Offroad-Express

Hi All. I am selling my boat because I want ti get a "nice" 4wd for surcasting off the beach. Nice means post 97 $10-$17k. I have no idea on reliable vehicles.I have a 92 Zuk at the moment which has been doing well, but time to get "nice and comfy". Either a d/cab with canopy or SUV style. The ones I have been eyeing up are Terrano and navara. Which models of these are to be avoided?
Or any other makes/models worth considering?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 119887.htm
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 283165.htm
Always liked the look of these one's. and with a 3.2 should go pretty good. Just remember with almost any ute that it's still gonna have leaf springs in the rear for load carrying

Had both those on my watch list. Thanks for the reply. I get a bit mixed up with all the srs ,grsr etc. Also what engines are the ones to avoid. Turbos? 2.7 or 3 litre etc, gotme a bit confuddled

both those are gen 1 D22's. D22's are still being made today.
only diesel to avoid is early 3 litres ZD30 unless its had new pistons fitted.
however if you want any half decent amount of power get a turbo version or allow for fitting a turbo.

info about the dodgy zd30's

viewtopic.php?f=46&t=6290&hilit=zd30

zd30 is in both the navara as well as the pathfinder/terrano

So that's the 3 litre, not the 3.2? Am looking to get one of these by the end of the year for contracting work. Quite glad you bought up the subject

And very interesting to see the dashboard is exactly the same as my '95 Terrano, another source of spares?

kiwipete wrote:And very interesting to see the dashboard is exactly the same as my '95 Terrano, another source of spares?

the entire d22 interior will fit a d21 navara dash,seats,carpet,door panels. etc etc.

gimmemud wrote:So that's the 3 litre, not the 3.2? Am looking to get one of these by the end of the year for contracting work. Quite glad you bought up the subject

early 3 litre. navara isn't has bad as the terrano/patrol motor as the variable turbo and control systems cause problems. something the navara doesn't have.
around '03 is meant to be when they came out with "fixed' motor. unfortunatly nissan has never offical said what the actual cause was. plenty of talk of oilways, poor piston design etc.

i'm told D21 is still produced in some countries and comes out with D22 dash etc in it.

HI Tweake,
Sounds like you and some of the guys here have a good understanding of the history and engines used by Nissan. Is there an engine to avoid? How can I tell what engine I am looking at (Bit of a dumb arse). Is there a website to tell me what engines were used in which model/year?

Nav2NV wrote:

kiwipete wrote:And very interesting to see the dashboard is exactly the same as my '95 Terrano, another source of spares?

the entire d22 interior will fit a d21 navara dash,seats,carpet,door panels. etc etc.

Hmmmm, I wonder if an engine implant would be a go sometime too?

Petrol or deisel?

Surfcaster wrote:HI Tweake,
Sounds like you and some of the guys here have a good understanding of the history and engines used by Nissan. Is there an engine to avoid? How can I tell what engine I am looking at (Bit of a dumb arse). Is there a website to tell me what engines were used in which model/year?

engine model will be written on the build tag normally on the drivers side of the firewall

The only Nissan engine to worry about is the early 3.0 diesel. ie ZD30. The 3.2 diesel is OK as is the 2.7 but either of these will definitely need a turbo. The 2.7 is probably not an option with the age you are after.
The petrol motors are all good but the VG30 is a better option than the VG33. The 33 (3.3l) is hungry without providing any real performance advantage. The VG30 was voted engine of the decade for the 90;s after all.

diesel engines to avoid.......

any 2.5. the 2.5 atmos are just too slow. might be a few 2.5 turbo's but why get that when you can get 2.7 turbo or better. later 2.5s (yd25) are in the 2WD (NZ new). the ones in the 4x4's are known to chew main bearings and throw rods through the sides. best just to avoid them all.
avoid 2000-2003 ZD30 unless its been fixed.

as far as years go......its tricky. nissan offered the old tech 2.7 right untill recently so its quite possible to get a late model import with the old 2.7. most 2.7 will be pre 2000. i do not know much on the 3.2 so no idea when they first started coming out.

my pick for an older one is the 3.2 turbo. its just hard to find them unless you fit a turbo yourself.

Surfcaster wrote:Petrol or deisel?

Dunno yet, would depend on what was available and what it would take to convert. I have the 2.7TD but was just thinking out aloud, again.
Still wonder about a SWB 2.8 saf tho.

Sorry to thread jack here.