TXPower

Man, I'm reading these old posts on pulling this engine and its confusing, pull the diff, don't pull the diff, move the tranny back......... anyone done this with a 5spd that can say just do this or that? Thanks, TXPower

Yeah, metal pipe was a mess and the neck that covers the T stat but those weren't the real issue. Its the other side of T stat housing, the one bolted to the block that the stat sits in, its rusted right thru and what I could see into the water jacket was really nasty. TXPower

Yeah, that's what I figured Kingman. What year model range will you be looking for your donor engine? Oh and update for everyone, as I began changing the T-stat, got down to it and WHAT A MESS. Full of rust. The housing that it sits in, its rusted thru...... It gave me a moment of clarity. I suspect the freeze plugs and who knows what else are rusted out rusted thru and fill in the blank with other problems. Every layer I have pulled so far on the engine has shown another rotten layer. Gave me a moment of complete clarity. Time for the VG33E Swap!. So, shifting gears now, I'm gonna pull this engine. Having said all that, I'm gonna search the site but hit me quick with advice on pulling this thing out, do's, don't, look out for this etc etc etc.............. Oh and the 5spd tranny is bad too so pull it out first, then pull motor? Thanks all, TXPower

Kingman, you done the swap, I cant find your thread build? I guess I probably could re-coup the HP loss with some mods. Or, as said, forced induction of some sort. Will a VG33e be within the same price range regardless of the donor vehicle, I mean I know that will vary based a number of factors but is it apples to apples? Off to change my thermostat and start finishing my wiring repair. TXPower

aj503, what's the IT route, I missed that or I'm not keying in on the acronym? Thanks, TXPower

That's good news, thanks men. I will steer clear of the VG33e's spec'd and built for Ford/Mercury, I'm not sacrificing any HP, that's the whole point of this swap! TXPower

Yeah, the $100 bucks is for ALL the wiring under the hood. I didn't realize I had to pull the lower manifold to get the knock-sensor portion of the injector sub-harness off. That changes things. I likely will buy new injector connectors from rockauto.com to get by and get this thing running. In the meantime, I'll keep looking for a JY that has what I need for a better price. I already have the plenum off. Hardest part was the two little rubber hoses that were petrified and hard as concrete at the back that connect to the metal pipes. That sucked........... I'll get there. TXPower

Posted a moment too late. What ahardb0dy said is what I read some time ago. Corrected, thanks. TXPower

I may be wrong but I thought I remembered reading somewhere that you could call Rough Country and just order the uca's. Someone may correct me though. I'll be going the same route as @Aj503 and your considering also travisg.

Ok, good advice, I think I'll go give it a look and if checks out upon my inspection I'll get it. Thanks, TXPower

Precise1 and Nefarious, everyone, thanks. I will be doing the swap. You'll notice on my other thread about Injector Wiring and Rats!, I'm working thru some wiring issues and once I get them solved, get this dang thing running again, I will find a donor motor and tranny, as my 5spd is spent........ I've done some research and see that the VG33E was offered in other applications like the Quest Van and Frontier as well as later model Pathfinders and other manufacturer vehicles such as a Mercury (I think?) of some sort. Obviously, if I can find one from a later model vehicle already equipped with a 5spd tranny, I can kill 2 birds with one stone. Unless the later model 5spd wont work in my WD21? Having said that, gents, another question, is there something more I need to know to stay away from, that is, is there something about the VG33E from say a Quest van or Mercury car that's makes it unusable in my stated plan? As always thanks to all, TXPower

Yeah, thanks ahardb0dy, that's what I need for sure. I wasn't clear in my initial question. The JY said whether I get all of the under hood harness, or a piece of it, it's $100.00. So, will "all of it" work on my truck, even though mine is a different trim package and standard instead of automatic? And perhaps, more importantly, is it worth it to pay $100.00 for all of the under hood harness, or should I keep looking to see if I can get just what I need somewhere else? Thanks to all, TXPower

Ok, so I found a local JY that has the entire wiring harness in a 1990 XE which was equipped with an auto tranny. The guy says one fuel injector connector or the entire engine harness, $100 buck, my choice. I actually would like to have the entire harness, cause like I mentioned on my other thread going titled Dilemma, the rats hit me in more than one spot and I had to do a bunch of splicing fixing on the wires up near the battery tray. Here's the question will the wiring harness from a 1990 work, does it matter that the donor had an automatic, what do I need to know or look out for? Any and all advice please. In case it helps, the donor VIN is JN8HD17Y2MW018337 Thanks to all, TXPower

ahardb0dy, ejin, thanks! I've been checking local wrecking yards for donors. Oh yeah, who's Rob and when you say order it, you saying this portion of the harness can still be purchased new, or am I not understanding? For giggles, while looking for the parts I need for this VG30E, I been looking at VG33E, there are several available, not too expensive. Swap is looking better................ But I will be getting this tired O'l VG30E back up and running first. These pathfinders are heavy, tired of pushing it when I move it. Thanks, TXPower

ejin, why not an injection harness? I didn't know it was an option. I haven't consulted my FSM yet. Is the injector harness separable or plugged into the main harness somewhere so that I can easily remove that entire section? If so, I'll do that. Thanks gentlemen, TXPower

The connectors sold at rockauto suggested by ahardb0dy might work. The connector body looks a bit different but the terminals inside look as though they are the same. Will check at local JY too. But heck the ones at rockauto are cheap enough if they don't work I ain't out much. Thx, TXPower

Thanks ahardb0dy, still can't figure out why I can't post pics.......... TXPower

I have tried all evening to figure out how to post a pic and for some reason cant get it done so sorry, no pic. I have another post going titled Dilemma, in it I explain that rats chewed a bunch of wires on my 93 SE while it sat disabled for a while. I have fixed most of the wires but am working on the last ones, the fuel injector wires that go to the drivers side bank. I pulled the plenum today to make room for good access and found the damn rat chewed some of all three pairs of wires going down to the injector connectors. Making matters worse, on two of the connectors, the damn rat chewed the wire all the way to where the wire enters the hard plastic body of the connector. Looking at the connector, I got to wondering, do ya'll think its possible to push the two pins out of the connectors hard plastic body, put new wire into the crimp and push back into the connector? Anyone ever tried this? I'm guessing I cant just go buy new fuel injector connectors at the auto parts store??? Thanks, TXPower

gv280z, thanks man, I'll give the search parameters you recommend a gander. Like I said, there is a TD locally for 1900 bucks with tranny ecm and it looks like some of the wiring harness. Silverton, thanks to you also, as I said and for the same reason you pointed out, Mr.510 has the crank adapter and a damn good write-up with photos. I'm leaning more toward that. Those of you who have done the swap to a stock VG33e, how much more power is noticeable, or as I've read it stated, what's the difference in torque/power feeling on the butt dyno? Thanks to all so far for ringing in with your thoughts and opinions, please keep them coming...... TXPower

All good points. I do not live in a deed restricted community, I live on property outside the city limits but do have neighbors. My concern is just having another "junk" car sitting around. I wouldn't even buy a donor until I was ready to begin interior swap and doubt I would buy a whole vehicle even when I do. Of course, if the price was right and it was chalk full of useable parts, I would. Thanks for the perspective on your mechanical skills. I have hot-rodded SBC's and done quite a bit of fab on hot-rods in general since I was about 14, including putting motors and trannies into vehicles they were never intended to be in. Is there a thread somewhere on a good TDI swap? For now, I'm gonna keep fixing wires and get this thing running again. Once its running, I'll decide where I go from there. TXPower

Well as everyone here married knows, the wife is always a factor.......... I may have overstated that part a bit, she'll get mad but she can get glad in the same drawers far as I'm concerned. I guess I just don't know about having another disabled WD21 sitting round, neighbors might think I'm trashy, LOL! enjin, you mentioned the VQ engine, I don't know what those came in or anything at all about them. What was the application, year models and is there working examples on this forum of folks swapping them into a WD? gv280z, no sir,I'm not involved in natural gas industry but do agree we likely will lead the way in that energy supply market. Hell, our whole damn country should with the reserves we're sitting on. You quit me quick when I mentioned my wife's objections............. so no TDI swap then? Or are you just saying back to the drawing board for the platform vehicle. If so, what do you suggest, another WD21, R50 or something else? And everybody else, what do ya'll think, throw out the baby and the bath water or stick with it. I should have mentioned my son was going to be wrenching with me so he can learn more of the basics while I'm learning some more fabskills etc, that plays into my decision. I wont tax ya'll much more with my decision, I just want as much different perspective as possible. Thanks, TXPower

I'm leaning toward the VG33e swap-in several guys have done, a la Mr.510, Nefarious and others. There's a VG33e on CL right now for 400 bucks with MT. With one of Mr.510's crank adapters and a few fabs for accessories/brackets here and there, from what I have read, almost plug and play. Of course, I don't have the pistons Mr.510 used to change the CR yielding aVG34 but I bet a stock VG33e is better than what I was used to from my VG30. I searched A BUNCH for other swap threads with good photos and write-ups to put in my favorites for reference. Is there someone's rig on this forum that did the VG33e swap I didn't mention that has posted a good thread with photos I need to look at? SAS, uh, I'm pretty mechanically inclined have welder, torch and other tools but I don't know I could get an SAS done without some serious help............... I like the idea of finding a donor with parts I need, especially interior but man, my wife is not gonna stand for another pathy parked anywhere around the house. Is it possible to buy any new OEM or Aftermarket interior stuff for these pathy's or is salvage pretty much where I'll be confined as I look for interior trim components. There is a 2.7 TDI with MT local for 1900 bucks, that had crossed my mind too but don't know much about diesels, and the electrical side of automotive stuff is my weak suit, thus the logistics of the ecm and wiring on a project such as that make me tremble. I'm not saying no but any place you can send me for reference with a good write-up and pics? Thanks men, TXPower

All right gentlemen, I have a dilemma and want advice. I've had my 93 Pathy since 2008, used it on deer lease for about 3 years and then parked it behind my house due to it needing stuff, it was running rough needs a bunch of front end work and at least synchros in the MT. The interior is trashed, carpet, upholstery, roof liner, dash, center console etc, all trash. It has little to no rust and the body is really straight and paint is good for its age. While it sat the damn rats took up residence in the engine compartment building nests and of course chewing wires. Initially I thought it was just the wires surrounding the battery tray. The battery was out and the platform was perfect for a rat house. I fixed all those wires but as I inspected further, below the intake plenum on the drivers side cylinder bank there was another nest and the last resident chewed the fuel injector wires, all three on that side. Now for my dilemma and your input. I have the FSM and am a capable mechanic. The vehicle engine/drivetrain has 249,823 miles on it. The engine compartment and all accessories, everything in or on the engine or in the engine bay is pretty beat, previous owner was rough on it. My goal is to build a capable rig, some daily driving (I have a teenage son who will be driving soon and likes 4x4's) weekend driving, deer lease and just cruising. I want to do the poor mans lift with JGC springs, bigger tires, custom bumpers, you know necessary stuff for stated purpose. Eventually I would find better interior stuff and clean up the inside. Would you put the time, energy and frustration into pulling the plenum, repairing wires etc to get it running. Would you pull the engine and drivetrain and rebuild/repair. Find a donor motor/drivetrain (VG30e or other). Or would you sell this thing for what you could get and start with a different platform Pathy? For perspective, I live near Dallas, TX and can find pathy's and JDM' engine/trannies on craigslist all day long including TDI's and later model gassers. So you understand my budget, I'm not looking to spend huge amounts of money but am realistic about what stuff costs. Those of you who may have started with a similar platform, those of you with tons of experience with these things tell me what your thinking please. Thanks, TXPower

Yeah I have no intention of bobbing the frame, matter of fact, my idea on the flatbed integration would gusset or strengthen it if anything. As far as the cab goes, yeah, bobbing it is correct. I'm no professional welder but pretty good. I have a sneaky suspicion that if I cut the rear of the cab off a donor hardbody it will line up well and provide enough structural integrity to be safe. I could even include a small rollcage while I'm at it. I think I can do all this for well under a thousand bucks, which is way less than I would spend on a descent Frontier or Tacoma or otherwise. This is an off-road only vehicle. Why the hell wasn't the Navara marketed here? Thx, TXPower

I guess I should have mentioned I need the extra seating the pathy offers, my kids hunt with me. I thought of buying a 4dr rig but one worth having is still considerably more expensive than I'm willing to pay. Just wondering if anyone had ever done it. I'd luv to do a hardbody swap but it ain't 4dr's. Any other advice/ideas? Thanks gentlemen, TXPower