icemonkey

Ok First I would like to thank everyone who has helped me as a newbie. It has been a very steep learning curve. As a very quick update Ive just killed my engine 20 mins ago, it seems I cannot be trusted to change a timing belt. My question is what engine options/fuel options can I go for? Ive been running a VG30E. I would love to go either 4 cylinder so I can get to the bloody sparkplugs, Diesel so I can run BioDiesel (I live above a restrurant) or better still I like the idea of running Propane/Dual Fuel so a carb engine would be excellent. Essentially Im thinking of making a Green, Mean, OffRoad Machine. Having lived in Europe for a while Propane/Dualfuel seems the first step, but I would like to avoid a rail/direct injection pain and go for carbs (cheeper). 4 cylinder seems an option (as its the only engine for 50 miles available) but what else is there available? What Ideas do you have? As I have a free source of fuel (grease from downstairs) diesel is a very good idea. So as a breakdown... Moving from a VG30E 5 speed manual is the bolt pattern for all VG30 the same so I can get a carb version? Can I use the 4 cylinder available engine from a junked D21? Or how about a Diesel? Basically its a bolt pattern issue. I guess its obvious I am hanging on a thread here and trying to keep positive. I love the truck and may have to lose her to a junk yard... Off to drink LOTS of beer. as an aside, I live in colorado in the mountains and have a very limited set of skills, time and recently money. I guess thats the way of the world these days.

Just a quick update... engine just died. What I thought was a sticky valve was not. I think.

SUCCESS! all back together and sounding good!!! Thanks

Terrific! Thank you all. Luckily my belt is marked and Ive checked it. I think I just panicked when everything was out of wack. The more I think about it the more suprized I am that the ambient temperature fluctuating can move an engine. Thanks for all the help.

Thanks beastpath. I hope the sun stays out...

Hmmmm. Many thanks for looking at this one here. No longer have a garage to work out of so now Im stuck working in fair weather on the street. A few weeks ago I was finishing up and putting on a new timing belt... and it started to rain. So cover everything up and wait for the rain to stop. 2 1/2 weeks later I get my chance and disaster, the cam sprockets are out of alignment. Worse still the crankshaft timing dot looks to off. Could the heating and cooling of the strange weather weve been having turn the engine over? Worse still the engine shroud has no alignment marks (I stupidly used post it note clippings that fell off) can I use diagrams from the various How To's to find alignment? Any help would be great...

My wife has named her snowflake... Now the name has stuck.

I can only agree, having changed out everything I can find to Poly - Excellent.

Excellent! Precise1, Im in Eagle Colorado, how is the engine?

Sorry for disappearing, had to go out for 5 mins and ended up going to the local pub... 3 hours later. Yep think I may just rebuild. It will be a good challenge. Could be Dutch Courage talking, though. Thanks all Yep spun a bearing on the front of the engine- or so I thought, replaced everything I could but to no-avail still sounds awful, grinding, loose and noisy.

Thanks, thats what Ive been thinking of doing. Im just paranoid over getting another trashed engine. Many thanks.

Hi all. Been having a great time working out of "snowflake" (my wife named her) my new 180,000 mi 91 XE and getting into all sorts of fun trouble. So in three months I put just about 8000 miles of colorado mountain driving on her... Now her engine has spun a bearing. I replaced the water pump and everything your supposed to when you do the timing belt, but she is still making the worst noise - it sounds to me like imminent disaster. So here is the question - replace engine or rebuild? Ive not rebuilt an engine before, but have done everything else on cars. Or should I just give drop a newish engine in? Any advice for kits or where to find replacement engines? Budget is a real consideration as Ive only just moved across the country after moving back to this country so money is tight.

Ok is there someone that I should go to? I will check out RockAuto, but if there is someone out there who would have another option? Does the site have any sponsors? or is there someone here who works for a great parts company? Thanks again

Hmmmm...

Thanks, I might just risk it... Cheers

Just a quick question. Are all timing belt kits for VG30E engines the same? I found a great price on Maxima V6 VG30E kit ($120) comes with timing belt water pump timing belt tensioner front crankshaft seal 2 front camshaft seals and 3 accessory drive belts, will this fit my Pathfinder? Any suggestions for Many many thanks. Avery

Had a 1992 4 runner - awesome but slowly wore out (after 200K), the slushbox was a bit laggy and the V6 was very inefficient. I still have a Tacoma 2wd from 96 which is excellent and well supported with after market bits which is why I bought it. Comparing the 4Runner and Pathfinder as they are very similar (4wd, V6 etc) I feel that the Toyota interior is a lot nicer, but the toyota did not seem to be as mechanically well thought out. My Pathy just feels indistructable, great frame, great engine (for the time) and solid feel on the road. Just needs more after market support, particularly on the high mileage wear areas, like gear shifter linkage, PU bushings, gearbox rebuilds etc. In 10 years there will be more pathfinders from the early 90's than 4runners, they just feel more robust. Having said that the 2.5L toyota 4 pot is stunning - 150K and still at 25+mpg.

I live in Colorado and often commute the 22 miles to Leadville (stupid cold) for work. After I cleaned out the fan its been toasty warm. As for traction in the snow for on road and a lot of dirt (now ice) tracks and general getting around I have a set of Hankook winter tires, $300 for the tires, $350 balanced tax disposal old tires etc. I can only say that I prefer this truck to my Tacoma in the snow, with about 500+ miles a week on the road for work, all high up, I keep it calm on the road and I have passed on average 3 spun off cars a day during the past 2 weeks. Have you thought about an electric heater as a booster? just to get up to temperature. One thing I have tried while driving an old VW camper in the North of Norway is using camping stove to both heat water for tea and provide heat. Not a good idea. Good luck. Im off to test the traction of my truck on a drive to Vail.

You are absolutely right BowTied. I panicked a bit, as I recognized that the engine probably needs a complete overhaul. As I have just moved across country to a new job and no longer have a dedicated garage I needed to get running. In my defense the truck was only taking about 2, 2 1/2 quarts of oil, I used Seafoam to flush twice, replacing the filters each time, then three oil changes till the oil came out clean(ish). Now she takes 3 1/2 quarts of oil. So I guessed that the engine was being starved of oil somewhere along the way. Hence the need for the Gauge, I wanted to monitor what was going on till I get down to the big rebuild or replacement in Jan/Feb. I just didnt know how bad it all was.

As for the teflon tape and the engine Ive kept it all well back on the threads - however on the bottom of the gear shift lever (for a manual 5 speed) I dont expect many problems as its a temporary fix, and a lot better than the grinding that accompanied the gear changes before. The guy I bought the truck from thought it needed a new tranny, but the play in the stick was astounding. Bled the master cylinder, wrapped the bushing, did the oil thing and perfect! As for the gunk under the valve cover - ShopVac. Hope I haven't ruined my engine... Live and learn. Thank you all again.

loosing my mind...

sorry wrong thread

2 Flushes, 3 oil changes, 3 filters and now 3 1/2 quarts of lightweight oil and we will see. Installed the oil gauge, thank you everyone for the advice. As for the new engine, give me a few weeks to see how this one pans out - I may go crazy and just rebuild it, unlikely though. Just in case Ive just moved to Colorado. Are you far?

Thank you everyone, however disaster has struck. I just bought this truck a few weeks ago and am in the middle of fixing it up, I was putting an oil gauge on it because I was just a teeny bit worried about how often the oil was changed. 1st thing I did was to change the oil, today I took the filter off to get better access to the switch so I drained the engine, the brand new oil with no more than 30 miles came out thick and black. So I took off a valve cover to find sludge like Ive never seen it before (and i have owned a high mileage Fiat). Thick, waxy and blocking everything to a depth of 1/8th inch minimum. Now I know why the she is so original - no one lifted the hood in 180,000. I guess I will clean what I can by hand and run lots of oil changes this week, or until she runs clear... Anyone got a spare engine? I bought the copper line on your advice, and to be honest I am a teflon tape addict, is there nothing it cannot do? I recently used it to make up for the wear on the sleeve bushing at the bottom of the gear shift - a temporary fix until I can find a replacement. Solved the sloppy shift problem. Stupid question, is the socket size for the oil pressure switch, 26mm? Thanks one and all

Thank you! Great idea, I will see if I can get aT. Avery