| Author | Message | ||
     86129squids |
OK, might as well throw this out there... my truck took a shit on me Monday. Motor is locked up. So, I'm in need of either a viable donor motor, or I'm just gonna have to buy a new pickup. I've had this '92 Nissan king cab hardbody since 1995ish, it's really been one of my favorite vehicles. If I have to get a "new" truck, I'm gonna want something about the same year- ideally I'd love to find a "grandpa's" truck for good money. Used Toyotas seem to be priced similar to gold ingots, and I'm partial to Nissan anyway. Mazda would be fine as well- I'll need a king cab for sure. Of course, this HAD to happen at the slowest time of the year for my work. So, if anyone here can assist, I'd deeply appreciate it. | ||
| Glitch |
http://www.lowmileageparts.com | ||
| Thumper74 |
car-parts.com | ||
| Ourdee |
Check with local junk yard. | ||
| Tootal |
If the vehicle had any significant value I would say replace or rebuild the engine but a 92 Nissan truck has no real value, except to you of course. Sorry it had to happen though, that's tough I know. My advice would be to replace it with as new a vehicle as you can afford. Remember, everything on that truck is 25 years old. The idea that just the engine is the only part that's at the end of life would not be wise. Find another Nissan that's 15 years old or similar. You will be ahead in the long run. | ||
| Dwardo |
I don't know about Nissan parts but these guys have some NOS parts that are sharply marked down from dealer cost. I don't see any enginess. http://oem-surplus.com/nwp/ | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
If you want to buy body parts, look South if you want Engines, look North. Those Japanese pickups melted away decades ago up north. Leaving perfectly serviceable engines behind! I'm not sure how bad the shipping would be though. | ||
| Hootowl |
Those early 90s Nissans are tough trucks. The motors are ubiquitous. You should be able to easily find a rebuilt engine. I helped a buddy R&R one a few years ago. Took the two of us an afternoon to get it done. | ||
| Hootowl |
It's a 4 cylinder, yes? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fits-Nissan-95-97-Pickup-K A24E-2-4L-SOHC-Rebuilt-Engine-Long-Block-NLBKA24L- /171969722496 | ||
| Aschem |
Saw the 86129 and thought you were in Idaho. My dad has one in 4x4 6cyl extra cab version around same year with less than 100k on it and it runs good; he also wants to sell it. | ||
| 86129squids |
I'm with ya Greg. FWIW, I've kinda been biased away from lots of the newer stuff, as it's generally had so much "nanny" engineering worked into it. My GF's Solara has those automatic door locks, and DANG if I don't trust that stuff! Plus, whenever I dump groceries or anything with any weight into the passenger front seat, a stupid flashing passenger seatbelt light starts flashing. HATE that crap. My old hardbody Nissan was simple, reliable (until Monday), no frills, no BS. Made in Murfreeesboro TN, sure hope I can find something very similar. At this time my mechanic is looking for a good donor motor... I'm just keeping my eyes peeled for whatever makes the most sense. The Solara and my old '77 Beemer are gonna have to giterduun in the meantime. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Any idea of what went wrong in there? | ||
| 86129squids |
Not sure, but the motor's locked up. I think it dropped a valve or something. It'd been running like a champ, as good as ever. 1/2 mile from the house, what had been rattling went GGGGGRRRUNCH. The rattle had been intermittent, sometimes I'd pull in the driveway after 25 miles from work, no rattle, just purring like a kitten. Dead meat now. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
My coworker's old V6 Ranger blew up in a similar no warning type of way. It had 230,000 miles on it but he kept it up. One day as he was driving at 35, POP. Shiny bits and coolant came out. It wasn't using oil or sounding odd either. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Brad- did you get your truck fixed or find another? | ||
| 86129squids |
Hey Hugh- not as of yet, been trying to pile up some $$$. Planning on just pooting around on my day off Thursday, running up and down the highways on the Beemer looking... fun day riding, should be able to track down what I need. Come back to Mur-vil later in the afternoon, hit bike nite at SMHD, then home for Moroccan Chicken with beans and rice. Good news is that we're getting a lot busier now that August is underway. The week of the eclipse most of the hotels are packed around here, good for biz. Of course, after I grab a truck, I gotta pile up $$$ to head to Vegas first week of October for my GF's daughter's wedding at Caesar's Palace. Gotta stay on the hamster wheel, chase that cheese! | ||
| Aesquire |
https://www.lkqonline.com/ aka Keystone automotive. Local to you is probably. http://www.lkqcorp.com/en-us/locations/keystone-au tomotive-knoxville-alcoa-tn.aspx check for the local branch to save on shipping. I just bought a new minivan seat from them quite reasonable. Nationwide company, fairly quick, decent warranty. We have a few local places I go to that are about the same price, but they'd be no good to you. | ||
| Aesquire |
http://www.swengines.com/ | ||
| 86129squids |
Thanks Aes, checked those sites, no go. I'm looking for a "grandpa truck". They're out there, but hard to find. My old '92 hardbody was made in Murfreesboro, well made, and like the Toyota 4banger motors, they're legendary for reliability as long as they're maintained. But, all things wear out over time. Oh well. I do know my old '77 R75/7 will do the job if need be. Got the Crusticle as an example, can't wuss out!  | ||
| Hughlysses |
Prior to fuel injection, ECM's, and all this other electronic paraphernalia, the easy fix would have been to get the engine out of say a 2012 Nissan and swap it out. Not so easy any more. I bought a 2003 Toyota Tacoma a couple of years ago after our Ranger was totaled when someone blew a stop sign and hit my wife and daughter. It took me nearly a month of searching classifieds, Auto Trader, Craigslist, etc. I just wanted a decent, small, extended cab truck. It seemed to be like finding a needle in a haystack. I think I got this one because I found it the first day it was listed and it smelled like it had been used by a family of 4 pack a day chain smokers. It had no service history, but seemed to be mechanically sound. I've put about 30k miles on it since then.it took a lot of effort to de-smokify it, but it's OK now. Only issue has been a front brake caliper that stuck shortly after I got it. That was an easy fix. | ||
| Buellish |
I picked up this '92 Dakota last year before I moved to Dahlonega with 53,000 miles on it.Old fart owned and maintained.I like this generation of Dakota,good bed size and easy to park.I've had two and think it's the perfect size.Try reaching in the glove box on a current full size truck while sitting in the drivers seat without pivoting your left cheek off the seat,putting your left hand on the right side of the steering wheel and bringing new meaning to the term "distracted driving".I had a '75 Datsun as well and loved it.  | ||
| Zac4mac |
I have a 98 Dakota Sport 4wd. 318V8. Damn thing will go anywhere I want. I have driven around lots of trucks/cars stuck in the snow. Love that truck..... it just rolled past 100000 miles a few months ago. | ||
| Fast1075 |
My old 1999 Ford Ranger now has 207,000 miles. It still does not use a whole quart of oil between changes. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
You friggin' southerners!!! My 2004 Dodge is rusting in half with only 155,000 on it. One more reason to hate my home state. | ||
| Chauly |
I LOVE Cheep Truck: "Surrender", "I want you to want me", many others... :-) | ||
| Glitch |
I had a 94 Ranger, loved that truck. 332,000 miles when I had to sell it. It was supposed to be a beater for winter, but turned out to be so much more capable than I thought. | ||
| Aesquire |
Squids, check your local Keystone branch. Not even a fraction of their stock is listed online. I know the seat for my minivan wasn't. They'll check their internal inventory. It's still a long shot but worth a try. Also check your local yard for their network. I had no luck but you might. I went to several yards before trying Keystone. IMHO this is one of those have to be in person things. A smiling customer in front of them gets more results than random phone calls. Most calls for parts from non-business individuals to these places are never followed up on. The customers never show, so they focus on sure thing calls. I might be too cynical.  | ||
| 86129squids |
Keystone? Not heard of them. Will investigate, thanks. Chauly- I saw Cheap Trick live when I was a teenager working at Opryland, waaay back. Such a cool band, weird that they were booked at Opryland, but a great time. | ||
| 86129squids |
Update: Truck's still dead. However, got a good buddy who's pretty keen that it can be resurrected, he's offered to help me tear down and hopefully rebuild it by the end of the month. He's the kind of guy who can "do it all", mechanic/home anything/hunt/cook/fix, etc.... Both of the professional mechanics I use insist this is futile, however. That motor is an "interference" valvetrain design, meaning that if it goes out of time, valves can impact the piston crown. When it seized up I was only decelerating, off the gas readying to turn. Barely a half mile from the house. Got a little hope... So- opinions? I may go ahead and start tearing into it, little by little before he gets here. Or, am I just pissing up a rope? | ||
| Hootowl |
I think that motor has a timing chain, not a belt. It's pretty unusual for one to break. Stretch, yes, break, no. So it's unlikely that you have a cracked piston or bent valve from mechanical interference due to improper valve timing. Tearing into it can't hut anything. |
