Weighing in the options GU 2001

[mudski]

I converted my GUII from the ZD to a TD. If I had my time again, I'd would have gone either LS3 or a 6, or a 4BT Cummins. Speaking with multiple Cummins owners now, I do know the Cummins engine make the vehicle front end heavy and it does unbalance the GU's a bit. But having lots of power on tap makes one forget about the little unbalance.
Why would i have gone for a V8 or Cummins? Power, and lots of it. No other reason.

One thing to remember is engineering. Not sure about where you are from but here in Vic, its important to have the certificate, and from a VASS approved engineer also, so the coppers cannot argue against a VASS approved certificate. A non VASS approved certificate can be argued in court if the situation gets to this.

As for the TD's getting hot. Depends on what you do to the engine, and it depends on what you call getting hot. My TD runs a 12mm pump, hi crack pressure injectors, 3071 Garret turbo, Cross Country Ultimate top mount intercooler, and the coolant temps will sit on around 95'c at 100K's on the highway with ambient temps up to around 30c, anything above its around 105c. Which is still under Nissan's boiling spec of 117c. Another thing to remember, the engine block in cast iron. Once they warm up and get hot, they stay hot.

100c temp reading is not hot, its under pressure remember, and pressurizing coolant raises the boiling point. So 100c is technically not 100c it less, by how much? I don't know but there is a way to calculate this which i don't know how.

I also run a water rail which is plumbed into the water jackets of the cylinder head and is connected to the thermostat housing to help draw out the hot coolant in the cylinder head, plus the larger viscous hub and fan and the JPC Hiflow water pump. The radiator is genuine as i found this one to work the best over a triple core copper and triple alloy radiator.

There is no air gaps between the radiator and support panel, and no gaps between the a/c condensor and radiator. AND I even have the plastic air dam under the radiator which is supposed to assist in air flow.

So i've pretty much done everything possible.

So its nothing to worry about in my opinion. I used to constantly worry about it but not anymore. I still do watch the temp gauge like a hawk though.

My last comment to add is, air flow. These TD's do like air flow. The more you have in front of the radiator the less air the radiator is going to get. My last beach trip i remember the old TD quite hot at low speeds, over 110c, so i just popped the bonnet release so there was that little bit more air getting in and this made a BIG difference, which makes me think air flow is the real issue here.

My 2Cents...
Cheers.