Ok. so my wifes truck is gettin the love before my 280. she wants a 3 inch lift, large tires, bull bar, roll bar, etc..... She has a 97 Nissan D21 hardbody with the KA24e engine(auto) i orderd the new rims from tirerack(500$ with shipping wooooo!) and ima order 31x10.5 for her. same tires i run on my ranger. Also she wants to do all this herself and she is still learning. so i am guna start her off with a body lift. that way we won't have to worry about susension geomitry and all the good stuff. Yes her truck is a 2 wheel drive. but it's what my angle wants. So will her KA24e handle the tires. plus a beef up like intake, cam exhuast and head work are an option. I don't really want to turbo it right now. since she wants to do all the work. ima start if off with out all the complication. we will swap body lift for susension lift and change cam for a turbo cam and cam it later(like 2 years later) once she gets a handle on this. I have a spare L28e that i can bore over and build for low end tourqe if ya'll think that will be better. Yes we've considerd the 350 swap. But she wants to keep it nissan

 

its going to cost you alot of extra time and money to fit an L28 in that bay, stick with the KA24. if it dosent move that truck as quick as you want stock then theres still plenty to be gained from head work, cam, exhaust, intake, ect, and a well tuned motor

 

Well. i got a shop to weld in(freind with lots of space) and engine, trans, ecu, harness just layin around and all. and with my new engine, i have two L28E set ups not used. If the 22R can handle them. i think the KA24e can too.

 

How about a 5-speed swap and switch to a KA24DE with a lower geared rear axle

 

you think your going to have room for an l28 in there?

 

i would do what bleach says, 5 speed and a lower rear gearset, do a lsd while your at it if it already doesnt have it. the xterra cam with almost the same size tires and a 4 cylinder and auto, so the truck should be able to handle it as well. or swap the xterra rear, if that is an option for gearing lsd etc. i also run 31x10.5r15 bfg all terrains on the wifes xterra 4x4

 

My wife is keen on an auto. the only way i would be able to get her to do a 5 speed is with a L28E. but yeh with a elec pusher fan. i think it will fit.

 

thats kinda throwing away alot of parts on an auto and its from my experence with these types of trucks when they are auto they dont see any mud

 

well if i were able to talk her into a L28E it would get the BW t-5. but if she keeps her KA then it will stay an auto.