, your username is either a true representation of your thought processes. Yea being on lockdown sucks. Having a 3 mile radius around your house that you couldn't travel outside of would suck! Only being able to leave your property to go to your permitted job, get groceries, or your 1 hour of daily exercise, yea that would suck too, and a curfew at night from 8pm -5am also bites!

 

But the US should have cases around 350,000

And a death toll of 11,336. And we would if we didn't think we were the only free country on earth, but we don't because we're too loud and obnoxious and are giant babies who cry about wearing a mask. But when you've got 9 family members dead 3 in icu who honestly aren't gonna make it and 35 who've tested positive like I do, you'd be wishing you took this @!*% seriously.

 

It's not political, It's life or death.

 

I pray for all those who haven't been infected, those who have, and those who are sick and in hospital.

 

If you were a country loving, God loving, American Patriot. You'd wear a mask outdoors, not socialize in person with those you don't live with, wouldn't go on camping trips and go wheelin with your buddies, and you definitely wouldn't be calling it political virus showing off your maga lovin, trump supportin, conspiracy theorizing brainwashing. I'm a gun totin, country lovin, God loving, American Patriot in Oregon. I am ashamed to say that I almost voted for trump 4 years ago, @!*% I had his name filled in on my ballot and everything but I was out on a snow wheelin trip and forgot to drop it off at the elections office on the way up to the mountains. 

 

My sincerest apologizes FirstGenFreak, and to you as well Mr. Reverse, I just hope made it this far.

 

Gun totin, Country lovin, God loving, Oregonian Patriot

95PsychoPathfinder

 

God bless us all.

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18 minutes ago, FirstGenFreak said:


Lift stuff is available, but limited to about 2" suspension - do a search here - there is a wealth of knowledge and experience.
For your 3-5" I'd be doing a 2" suspension with superlift upper arms, JGC rear springs combined with a 2" body lift. I've ran that combo before and it works quite well and holds good wheel alignment if you don't beat it hard offroad. 

You can get more lift out of the front end by re-indexing your torsion bars. It definitely looks sagged in your pics. 

 

https://www.4x4parts.com/c-1046828-suspension-lifts-lift-packages-pathfinder-1987-1995-pathfinder-suspension-packages.html

 

Found this right here thanks to another forum. Website navigation isn't the easiest and they max out at 3, but I found some! ?

 

Yea I'm pretty sure that after the 30-40 times I had jumped it on the dunes out here in Oregon with the torsion bars already being over tightened to raise the ride height, I probably didn't do it any favors. But man I had it over 2.5 meters off the ground at least 10 times. 

Edited by 95PsychoPathfinder
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1 hour ago, 95PsychoPathfinder said:

Sorry Mr. FirstGenFreak, I must apologize for my ignorant fellow American, I apologize for the first bit of his post, and while it does suck to have restrictions in sure you'll appreciate the mathematics I'm about to lay down and I know you appreciate not having a lunatic running your country.

The United States has 13 times the number of people as Australia, so you'd expect the US to have 13 times the number of cases and deaths. 

 

Mr. Reverse I speak to you now,

All of these numbers are current as of 09/26/2020

US. Covid cases 7,078,798 

New cases 45,752

US. Covid deaths 204,497

Australia Covid cases 27,040

New cases 24

Australia Covid death 872

So if we take Australias figures and multiply by 13 because the United States has 13 times the number of people we get

27040 x 13 = 351,520 total cases

24 x 13 = 312 new cases

872 x 13 = 11,336 deaths 

That's friggin insane! The US has 262 times more cases, 1,906 times more of which were new cases reported yesterday, and 235 times more deaths... So Mr. Reverse I gotta say, your username is either a true representation of your thought processes. Yea being on lockdown sucks. Having a 3 mile radius around your house that you couldn't travel outside of would suck! Only being able to leave your property to go to your permitted job, get groceries, or your 1 hour of daily exercise, yea that would suck too, and a curfew at night from 8pm -5am also bites!

 

But the US should have cases around 350,000

And a death toll of 11,336. And we would if we didn't think we were the only free country on earth, but we don't because we're too loud and obnoxious and are giant babies who cry about wearing a mask. But when you've got 9 family members dead 3 in icu who honestly aren't gonna make it and 35 who've tested positive like I do, you'd be wishing you took this @!*% seriously.

 

It's not political, It's life or death.

 

I pray for all those who haven't been infected, those who have, and those who are sick and in hospital.

 

If you were a country loving, God loving, American Patriot. You'd wear a mask outdoors, not socialize in person with those you don't live with, wouldn't go on camping trips and go wheelin with your buddies, and you definitely wouldn't be calling it political virus showing off your maga lovin, trump supportin, conspiracy theorizing brainwashing. I'm a gun totin, country lovin, God loving, American Patriot in Oregon. I am ashamed to say that I almost voted for trump 4 years ago, @!*% I had his name filled in on my ballot and everything but I was out on a snow wheelin trip and forgot to drop it off at the elections office on the way up to the mountains. 

 

My sincerest apologizes FirstGenFreak, and to you as well Mr. Reverse, I just hope made it this far.

 

Gun totin, Country lovin, God loving, Oregonian Patriot

95PsychoPathfinder

 

God bless us all.


Everyone is entitled to their opinion and has their own life experience and reasoning for it. 


Right now I am thrilled to have a job, my health and my family. It's certainly not a time to take those things for granted. 


I'm really sorry to hear you have family members affected, sincere condolences. 

Stay safe out there!

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Sorry 95PsycoPathfinder your family has been hit so hard. I seriously doubt if you actually knew me that you would have had as much venom in your post. You go with your apology tour if it makes you feel better. 

Facts are with the Covid numbers is that there is a lot of errors and massaging. I am an "essential worker" auto mechanic, and have worked all year without a vacation averaging 50 hours per week, in people's cars without masks, gloves, and sanitizer. I am a high risk due to severe asthma. If I have had Covid, I haven't noticed. Masks for virus control is like using a chain link fence to keep mosquitoes out of the yard.

This thread is about building a Pathfinder, so I am done on this subject of the dread virus. 

 

If it isn't possible to lift a first gen Pathfinder with its torsion bar suspension, can you possibly explain my 93 with 33x12.50 MTs? Sorry for the old photo, first one I found small enough to upload. 

road.JPG

Edited by Mr_Reverse
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  • 1 month later...

So our new garage/shop is ready and I have just sold my place in the 'burbs of Melbourne.

Zero Covid cases for 3 weeks here so the lockdowns are over in our state for now 

Will be moving up to our rural property in about 8 weeks so you can expect some updates on this turd!

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shed1.jpg

shed2.jpg

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