GQ TD42 to GU ZD30 xmas conversion

[Mike_1]

Hi all,
I just wanted to share with others my xmas time that I have spent with my flatmate doing conversion from 1990 GQ TD42 into 2000 GU ZD30. I will try to add a bit of history on why I have done it, but I'd like to mainly focus on difficulties that we had doing engine/gearbox/diffs swap as they might be helpful for someone that thinks about it.

Long story short:

Donor car:
- 1990 white Nissan Patrol DX TD42
- 4.11 diffs
- factory rear difflock
- ARB side steps/rails off GU (shortened approx. 5cm each to fit GQ)
- GU TD42 2003 engine with an aftermarket turbo
- 4" EFS Extreme suspension with ToughDog panrods and extended brake lines



Why:
- corrosion showed up in the drivers and passenger's floor
- most of the panels were scratched/corroded
- my partner wanted an upgrade

Target car:
- 2000 blue ST GU with blown ZD30 motor
- 3.9 diffs as previous owner bought himself a DX GU TD42 and took the 4.3 diffs
- interior in pieces, missing stuff
- both of the tail lights damaged, LHS mirror damaged
- car has been unregistered for 3 years
- 3 rust spots, nothing major
- interior stripped completely as previous owner bought a DX TD42 and took velour seats and door trims

I picked one of the hottest week to do the conversion, but hey, it's TD42 and it's worth it

We have started with stripping GQ from all the good bits and pieces, removed engine, gearbox, stripped the interior apart from all the parts that I could possibly recover some of the cost.

I have booked in a UHaul car trailer for the 26th of December, but in the morning none of the terminals were working and I ended up getting a Tow truck to pick it up and deliver it the following day, so we had enough time to pull GQ apart and get ready for the GU to arrive.


Happy Days as the GU arrives just after lunchtime on the 27th, so without wasting time we started taking everything from the inside, to check what's missing. Since previous owner has removed cylinder head (cracked) and sold the gearbox our task was really easy. In the meantime I found a buyer for my GQ bullbar, both GU diffs and GQ LHS doors - $$$$