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New Member, New Nissan Owner
Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2018 5:20 pm
by Sayer
Hi all new to the board and (actually owning) a Nissan truck. Just purchased a 1988 Nissan Desert Runner that doesn't run (needs timing belt replacement according to seller) so I may be posting later in tears
Started lusting after this truck on
another forum but never thought I'd have the opportunity to get my hands on one.
Re: New Member, New Nissan Owner
Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2018 7:48 am
by the x kid
Welcome to the club.
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Re: New Member, New Nissan Owner
Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2018 11:01 am
by Miner
What motor is in it? Can't say I'm overly familiar with 80's Nissan's.
Re: New Member, New Nissan Owner
Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2018 11:29 am
by Snafu
Welcome!
Hopefully the belt was not broken or skipped some teeth and simply needs replacing with tensioner and whatever else is lurking under there (ex. water pump).
Mayhaps in the olden days they actually used a chain instead of these dumb belts???
Re: New Member, New Nissan Owner
Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2018 3:40 pm
by Sayer
Miner wrote:
What motor is in it? Can't say I'm overly familiar with 80's Nissan's.
These came with a 3.0 V6. The 4s had the timing chain. Not certain, but I think the motor might be in the
VG Engine family.
Edit: It's a VG30
Re: New Member, New Nissan Owner
Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2018 10:10 pm
by the x kid
Awesome.
Re: New Member, New Nissan Owner
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2018 3:10 pm
by Sayer
Here's the original commercial for the truck:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RKyWJAEAGA
Re: New Member, New Nissan Owner
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2018 8:11 pm
by Bow_Tied
Welcome! Great rig, love it. IIRC the VG3.0 is the same engine in that era pathy predating the 3.3L
Re: New Member, New Nissan Owner
Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2018 10:16 pm
by the x kid
wow! Now I want one.
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Re: New Member, New Nissan Owner
Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 2:39 pm
by Miner
the x kid wrote:Awesome.
x2
Re: New Member, New Nissan Owner
Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 8:10 pm
by Sayer
Anyone know a garage near Waterdown that will do the brakes/lines on such an old truck?
Re: New Member, New Nissan Owner
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2018 6:47 pm
by Bow_Tied
Sayer wrote:Anyone know a garage near Waterdown that will do the brakes/lines on such an old truck?
The service manager at Milton Nissan, Mike, is admin here, I'd recommend you talk with him. He treats members here well.
Re: New Member, New Nissan Owner
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2018 11:30 pm
by Sayer
Bow_Tied wrote:Sayer wrote:Anyone know a garage near Waterdown that will do the brakes/lines on such an old truck?
The service manager at Milton Nissan, Mike, is admin here, I'd recommend you talk with him. He treats members here well.
Thanks, what's his handle?
Re: New Member, New Nissan Owner
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2018 7:34 am
by the x kid
@Morpheus
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Re: New Member, New Nissan Owner
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2018 8:34 am
by Morpheus
PM sent
Re: New Member, New Nissan Owner
Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2018 5:05 pm
by Sayer
Well. Motor is toast. Zero compression, so best assumption is timing belt failed at speed and all the valves are bendy. If anyone has a source on an engine rebuilder or a second hand VG30i, I'm all ears. Got quoted $6500 already for a rebuild. Even if I pick up a second hand $1000 motor and have the dealership install it it'd still be cheaper than that.
Re: New Member, New Nissan Owner
Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2018 7:52 pm
by the x kid
Sorry to hear that. Hope you find a motor and get it in there.
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Re: New Member, New Nissan Owner
Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 1:13 pm
by Miner
VK56 swap, or Cummins Crate Engine.
Re: New Member, New Nissan Owner
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2018 4:24 pm
by Sayer
Anyone want it?
Re: New Member, New Nissan Owner
Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2018 2:36 pm
by Drizit
Sayer wrote:Anyone want it?
Don't tell me you are giving up on your baby already. If it's not your dd this is the perfect time to learn to wrench on things. Check out car-part.com and look for a used motor then spend the money you would have put into labor on tools and swap it yourself. Sure it may take time but you don't exactly have a deadline.