[reeveswvo]

I guess it is time to start another build thread. Some of you may remember my 4BT YJ Jeep I build a while back, or the Isuzu rodeo diesel I built. This build will be a whole new animal! I am excited to be repowering my "first car" that has been sitting up for more than 10 years now. I have been working on the body of for 2 years and it is getting very close!

This week I posted an add on Craigslist looking for a specific engine that I have been trying to track down for 3 years. I have been looking for a Nissan LD28 out of the early 80's Maxima. I received an email at midnight last night from a gentleman in Houston that has one for sale, I offered him $800 for the whole car and he said we have a deal, so I am headed down to Houston on Saturday to pic her up!

I am extremely busy but I will do my best to keep this thread up to date with weekly content. I am going to try and get some pictures up. I am a huge video nerd so expect some VBlogs on this whole project!

 

[fnnissan]

Nissan power! Haha nice this will be cool! How do these motors compare to the sd series?

 

[Dougal]

Nice one. This should be close to a straight bolt in.

 

[reeveswvo]

It should be close to a direct bolt in for sure, I really wanted it look like the factory engine!

The LD is an interesting engine, it's a 6 cylinder which I prefer for the exhaust note. It is non turbo but I can install the factory turbo from the gas version out of the 280zx's. I will not run my boost over 13psi for safety. It is a high compression engine and I don't want to push it! My car factory came with 170 HP and I would like to achieve that with this engine if I can do it without smoke!

 

[dslsmoke]

Not exactly a direct bolt in, but very close to it, you'll need to work on the oil pan and oil p/u as the Z car has a rear sump and the Maxima has a front sump, not really a big deal, also 170hp? and 13 lb's of boost?

I would not set such high goals on this engine, I have turboed my '82 LD28 Maxima and It makes a big difference, but HP is somewhere around 120 and boost is stock @ 7 lbs' just right for reliability and economy.

Check this guy out ..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLbN45c44Q8

 

[Dougal]

The factory petrol manifold is an excellent idea, but the petrol turbo will be roughly twice the flow capacity and won't boost much on the diesel. At a minimum you will want a smaller exhaust housing as the diesels have much cooler exhaust.
Is the l28 turbo a T3?

IMO, stay with single figures of boost if you want the engine to last, it's a 22:1 engine. If you had a couple of spares then feel free to go nuts.
9psi boost with no intercooler can give you 30% more power and torque than stock with no smoke. You won't get 170hp without major work. I can't find a reliable source for the limits of the fuel injection pump on these engines.

Stock around 90hp and 175Nm. 30% more with 9psi boost is around 120hp and 230Nm. That is respectable. Do that, get it running sweet and see how you go.

One word of warning, don't rev the engine when cold. A mate killed his that way, the timing chain jumped a tooth as the oil was too cold for the hydraulic tensioner to work properly.

 

[reeveswvo]

Great input, it will be intercooled and I am totally open to turbo suggestions, I like your ideas of keeping the boost lower for a more reliable driver! I am willing to take a power loss if it means I get to drive the Z instead of my 98 Jetta TDI!

 

[fnnissan]

Excuse the dumb question but, am I hearing that this diesel is pretty much the same as your origional gas motor? The manifolds will swap over?

 

[Dougal]

You can save the intercooling for later. You won't need it at sub 10psi boost and it'll be easier to get the conversions finished without it.

 

[dslsmoke]

Excuse the dumb question but, am I hearing that this diesel is pretty much the same as your original gas motor? The manifolds will swap over?

Yep!!

Just minor mods to a couple of bolt holes, a little grinding here and there and you're good to go!

The LD28 was based on the same gas engine design but with enough mods to allow it to survive doing Diesel duties, just remember, this is a good long lasting engine with decent power and economy, it fits the bill just right for your Z, but you need to care for it, don't abuse it and you will be happy driving a unique car.

This local guy ( not I ) has posted several videos about his Maxima check them out....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNXtoQmIypE



Good luck.

Dslsmoke

 

[reeveswvo]

Thanks for all the replies, I tend to stay on the more conservative side so I will certainly keep it below 9psi. I drove to Houston on Saturday to pick up my donor car. Everything went well, I got the car home, played around with her for a bit and got the ld28 to bust off and run for the first time in over 10 years.

With the smell of diesel smoke in my shop and a grin from ear to ear I proceeded to pluck my pride and joy from her crusty outdated shell! Before I closed up shop on this perfect Sunday evening I was sure to get the still warm engine on a stand to ensure easy cleaning and gasket replacement in the days to come.

I don't have pictures uploaded or a video yet, but they will come!

Dougal, do you know of s way for me to get parts for this engine. There seems to be an extremely limited selection in the states. I would love to purchase an entire gasket set, including head gasket And piston rings?

 

[Dougal]

This is a site I look to for older diesel engine parts. But they are listing no stock of LD28 head gaskets.
http://www.segedins.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4&Itemid=2

 

[reeveswvo]

I am looking like crazy for a ld28 flywheel if anyone has a lead. Mine is for an automatic and I am using my standard shift 5 speed.

 

[char1355]

Might check out NissanPartsZone.com. They have bearings, rings, pistons, flywheels, etc. Nothing what I would call cheep. Sort of like buying Cummins parts. They even have new cranks. That's into 4 figures. Didn't see gaskets but they might have them. There is a set of std rings on ebay right now for $72.99 shipped.

 

[reeveswvo]

Thanks Char, I will go check it out!

 

[reeveswvo]

I called my local Napa For giggles. I have a great relationship with them so I knew they would not mind looking up a bunch of pieces that may or may not even exist anymore. I began to rattle of the list to "Paul", water pump, oil pan gasket, valve cover gasket, rod and main bearing, front cover gaskets, glow plugs ETC. Paul said yeah we can get all that, is tomorrow to late? Are you kidding I said! I thought I was going to have to get it from Japan and I don't speak Japanese! Short story made long, I ordered everything except the head gasket which seems to be this illusive, mystical creature that only appears at random times to random people, I wonder if one of the high performance turbo gas gaskets could be modified to work? I don't need one now but I am scared to put my turbo on until I have a spare gasket laying around!

 

[char1355]

For your head gasket try this site www.GlobalNissanParts.com. The current part # is 11044W2510. Old part # was 11044W2500. Price $76.09 with free shipping. They have a toll free phone 1-888-376-2641. That price didn't sound too bad. Might give them a call.

 

[reeveswvo]

I will have to check that head gasket out! I removed the old engine out of my car a few days ago and I am now in the process of preparing the engine bay for the diesel engine! I am so excited. I still have not found a flywheel. I have reached out to many people but no one has been able to help. I guess I am going to have to engineer something myself!

 

[char1355]

The guys at NissanPartZone.com list the flywheel. Discounted price is $270.89. List price is $353.00.

 

[reeveswvo]

I found my flywheel finally and had it shipped out from California! I have the engine bay painted up and looking
spiffy, now it's off to modding the oil pan!