Bad news on the knocking 2.8 GU

David,
I would hate to be in your shoes right now. What a decision to make. Cant help you with the options im affraid, dont know your financial situation. BUT the last bit you mentioned was the 4.8 gas guzzler, if thats a serious option why not get a fuel injected 5.7 commodore installed. fuel wise i cant see a huge difference between the 4.8 and the V8. and conversion will be much cheaper, naturally it would depend on the condition of your car too, is it worth keeping? I am assuming it is.
Just food for thought ....
Hope you find a cheaper way out of this mess.
Cheers Angelo

If it's a big-end bearing that has failed, then why is replacing all the big-end bearings for $4500 being considered a band-aid fix?

Hard choice. Depends on what your long term plans are for that vehicle.

If you intend keeping it, then go the rebuild or changeover to another RD28.

If you were planning on selling it sometime soon, then I'd go the cheapest option and sell it ASAP.

David,
Sorry to hear about your situation.

I think you mentioned in an earlier post that you your GQ was with the Nissan Dealer. In my experience, all dealer repairs tend to cost a LOT more than what can be done in a reputable independant workshop. Also, dont assume that a Nissan Dealer knows more about your engine than a good independant mechanic or engine reconditioner- dealers make a lot of money by getting apprentices to do al lot of their work and SERVICING mostly new vehicles is the main thing most dealer mechanics do.

I would talk to a few workshops now that you have the diagnosis and ask for a quote on removing and replacing the crank, grinding the #2 big end journal and replacing the other shells. Replacing big end bearing shells is an easy job and can be done just by removing the sump, with the motor in the car and in less than 2 hours. Big end shells are worth at most a couple of hundrd $$. The time consuming bit is in removing the crank to grind the #2 journal as it has more than likely been damaged. It is possible that this crank cannot be ground and therefore has to be replaced but by getting some alternate quotes you will either get a better price or can be confident the dealer is not touching you. (Are you getting the impression I dont trust dealers?) Many engine reconditioners will have the facilities to do the R&R themselves so its worth talking to a few.

If you specify what you want done, and ask the workshop to inform you if anything else DEFINITLY requires repair before doing it I think you will get out this for a lot cheaper than what the dealer quoted you.

I would then sell your 2.8 as a goer and buy something with the motor you want already fitted. Dont let them talk you into selling it for less than its worth until you get some other quotes. Even if you decide to go with a conversion, the dealer is the worst place to have this done. Dont be afraid of having to take it away from there on a tow truck if you get a better quote for the repairs. Its only fair that you pay the dealer for their time to diagnose the problem but this wont be much.

Thanks all. I realise that other companies out there can do a cheaper and better job but the Nissan place was the closest I could get the car to with RAQC without paying $300 just for towing (the car is 80km from home). Also they have people trained on that particular engine so I knew the diagnosis 'should' be fairly accurate. At no time was I going to go ahead with a repair (unless it was a couple of hundred dollars), only a diagnosis but you always know that you are going to get a 'worst case' figure from a Nissan dealer. Even if it was only $500 - $1000 to fix, I would still like to upgrade the engine.

We tow a 1.5 ton camper so the 2.8 really struggles with the weight even with the ratios and motsons. So a 4.2, chev V8, V8 petrol is extremely appealing - especially so now the 2.8 is on the blink. On buying a new car, our car is fitted out with everything so to sell and get a new vehicle means stripping her down and then rebuilding again which I would like to avoid. However a new car has warranty (and option of extended warranty) so peace of mind is guarenteed.

I think I will keep my car and do a conversion as she is perfect except for the engine. This way I am only out of pocket $10000 but with a better engine. I only bought the 2.8 for $30000 so at the end of the day I have a 4.2 turbo all for $40000.

Regards
David

Don't know if you have the dollars but if you fitting a 6.5litre chev diesel I am sure you won't be sorry.

Had one fitted in my 89 Troopy and havn't looked back. Linquip in Gympie did the job and you would swear it was a standard installation from Toyota.

No knocks or bangs, the clutch and accelerator are great. Fuel consumption in my Troopy is slightly lower, were as in your Patrol it will be slightly higher.
Sorry about your engine but at least it happened round town.

Cheers Grany

David
Does the changeover to 4.2turbo price include a new gearbox? If not have you taken advice on whether or not the lightweight gearbox in the 2.8 will take the extra grunt? I'm interested in what your final decision and costs are as I also have a 2.8tdi GU.

Regards
Pete

As the last poster stated I suspect that the entire transmission would have to be changed with any bigger motor as I think the 2.8 runs a lighter trans than the ones with heavier/bigger motors.
The GQ's with 'little' engines were different.

just brought jap inport rd28 non turbo $1200 in brisbane had one in range rover and towed heavy van ok down hill with a tail wind. dont know if they take the turbo but someone should know.