Offroad-Express

Hi guys, you'll normally find me over at the Nissan forum but I've got a query on 2.8 Prado's that I'm hoping you may help with.

Years ago I was offered a (then) newish Prado, it was a '96 or '97 I think but it had the 2.8 Hilux normally aspirated motor. It also didn't have the body kit that most Prado's of this age have.

Naturally it wasn't a rocket ship and as I had a 2.8 4Runner at the time I passed on it.

Nowadays I'm not so interested in lots of power and I think that one of these may suit what I need but I'm interested to know if they have the Hilux running gear (ie. 2WD/4WD transfer case) or if they're permanent 4WD like the 3L Prado's? It also would be good to know anything else about them that differs from the 'standard' Prado.

BTW if anyone has one for sale I'd like to know

Thanks, P.

2.8s never were factory for 96-02 prados, 1kzte's were the only diesels offered

I could be wrong , and often am , but think they were a 5L because they were 3 litre non turbo diesel. See a red one around getting around Dunedin often. Like you said no flash kit and usually just a basic colour and trim. Sometimes come up on trademe but not often. The later 2000+ Prados alos came out non turbo 3 litre but couldnt say what engine they are, used to fix a lot of them for Rental companys.

Edit; just did a google search and they were 2.8L. Sure the later ones were 3.0L though

Jerry wrote:2.8s never were factory for 96-02 prados, 1kzte's were the only diesels offered

Yip it was, on the early nz new models

Are these the ones that are 3/4 the size of the import ones?, have seen one and wondered about it

Diesel engines were the 2.8 L (2776 cc) 3L engine, the 3.0 L (2986 cc) 5L engine and the 3.0 L (2982 cc) 1KZ-TE.

Yip, a mate has a 2.8 non turbo rocketship. I'm pretty sure it is part time 4wd, I'll have a look if I get a chance tomorrow. It's the 3L engine

yip nz new 2.8 would of been manual too ,a mate of mines wife gets around in one & its a 2.7 petrol 5 speed .

Thanks guys, and NJV6 I'd be interested to hear what you come up with on the transmission front.

Certainly the one that was offered to me was a NZ new manual, I did see a small motor petrol one up for sale on TM a few months ago - really tidy and it went for about $5k or thereabouts I think but personally I wanted to stick with diesel so I didn't follow up on it. Also, as it was in Auckland & I'm in Christchurch, I never even kicked the tyres let alone looked at the trans arrangment...

Cheers, P.

Yes it is part time 4wd. Wind up windows etc. Aisin hubs, no shift on the fly like the Surfs.

So in short its a 3L engine with what looks like a Hilux gearbox but it has the left hand front driveshaft transfer case which is different to the Hilux. Not push button 4WD. 4.8 diffs.

Said its just like driving a Prado (surprise surprise) except you can't pass anything.

Ok, well thanks for that, seems it's just what I'm looking for then; slow, old and needs winding up, just like me

I recall with my 2.8 4Runner that you had to slipstream and do all sorts of dubious things to get past someone but usually you could manage it somehow - I suspect, mind you, that the Prado may be a little heavier..

Anyway now all I need to do is keep an eye out for one.

That said I'm also interested in the comment here about the 5L - I wasn't aware that the 1kz came out non-turbo'd (if that's what it is). What do they go like? What vehicles did they come in?

FYI essentially what I'm looking for is a normally aspirated 4WD wagon that's as basic as possible but perhaps just a little later than my previous '92 4Runner. I know some of you may think I'm mad but power doesn't bother me too much these days and I recall when I sold the 4Runner and replaced it with a later Prado that my fuel bill went up enormously for not a lot of benefit - actually I was quite disapointed and left it sitting in the corner padock for a year or two before I eventually sold it. So economy is important, strength/reliability/simplicity and perhaps a few more safety features are all positive (and usually since no-one else wants something as boring as I'm describing they're generally reasonably priced)...

Comments welcome, better still if you've got one and can't stand being passed by granny in her suzuki let me know & I'll trade you a few bits of paper for it!

Cheers, P.