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7:41 pm
This is going to be the new work ute for The Lab 
So the old D21 is still going strong with the VG30DE in it, we wanted air con, electric windows, a nicer dash, intermittent wipers and all that guff that comes in later model utes but wasn't ever a feature in the D21 from 1988 (NZ new).
So while hunting for those bits I found this:
The asking price was good enough that this happened:
Soon after that this happened:
Then this:
This:
About here I found a tray on Trademe, I had looked for over three weeks and there wasn't one to be found so as above I made one myself, that bastard Murphy then produced one for sale immediately after I had done all the hard yards 
:rofl:
So anyway I carried on and this happened:
One of the first things that happened was this:
The boat anchor was removed to make way for a VG30DE – maybe with a turbo, I haven't yet decided 
Should be a much nicer installation on this one as there is a fair bit more room for the inlet plumbing
Essentially a tidy up done on the engine but not an overhaul, new bearings, cleaned cam followers & oil pump, serious external tidy up, new gaskets etc, timing belt, water pump, tensioner, idlers, seals etc etc etc.
Gearbox is getting a couple of new bearings, brand new heavy duty clutch kit.
Will be using the D22 diesel engine mount rubbers with custom brackets to the block.
No turbo for now, I can't be bothered and have got far to much other stuff to get done so have no time anyway.
Gearbox all sorted out and ready to go:
I've fitted new bearings so she should be good for a long hard life
7:43 pm
The project got as far as that and has sat for a while as I've had a lot of things to deal with & no real rush to get this sorted BUT I've found more enthusiasm with the arrival of the rest of the wheels 
SO I will get in to it and sort the exh, wiring, inlet plumbing and water plumbing.
With those items done it'll be close to a runner 
7:53 pm
Once you get those things done you can stop pushing it around and drive it… that would be a good thing dont you think. Lol
10:26 pm
Nice looking wheels, so next time I'm up there I guess you'll be doing donuts in the car park?!
5:14 pm
I've been doing the boring stuff over the last couple of days – wiring.
Have got most of the engine bay sorted out and only about two billion wires to join together under the dash, plus fit a tacho suited to the 7KRPM instead of ~5KRPM
Need to fit fuel pump and run hoses etc
Build exh system, looks like a set of Stillen headers will nearly bolt straight up
Plumb radiator and heater hoses.
If I pull finger it should be going in about two weeks
6:39 pm
I should edit the post above to say two mths 
OK I've fitted some driving lamps for added bling & also got an instrument cluster on its way from Aus that should work with the V6 engine, has got white face gauges for even more bling.
Will finish wiring up the engine tomorrow and might even fit a fuel pump if time allows.
5:30 pm
Ok so fuel pump is fitted and tested (but not fully wired to the chassis harness just yet)
RHS exh manifold that was given to me by Conrad (cheers dude) found its way in the the drivers side after considerable surgery.
Radiator hoses and heater hoses are sorted and the system is full of coolant.
Starter motor and oil filter etc and all fitted and sump filled with oil.
Aside form a main starter cable and half a dozen other little wires it should start if I were to power it up and flick the key
Still need to make the LHS exh manifold & the rest of the exh system + the air intake (should be a lot easier on this one than the orange one due to the extra space).
6:03 pm
Got the last of the wiring all sorted and made the drive shaft hoops up, tried to make them look like the factory put them there – at least they wont get in the way working on it. Well I hope they wont as they are welded to the chassis so it'll be a real bitch if they need moving
Might be able to make the call to book in for a cert this week
9:10 pm
Inspection for the cert is booked for the 22nd although I will see if i can get one done earlier if I can.
Took it in for a WOF check anyway just to make sure everything else is all up to speed, just a couple of minor things to sort, adjustment of a headlamp & balance of rear brakes.
Sounds beautiful with the twin exh but doesn't feel as fast as the D21, might have to organise a drag race between the two to find out which is quicker
7:06 pm
Took on the challenge of fitting the gears from an NA Z32 diff to the diff in this, sort of simple but a couple of traps to watch out for.
What I hoped would be a simple bolt in job required a little machining and some clever trickery & a little trial and error.
End result is a 4.1 ratio diff to help haul trailers with dead zeds around 
Is now as fast as the orange ute – maybe even faster
6:53 pm
Still waiting for the cert plate to arrive 
A little frustrating in that this thing has been finished and ready for use for the last three weeks or more but is being delayed from going in to full service because of the cert system 
It has passed the cert but just waiting for the plate now.
Got the air conditioning all sorted & fitted a tow bar and sports bar while I've been waiting.
8:35 pm
Cert plate turned up last Saturday morning
Plate attached WOF passed, registered and on the road
Next day we took the ute to Whitianga for a road trip/test
Clocked up over 500kms in the one day with no issues and using roughly 11L per 100Kms – not bad for a 3L V6 ute!
There have been a few little bits n bobs going on but at this stage I've not loaded up any pics to post up.
Plan for now is simply to use it until I get a number of other projects out of the way and have time to finish a few things off on this.
7:50 pm
So far so good with this beast
Have got the air conditioning working & tinted the windows.
Clocked up a few Ks doing what it will be doing for the bulk of its life with me, towed a couple of Zs on trailers, shifted a bunch of wood & metal etc, seems to do around 550Kms to a tank of gas unless you lean on the loud pedal with a heavy load behind it – then you get about 350Kms to a tank LOL!!
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