engine swapping (4ja1 on Frontier)

[jvandanne]

this might sound crazy but any insights about an engine swap, 4ja1 (m/t) to be fitted to a nissan frontier?

rationale: i have an old isuzu tfs pickup with a very good, fuel efficient engine and tranny which i want to put on my other pickup, which is a nissan frontier 3.2 . any insights?

[ARB]

you will lose power 83 vs 103hp. you might lose its fuel efficiency since it will be struggling or you would step on the gas more to bring it up to speed.

[jvandanne]

im very used to driving with only 83hp. no problem.

im wondering how easy/hard to do an engine + transmission swap.

you will lose power 83 vs 103hp. you might lose its fuel efficiency since it will be struggling or you would step on the gas more to bring it up to speed.

[niky]

im very used to driving with only 83hp. no problem.

im wondering how easy/hard to do an engine + transmission swap.

If there are no computers involved, not really that hard.

But, much as I like the 4JA1 (we have three! :hysterical: ), I don't think it's worth it, as it would ruin the resale value of the Frontier. But if you're not planning on selling, hey, it's up to you.

Why don't you keep the 4JA1 in the Isuzu? Is the pickup beyond restoration?

[jvandanne]

im not planning to sell both. the isuzu is somehow okay in terms of its condition.

im thinking wildly to do it just to put the nissan frontier's good looks with isuzu's economical engine.

any ideas how long this will be done? i really have no idea on the process

[niky]

im not planning to sell both. the isuzu is somehow okay in terms of its condition.

im thinking wildly to do it just to put the nissan frontier's good looks with isuzu's economical engine.

any ideas how long this will be done? i really have no idea on the process

Takes a while. A week if it's easy, a month to two months if it isn't. And it'll cost you quite a bit, as they still have to uninstall the engine and re-install it in its new home, instead of just taking an engine that's already out and shoving it in.

Your speedometer will be off, and you might have to swap dashboard instruments to use the engine. You also might need to custom-grind (machine shop) the splines on your drive-shaft, but maybe you could hybrid the prop-shaft at the universal joint in the middle.

A cross-manufacturer swap ain't exactly for the weak of heart, but it's not impossible... it just takes a while.