Mystery Nissan Safari Pickup

[Burchell]

New member first post
Apologies if I have not filled in the new member template - I am something of a privacy nut and try to leave as little personal information online AND I do not yet own a Safari / Patrol

Although there is the possibility I might soon ?
A friend "inherited" a few old Safaris in various stages of not-running.
Among which is a diesel which he says I can have.( he does not like diesel )

The problem is .. this particular diesel Safari is a bit of a mystery and I am hoping someone can help me identify the model and year of production
Unfortunately I do not yet have any photos or a copy of the VIN details
The body is the old square shape. It is 4x4 with leaf springs. both axles have the diff's offset to the passenger side ( as far as I can remember -I get confused )
There is a five speed gearbox with an integral transfer case ( huge chunk of iron ) removed from the vehicle. There is also an ( overheated ) NA TD42 diesel engine out of the vehicle with a blown head gasket

As far as I understand
1,) these early Safaris were not sold with the TD42 ? but with a 3.2 diesel ?
2,) the 2.8 petrol was only supplied with a four speed gearbox with a divorced transfer case ?
3.) all the early diesel engined Safaris had a rear axle with a centre diff ?

I am hoping to be able to make time to get to the vehicle in order to take some photos and get the VIN details. However in the mean time any information of what this vehicle could possibly be would be most helpful
IF it would be possible to get the parts needed to repair it , and this was possible within budget , then I would like to try and get this vehicle fixed and on the road again.

Any information regarding these old Safari / Patrol Nissan's will be much appreciated

[Peter Connan]

Welcome to the forum Chris.

Is this vehicle a wagon or a pickup?

The Y60 pickups had leaf springs front and rear, and I don't think it's too difficult to fit a Safari body to it. But if they did that, then who knows which vehicle's data plate it has.

I am not an expert on the Safaris but as far as I know you are correct in that the TD42 was never fitted to the Safari, and also I don't think Safaris ever had 5-speed boxes.

Where my theory falls apart is if the rear diff is indeed offset, because I don't think the Y60 pickup had that.

[Burchell]

Welcome to the forum Chris.
Is this vehicle a wagon or a pickup?
The Y60 pickups had leaf springs front and rear, and I don't think it's too difficult to fit a Safari body to it. But if they did that, then who knows which vehicle's data plate it has.
I am not an expert on the Safaris but as far as I know you are correct in that the TD42 was never fitted to the Safari, and also I don't think Safaris ever had 5-speed boxes.
Where my theory falls apart is if the rear diff is indeed offset, because I don't think the Y60 pickup had that.

Hi Peter,
Thanks for the welcome
It is indeed a pickup and a Safari - an old one. Perhaps as you say modified somewhere in it's life ? The bodywork - cab and bin are in good condition. I imagine all it needs is an engine rebuild and connecting to the five-speed gearbox again ?
From what I understand the TD42 is old school with a straight forward mechanical injector fuel pump requiring very few electrical connections

There are quite a number of Australian YouTube channels covering the engine and vehicle - I do not know to what extent these are relevant and can be used by us in SA as we did not get exactly the same imports as the Aussies ?

[Peter Connan]

Most TD42's we get here need just two electrical connections.
A single wire on the fuel pump, and the glow plug circuit.

The basic engine is the same but there are lots of detail variations.
Different gudgeon pin diameters, lighter and heavier pistons, oil squirters under the pistons or not, different fuel pumps and so forth.

Michael Steyn at Sojo Automotive is a specialist on these engines and should be able to give you lots of detail, including where to look for what in terms of spares.

[Dewald]

Good day Chris.

Welcome, you will surely find your answers here on the forum.

I suspect the one you are discribing might then be the Mk/MQ Safari pick up. The rear diffs on these was offset to the right so both diff centres were off centre. However not to the pasenger side like you mentioned except if its left hand drive then it would be pasenger side obviously. There were some spanish built ones with a centred diff pumpkin.

They did not come in 3.2 diesel like you said but there were the Ld28( Diesel version of the L28 2.8 petrol ) Rd28 and the Sd33 all 6 cylinder diesel, turbo and na depending on model. We however did not get the Rd and Sd engined Safari's the ones thats around is imports and lots of times lhd, also most lhd ones had square lights and are badged as Patrols.

Interesting though is that the Sd33 had the maried transfer case as you mentioned that one have and its not as common as the devorced transfer case on the 2.8 petrol.
The 5 speed gearboxes were often swaped in the place of the 4 speed as its compatible, it is about 100mm longer then so thats not to strange to have the 5 speed.

So the one you described might have a sd33 3.3 diesel and not Td42.
If we had a photo we could easily tell or you can look at the engine number.
As far as i remember the Sd starter is fitted on the left side and not right like the Td42. Correction, Sd and Td's starter is on the same side, the Fd is swaped around.

The newer Safari/Patrol pick ups (Y60/GQ) looks very similar to the old Safari's to the untrained eye, they even share the same windscreen, They came with the Td42 and the rear diff on them was centre pumpkin and not offset they also had a maried transfer case and will be 5 speed. So the offset rear diff makes me believe its not one of these.
I cant think that it will be a y60 td42 that had a old Safari off centre diff fitted to it, as it would have to have the front also swapped as i think the ratios of the off centre rear was 4.88 but anything is posible.

As Peter said some details doesnt ad up but from what you hear from us you should be able to figure out wich one it is.

Or we will have to wait for a vin number or photo of it.

Regards
Dewald

[Dewald]

Myabe this help to identify it.

Regards
Dewald

[Burchell]

Myabe this help to identify it.

Regards
Dewald

Hi ,
Many thanks for all the info
The vehicle in the bottom image is the one

I will try and get photos and more detail this weekend

[Burchell]

Like the one featured in this Junk Mail ad

Nissan Safari Pickup

[Dewald]

Like the one featured in this Junk Mail ad

Nissan Safari Pickup

I thought it would be that one, then it should have the Ld28 in if its still original.
If it it has a td42 swapped in its great.

Keep us posted.

Regards
Dewald

[Burchell]

Good Morning ,
Finally managed to get to location and check vehicle
I think mystery somewhat solved

The vehicle does indeed have a centre diff on the rear axle
The vehicle did originally have a TD 4.2. The head was cracked and the reason for the parking off of the vehicle
I was shown where the block was lying under a tree minus the head but with the injector pump still attached. I measured the bore which was 96mm - which indicates TD 4.2
I imagine this would be an older NA type engine ?
There is a gearbox and integral transfer case. Front propshaft appears to have a "double-carden" universal where it attaches to the transfer case

I think all that is necessary is to find another donor 4.2 to fit - and away you go ? ( wonder how much such an engine costs ? )

I took photos but decided not to post them and bore everyone - unless someone wants to see them ?