ZD30 reco replacement

Howsey.
another forum i am a member of has one at $4500 so that price sounds fair dinkum.

Probably realistic - they're a perishable item...

* ducks head !!! *

Actually, the warranty is 12 mths and unlimited kms! I think you get what you pay for. The seller is obviously working out of a semi-rural location in Shepparton, so you know he's not looking to cover $3000 a mth rent for a workshop in the city.

He'd be using aftermarket Taiwanese and possibly even Chinese parts, not genuine Nissan.
You'd be hoping that he has been very thorough with his checking of specifications on overhaul, so that you didn't get an engine that was out of spec somewhere.
It's too easy to not check a lot of important specs, that only show up with major problems, after 12 mths use.

The $4400 is only a long motor - no accessories of any kind. You get an assembled block, crank, camshaft, pistons, head and valves, and sump. That's all.
The seller also doesn't mention that there'd be a substantial core charge if you can't provide a repairable long motor in exchange.
A ZD30 with a cracked head or a hole in the block isn't regarded as a "useable core", so you could be up for a lot of extra $$'s there.

He seems to have highly favourable feedback, but the problem is that you get 90 days to give feedback before eBay wipes the sale forever. That's not long enough to find out if the engine is good for 12 mths.

Cheers - Ron.

A blown-up Patrol is a nice home for an LS1 Holden V8 or a GM 6.5-litre conversion :)