School me on the Nissan D21 4x4.

Baja820 · 01-09-2010, 04:23 PM

Anyone in here have experience with the nissan mini trucks? Im considering buying one for camping in the summer and hauling crap in the winter. Would I be better off buying a Toyota 4x4? What should I watch out for when buying one? any common problems with these trucks?

Vostok 7 · 01-09-2010, 04:33 PM

Toyota is always better, but you also pay a premium for Toyotas because they are more desirable.

Honestly I'd say they're about the same, really. I haven't really ever heard of more or less issues with Nissans than Toyotas, but Nissans are generally cheaper. Just test drive both and see what you think

Baja820 · 01-09-2010, 04:36 PM

cool.... thanks man.

Dolphin Overton · 01-09-2010, 04:39 PM

I had a similar vintage Toyota 4x4 pickup with the 22RE motor and a 5 speed. It was adequate I guess, but I really don't see why they are so popular. Mine was not especially reliable and parts weren't especially cheap. I'd opt for a newer Ford Ranger or Mazda if I did it again

teiva-boy · 01-09-2010, 04:37 PM

Those nissans are easy to work on... But no easier than the same gen Toyota... Get what fits better in your price range

Baja820 · 01-09-2010, 04:42 PM

Yeah Nissans are defiantly cheaper. also ive heard the KA24 motor is better than the 22RE because of the timing chain not stretching.

Vostok 7 · 01-09-2010, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dolphin Overton

I had a similar vintage Toyota 4x4 pickup with the 22RE motor and a 5 speed. It was adequate I guess, but I really don't see why they are so popular. Mine was not especially reliable and parts weren't especially cheap. I'd opt for a newer Ford Ranger or Mazda if I did it again

NO WAY 22RES ARE INDESTRUCTIBLE AND NEVER BREAK DOWN!!! UR STUPIT!!!!!11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baja820

Yeah Nissans are defiantly cheaper. also ive heard the KA24 motor is better than the 22RE because of the timing chain not stretching.

The KA24 is a good motor. There's even mods for them now thanks to the 240SX community.

FWIW, I really liked my '96 Ford Ranger XLT. Other than the plastic-geared front hubs it was a good truck. It cost me $10k in 2001 and had relatively low miles (don't remember how many at the moment). $10k at the time would have bought me a much older Toyota.

cucamelsmd15 · 01-09-2010, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baja820

Yeah Nissans are defiantly cheaper. also ive heard the KA24 motor is better than the 22RE because of the timing chain not stretching.

I had a 97. Other than having the common problem of timing chain clatter (the tensioner is hydraulic), it was freaking bulletproof.

If you want 4WD, it shouldnt be hard to find one with the clutch LSD in the rear. That is a pretty rare option on the 2WD however, but they are out there. I had one. My only complaint was that it was VERY tail-happy in the rain when pulling away from a dead stop. It did fine off road and in the snow though, so I cant complain too much.

As previously mentioned, they are dead nuts easy to work on. If I were buying one now, the main things to look for are body/frame rust and the condition of the underbody for a 4x4. Also, my dad has a '93 still, and with age, the driveshaft bearing/rubber (post transmission, right after the U-joint) has a bad habit of splitting and relieving itself of duty. His squeaked until we got a new one pressed on, and that wasnt an easy job. Also check the CV joints. They are notorious to crack and tear with age/abuse, and they arent much fun to replace.

Dont plan on buying one for gas mileage. I regularly got around 23 on the highway, around 18 in the city. My dad seems to be around the same, even with the 4WD lag. You can get away with pulling a small trailer, however, I wouldnt recommend it. With any kind of appreciable weight on the trailer, the truck struggles because it just doesnt have the power/torque.

Baja820 · 01-09-2010, 05:00 PM

hmmm if never really been a fan of the ford rangers..... Dunno why.

Vostok 7 · 01-09-2010, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baja820

hmmm if never really been a fan of the ford rangers..... Dunno why.

I was really wanting a Toyota or a Nissan at the time. Ended up with the Ranger because it had everything I wanted (4x4, King Cab, long bed, 5spd manual) and was much newer and lower miles than any Nissan or Toyota I could find.

Beat the crap out of it, even hit a deer with it, it kept on ticking. Traded it in on my first WRX and still miss it to this day.

Vostok 7 · 01-09-2010, 05:03 PM

double post

Dolphin Overton · 01-09-2010, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baja820

hmmm if never really been a fan of the ford rangers..... Dunno why.

Like I said you could just get one with a Mazda badge on it, but they're the same thing. They're good trucks for half of what you'll pay for a Toyota.

Kellan · 01-09-2010, 05:09 PM

toy, nissan, mitsubishi, etc etc; none of those style trucks give a **** what you do to them as long as they have oil, basically. go for it.

krambte79 · 01-09-2010, 05:16 PM

i had one for over 200,000 mi never burned oil, no major maintenance. miss that truck lmk if you get it i have nerf bars rhinolined that i parted off of it that i will give you to get them out of my attic. just shipping cost. maintenance is easy imo. only real expense was heater core and a/c units when they went out, tranny is strong and v6 engine was solid. i enjoyed modding mine. headers, true dual exhaust, intake, lift, wheels tires, shocks, rhino lining, lights, baja and nerf bars, remote oil filter placemnt was a nice treat made oil changes a snap and clean.

Baja820 · 01-09-2010, 05:40 PM

Good info. thanks guys. yeah i just went down to a couple car lots to check some out didnt test drive any though. they were all pretty beat.... ill just keep my eyes open for a nice little cream puff lol

Baja820 · 03-13-2010, 05:38 PM

What year did the KA24 come from the factory fuel injected? I swear i searched but couldnt get a strait answer. some said it was 1988 others said 1991.

plode · 03-13-2010, 07:15 PM

My friend had the 2WD version of this truck and swapped a built SR20 into it. It was fast...when it got traction. I think he ended up tubbing the rear and putting some huge tires on it.

Newbuggy · 03-13-2010, 09:24 PM

I work at nissan dealership so im alittle basis. But Ive seen quite a few hardbodies over 300k
and still running strong. Ill check on monday and give you the right answer about the fuel injection question.

Baja820 · 03-13-2010, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newbuggy

I work at nissan dealership so im alittle basis. But Ive seen quite a few hardbodies over 300k
and still running strong. Ill check on monday and give you the right answer about the fuel injection question.

300k! thats awesome!...

Baja820 · 03-16-2010, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newbuggy

I work at nissan dealership so im alittle basis. But Ive seen quite a few hardbodies over 300k
and still running strong. Ill check on monday and give you the right answer about the fuel injection question.

Find out anything yet?

SilverFleet · 03-16-2010, 12:42 AM

Man, a friend of mine got one of these for free about 8 years ago. His sister bought a house, and the truck was in the driveway with the keys in the ignition and the title on the seat with a not that said" this comes with the house". She didn't want it, so he took it. It was an older one, maybe a 87-88, and it had a 4 speed manual and zero options. They got it with about 170,000 miles on it, and it had well over 300,000 on it when it exploded. He never ever maintained it ( I mean, it was free!) and he beat the ever living crap out of that truck for years! It finally died because it blew the head gasket probably because he never changed the coolant or did any other maintenance.

C/N: If you buy one and take care of it, the only thing that can stop it would be either the truck rusting out or the sun going supernova.

Newbuggy · 03-16-2010, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baja820

Find out anything yet?

sorry I totally forgot Ill get tomorrow.

Newbuggy · 03-16-2010, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baja820

Find out anything yet?

Ok so in 1990 they switched from the Z24 engine which is the one with 8 spark plugs and fuel injection at the throttle body (basically an electronic carburetor) to the KA24 which is port injected and has 4 spark plugs. The Z24 motors have alot of problems especially with head gaskets. The KA24 motors are pretty strong. I would stick with those.

shipjumper · 03-13-2010, 09:32 PM

I too work at a nissan dealership... Im the service manager...

We see Frontiers with issues, but the old hardbodies, not so much... We did have this kid that took his off roading all the time and the fine sand wore out his throttlebody butterfly shaft.... could not hold an idle, strange vacuumm leaks, etc...

the newer frontiers have hosts of issues all the time.

ugh. them and xterras, I HATE EM!

Newbuggy · 03-16-2010, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shipjumper

I too work at a nissan dealership... Im the service manager...

the newer frontiers have hosts of issues all the time.

ugh. them and xterras, I HATE EM!

All I have to say it 4.0L timing chains. My first one took 12ish hours. Now I'm down to 5 hours.

01-09-2010, 04:23 PM	#1
Baja820 Scooby Newbie Member#: 196860 Join Date: Dec 2008 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Runnin bootleg booze.	School me on the Nissan D21 4x4. Anyone in here have experience with the nissan mini trucks? Im considering buying one for camping in the summer and hauling crap in the winter. Would I be better off buying a Toyota 4x4? What should I watch out for when buying one? any common problems with these trucks?

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
School me on the Nissan Hardbody pickup truck.	plunk10	Off-Topic	46	07-06-2011 10:11 PM
school me on the 2.5rs wagon, or ts	gtluke	Normally Aspirated Powertrain	33	07-26-2005 06:16 PM
school me on the v1 radar/laser detector	Spy	Vancouver Impreza Club Forum -- VIC	3	01-31-2005 01:11 AM
Can someone school me on the Mazda 13B Turbo Motor?	STEALTH-WRX	Off-Topic	22	08-13-2003 09:02 AM
Nano: School me on the S-AFC	WRXnFX	Alaskan Impreza Club Forum -- AKIC	34	05-24-2002 02:53 PM

01-09-2010, 04:33 PM	#2
Vostok 7 NASIOC Supporter Member#: 30209 Join Date: Nov 2002 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: I was a RX7 now. Vehicle: Now I understand what this is a formidable	Toyota is always better, but you also pay a premium for Toyotas because they are more desirable. Honestly I'd say they're about the same, really. I haven't really ever heard of more or less issues with Nissans than Toyotas, but Nissans are generally cheaper. Just test drive both and see what you think

01-09-2010, 04:36 PM	#3
Baja820 Scooby Newbie Member#: 196860 Join Date: Dec 2008 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Runnin bootleg booze.	cool.... thanks man.

01-09-2010, 04:39 PM	#4
Dolphin Overton Scooby Specialist Member#: 1925 Join Date: Jul 2000 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: denver Vehicle: 01 Allroad 6spd 13 Daytona 675R 99 Sprint	I had a similar vintage Toyota 4x4 pickup with the 22RE motor and a 5 speed. It was adequate I guess, but I really don't see why they are so popular. Mine was not especially reliable and parts weren't especially cheap. I'd opt for a newer Ford Ranger or Mazda if I did it again

01-09-2010, 04:37 PM	#5
teiva-boy Scooby Guru Member#: 22825 Join Date: Aug 2002 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Seattle, WA	Those nissans are easy to work on... But no easier than the same gen Toyota... Get what fits better in your price range

01-09-2010, 04:42 PM	#6
Baja820 Scooby Newbie Member#: 196860 Join Date: Dec 2008 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Runnin bootleg booze.	Yeah Nissans are defiantly cheaper. also ive heard the KA24 motor is better than the 22RE because of the timing chain not stretching.

01-09-2010, 05:00 PM	#9
Baja820 Scooby Newbie Member#: 196860 Join Date: Dec 2008 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Runnin bootleg booze.	hmmm if never really been a fan of the ford rangers..... Dunno why.

01-09-2010, 05:03 PM	#11
Vostok 7 NASIOC Supporter Member#: 30209 Join Date: Nov 2002 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: I was a RX7 now. Vehicle: Now I understand what this is a formidable	double post

01-09-2010, 05:09 PM	#13
Kellan Scooby Newbie Member#: 135556 Join Date: Dec 2006 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: a house	toy, nissan, mitsubishi, etc etc; none of those style trucks give a **** what you do to them as long as they have oil, basically. go for it.

01-09-2010, 05:16 PM	#14
krambte79 NASIOC Supporter Member#: 97452 Join Date: Oct 2005 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Broussard, LA Vehicle: 05 STi, 02 STi & 09Ltd Tribeca	i had one for over 200,000 mi never burned oil, no major maintenance. miss that truck lmk if you get it i have nerf bars rhinolined that i parted off of it that i will give you to get them out of my attic. just shipping cost. maintenance is easy imo. only real expense was heater core and a/c units when they went out, tranny is strong and v6 engine was solid. i enjoyed modding mine. headers, true dual exhaust, intake, lift, wheels tires, shocks, rhino lining, lights, baja and nerf bars, remote oil filter placemnt was a nice treat made oil changes a snap and clean.

01-09-2010, 05:40 PM	#15
Baja820 Scooby Newbie Member#: 196860 Join Date: Dec 2008 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Runnin bootleg booze.	Good info. thanks guys. yeah i just went down to a couple car lots to check some out didnt test drive any though. they were all pretty beat.... ill just keep my eyes open for a nice little cream puff lol

03-13-2010, 05:38 PM	#16
Baja820 Scooby Newbie Member#: 196860 Join Date: Dec 2008 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Runnin bootleg booze.	What year did the KA24 come from the factory fuel injected? I swear i searched but couldnt get a strait answer. some said it was 1988 others said 1991.

03-13-2010, 07:15 PM	#17
plode Scooby Specialist Member#: 116910 Join Date: Jun 2006	My friend had the 2WD version of this truck and swapped a built SR20 into it. It was fast...when it got traction. I think he ended up tubbing the rear and putting some huge tires on it.

03-13-2010, 09:24 PM	#18
Newbuggy Scooby Specialist Member#: 152042 Join Date: Jun 2007 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Lynden, WA Vehicle: 2002 WRX WRB	I work at nissan dealership so im alittle basis. But Ive seen quite a few hardbodies over 300k and still running strong. Ill check on monday and give you the right answer about the fuel injection question.

03-16-2010, 12:42 AM	#21
SilverFleet Scooby Specialist Member#: 91941 Join Date: Jul 2005 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: South Shore, MA Vehicle: 2012 Mazda3, 87 CSX, 79 Trans Am WS6	Man, a friend of mine got one of these for free about 8 years ago. His sister bought a house, and the truck was in the driveway with the keys in the ignition and the title on the seat with a not that said" this comes with the house". She didn't want it, so he took it. It was an older one, maybe a 87-88, and it had a 4 speed manual and zero options. They got it with about 170,000 miles on it, and it had well over 300,000 on it when it exploded. He never ever maintained it ( I mean, it was free!) and he beat the ever living crap out of that truck for years! It finally died because it blew the head gasket probably because he never changed the coolant or did any other maintenance. C/N: If you buy one and take care of it, the only thing that can stop it would be either the truck rusting out or the sun going supernova.

03-13-2010, 09:32 PM	#24
shipjumper Scooby Specialist Member#: 6307 Join Date: May 2001 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: defrosted FINALLY, VT Vehicle: what I has no car... am carless	I too work at a nissan dealership... Im the service manager... We see Frontiers with issues, but the old hardbodies, not so much... We did have this kid that took his off roading all the time and the fine sand wore out his throttlebody butterfly shaft.... could not hold an idle, strange vacuumm leaks, etc... the newer frontiers have hosts of issues all the time. ugh. them and xterras, I HATE EM!