NV 1500 for fun and or profit

I just bought a 2012 Nissan NV 1500 for $700. 
The catch? It has a perforated engine block. 
This morning on the marketplace "Just Listed" in my city was a NV1500 for $600. There were no details or descriptions other than. "Needs an engine." I promptly sent a message. This seemed like the kind of thing that would get a lot of messages so I made it clear that I was local and had cash. The few photos showed the beer and wine distributor logo on the door parked right next to a semi with the same logo. No response from seller yet. I grabbed an envelope of cash and headed to their location 2 miles away. In the parking lot I saw a response that it was pending for someone to come look at it. I went in and met the general manager who is also the seller. He expressed his frustration at how many responses and measures he had to deal with. I offered an extra $100 over asking and told him that he could end his car salesmen career immediately. He agreed. I took a bill of sale, the title is filed at their hq in a nearby city. I have a Buddy with a diesel pickup lined up for the recovery tomorrow at lunch. 208k on the van. Missing weatherstripping for sliding door. Mostly good otherwise. Two keys and a remote fob. Couple of pictures. More to come. 

Plans: 1. Find replacement engine. 2. Something? 3. Profit. 

Nicely done. Surely it's a 5.6 and there are surely a few wrecked Titans that can supply a good used engine. 

As a NV1500 (half ton) it should be a 4.0L V6.  This engine also found in Xterra.  

The NV2500 (3/4 ton) was base 4.0L and optional 5.6L

The NV 3500 ( 1 ton) was 5.6L

Nice score!  

In reply to GoLucky :

Great score 👍 

I love these fix-n-flip threads, so I'll be following along.

The hot setup is to 4wd these with repurposed used Nissan parts. 

In reply to John Welsh :

4x4 indeed. Do you have any info on this? That seems like way more work, but potentially quite profitable. 

This is indeed a VQ40de like in frontiers, pathfinders and xterras and some others. The rebuilders list the same longblock for all applications. If this interchange is correct then there are 3 engines in my area prices from 1k to 1.7k.  Anyone here have good info on the compatibities?

I went back and pulled out the battery to charge since it has been stationary for a while. This is in preparation for a tow home tomorrow afternoon. Needs hood struts.

Plenty of under hood space. What wouldn't fit in there? Apparently it is fun for birds to hang out here too.

Cargo van interior.

I'm told A/C works and pleased to see cruise control present. 

Updates to follow with progress. 

The 5.6 is a damn decent engine; that's what I have in my 2500. If that will fit I'd strongly recommend it. 

Mine has ~150k on it and has been fantastic. 

Today I went with a friend who has a 4x4 Diesel and we towed the NV home. Not far, not eventful and that is how we wanted it. There's enough of a hill on my street to disconnect up from the house and roll into the driveway. I take advantage of it semi-regularly. New home. 

The old engine met its demise due to a stripped out oil drain bolt. The driver shut it down on the highway when the oil light came on and the drain bolt was MIA. The company towed it to the shop and they "fixed " the drain and added oil. It went fine for a few days and then KABAM! This is from underneath looking up at the pan. 
I sarted taking things apart in preparation for engine removal. It is handy to have a project vehicle that is also its own parts storage. 

There is seriously a lot of room under hood. Looks like a v12 would go in easy with the fan cover removed. 

Short spurts for now because it is cold out. 

I did a little 4x4 research and it looks like the hot ticket is the Titan XD suspension that bolts on. Ther is a Utah dealership with some videos up about the "all Nissan parts" 4x4 conversion. What I haven't seen is what hubs have 4x4 and 8 lug? The TitanXD is 6 lug and the NV uprights look to have a hole like a cv would go through but not broached splines. I wonder if it is a re-drill or what? 

GoLucky said:

There is seriously a lot of room under hood. Looks like a v12 would go in easy with the fan cover removed. 

You know what you have to do now 

GoLucky said:

I did a little 4x4 research and it looks like the hot ticket is the Titan XD suspension that bolts on. Ther is a Utah dealership with some videos up about the "all Nissan parts" 4x4 conversion. What I haven't seen is what hubs have 4x4 and 8 lug? The TitanXD is 6 lug and the NV uprights look to have a hole like a cv would go through but not broached splines. I wonder if it is a re-drill or what? 

Screen capture those vids before they disappear 

In reply to peanutpckrupper :

Hahaha. Right now I wish a v12 was waiting to go in. 

In reply to yupididit :

Bookmarked already, but the screenshot is a good thought. This morning I called their parts department to see if they'd sell me the 4x4 hubs. No, they don't stock them, but they did put me in touch with the machine shop that bores and broaches the OE Nissan NV hubs for their conversions. Those guys will sell me some. Price is not terrible. Gives the 4x4 swap idea more traction.    Couldn't resist.   Apparently these hubs may also work for Titan XD 6 to 8 lug conversion.

Also, using Rockauto fitment guides (Not a definitive source, I know) The Titan XD and the NV share the upper control arm and brake caliper. Different lower control arms. Different struts. The conversion dealer confirmed that they keep the NV uprights in their builds. 

I am learning things. 

Took more stuff apart. I also broke my first plastic retainer. Fortunate enough it is on the grille and not the headlight. Lost another Christmas tree one as well but not too bad so far. 
I climbed in and out of the engine bay a bunch of times. I can pull the condenser if I have to, but hopefully I can get away with keeping the refrigerant genies inside. Three fan nuts were super easy and the fourth was very not. Eventually it came off. 

Scored a new 3/8" extension today too. I found this guy down in the bumper cover. Score. 

I got a text from the seller letting me know they will have a title for me tomorrow. I may head out to the junkyard tomorrow as well. See if there are any sweet v12s available. 

In reply to GoLucky :

I rebuild Toyota Prius that have had very minor body damage.  One of the greatest resources/tools I have in these repairs is a set of replacement fasteners like these bought off Amazon.  $12 well spent.  

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07MVBCWRF?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

I'm not saying this is the exact, best kit for a Nissan NV but search around, there are many kits