Gracie II the D21

[HRH]

Nope! It will remain purist. Only because if I LS swapped it, I would have to change literally everything except the frame and body. I'll just buy a dead hardbody to do that with if I ever do. This is going to be a 35" tire 170 hp KAE solid-axle swapped hardbody. And it will be glorious!

[DRIVEN]

4BT swap

[HRH]

Lol, same problem as above there, funny guy!

[Laecaon]

VG34. Way more torque, and you can find a transmission that fits the truck.

[HRH]

Then I have to work on a VG. And I have to find a different transmission front half. Nope, it's getting a KA24E and it will be glorious. You will all see when I post good dyno numbers. And it'll be easy to work on. I can't stand Nissan V6s. They're all smushed together. Inline only for this guy, unless it's domestic V8 that are actually not hell to work on.

[HRH]

Alright, finally got my Z24 head block plate made. Dropped everything off at Gibson's, I'm guessing in a week to a month I should have the bottom end ready. I'm going to do final assembly, but they are balancing everything. Should be quite nice. That'll be the bottom end taken care of. Still need to do the head. And check on the header I ordered many moons ago from Summit. Think it'll be off backorder soon. Still a few other things but basically I'll get it prepped for installation next year. In case you're wondering, bolt pattern for heads is the same between Z24, KA24E and DE. We're building a KA24E. Haven't forgotten.

[Taterhead]

Hey Matt, I know you’re pretty good at finding stuff on your own, but I’ve bought stuff for my Hardbodies from this company before and had good luck with them. Although with them being in Pompano Beach, Florida shipping might be more than you’re willing to deal with.

https://www.4x4parts.com/

[HRH]

Yep, I've used them before. Hardbody stuff is just getting harder to find these days. I think I need to pull the new door rubbers I installed. My bodyman buddy said they just don't fit right a lot of the time. I may try one more adjustment but they're way too tight. Worried about breaking the regulator or handle this winter.

[HRH]

So I figured it out. The rubber is mis-made. The forward edge is too short in depth. The channel is longer so the outer edge that's supposed to hang over the metal channel to allow the rubber to seat is jammed in the metal channel and the wiper edge grabs the front window glass too hard and the window cocks sideways. Reinstalled the original rubber. It's crappy but I can roll the window up and down easily. NLA from Nissan. Been trying to find other window runs from Thailand that are correct, but the one I got was supposed to work. I'm guessing they screwed up or Navara/D21 in other market have different depth run channels on the front.


Also, I had planned to do a leaf-sprung solid axle front, but I started watching more Dirt Every Day and following Dirthead Dave's channels. I'm tempted to do bags, but I think I am going to coil spring the front. It's not that much more work and I realized since I have a whole Cherokee, I can make a jig for all the front mounting points, and then I don't have to change the axle mounts at all either. Plus there are a ton of lift options for Jeep front ends, it makes it easy to buy longer arms, bigger lifts. It will also be easier as I don't have to add on a frame section in the front to make a leaf spring hanger. The coil 3 link ( I think it's only 3) in the front only need to have upper spring perches made and then three other mounting points. All of that is at the axle center line. Considering I already have a template, it should be easier than doing leaf springs, especially considering I don't have to modify the D30 axle.

[HRH]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CklmkSWp ... JmNzVkMjY=

[HRH]

[HRH]

I have some updates fellas!! I got all the bottom end parts back from Gibson Performance. I went to install the crank yesterday and it wouldn't turn or go in nicely. So I measured and the middle bearing with the thrust washer built in is about .003" too large. Verified the crank was the same as the other crank I have. Basically it's a bearing problem. So I ordered another set of ATM bearings and then I found a DNJ set on Amazon so I have two sets coming one of which should work. Finding bearings is a pain just like a lot of engine parts. (And other parts for that matter.)

[HRH]

I forgot to mention I fixed my welding table since I got stalled out on assembling the bottom end. A combination of bracing and heat and hammer got it pretty darn straight. It warped when I got a bit too heavy handed with the welder on assembly.

Oh, and here's a pic of the z24 head block plate. Works for Kae and de, and z motors with no more than 1 mm overbore.

[HRH]

Installing the crankshaft on the new KA24E engine, now that I have the correct bearings.

[HRH]

So i started thinking about the front axle again. Namely after a '92 and a '99 Cherokee came into the shop with steering issues. Guess what they needed? Tie rods and track bar specials. It got me thinking. For a little less articulation, I can have dead reliable. Leaf springs equal no track bar. Lots harder to develop death wobble. And less parts to change. Plus, much less complicated. Im thinking if it works on Redeyes 620 4x4, it should probably work on mine.

[Taterhead]

I mean I would definitely give up a little articulation in exchange for reliability. How much extreme off roading do you do, and is the trade off worth it for you?

[HRH]

Exactly. The biggest advantage to coil sprung front end is comfort. Articulation is better. But then again, I've seen lots of leaf sprung vehicles go plenty of places and who knows after I build this thing how much actual off-roading I'll be doing? Worst case I make it uncomfortable to drive. Then again, Datsuns have been hard as rock rides forever, comparitive to soak up the bump Chevy half tons. I so screw it, it's a truck, so what if it rides like a truck?

[wayno]

It is a lot of work unless you are a serious off roader, plus you are going to have to significantly raise he truck, that is another benefit of the Datsun/Nissan 4wd, it is not really that high, you do not need a step ladder to get in the truck.

My 1969 Datsun 521 kingcab diesel truck was once a 4wd truck with a solid axle under the front, I drove it a few times and determined that the SD25 diesel engine was not going to push it down the freeway at speed limit unless it was floored maybe, so I started over and made it a 2wd, if it had been a turbocharged diesel engine back then(2009) I likely would have left it a 4wd, but in my opinion things are better the way it is, I would rather drive it the way it is now than anything else I own.

[HRH]

Since when have I ever done anything the easy way? And don't worry Wayno, I have decent hops. But since you mention it, I'm going to try and lift it as little as possible. Just enough to clear 35s without rubbing.

[wayno]

For me it was more about the axle clearing the oil pan, mine was pretty high and it was still too close to the oil pan.