Pete's '86.5 WD21 Pathfinder

[junkafide]

I'm starting a thread on my old WD21..

 

I have had this car since I was 21, I am 42 now. 

 

It has been the single best car I have ever owned. Its a Z24 with a 38DG weber, headers. 

I have a lot of cars (9) which is too many for a guy with a young family. 

Last week I listed it for sale, as it has become sort of a 'spare' car that doesn't get used much.

My wife knows I really don't want to get rid of it, so she pulled the ad (great woman!)

So I took it out this Saturday just gone, and it decided to have a catastrophic engine failure 🤨

 

I reckon a gudgeon pin or big end failure.

Long story short, it the car is going to get some long overdue attention now, and I will update as I move along with it. 

 

Cheers

Pete, Victoria Australia

[datzenmike]

Without more clues the most likely problem with the Z24 is blowing the head gasket. This is very common every 100k or so. Some can be very noticeable and others less so. If the exhaust is more steamy white, idle had changed to rough and may make a different sound, coolant recovery bottle overflows and radiator needs topping up where it never did before or the engine oil has water in it and looks like coffee with cream, any one or combination could signal a blowing or blown head gasket.

 

If it is it's a relatively simple fix and the cost of a head gasket if you do the work yourself. You could do this in less than a day but make it a weekend.

 

Nice truck!

[junkafide]

55 minutes ago, datzenmike said:

Without more clues the most likely problem with the Z24 is blowing the head gasket. This is very common every 100k or so. Some can be very noticeable and others less so. If the exhaust is more steamy white, idle had changed to rough and may make a different sound, coolant recovery bottle overflows and radiator needs topping up where it never did before or the engine oil has water in it and looks like coffee with cream, any one or combination could signal a blowing or blown head gasket.

 

If it is it's a relatively simple fix and the cost of a head gasket if you do the work yourself. You could do this in less than a day but make it a weekend.

 

Nice truck!

Oh it's definitely a bottom-end knock... 

It had 325000km on it when I fitted the engine in about 2005, would have over 500000 on it now. 

 

I have the original engine here, which was a runner but smokey as well as a reconditioned head here on the shelf. 

Also have a KA24DE, which was my long-term goal. But I don't have the TB, loom or ECU to go with the DE.

Edited September 22, 2025 by junkafide

[junkafide]

So, I pulled the original engine out from under my workbench

 

It had bad rings/ring lands on #3 but the bores all cleaned up nicely with a hone. 

 

 

Just waiting for bits now. 

[ggzilla]

Looking good. And the WD21 is a classic, before they changed it to the quirky WD22 Xterra

On 10/2/2025 at 9:26 PM, junkafide said:

all cleaned up nicely with a hone. 

[junkafide]

Finally freed up some cash and ordered the rest of the engine parts for this this morning.

 

Pistons

Rings

Bearings

KA Oil Pump

New Clutch for good measure

Gaskets

Timing set, dual row with tensioners/guides

Assy Lube

Plastigage

Plus I have a reco head here on the shelf. 

 

Itching to get onto it. 

Been waaaaaaaaaaay too long and I miss driving this thing. 

[junkafide]

This time I tried dropping the front diff, instead of the gearbox for sump clearance, worked out way easier.

 

 

Replacement engine got new slugs, rings, bearings, freeze plugs, reco head, timing set, water pump, oil pump and new clutch. 

 

 

 

 

 

Been driving it a week now and she is running sweet as a nut!

 

Very happy to have her back on the road, needs a few other bits and bobs attended to now.

Edited March 22 by junkafide