RMP&Os 1977 Patrol Ute build for overlanding
- Thread starter RMP&O
- Start date
RMP&O
Expedition Leader
Kind of a long story but I will try and keep it brief.
The 83 hails from Germany. It was imported to the USA in about 1987 when the original owner moved here. I guess he is a Benz diesel mechanic and moved to Southern California, he brought the Patrol with him. He kept it until the late 90's. At that point I guess he rebuilt the engine. It came with ton's of spare parts and he put a new head on it from Nissan along with new pistons, ect ect. It never ran all that great after this, my guess is it is in the injection pump. So the original owner sold it around 99-2001. I had built up a 64 Patrol hardtop and sold it to a guy in San Francisco. This was in 2003. I was delivering the 64 Patrol to SF so was out in California with a truck and trailer and a wad of cash. I had seen the 83 for sale before I left on a Patrol forum. The guy was down in Bakersfield. So I made arrangements to go look at it. I showed up and he had just got it started, guess it had been sitting a few years. It blew white smoke badly but was running. I took it for a drive and it ran rough and smoked a lot but otherwise was very solid. No rust at all on it. I don't recall exactly but I think the guy wanted $3500, due to engine condition I got it for $1500. I brought it back here to Wyoming and messed with it a bit. Did some things to the engine which did get it running a lot better, no more huge clouds of white smoke. Come about 2005 I started to spend some money on the truck and by 2006 it was in it's first build phase. That pretty much consisted of bumpers, PTO winch and a few little other things. By late 2006 or early 2007 I began to build it up much more. I retained the Patrol axles but had them built up a ton. Re-geared to 4.6's, ARB locked, Y60 Patrol CVs and a custom high steer. Rear axles was also converted to disc brakes at this time. We then went and put the axles on links and Fox air shocks as well as a set of 35" Maxxis Creepies. I then played with the truck for about a year. At that point I decided to make it a bigger truck! So in 2008 the 3rd round of build up was started. I bought some Portal-Tek G3 axles, had a 5spd trans + t-case fully rebuilt along with the PTO winch and box. Even put some Master Pull high end synthetic line on the PTO winch. Tire size went up to 40", links were re-done with 7075 solid aluminum and it ran Fox air bumps and 16" coil overs. The body and frame also got chopped up a lot at this point. Oh ya and I fitted some Master Craft 3G seats plus a cutting brake system. The truck had evolved into a rock crawler. I played with it a year or two and took it on some trips to Arizona and Moab. At that point it was obvious the engine was not going to cut it and I needed lower gearing. So I then had a new diesel engine built and via International Scouts was able to source an adapter kit to bolt an NV4500 5spd trans to the engine. The plan was super bling bling diesel, NV4500 and Atlas t-case. Before the engine was done and the trans + t-case acquired I kind of got over rock crawling. Decided it really is not for me, no longer wanting to have a truck that gets trailered everywhere and only used 5-6x a year. So it was around 2011 that I scrapped the project and truck. I sold the shocks, steering (full hydro), tires, air bumps and seats. I kept the wheels and the axles. The engine I also kept and last year I finally acquired the NV4500 and Atlas t-case. At this point I decided to use this stuff in a build up of a "hardcore" overland truck as that suits me better. So that is all going in the FJ62 Cruiser in my signature.
As far as the 77 Patrol. it is utilizing a bunch of stuff from round 1& 2 of the 83 Patrol build up. That being the remanned 5spd, t-case & PTO winch. As well as the Patrol axles from the 83. The 77 Patrol will sit on 35's, have nice suspension, have a nice 5spd and PTO winch. As well as a turbo diesel. Basically a resto-mod and keeping it all Nissan and all Patrol. Oh and it is getting converted to LHD using the 83's parts along with a firewall from a 1965 USA Patrol.
The 83 for now is dead but I am pondering building it up again using cheaper easier to obtain gear. Like a junkyard 5.3L v8 and some Dana 60 axles. That is a long ways out though as all the other trucks need to be built first.
Cheers
RMP&O
Expedition Leader
Alrighty, so the donor motor is a non-turbo or N/A diesel. It is a total dog, at least at my elevation and for me the only way to go with a diesel is to turbo it or get a factory turbo'ed motor. To turbo the SD33 and do it right requires a few things, such as turbo manifolds and also the turbo injection pump. Internally the pistons are different as well as rings.
So I located several turbo injection pumps in the last few days. Both in Europe. Both used and both pretty cheap. May buy both but certainly buying one of them and then get it tested. Hopefully it won't need a rebuild as that gets expensive fast! I also decided to maybe skip on the factory turbo. A guy on Patrol4x4 has worked out a nice turbo upgrade kit for the SD33T, he puts them together and then sells them at no profit. So I think I am going to just buy his kit because it is all new gear and is an upgraded turbo plus is plug and play.
I have pretty much figured out without even test fitting that I am going to have to use a custom radiator. Looking at the Ron Davis website they make them in 1" increments so for sure I can find the right one for this build via them. I am also going to run a small front mount intercooler.
Any ways, figured out a pretty solid direction to go with the engine. Working on rounding up the parts. May buy a full rebuild kit soon and the turbo plus IP will purchased soon also. In the meantime I can still fit the engine to the chassis and sort out clearances and so forth. From the flywheel back I don't need a thing, it is all new and ready to go. Just got to work out the motor.
This week planning on getting the engine set up in the chassis with trans/t-case attached. Set firewall on chassis along with the radiator support to start getting my placement worked out. This will also help me figure out radiator I need.
Cheers
So I located several turbo injection pumps in the last few days. Both in Europe. Both used and both pretty cheap. May buy both but certainly buying one of them and then get it tested. Hopefully it won't need a rebuild as that gets expensive fast! I also decided to maybe skip on the factory turbo. A guy on Patrol4x4 has worked out a nice turbo upgrade kit for the SD33T, he puts them together and then sells them at no profit. So I think I am going to just buy his kit because it is all new gear and is an upgraded turbo plus is plug and play.
I have pretty much figured out without even test fitting that I am going to have to use a custom radiator. Looking at the Ron Davis website they make them in 1" increments so for sure I can find the right one for this build via them. I am also going to run a small front mount intercooler.
Any ways, figured out a pretty solid direction to go with the engine. Working on rounding up the parts. May buy a full rebuild kit soon and the turbo plus IP will purchased soon also. In the meantime I can still fit the engine to the chassis and sort out clearances and so forth. From the flywheel back I don't need a thing, it is all new and ready to go. Just got to work out the motor.
This week planning on getting the engine set up in the chassis with trans/t-case attached. Set firewall on chassis along with the radiator support to start getting my placement worked out. This will also help me figure out radiator I need.
Cheers
plainjaneFJC
Deplorable
Progress is looking good.
RMP&O
Expedition Leader
No way! The SD-series of engines sound absolutely awesome once turbo'ed. That is a sound I must have. They also respond very well to intercooling.
Cheers
RMP&O
Expedition Leader
Test fitting
As you can see pretty tight fit. Custom radiator for sure looks like the way to go. I can also gain 1-2" by doing something (custom) with the pulleys on the engine. Electric fans would be the way to go but I am doubting they can keep the diesel cool. Even with a custom rad and pulleys I can still only run a 3" thick rad and it will be roughly 20"x20".
I set the motor back on the shop floor after test fitting. Going to bolt up the turbo and see what that will do for clearances. One nice thing, the trans shifter will be in the perfect location. Changing the fuel filter will be kind of a pain but doable. Dip stick just barely clears the firewall. Height wise, no probs at all and oil pan/sump will not be an issues for the front axle.
Cheers
As you can see pretty tight fit. Custom radiator for sure looks like the way to go. I can also gain 1-2" by doing something (custom) with the pulleys on the engine. Electric fans would be the way to go but I am doubting they can keep the diesel cool. Even with a custom rad and pulleys I can still only run a 3" thick rad and it will be roughly 20"x20".
I set the motor back on the shop floor after test fitting. Going to bolt up the turbo and see what that will do for clearances. One nice thing, the trans shifter will be in the perfect location. Changing the fuel filter will be kind of a pain but doable. Dip stick just barely clears the firewall. Height wise, no probs at all and oil pan/sump will not be an issues for the front axle.
Cheers
RMP&O
Expedition Leader
Drivetrain placement is moving along...
bolted the turbo and manifolds on the SD33
tight fit in the trans tunnel, going to have to open it up a bit and customize! Clutch slave is upper right and won't clear.
turbo dump is pretty close to the inner firewall body mount
At current motor location I have roughly 2 3/4" of clearance tot he firewall. Can't really get it farther back with the slave still on the engine but plan to move the motor back 1 1/4"-1 1/2".
Right now I am at about 3-4* tilt on the motor front to back
Tape measure is showing roughly the hood line, it is actually a bit higher than this so plenty of room.
Firewall to rad support on a stock 66 Patrol
and on the Ute
Roughly 1 1/2" from fan to rad support. Will gain up to 1 1/2" by moving motor back so looking at 2 3/4"-3" between fan and rad support.
No probs on the frame rail though for the turbo dump
The stock pulley's are pretty meaty and long. I can gain at least 1"-1 1/4" with custom billet pulleys.
I think it looks great in the old Patrol!
The SD33 is not as tall of a motor as the stock P engine. So I have real nice sump clearance with the swap.
So after tonight's set up, checking, measuring, ect ect I have decided where the motor is going to sit. I have figured out I will have 2 3/4-3" of clearance fan to rad support. I can gain 1+" more with custom pulleys. If I want to I can push the rad into the grill an inch or so to gain more clearance but do not think I am or will have to do that. Width wise it is pretty tight but does fit pretty well. Obvious clearance issues on trans tunnel that is going to take some customizing. In the engine bay at the firewall I am going to do some shaving here and there to gain a bit of room. I have also decide I am going to move the front inner body mounts on the firewall 1" out on both sides. This will give just a bit more room for fuel filter changes, checking engine oil and also for changing engine oil or servicing the clutch slave. I also found a late SD33T spin on oil filter housing in my stash which will make oil changes much easier than the cartridge style which is HUGE. All in all it is sharping up nicely, more work then I wanted but no worries there. Think I may need to get the pulleys made before proceeding. I also decided to make my motor mounts out of some 2" .25 wall DOM I have laying around so need to purchase a tubing notcher to do that.
Cheers
bolted the turbo and manifolds on the SD33
tight fit in the trans tunnel, going to have to open it up a bit and customize! Clutch slave is upper right and won't clear.
turbo dump is pretty close to the inner firewall body mount
At current motor location I have roughly 2 3/4" of clearance tot he firewall. Can't really get it farther back with the slave still on the engine but plan to move the motor back 1 1/4"-1 1/2".
Right now I am at about 3-4* tilt on the motor front to back
Tape measure is showing roughly the hood line, it is actually a bit higher than this so plenty of room.
Firewall to rad support on a stock 66 Patrol
and on the Ute
Roughly 1 1/2" from fan to rad support. Will gain up to 1 1/2" by moving motor back so looking at 2 3/4"-3" between fan and rad support.
No probs on the frame rail though for the turbo dump
The stock pulley's are pretty meaty and long. I can gain at least 1"-1 1/4" with custom billet pulleys.
I think it looks great in the old Patrol!
The SD33 is not as tall of a motor as the stock P engine. So I have real nice sump clearance with the swap.
So after tonight's set up, checking, measuring, ect ect I have decided where the motor is going to sit. I have figured out I will have 2 3/4-3" of clearance fan to rad support. I can gain 1+" more with custom pulleys. If I want to I can push the rad into the grill an inch or so to gain more clearance but do not think I am or will have to do that. Width wise it is pretty tight but does fit pretty well. Obvious clearance issues on trans tunnel that is going to take some customizing. In the engine bay at the firewall I am going to do some shaving here and there to gain a bit of room. I have also decide I am going to move the front inner body mounts on the firewall 1" out on both sides. This will give just a bit more room for fuel filter changes, checking engine oil and also for changing engine oil or servicing the clutch slave. I also found a late SD33T spin on oil filter housing in my stash which will make oil changes much easier than the cartridge style which is HUGE. All in all it is sharping up nicely, more work then I wanted but no worries there. Think I may need to get the pulleys made before proceeding. I also decided to make my motor mounts out of some 2" .25 wall DOM I have laying around so need to purchase a tubing notcher to do that.
Cheers
RMP&O
Expedition Leader
body mounts moved 1" outboard on both sides but no "massaging " of the firewall yet
firewall cut/trimmed and welded up
cleaned up
and mounted back up on the frame
Bit more work to do but it is about done. Did not get a chance to fit the motor again to see how much I gained by the trimming of the firewall and outboarding the body mounts.
Cheers
firewall cut/trimmed and welded up
cleaned up
and mounted back up on the frame
Bit more work to do but it is about done. Did not get a chance to fit the motor again to see how much I gained by the trimming of the firewall and outboarding the body mounts.
Cheers
Looks pretty ratty ... but this motor might be a good source of parts, or bits and bobs ... don't know if you need anything or not, but I don't really know of anyone else out there (aside from Scout guys) who might be interested in an original (?) SD33.
http://medford.craigslist.org/pts/4619569094.html
http://medford.craigslist.org/pts/4619569094.html
RMP&O
Expedition Leader
Ya I have seen that one listed, thanks for the link but what I need it good quality (new) turbo parts. Looks like the SD33 has been sitting in the weather awhile, don't think it is worth much over $100. Inside it will be toast if it sat in the rain.
Cheers
RMP&O
Expedition Leader
Well I finally got my diesel engine rebuild kit in route. Along with axle rebuild kits (just need the seals) and a few other bits. Should all be here from Australia in less then a week. Hope to get a turbo injection pump from a guy who has a container coming any day from Europe. At that point I am taking the engine to the machine shop. Purchased my tubing bender and a 2" die plus a tubing notcher. Need the notcher to make my motor/trans mounts. So, steadily moving forward with the build.
Cheers
Cheers
