Feasibility of LD engine swaps, and transmission adapting

Discuss (and cuss) the Nissan LD-series OHC Six diesel engine, popularly available in the US in 1981-83 Datsun/Nissan Maxima Sedans & Wagons.

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goglio704
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Location: East Tennessee

Feasibility of LD engine swaps, and transmission adapting

#1

Post by goglio704 »

I am starting this thread as a gathering place for any info on the SAE bellhousing and clutch or any other means of mating the LD28 to anything other than a Nissan transmission. Parts to adapt a non-Nissan transmission to any of the gas inline six Nissan motors may be relevant also if such things exist.

Would the SAE bellhousing for the LD20 be the same? It seems like it would.

Is there any chance some of the SD series parts could be used?

I am interested in this because of half baked plans to either put an LD28 in another chassis, or use one to run a generator. I am aware that a generator needs a speed regulated engine to produce 60 HZ power, but that is an issue for another day.

This is about the extent of the info I have, feel free to expand on it.

Thanks
Last edited by goglio704 16 years ago, edited 3 times in total.
Matt B.

83 Maxima Sedan, LD28, 5 speed, white, 130k miles. My original Maxima.
83 Maxima Sedan converted from gasser, LD28, 5 speed, 2 tone blue, 230k miles
82 Maxima Sedan, LD28, 3 speed auto, 2 tone Gray/Silver, 140k miles
81 810 Sedan, LD28, 3 speed auto, rust, rust, and more rust!

2005 Jeep Liberty CRD
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asavage
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Re: SAE bellhousing and clutch for the LD28

#2

Post by asavage »

goglio704 wrote:Would the SAE bellhousing for the LD20 be the same?
I don't know why it wouldn't.
Is there any chance some of the SD series parts could be used?
I think not.
I am interested in this because of half baked plans to either put an LD28 in another chassis, or use one to run a generator. I am aware that a generator needs a speed regulated engine to produce 60 HZ power, but that is an issue for another day.
I am sorta halfway serious about turning the blown engine from the "Vashon Truck" into a two-cylinder SD11, since it isn't any good for anything else. I figure I can probably get 20+ HP from it @ 1800 and direct-couple to an four-pole genhead (ST series from India). 10Kw sustained should be available. It'll be a heavy 10Kw gennie, but I can't think of why it wouldn't work. Since the engine is a lost cause for PU use anyway, my big cost would be the genhead and governor. And time :(

For those just tuning in, we had a good generator discussion, including governors, in this thread.
Regards,
Al S.

1982 Maxima diesel wagon, 2nd & 4th owner, 165k miles, rusty & burgundy/grey. Purchased 1996, SOLD 16Feb10
1983 Maxima diesel wagon, 199k miles, rusty, light yellow/light brown. SOLD 14Jul07
1981 720 SD22 (scrapped 04Sep07)
1983 Sentra CD17, 255k, bought 06Jul08, gave it away 22Jun10.
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asavage
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#3

Post by asavage »

Besides the FS5W71, there is the Borg Warner T5 from the 280ZX, I think.
Regards,
Al S.

1982 Maxima diesel wagon, 2nd & 4th owner, 165k miles, rusty & burgundy/grey. Purchased 1996, SOLD 16Feb10
1983 Maxima diesel wagon, 199k miles, rusty, light yellow/light brown. SOLD 14Jul07
1981 720 SD22 (scrapped 04Sep07)
1983 Sentra CD17, 255k, bought 06Jul08, gave it away 22Jun10.
Pascal
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Joined: 17 years ago
Location: Belgium

LD28 in Land Rover

#4

Post by Pascal »

The Land Rover I have is a 1967 model 107 inch wheel base.
It got a LD28 built in when I bought it in Jan 07.
Apperently this was a common replacement for the not so good original engine (I don't know what engine was originally in my Land Rover petrol 4 or 6 cyl or 4 cyl diesel, I was told 6cyl petrol, but I am not sure).
There is an adapterplate between the LD28 and the Land Roover 4-speed gearbox (1st and 2nd not synchronised! and 4th is 1:1). From the gearbox it goes to the transferbox (4x4) to the differentials, which I am going to change from 1:4.7 to 1:3.5 to keep revs down (much more torque with the LD28 than with any original LR engine) or to go faster (around 120Km/h).
The LR hasn't got heating inside (that was an option), I might build in a heater also. (Even second windscreen wiper and blinkers were an option!)
The LD28 hasn't got EGR.

Basicly bought it cheap without a propperly working engine: making a high pitch noise and the cooling circuit was leaking, no oil in water and no water in oil, half of the GP gone ... But there is hope... (but that is not for this tread).
Pascal
Posts: 13
Joined: 17 years ago
Location: Belgium

LD28 in Land Rover

#5

Post by Pascal »

The Land Rover I have is a 1967 model 107 inch wheel base (bodywork and chassis in good shape).
It got a LD28 built in when I bought it in Jan 07.
Apparently this was a common replacement for the not so good original engine (I don't know what engine was originally in my Land Rover petrol 4 or 6 cyl or 4 cyl diesel, I was told 6cyl petrol, but I am not sure).
There is an adapter plate between the LD28 and the Land Rover 4-speed gearbox (1st and 2nd not synchronised! and 4th is 1:1). I think it is to match the Bellhousing to the gearbox at the clutch. From the gearbox it goes to the transferbox (4x4) to the differentials, which I am going to change from 1:4.7 to 1:3.5 to keep revs down (much more torque with the LD28 than with any original LR engine) or to go faster (around 120Km/h).
The LR hasn't got heating inside (that was an option), I might build in a heater also. (Even second windscreen wiper and blinkers were an option!)
The LD28 hasn't got EGR.

Basically bought it cheap without a properly working engine: making a high pitch noise after a few minutes and the cooling circuit was leaking and half empty, but no oil in water and no water in oil, half of the glow plugs gone ... But there is hope... (but that is not for this tread).
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asavage
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#6

Post by asavage »

I used to have a LD28<->LR adapter source bookmarked, but I spent considerable time a couple nights ago trying to find it and failed.
Regards,
Al S.

1982 Maxima diesel wagon, 2nd & 4th owner, 165k miles, rusty & burgundy/grey. Purchased 1996, SOLD 16Feb10
1983 Maxima diesel wagon, 199k miles, rusty, light yellow/light brown. SOLD 14Jul07
1981 720 SD22 (scrapped 04Sep07)
1983 Sentra CD17, 255k, bought 06Jul08, gave it away 22Jun10.
goglio704
Posts: 726
Joined: 18 years ago
Location: East Tennessee

#7

Post by goglio704 »

Was it this one?

http://www.tiico.com/roveradapters.htm
AN02L30 Nissan LD2.8 – Landrover 4 cylinder adaptor $395.00

AN02L31 Nissan LD2.8 – Landrover 6 cylinder adaptor $395.00

AN02L32 Nissan LD2.8 – Landrover R6 adaptor $395.00

AN02L33 Nissan LD2.8 – Landrover LT85 / Range Rover $395.00

FN02L30 Nissan LD2.8 – Landrover flywheel $490.00
Matt B.

83 Maxima Sedan, LD28, 5 speed, white, 130k miles. My original Maxima.
83 Maxima Sedan converted from gasser, LD28, 5 speed, 2 tone blue, 230k miles
82 Maxima Sedan, LD28, 3 speed auto, 2 tone Gray/Silver, 140k miles
81 810 Sedan, LD28, 3 speed auto, rust, rust, and more rust!

2005 Jeep Liberty CRD
User avatar
asavage
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#8

Post by asavage »

No, but that's a good one too.
Regards,
Al S.

1982 Maxima diesel wagon, 2nd & 4th owner, 165k miles, rusty & burgundy/grey. Purchased 1996, SOLD 16Feb10
1983 Maxima diesel wagon, 199k miles, rusty, light yellow/light brown. SOLD 14Jul07
1981 720 SD22 (scrapped 04Sep07)
1983 Sentra CD17, 255k, bought 06Jul08, gave it away 22Jun10.
goglio704
Posts: 726
Joined: 18 years ago
Location: East Tennessee

#9

Post by goglio704 »

I've retitled this and am bumping it in case somebody missed it and has something to add. I've got a running LD28 in a very rusty Maxima. It needs a different vehicle to live in. :D
Matt B.

83 Maxima Sedan, LD28, 5 speed, white, 130k miles. My original Maxima.
83 Maxima Sedan converted from gasser, LD28, 5 speed, 2 tone blue, 230k miles
82 Maxima Sedan, LD28, 3 speed auto, 2 tone Gray/Silver, 140k miles
81 810 Sedan, LD28, 3 speed auto, rust, rust, and more rust!

2005 Jeep Liberty CRD
goglio704
Posts: 726
Joined: 18 years ago
Location: East Tennessee

#10

Post by goglio704 »

asavage wrote:Besides the FS5W71, there is the Borg Warner T5 from the 280ZX, I think.
I thought the T5 was just a sports car trans, but some research shows I was wrong. The T5 was used in a variety of brands and vehicle types. The combination of a T5 with an engine compartment that can handle an inline 6 might be the answer to an LD28 transplant. The Jeep CJ looks like such a creature. Some would rule out a naturally aspirated LD28 as underpowered for a Jeep, but I think it could work.
Matt B.

83 Maxima Sedan, LD28, 5 speed, white, 130k miles. My original Maxima.
83 Maxima Sedan converted from gasser, LD28, 5 speed, 2 tone blue, 230k miles
82 Maxima Sedan, LD28, 3 speed auto, 2 tone Gray/Silver, 140k miles
81 810 Sedan, LD28, 3 speed auto, rust, rust, and more rust!

2005 Jeep Liberty CRD
User avatar
asavage
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Joined: 18 years ago
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#11

Post by asavage »

goglio704 wrote:Some would rule out a naturally aspirated LD28 as underpowered for a Jeep . . . .
Jeep Cherokee was offered with a Renault turbo Four for a number of years, and it's heavier than a CJ.
goglio704
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Joined: 18 years ago
Location: East Tennessee

#12

Post by goglio704 »

asavage wrote:
goglio704 wrote:Some would rule out a naturally aspirated LD28 as underpowered for a Jeep . . . .
Jeep Cherokee was offered with a Renault turbo Four for a number of years, and it's heavier than a CJ.
I agree, with a 5 speed and correct gearing, I think it would be fine until tire size got out of hand. I ran across one reference that indicated the front half of the Nissan T5 had an odd shaft length and spline configuation, the author was viewing it from the perspective of swapping a SBC into a Zcar. Since I want to attach to an L series engine anyway, the front half of the trans is less important to me than the back half. Unless somebody out there has done this and speaks up, I'll never know until I find the various parts and try it. Man, I hope somebody speaks up. :wink:
Matt B.

83 Maxima Sedan, LD28, 5 speed, white, 130k miles. My original Maxima.
83 Maxima Sedan converted from gasser, LD28, 5 speed, 2 tone blue, 230k miles
82 Maxima Sedan, LD28, 3 speed auto, 2 tone Gray/Silver, 140k miles
81 810 Sedan, LD28, 3 speed auto, rust, rust, and more rust!

2005 Jeep Liberty CRD
User avatar
asavage
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Posts: 5431
Joined: 18 years ago
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#13

Post by asavage »

Does the CJ need to be 4WD? If so, you may have to hybrid the 280ZX Turbo input shaft into the CJ's T5 case (just guessing). Which might be a bolt-in operation. I am not at all familiar with the T5.
goglio704
Posts: 726
Joined: 18 years ago
Location: East Tennessee

#14

Post by goglio704 »

I don't guess it would have to be 4wd. I hadn't really ever thought of a 2wd CJ.

Further research shows the T5 trans is also used in the Jeep Cherokee up to the 1996 model year.
Matt B.

83 Maxima Sedan, LD28, 5 speed, white, 130k miles. My original Maxima.
83 Maxima Sedan converted from gasser, LD28, 5 speed, 2 tone blue, 230k miles
82 Maxima Sedan, LD28, 3 speed auto, 2 tone Gray/Silver, 140k miles
81 810 Sedan, LD28, 3 speed auto, rust, rust, and more rust!

2005 Jeep Liberty CRD
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