Jump to content

1988 WD21 Blown Engine, now what?


badger67
 Share

Recommended Posts

I have not visited the forum in awhile. Got the 88 out on the highway today and noticed the lifter ticking sound getting worse. Next thing I knew the engine quit entirely and I was able to get it off the highway. Oil is everywhere and I am afraid of the inevitable. Odometer reading is 289K and the lifters were newly installed about a 18 months ago. This vehicle barely gets 2500 miles on it a year and I've got more in it than it's worth. 5 speed manual transmission and the 4WD works great as far as I can tell. Need suggestions on which way to go. I think it's a cool car but I'm not interested in making this an endless money pit.

 

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Would like to hear more about the V-8 and Vortec Options. I assume the transmission and drive axles would be incompatible? Fill me in?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hit up nissan4wheelers.com the flaming marshmallow has one under its hood there. Cheap good power and you don't need to regear. You'd be force to make new driveshafts and do a solid axle swap up front unless you use a t case that has a driver side output.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well if you go with a 2000-2004 LT1 6.0/5.3/4.8 they are cable throttled, you can basically put any trans behind it you want. Depending if you want to do the swap your self or got deep pockets.. You need to be electricity experienced to do the swap. Its really simple... their is a pin out online that covers all gen 3 and 4 ecm's to make the factory engine harness standalone.. All post 89 trans missions are driverside drop tcases. So you can keep stock running gear if you wish. Would just have to get shafts made up.. Not that bad. As far as transmissions go any transmission made for a v8 chev will bolt up to the block. Need to be careful and have the right flex plate or the stock 4l60e or 4l80e what ever engine you choose will run standalone with the engine no problem.. But if you like grabbing gears you could opt to find a nv3500 a sm465 or a rock crusher. All really good tranny's for light application, they both accept np205 tboxes or what ever chain box you want..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks to all for the tips and suggestions. I don't have deep pockets for sure. Just want to get the thing roadworthy again and give it to my future son-in-law so that he can have fun with it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks to all for the tips and suggestions. I don't have deep pockets for sure. Just want to get the thing roadworthy again and give it to my future son-in-law so that he can have fun with it.

 

For your son in law to have "fun with it", what level of capability does "fun " mean?

 

Are you able to do a straight swap such as finding another Nissan engine that is compatible (that would get it on the road "as in road worthy") or do you want to get into something that would be really fun (tons of HP/torque)?

 

The 1st part of a successful project is knowing what you want in relation to your skills and available tools (and what you're willing to learn along the way), your access or ability to find good solid parts on the cheap, and your budget.

 

The guys on this board can be really helpful if you can give up some details so we can drill down into what to suggest. "Now what", "having fun" and "not having deep pockets" leaves a lot to interpretation.

 

Hope this helps...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well if you go with a 2000-2004 LT1 6.0/5.3/4.8 they are cable throttled, you can basically put any trans behind it you want. Depending if you want to do the swap your self or got deep pockets.. You need to be electricity experienced to do the swap. Its really simple... their is a pin out online that covers all gen 3 and 4 ecm's to make the factory engine harness standalone.. All post 89 trans missions are driverside drop tcases. So you can keep stock running gear if you wish. Would just have to get shafts made up.. Not that bad. As far as transmissions go any transmission made for a v8 chev will bolt up to the block. Need to be careful and have the right flex plate or the stock 4l60e or 4l80e what ever engine you choose will run standalone with the engine no problem.. But if you like grabbing gears you could opt to find a nv3500 a sm465 or a rock crusher. All really good tranny's for light application, they both accept np205 tboxes or what ever chain box you want..

 

Hey NWT87PATHY

 

I think you've a error on the 00- 04 engines. They're not LT1's (which are 93-97 production years). The other LT1's are the new version LT1's coming out with the IROC and Vette

 

00-04 are LS based engines, and one has to be careful as the earlier 4L60E trans changed late 90"s (not sure exactly what year), but a early 4L60E will not bolt directly to a LS based engine, and a newer 4L60E will require a adapter to bolt to a earlier SBC or 93-97 LT1.

 

With a GM auto trans, you can go to a GM DSD t-case (in some of the early GM IFS models) such as a NP241C (both 4L60E and NP241C are 27 spline).

 

If looking to go heavy duty with a NP205, a Ford NP205 is necessary to retain a DSD. Have a look at the link to my project in Slartibartfast's post above.

 

Not sure if the NV3500 or SM465 will accept a Ford NP205, and going to a GM NP205 means changing axles to a passenger side diff.

 

 

Edited by V8path
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

 

Hey NWT87PATHY

 

I think you've a error on the 00- 04 engines. They're not LT1's (which are 93-97 production years). The other LT1's are the new version LT1's coming out with the IROC and Vette

 

00-04 are LS based engines, and one has to be careful as the earlier 4L60E trans changed late 90"s (not sure exactly what year), but a early 4L60E will not bolt directly to a LS based engine, and a newer 4L60E will require a adapter to bolt to a earlier SBC or 93-97 LT1.

 

 

Your absolutely right!, ive spent so much time on www.LT1swap.com i'm cross eyed.. But anywho the diffrence between the earliest 4l60&80 and ls based trans castings is the top most right bell bolt has no thread hole on the block.. And the gen3&4 crank is like .200 shorter so the stock torque converter is to short and the hub isn't supported with it fully engaged into the pump. An easy fix with a place like Advanced adaptors around, I have a 89 Th400 on a 09 LH6 5.3. It required a dished flexplate with a "hub" extension ring to support the converter. For simplicity i allways recommend a Vacuum Modulated trans. 700r4 with a TV cable is ok for Gen3 with the cable throttle i suppose.. OD is really nice with 5.3's, but i just swaped out the 3.73's for 2.83's now im doing 100mph at about 2200 rpm in my 55.

Advanced adaptors also have all the rigging to re do the input on any np205 to match what yah need.

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...