YTone

Changing my timing chain on my 97' 4x4 Ka24e and I would like to change the oil pan gasket as well. My factory nissan manual states that I need to remove the front stabilizer from the side member on simply slide the pan out to the front. I assume that this would work fine for a 2x4 but the 4x4 is a differnet story. Anyone had any luck with a particular method of removal on the 4x4's?

Yontrop

That's true... the 4x2s just slide out the back, but for the 4x4, you gotta remove the stabilizer.

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ASE-certified technician by day, metal musician and computer nerd by night, and avid Nissan HB lover

1997 D21 XE KA24E 2WD 5-spd - 190,000mi

YTone

On the 4x4 the front axle is roughly an inch below the oil pan, followed closely by the front cross member, with the transmission an inch or so to the rear of the pan. After removing the bolts the pan will have about an inch or two of clearance in all directions. The nissan manual labels the stabilizer as the 1 inch solid tube running from the a-frames that is tied into the cross member at two attachment points...Are we both talking about the same part? Removing this piece would allow more room to remove the pan bolts but definetly doesn't allow enough room to slide the 8-10 inch rear of the pan out. Thanks for the reply.

SPEEDO

the pan gasket is silicone...

YTone

I understand that the gasket is silicone. I'm not asking what bolts to remove, or how. I'm asking how to REMOVE the oil pan from the engine so that I can clean and prep both of the mating surfaces. Any 4x4'ers out there with any experience with this repair? i.e....removing: the differential, front axle & cross memeber, the tranny/exhaust and lift engine, etc...Thanks for the reply.

YTone

After talking with two seperate mechanics at two seperate nissan service deptments it seems that the only way to remove the oil pan completely on a 4x4 Nissan D21 is to: either remove the transmission, or disconnect the entire front end from the car including the body welds where it connects to the frame. I tighten the bolts on mine and cleaned the surrounding areas hoping that the oil was leaking from the front cover I just replaced and drippping down to the rim of the pan. Miles will tell... If there are any other 4x4'ers on this forum with any other advice about removal or stories about their efforts, please post. Thanks..

wondermutt

I feel your pain. I have the same truck, and had to do the same timing chain replacement. To remove the oilpan, you have to remove the front driveline, and disconnect the front drive axles, then you have to drop the front wheel drive gearbox and support member. The half shafts have six bolts each and they're a pain, but not impossible, once disconnected gofor the support. I actually loosened the motor mount bolts and lifted the engine a couple of inches for extra room to work. After the support is out of the way go for the bolt that holds the drive to the front cross member. ((make sure you support it before you pull the bolt))) use a jack and drop the sucker out of the way. Note: there is a rubber tube connected to the drive on top center. Make sure to disconnect it.
Once everything is out of the way, the oilpan is pretty strait forward. The hardest part will be lifting the drive back into place. It doesnt sit on a jack worth a crap,(totally unballanced) If you can get help, it wont be to bad.
Then everything is the reverse of disassemby.
I hope this helps, I might have missed a couple of items, but I think you'll get the gist.
Feel free to email with any questions
doustein@sbcglobal.net

YTone

I knew that there was at least one Nissan 4x4'er on this forum somewhere. Thanks for the reply and good luck with the truck!