HI,I did swap of a 4cly NISSAN diesel into a 74 Vega in the late 70's a company in SEATTLE,WA. was making adapter plates to use the Vega 4spd. trany ,the 5spd. trany out of a CHEVY MONZA will bolt up in place of the 4spd.
The 5spd. gives you a better first gear like a grany gear,the problems i had was it was not geared right in first gear with the 4spd. it did not have high enough numerically first gear and the rear end did not have a higher numerically gears a kid on bike could out run me for few feet until i got started rolling.
The 4cly. i used was a generic engine they used in industrial applications about 40HP at
2200rpm the shop i bought the engine from turned the governor speed up to 4100rpm
then it would run freeway better got about 35mpg out of it.
The engine weighed about the same as 350 CHEVY V-8.
The 4cyl. is the same as the 6cyl. that was used in DODGE pickups in 70's. less 2cyls.

 

I have seen that crankshaft nut on ebay for less than $20

 

I had a 82 datsun 720 pickup I loved it that is the biggest reason that I love diesels today

it died when it had just about 400k on it I really miss that truck 38-40 mpg they were prone to tranny problems about every 100k


as far as diesels for your baby truck the v2203 is a good option the 4bt is a bit big it is as tall as its big brother the 6bt the engine I have opted for is the Cummins b3.3 it is a smaller engine 85-100hp turbocharged diesel I am getting real close to pulling the plug on my diesel project I have wanted a small diesel since my 720 died

 

Hey Deck60,
I had a 81 Datsun 720, I loved that truck. I had 3 1/2" stacks coming out of the bed a sun visor, nice polished aluminum wheels, chrome bed rails, chrome square tube grill, and a lot of other goodies. Mine died at about 285,000 miles. And yes I had the transmission issues too, but after shimming the front bearing on the main shaft I had no more problems.
I bought that truck in about 1984, all my friends now tell me I was diesel when diesel wasn't cool, but everybody back then thought that truck was cool.
I still long for the small diesel truck, that's why I had the idea of a 1.9 TDI VW engine in a Ranger. Something with modern day fuel system, direct injection, and turbo charged.
How's the 3.3 in the Dakota working out?

 

its coming great the engine is 90% all together just need fuel filter mounted oil line for turbo intercooler mounted

I did start my own thread on it there are a few pictures and a video of engine before I bought it

 

post some pictures up