Green Mean OffRoad Machine... Now how?

[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.

[Precise1]

Did the belt slip or what?

 

You asked about my motor for sale in my parting out thread. Get back to me...

 

You would have to import the 2.7TD (not worth the hassle/cost in my book) and while the Z24 motor is very reliable, I think it uses a different tranny (?) and is far underpowered for a pathfinder, especially if you live in the mountains. I think you should just find another VG30E or have your repaired...

 

B

[GrimGreg]

Remember with the change to a diesel, you need to completely redo all the feed lines, pump, tank, filter, etc.

 

You could probably find a 4cyl from a 720 and make it work (carbed), but you would have to take the tranny and t-case for it to work. If you grabbed one out of a Hardbody (injected), you would only need engine and tranny since they use the same t-case, but also need the ECU since it is different than your V-6 one.

 

If you can't even do a timing belt right, do you trust yourself on swapping to a completely different drivetrain?

[Indigent]

Also, with the diesel, you will no longer be street legal in any US state. It is a violation of federal law to convert a gasoline based vehicle to diesel. I used to own a Terrano when I lived in Japan, and was strictly forbidden from bringing it back with me to the states because it had the TD27T in it. You *can* find them for around $3000 currently from JDM importers, though. The transmission was different mainly the bellhousing. As with anything, of course it is *possible*, but it is all about how much sacrifice you are willing to put into it. There was a guy floating around in NY state a while ago that put an RB26DETT into his pathfinder. People have put Chevy smallblocks into these things.

If I could internally justify the $3000, I would have already done the Diesel swap. I really miss that engine (48+MPG), but it is what it is.

 

Check this link for more info on the stupid EPA laws about diesel:

http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/po...e/engswitch.pdf

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Edited June 26, 2009 by Indigent